Dark pattern guidelines to prescribe penalty for erring digital firms

The government is set to specify penalties for e-commerce companies misleading consumers into taking unintended decisions, as it tightens regulations on unfair trade practices by digital businesses.

- Puja Das & Gireesh Chandra

The guidelines for what’s known in the industry as dark patterns, or deceptive patterns, are expected in a matter of weeks, said an official informed about the development.

The government decided to specify the penalties because the underlying consumer protection law does not specifically name ‘dark patterns’ as an unfair practice, although it has a broad scope and covers all deceptive practices and misrepresentations.

This will not only provide e-commerce companies clarity on the consequences of indulging in misleading trade practices, but also make it easier for courts to deal with consumer complaints.