Govt to meet ecommerce stakeholders over rising dark pattern complaints

Consumer complaints regarding dark patterns on ecommerce and quick commerce platforms have necessitated government scrutiny, with Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi looking to talk to stakeholders during the week.

The consumer affairs, food, and public distribution minister will meet stakeholders on May 28 in New Delhi to discuss consumer concerns over 'dark patterns' and explore more effective solutions to tackle the issue, the ministry said in a statement.

The stakeholders will hail from all major ecommerce platforms, working in the food, travel, cosmetics, pharmacy, retail, clothing and electronics sectors.

Key stakeholders include Amazon, Flipkart, 1mg.com, 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.

Curiously, the list excludes quick commerce unicorn Zepto, which has received flak from consumers over its alleged use of dark patterns.

Currently, the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, curbs 'dark patterns' on digital and offline platforms.

Key industry organisations, including voluntary consumer organisations (VCOs) and leading National Law Universities (NLUs), will also be active participants in this meeting.

The ministry in 2023 had recognised 13 prominent dark patterns in ecommerce, including 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 malware.

(With inputs from PTI.)