Lok Sabha Question No. 472 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Dark Pattern in Mobile/Web Applications
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Brijmohan Agrawal

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 472 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## DARK PATTERN IN MOBILE/WEB APPLICATIONS

472. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL: (OIH)

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a) the detailed list of all the complaints received regarding use of dark patterns in mobile or web applications by the digital platforms like e-commerce, etc.; and
- (b) the details of the action taken by the Government against the said complaints?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

(a) & (b) :  Central Consumer Protection Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, issued 'Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023' on  30th  November,  2023  for  prevention  and  regulation  of  dark  patterns  listing  13  specified  dark  patterns identified  in  e-Commerce  sector.  These  dark  patterns  include  false  urgency,  Basket  Sneaking,  Confirm shaming, forced action,  Subscription trap,  Interface  Interference,  Bait  and  switch,  Drip  Pricing,  Disguised Advertisements, Nagging, Trick Wording, Saas Billing and Rogue Malwares.

In  furtherance,  to  safeguard  consumer  rights  and  promote  fair  trade  practices,  Department  of Consumer Affairs, Government of India convened a meeting on 28 th May 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy with representatives from major e-commerce companies, industry associations, Voluntary Consumer Organizations  and  National  Law  Universities  for  a  focused  dialogue  on  eliminating  deceptive  online practices.

As an outcome of the said meeting, an 'Advisory in terms of Consumer Protection Act,2019 on SelfAudit by E-Commerce Platforms for detecting the Dark Patterns on their platforms to create a fair, ethical and  consumer  centric  digital  ecosystem'  was  issued  by    Central  Consumer  Protection  Authority  on  5 th June,2025.

All E-Commerce platforms have been advised through the said Advisory to take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms do not engage in such deceptive and unfair trade practice which are in the nature of Dark Patterns.  Further, all E-Commerce platforms have been advised to conduct self-audits to identify dark patterns, within three months of the issue of the advisory and take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms  are  free  from  such  dark  patterns.    Based  on  the  self-audit  reports,  the  E-Commerce  platforms should also give self-declarations that their platform is not indulging in any dark patterns in order to ensure fair digital ecosystem along with building trust between consumers and e-commerce platforms.

A Joint Working Group, comprising  representatives from Ministries, National Law Universities and Voluntary Consumer Organizations, has been constituted vide Office Memorandum dated 5 th June,2025 for identifying the dark patterns and stakeholders to work together in creating a transparent, ethical and usercentric online environment .

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