New Delhi, May 29 -- The government has told e-commerce firms to hold annual internal audits to detect and remove deceptive online practices known as dark patterns, as part of a "joint strategy" to protect consumer rights in the digital economy, consumer affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday.

A joint committee of government officials, industry leaders, and consumer groups will be formed to monitor compliance and review the audit reports, Joshi told reporters after holding a stakeholder consultation on dark patterns.

Representatives from over 50 companies-including Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, Swiggy, Flipkart, Paytm and MakeMyTrip-along with leading industry bodies like NASSCOM, CAIT, FICCI, and Voluntary Consumer Organizatio...