New Delhi, Feb. 29 -- The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Pub lic Distribution has released directives addressing the prevention and oversight of dark patterns. These guidelines target deceptive design prac tices that manipulate users, compromising their autonomy and decision-making. Applicable to all platforms offering goods or services in India, along with advertisers and sellers, the regulations fall under the jurisdiction of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), established by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The guidelines explicitly forbid any individual or platform from employing dark patterns. They enumerate prohibited practices, such as false urgency, basket sneaking, and forced actions. Non-compliance with th...