On Jun. 10, 2025, IND CNS published an advisory (of Jun. 5, 2025) which advises e-commerce platforms to conduct internal audit to identify dark patterns.
The internal audit should be conducted within three months from this advisory.
They shall take necessary steps to ensure the platforms are free from dark patterns.
Based on the audit reports, e-commerce platforms are encouraged to give self-declarations that their platforms are not indulging in any dark patterns.
Document dated Jun. 10, 2025, was received on Jul. 2, 2025 due to a fixed feed.
On Sep. 6, IND CNS proposed guidelines on preventing dark patterns.
IND CNS proposed guidelines on prevention and regulation of dark patterns.
Guidelines
Apply to all platforms offering goods or services in India, advertisers, and sellers.
No person, including platforms, is allowed to engage in any dark pattern, engaging in practices specified in annexure 1 of guidelines constitutes engaging in a dark pattern.
The guidelines complement existing laws, rules, regulations governing dark patterns.
Violations of guidelines are subject to provisions of the Consumer protection act, 2019.
Effectiveness
The consultation is open until Oct. 5, 2023.
Nov. 2023 Official Gazette
On Nov. 30, 2023, IND CNS issuedGuidelines for prevention and regulation of dark patterns, 2023, apply to all platforms offering goods or services, advertisers, sellers.
If a dark pattern practice is regulated by other existing laws or regulations, these guidelines are in addition to and not a replacement for, those laws.
In case of any disputes, decision of the Central Consumer Protection Authority is final.
The guidelines come into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
Document dated Nov. 30, 2023, received from IND CNS Dec. 4, summarized Dec. 6.
Jun. 2025 Internal Audit
On Jun. 10, 2025, IND CNS published an advisory (of Jun. 5, 2025) which advises e-commerce platforms to conduct internal audit to identify dark patterns.
The internal audit should be conducted within three months from this advisory.
They shall take necessary steps to ensure the platforms are free from dark patterns.
Based on the audit reports, e-commerce platforms are encouraged to give self-declarations that their platforms are not indulging in any dark patterns.
Document dated Jun. 10, 2025, was received on Jul. 2, 2025 due to a fixed feed.
Regulators
IND CNS
Entity Types
CNSM; Corp
Reference
Adv CCPA-1/1/2023-CCPA, 3/2025, 6/5/2025; OG F. No. CCPA-1/1/2023-CCPA -(Reg), 11/30/2023; CP F.No. J-24/34/2023-CPU (Reg), Nt, 9/6/2023
