Dark Patterns in E-Commerce: The Department of Consumer Affairs has launched an initiative aimed at addressing the increasing prevalence of dark patterns within e-commerce platforms. These deceptive strategies involve the imposition of additional fees under various misleading terms.
In response to consumer exploitation, Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution, announced that the ministry has begun a comprehensive investigation into these concerning practices.
In a statement on social media platform X, he remarked, “The Department of Consumer Affairs has received numerous complaints regarding e-commerce platforms imposing additional charges for Cash-on-Delivery services, a practice that falls under the category of dark patterns designed to mislead and take advantage of consumers. A thorough investigation is underway, and measures are being implemented to closely examine these platforms. We are committed to taking stringent action against any violations of consumer rights to ensure transparency and promote fair practices within India’s burgeoning e-commerce landscape.”
This announcement came after a user on X shared a screenshot from an online shopping site, which displayed a variety of additional fees labeled as “Offer Handling Fee,” “Payment Handling Fee,” and “Protect Promise Fee.”
Such charges significantly raised the overall cost of items, even after discounts were applied, resulting in consumers ending up paying more than the initially advertised price.
A number of users on the platform expressed their frustration regarding the lack of consistency in charging methods employed by e-commerce companies, which has led to a crisis of trust among online shoppers.
Dark patterns often employ tactics that manipulate pricing structures to confuse customers, resulting in inflated payments for products that should be available at lower prices due to hidden fees.
In recent months, the Department of Consumer Affairs has intensified its efforts to identify and combat such practices, focusing on safeguarding consumers in India’s rapidly evolving digital marketplace.
