Time to Clean Up Dark Patterns! Govt Orders Annual E-Commerce Audits to Support Online Shoppers

Amidst rising complaints about dark patterns used by e-commerce platforms, the government has directed the firms to conduct annual internal audits to detect and eliminate deceptive online practices as part of a "joint strategy" to protect consumer rights in the digital economy, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said in a meeting on Wednesday.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare, who also heads the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), attended the meeting, along with officials from major e-commerce companies, including Airbnb, Amazon, Apple, Zepto, Ola Electric, Tata Digital, Adidas India, and Samsung. Representatives from major industrial associations, voluntary consumer organizations, and national law universities were also present at the gathering.

Following a stakeholder engagement on dark patterns, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi announced the formation of a joint committee comprising government officials, industry leaders, and consumer groups to monitor compliance and review audit reports.

Representatives from over 50 firms, including Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, Swiggy, Flipkart, Paytm, and MakeMyTrip, along with leading industry associations such as NASSCOM, CAIT, FICCI, and Voluntary Consumer Organisations, attended the meeting hosted by the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Dark Patterns

Dark patterns are user interface and design tactics that undermine consumer autonomy. These strategies manipulate users into purchasing products that may not align with their best interests.

The government has identified 13 dark patterns, including false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, forced action, subscription trap, interface interference, bait and switch, drip pricing, disguised advertisement, nagging, trick question, SaaS billing, and rogue malwares.

These are not abstract concepts; they appear on our screens daily. For example, messages like “Only 1 left!” or “Hurry! 15 minutes left for a deal” are common on quick commerce and shopping apps, creating a sense of urgency.

Similarly, during high-profile events like the IPL or World Cup, food delivery apps display cricket-themed promotions such as “15 minutes only! Match Mania Offer” or “Offer ends before the next over!” These countdowns often reset after expiring or reappear, subtly pressuring users to order immediately to avoid “missing out,” even if the deal isn’t genuinely time-limited.