SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution | Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
In response to Lok Sabha Question No. 2817 on December 17, 2025, the government detailed its multi-layered approach to curbing “dark patterns“—deceptive design practices used by digital platforms to manipulate consumer choice. To date, 26 leading e-commerce platforms (including Flipkart, Zomato, and Swiggy) have voluntarily submitted self-declaration letters confirming they are now free from such manipulative interfaces.
Key Regulatory Milestones:
Specific Guidelines (2023): On November 30, 2023, the CCPA issued the “Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns,” explicitly prohibiting 13 specific tactics such as:
False Urgency: Creating a fake sense of scarcity.
Basket Sneaking: Adding unselected items to the cart.
Confirm Shaming: Using guilt to keep users subscribed.
Drip Pricing: Hiding the full cost until the final checkout stage.
Self-Audit Advisory (2025): On June 5, 2025, the CCPA issued a fresh advisory instructing platforms to conduct mandatory self-audits within three months to detect and eliminate any remaining dark patterns.
Joint Working Group: A collaborative body comprising representatives from various ministries, National Law Universities, and consumer organizations has been established to identify evolving deceptive practices and refine technical standards.
What is a “Dark Pattern”? It refers to any deceptive user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) design intended to trick users into doing something they did not originally intend—such as purchasing an unneeded service or sharing private data involuntarily.
Policy Relevance
The regulation of dark patterns is a critical pillar of India’s focus on ethical digital governance, ensuring that business growth does not come at the expense of consumer autonomy.
Enforcement Powers: Under Section 21(2) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the government can impose penalties of up to Rs. 10 lakh for initial misleading advertisements, rising to Rs. 50 lakh for subsequent violations.
Building Digital Trust: By mandating “audit-ready” consent journeys and transparent opt-out mechanisms, the government aims to build a more resilient and trustworthy digital economy where trust, not trickery, is the basis for growth.
Consumer Empowerment: The initiative is backed by awareness campaigns through the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) and the Jago Grahak Jago App, enabling citizens to recognize and report deceptive designs in real time.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the CCPA ensure that the self-declarations from the 26 platforms are periodically verified through independent third-party technical audits to prevent the re-emergence of more sophisticated “algorithmic” dark patterns?
Follow the full news here: REGULATION FOR DARK PATTERNS