Crackdown on Dark Patterns: CCPA's New Guidelines

1. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has acted against websites and apps that try to fool users using tricky methods called dark patterns.

What are Dark Patterns?

1. Dark patterns are tricks used by websites or apps to make people do things they might not want to do. These include making purchases, sharing personal information, or subscribing to services.
2. These patterns exploit consumer behavior and psychology to serve the interests of platforms or sellers.

Types of Dark Patterns:

1. False Urgency: It makes people think an offer is ending soon or that only a few items are left, so they hurry to decide.
2. Bait and Switch: It is a practice of showing or advertising one product or price to attract people, but later changing it to something else when they try to buy it.
3. Drip Pricing: This means showing a low price at the beginning, but adding extra hidden charges later when the person is about to pay.
4. Disguised Advertisements: It is showing advertisements in a way that they look like normal news or articles, so people don’t realize they are ads.
5. Confirm Shaming: This means using words that make people feel bad or guilty if they don’t choose something. For example, saying “No thanks, I don’t want to save money” makes the person feel wrong for not picking that option.
6. Forced Action: It reflects making users do something they don't want or need to do before they can move forward. For example, asking someone to sign up for a newsletter before they can download a file.
7. Nagging: Showing the same pop-up or message again and again, which disturbs the user while using a website or app.
8. Interface Interference: Designing a website or app in a way that quietly pushes users to choose certain options the company prefers without making it obvious. Example: Highlighting a "premium" plan with bright colors while making the "basic" plan hard to find.
9. Subscription Traps: They make it very easy for you to start a subscription, but very hard to stop it. Example: You can join with one click, but to cancel, you must search a lot or talk to authorities.
10. Sneak into Basket: Adding extra things to your shopping cart without asking you. Example: You choose one item to buy, but the website puts other things in your cart without telling you.

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA): The CCPA has been established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. It came into force from 24th July 2020. Objective: To regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of consumers as class and public at large.   Power of Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA): Protect, promote and enforce the rights of consumers as a class, and prevent violation of consumers rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Prevent unfair trade practices and ensure that no person engages himself in unfair trade practices. Ensure that no false or misleading advertisement is made of any goods or services which contravenes the provisions of the Act or the rules or regulations made by the act.

CCPA's Mandate and Enforcement:

1. These new norms apply to all platforms, advertisers, and sellers operating in India.
2. The CCPA has already found some big online shopping websites using these tricks. It has  warned them to stop.
3. The intent is to protect consumer rights, promote informed decision-making, and ensure fair digital trade practices.

Why does This Matters?

1. The increasing digitization of commerce has created a growing need for consumer protection in the online space.
2. Consumers often fall prey to these designed tricks without realizing its potential threat, leading to unintended purchases, subscriptions, or data sharing.
3. These rules help India join other countries to make sure online companies follow fair and honest rules.

Conclusion

The CCPA’s action is an important step to make online shopping more fair and clear. As rules are more strictly followed, websites will have to change their design to follow these rules. This will help people trust online platforms more and make India’s digital economy more honest and fair.