Consumer Protection Authority asks e-commerce firms to remove all `Dark Patterns’, desist from deceptive trade practices
By Unnikrishnan | 08 Jun 2025
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a directive to all e-commerce firms to take necessary steps to ensure that consumers are not subjected to deceptive practices that prompt them to pay a higher price than proposed, an unfair trade practice called `Dark Patterns’.
In an advisory issued on Saturday, the CCPA directed e-commerce platforms to conduct necessary self-audits to ensure that consumers are not subjected to the deceptive and unfair trade practicea that are in the nature of Dark Patterns.
CCPA has asked all e-commerce platforms to complete the audit process to identify the Dark Patterns and ensure compliance with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023 within three months.
The Department of Consumers Affairs has constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising representatives from concerned ministries, regulators, voluntary organisations and NLUs to identify and take measures to eradicate the menace.
CCPA has also advised e-commerce platforms to give self-declarations that their platforms are not indulging in any dark patterns. This, according to the authority, will help build trust between consumers and e-commerce platforms.
The CCPA has also issued notices to e-commerce platforms that have been found violating the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023.
Further, the authority has advised e-commerce platforms to refrain from deploying deceptive design interfaces that mislead consumers or manipulate their decision-making.
CCPA said it has been keeping a close watch on the pattern of violation of the guidelines issued for prevention of Dark Patterns and has noticed various instances on e-commerce platforms.
The guidelines prescribed by the Department of Consumer Affairs in 2023 specified 13 dark patterns, that include False urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm shaming, forced action, Subscription trap, Interface Interference, Bait and switch, Drip Pricing, Disguised Advertisements and Nagging, Trick Wording, Saas Billing and Rogue Malwares.
