Consumer Affairs Secy warns e-commerce of ‘unfair’ dark schemes

New Delhi: Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare on Tuesday warned e-commerce companies against deploying deceptive user interface designs known as “dark patterns”, saying the practice violates consumer rights and amounts to to unfair trade.

Addressing a stakeholder session, Khare highlighted various ways in which online platforms can refrain from using such designs that mislead consumers into making unintended purchases or subscriptions, according to a official press release.

She suggested improvements such as relying on consumer feedback, tracking user and repeat customer satisfaction, using app features to identify non-compliant patterns, and self-auditing dark patterns specified, according to an official press release.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, which notified guidelines to prevent dark patterns in November 2023, specified 13 such designs, including fake emergency alerts, subscription traps, bait and drop prizes. change and stubborn tactics.

Representatives from Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, All India Gaming Federation and companies like Zomato, EaseMyTrip, Urban Company, Uber and CRED attended the session.