In a strong move to protect consumers from deceptive online practices, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has directed all e-commerce platforms in India to conduct self-audits within the next three months. The aim is to identify and eliminate "dark patterns," which are manipulative design tricks used to mislead users into making unintended purchases, subscriptions, or sharing personal information. This directive, issued on June 7, 2025, by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, underscores the government's commitment to fostering a fair and transparent digital ecosystem that builds consumer trust.

The CCPA's advisory requires e-commerce platforms to not only audit their user interfaces but also to submit voluntary self-declarations confirming they are free of such deceptive practices. To support this initiative, the Department of Consumer Affairs has established a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising representatives from key ministries, regulators, national law universities, and consumer organizations. This group will be responsible for identifying violations, suggesting awareness campaigns, and regularly sharing findings with the department.

This crackdown is part of a larger government strategy to curb unfair trade practices within India's rapidly growing e-commerce sector. A meeting was convened on May 29, 2025, chaired by Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, with representatives from over 50 companies, including major players like Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, Flipkart, Swiggy, Paytm, and MakeMyTrip, as well as industry bodies like NASSCOM, FICCI, CAIT, and voluntary consumer groups.

The CCPA has already begun taking action against platforms found to be in violation of the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, which were initially notified in November 2023. These guidelines formally define 13 specific dark pattern tactics, including:

• False Urgency: Creating a misleading sense of scarcity to pressure users into making quick purchases.
• Basket Sneaking: Adding items such as insurance or donations to a user's cart without clear consent.
• Confirm Shaming: Using guilt-inducing language to steer users toward specific choices.
• Subscription Traps: Making it easy to sign up for a subscription but deliberately difficult to cancel.
• Drip Pricing: Hiding costs until the final checkout stage.
• Disguised Advertisements: Presenting promotional content as organic features.
• Interface Interference: Manipulating the user interface to influence decision-making.

The government's move has been welcomed by consumer rights advocates who have long called for greater transparency and accountability in the e-commerce industry. By mandating self-audits and establishing a dedicated working group, the government is taking proactive steps to ensure that online marketplaces operate ethically and do not exploit consumers through deceptive design practices.

India is the first country to issue dedicated guidelines to regulate dark patterns. Government officials have emphasized that the goal is not to hinder digital commerce but to ensure that its rapid growth is matched by ethical standards and robust consumer safeguards. The success of this initiative hinges on the willingness of e-commerce platforms to comply with the new regulations and prioritize consumer interests over short-term gains. It also relies on continued vigilance and enforcement by the CCPA and the Joint Working Group to identify and address any emerging dark patterns that may arise in the ever-evolving digital landscape.