The Indian government is taking steps to regulate e-commerce platforms, including major players like Amazon and Flipkart, to prevent the use of manipulative tactics known as ‘dark patterns.’ Dark patterns refer to deceptive design elements and user interfaces used by websites and apps to lead consumers into unintended choices that ultimately benefit the business.
To address this issue, the government has formed a 17-member task force responsible for creating guidelines aimed at protecting consumers from dark patterns. These guidelines will encourage e-commerce companies to avoid implementing design elements or patterns that deceive or manipulate consumer choices, as such practices are considered unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh emphasized the importance of not engaging in unfair trade practices by incorporating dark patterns that exploit consumer interests. He urged online platforms to refrain from using these manipulative tactics in their interfaces.
The government has already sent letters addressing this matter to 26 e-commerce companies, including Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm Mall, Snapdeal, Reliance Retail Ltd. (AJIO), Tata Cliq, Big Basket, Urban Ladder, Grofers, Swiggy, Nykaa, 1mg.com, Jio Platforms Ltd, India Mart, Pharm Easy, Urban Clap, and Zomato.
The move follows consultations with various stakeholders held on June 13, where the government expressed its intent to take action against such practices. With these new regulations in place, online platforms are being cautioned about potential enforcement actions if they continue to employ dark patterns to manipulate consumer behavior. This initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring a fair and transparent e-commerce environment.
