Concerned over the increasing “dark patterns” of
misleading advertisements,
creating false urgency,
confirm-shaming,
forced action,
subscription traps and nagging on online platforms
The Union Consumer Affairs Ministry has decided to issue specific guidelines to control them.
The Ministry, urged consumers to flag such manipulative online practices on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) by calling ‘1915’ or through a WhatsApp message to 8800001915.
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Dark Patterns’ In Online Advertisements
The ministry asked online platforms to refrain from adopting ‘dark patterns’.
‘Dark patterns’ distort consumer autonomy using a design architecture that tricks or influences consumers to make choices not in their best interest.
Tactics such as false urgency which creates a sense of scarcity to pressure consumers into making a purchase or taking an action and basket sneaking, the technique to add additional products or services to the shopping cart without user consent, are used widely to lure customers.
Subscription traps, the tactic that makes it easy for consumers to sign up for a service but difficult for them to cancel it, and hiding additional costs, particularly by travel and tourism websites, have also come under the Ministry’s radar.
Using ‘dark patterns’ in online interfaces unfairly exploits consumers’ interest and constitutes ‘unfair trade practice’.
It violate consumer rights as enshrined under Section 2(9) of the Consumer Protection Act.
COMMENTS