26 major e-commerce platforms declare full compliance with dark-pattern guidelines
With major industry players publicly affirming compliance, the Ministry said India is moving closer to a digital marketplace where consumer interest, transparency and ethical design take precedence over manipulative practices.
New Delhi, November 20: In a significant boost to consumer protection in India’s digital marketplace, 26 leading e-commerce platforms have voluntarily declared that they are fully compliant with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. The companies submitted formal self-audit declarations confirming that their platforms are free from deceptive or manipulative interface designs.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs said the development marks an important milestone in curbing dark patterns — design tactics that nudge or mislead users into unintended actions such as unwanted purchases, subscriptions or data-sharing. The companies conducted either internal or third-party audits to identify and eliminate all such patterns.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) welcomed the declarations, calling the move an “industry-best practice” and urging more platforms to adopt similar self-regulation. As directed by the Authority earlier this year, all companies have uploaded their declarations prominently on their websites. The full list is also available on the CCPA portal.
The guidelines prohibit 13 dark patterns, including false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, subscription traps, drip pricing, disguised ads, SaaS billing and rogue malwares. Introduced in November 2023 under the Consumer Protection Act, they aim to ensure a transparent, trustworthy digital environment for India’s rapidly growing base of online shoppers.
The declarations follow CCPA’s June 2025 advisory, which mandated a three-month self-audit for all e-commerce platforms to detect and remove dark patterns, and emphasised transparency, explicit consent and non-manipulative design. The Authority said that adherence to the guidelines strengthens long-term consumer trust and promotes fair trade practices.
Platforms that have confirmed compliance include Flipkart, Myntra, Cleartrip, MakeMyTrip, Zepto, BigBasket, Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Ajio, Meesho, PharmEasy, Tata 1mg, Reliance Retail brands (JioMart, Tira Beauty, Reliance Jewels, Reliance Digital), and several others across retail, travel, beauty, health and food delivery.
Officials said consumer awareness efforts through the National Consumer Helpline, social media campaigns and outreach programmes have already empowered users to identify and report dark patterns. The CCPA added that it continues to monitor platforms and will take enforcement action against any violations.
With major industry players publicly affirming compliance, the Ministry said India is moving closer to a digital marketplace where consumer interest, transparency and ethical design take precedence over manipulative practices.
