Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, has observed that despite the issuance of the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, several e-commerce platforms continue to host deceptive user interface designs that mislead consumers. These dark patterns violate consumer rights and contribute to unfair trade practices. Previous enforcement, including notices by the CCPA, has highlighted recurring non-compliance. Additionally, Rule 4(9) of the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 explicitly prohibits implicit consent mechanisms like pre-ticked boxes for purchases.

Through this advisory, the CCPA has urged all e-commerce platforms to undertake self-audits to proactively detect and eliminate dark patterns present on their platforms. Platforms must complete these audits within three months of the advisory’s issuance. Based on the audit findings, platforms are encouraged to provide self-declarations affirming that they do not engage in any dark patterns. These declarations aim to foster a trustworthy and ethical digital commerce environment. The advisory also calls upon industry associations, voluntary consumer organisations, and academic institutions to widely disseminate this directive and promote awareness about the importance of dark pattern prevention through internal monitoring.