Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with IIT (BHU) launched Dark Patterns
Buster Hackathon 2023
It aims to design & prototype innovative apps or software that can detect dark patterns on e-Commerce platforms.
- It may include browser extensions, add-ons, mobile applications etc.
A Dark pattern refers to practices adopted by online platforms which mislead people into paying for items or services they did not intend to do originally.
- It is considered an unfair trade practice.
Earlier, under Consumer Protection Act 2019, Government issued draft Guidelines on Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns 2023.
- Applicable: All platforms, systematically offering goods & services in India; Advertisers; Sellers.
- Protecting consumers from unfair trade practices
- Mobilizing India’s technology talent to innovate solutions
- Designing an innovative app or software-based solution
Certain examples of dark patterns
Dark Patterns Description
Saas Billing: Recurring payments in software as a service (SaaS), exploiting positive acquisition loops to collect funds fromusers.
False Urgency: Describing a sale as an ‘exclusive’ sale for a limited time.
Basket Sneaking: Automatically adding travel insurance while a user purchases a flight ticket.
Confirm Shaming: Nudging user for purchases or maintaining service subscriptions through creating a sense of fear, guilt, e.g., ‘I Will stay unsecured’ while purchasing a flight ticket.
Forced Action: Forcing a user to subscribe to a newsletter in order to purchase a product.
Subscription Trap: Making cancellation of a paid subscription a complex process.
Drip Pricing: Gradual or hidden disclosure of prices, offering something as free without revealing in-app purchase requirements etc.
Nagging: Dark pattern causing user overload, disrupting intended transactions.
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