Government Takes Action Against Dark Patterns: 11 E-commerce firms receive notices

The consumer affairs ministry had a meeting with key e-commerce companies today, on 28 May, to tackle dark patterns that mislead consumers. The meeting focused on auditing the companies’ practices regarding transparent disclosure of information to customers about donations or other collections. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has taken a major step to protect consumers from deceptive practices in the digital market. In a meeting held on May 28, 2025, the ministry brought together over 50 e-commerce companies and industry associations to discuss ways to control dark patterns.

What are Dark Patterns?

Dark patterns are manipulative design tactics used by online platforms to trick consumers into making unintended choices. These practices undermine consumer trust in digital markets and can lead to unfair trade practices.

Government’s Stand

The government is determined to ensure a fair and transparent e-commerce ecosystem. To achieve this, it is pushing for stronger measures against dark patterns and discussing penal actions for regulatory violations.

Action against Companies

The government has already sent notices to 11 companies for violating guidelines on dark patterns. These companies will have to comply with the law of the land and ensure transparency in their practices.

Industry participation

Over 50 companies and industry associations participated in the meeting, showing their commitment to fair and transparent practices. The government expects all e-commerce platforms to adhere to the guidelines and work towards creating a trustworthy digital market.

By taking these steps, the government aims to protect consumers and promote a healthy e-commerce ecosystem in India.

New initiatives

The government launches three apps – ‘Jagruti’, ‘Jago Grahak Jago’, and ‘Jagruti Dashboard‘, to empower customers with knowledge about dark patterns and help them protect themselves.

Meeting takeaways

The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, saw participation of over 50 companies and industry associations from industry giants. The key pointers from the meeting are as follows:

• Auditing companies’ practices regarding the transparent disclosure of information to customers about donations or other collections.
• Directing companies to provide easy opt-out options for customers.
• Discussing penal actions for regulatory violations.
• Launching a dashboard to educate customers about dark patterns and help them block such practices.

Understanding Dark Patterns: Tricks used by online platforms

Dark patterns are clever tricks used by websites and apps to influence our behavior. Here are some common types:

• False Urgency: Creating a sense of scarcity to rush purchases (e.g., “Only 1 left in stock!”).
• Basket Sneaking: Adding extra items or charges without clear consent.
• Confirm Shaming: Using guilt-tripping language to make you agree (e.g., “No thanks, I don’t like saving money”).
• Subscription Traps: Easy sign-ups, but hard cancellations.
• Drip Pricing: Hiding extra costs until the final checkout.
• Disguised Ads: Promotional content pretends as regular site features.