Latest news with #GuidelinesforPreventionandRegulation
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
OTT platforms come under scrutiny as dark patterns erode consumer trust
Consumers in India are increasingly flagging design practices on over-the-top (OTT) platforms that make the user experience less transparent, say industry executives and market observers. Frequent complaints include unexpected rental charges, ads during paid subscriptions and difficult cancellations. These tactics, commonly referred to as dark patterns , can mislead users into continuing subscriptions, sharing personal data, or paying extra charges not clearly disclosed. Some users also report being asked to install separate apps or re-register to access certain content. A LocalCircles study of over 95,000 responses from OTT users identified six dominant dark patterns: interface interference, forced action , bait and switch, drip pricing, subscription traps and SaaS billing. Users cited hidden cancel buttons, surprise rental fees, unclear final pricing and charges even after cancellation. To tackle these concerns, the Department of Consumer Affairs introduced Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns in 2023, listing 13 such practices, including false urgency, confirm shaming, basket sneaking, disguised ads, nagging, trick wording and rogue malwares. While the union government's guidelines are aimed at improving digital transparency , some OTT platforms argue they apply only to e-commerce services. 'Dark patterns like forced action, where ads are added to a plan that was earlier ad-free, or subscriptions with difficult cancellation processes lead to a direct erosion of consumer trust ,' said Sachin Taparia, founder of LocalCircles. 'The need of the hour is for all OTT platforms to assess which of the 13 dark patterns exist on their platforms and resolve them at the earliest. Such a move will improve transparency, and platforms that act swiftly will gain a long-term advantage over their competitors,' he added. Experts say greater clarity and enforcement are needed as streaming becomes the primary mode of content consumption in India. The ministry of information and broadcasting listed 69 OTT platforms in the country, including Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar, ZEE5 and SonyLIV. 'India's regulatory approach is rapidly evolving from a reactive stance to a proactive one. The CCPA (Central Consumer Protection Authority) has taken the lead by defining and warning against dark patterns, and by holding platforms—including OTT services—accountable. MeitY's (ministry of electronics and information technology) policies and Trai's (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) oversight play supporting roles in ensuring that digital marketplaces are fair and that no regulatory gaps allow these practices to persist unchecked,' said Consumer Protection Association president Kashyapnath N Upadhyay. 'While enforcement is still ramping up and some platforms are dragging their feet by claiming the guidelines are not binding, the trajectory is clear: deceptive design in OTT subscriptions is on the regulators' radar, and India is moving towards a regime of greater transparency and stronger consumer rights online,' he added.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
E-commerce platforms must comply with guidelines on 'dark patterns': Food Minister Pralhad Joshi
Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday asked all major e-commerce platform to follow the government's guidelines on ' dark patterns ', else actions will be taken to protect consumers' interest. The minister said the e-commerce players have also been told to conduct internal audits to examine the presence of 'dark patterns', defined as deceptive user interface designs that mislead or manipulate consumers into making unintended choices. E-commerce players need to submit an audit report to the department of consumer affairs. He said a joint working group will also be set up for effective implementation of the guidelines and curb this unfair trade practice. In November 2023, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, issued Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, to curb 'dark patterns' on digital and offline platforms. On Wednesday, Joshi held discussions with stakeholders to discuss consumer concerns over 'dark patterns' and explore more effective solutions to tackle the issue. "Representatives of More than 50 e-commerce players participated in the meeting which was organised to sensitise all stakeholders. We have asked for full compliance with dark pattern guidelines," Joshi told reporters. He said the government has identified 13 dark patterns. These are 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. "Consumer interest is paramount," Joshi said, adding that the e-commerce players have promised to abide by these guidelines. The minister stressed on the need that digital marketplaces are governed by fairness, transparency, and accountability. In case they do not follow guidelines, action will be taken as per the law, Joshi said. On 'advance tipping' by cab aggregators, the minister said the notices have been given to ride-hailing operators. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the CCPA has issued 11 notices under dark patterns. Overall, she said more than 400 notices have been issued for unfair trade practices . She said the government will also look into dark patterns by quick-commerce platforms. The secretary asserted that the CCPA will take actions against unfair trade practices in any sector after proper investigation. According to the guidelines, dark patterns have been defined as any practice or deceptive design pattern using user interface or user experience interactions on any platform that is designed to mislead or trick users to do something they originally did not intend or want to do, by subverting or impairing the consumer autonomy, decision making or choice. All major e-commerce platforms, working in the food, travel, cosmetics, pharmacy, retail, clothing and electronics sectors participated in the meeting. Some of the key stakeholders present in the meeting were Amazon, Flipkart, Apple, BigBasket, Meesho, Meta, MakeMyTrip, Paytm , Ola, Reliance Retail Limited, Swiggy , Zomato , Yatra, Uber, Tata, EaseMyTrip, Clear Trip, IndiaMart , IndiGo Airlines, ixigo, JUSTDIAL, Medika Bazaar, Netmeds, ONDC, Thomas Cook , and WhatsApp. Key industry organisations, including Voluntary Consumer Organizations (VCOs) and leading National Law Universities (NLUs), also participated in this meeting. PTI
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
E-commerce platforms must comply with guidelines on 'dark patterns': Food Minister Pralhad Joshi
HighlightsUnion Minister of Consumer Affairs Prahlad Joshi emphasized the need for e-commerce platforms to comply with government guidelines on 'dark patterns' to protect consumer interests. The Central Consumer Protection Authority identified 13 deceptive practices categorized as 'dark patterns' that manipulate consumer choices, including False Urgency and Subscription Trap. A joint working group will be established to ensure effective implementation of the dark pattern guidelines, with over 50 major e-commerce players participating in discussions on the matter. Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday asked all major e-commerce platform to follow the government's guidelines on ' dark patterns ', else actions will be taken to protect consumers' interest. The minister said the e-commerce players have also been told to conduct internal audits to examine the presence of 'dark patterns', defined as deceptive user interface designs that mislead or manipulate consumers into making unintended choices. E-commerce players need to submit an audit report to the department of consumer affairs. He said a joint working group will also be set up for effective implementation of the guidelines and curb this unfair trade practice. In November 2023, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, issued Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, to curb 'dark patterns' on digital and offline platforms. On Wednesday, Joshi held discussions with stakeholders to discuss consumer concerns over 'dark patterns' and explore more effective solutions to tackle the issue. "Representatives of More than 50 e-commerce players participated in the meeting which was organised to sensitise all stakeholders. We have asked for full compliance with dark pattern guidelines," Joshi told reporters. He said the government has identified 13 dark patterns. These are 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. "Consumer interest is paramount," Joshi said, adding that the e-commerce players have promised to abide by these guidelines. The minister stressed on the need that digital marketplaces are governed by fairness, transparency, and accountability. In case they do not follow guidelines, action will be taken as per the law, Joshi said. On 'advance tipping' by cab aggregators, the minister said the notices have been given to ride-hailing operators. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the CCPA has issued 11 notices under dark patterns. Overall, she said more than 400 notices have been issued for unfair trade practices . She said the government will also look into dark patterns by quick-commerce platforms. The secretary asserted that the CCPA will take actions against unfair trade practices in any sector after proper investigation. According to the guidelines, dark patterns have been defined as any practice or deceptive design pattern using user interface or user experience interactions on any platform that is designed to mislead or trick users to do something they originally did not intend or want to do, by subverting or impairing the consumer autonomy, decision making or choice. All major e-commerce platforms, working in the food, travel, cosmetics, pharmacy, retail, clothing and electronics sectors participated in the meeting. Some of the key stakeholders present in the meeting were Amazon, Flipkart, Apple, BigBasket, Meesho, Meta, MakeMyTrip, Paytm , Ola, Reliance Retail Limited, Swiggy , Zomato , Yatra, Uber, Tata, EaseMyTrip, Clear Trip, IndiaMart , IndiGo Airlines, ixigo, JUSTDIAL, Medika Bazaar, Netmeds, ONDC, Thomas Cook , and WhatsApp. Key industry organisations, including Voluntary Consumer Organizations (VCOs) and leading National Law Universities (NLUs), also participated in this meeting. PTI
