Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 12 DECEMBER 2023

A New Dawn For Dark Patterns

AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Contributor
AZB & Partners

AZB & Partners

AZB & Partners, one of India’s premier law firms was founded in 2004 with a clear purpose to...

View firm profile
Explore more from AZB & Partners

The Central Consumer Protection Authority in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, has notified the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023 on November 30, 2023.

IndiaConsumer Protection
Sumit Ghoshal
Sumit Ghoshal
Shagun Badhwar
Shagun Badhwar
Suyash Tiwari
Suyash Tiwari
Author LinkedIn connections
  1. BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

The Central Consumer Protection Authority ("CCPA") in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 ("CPA"), has notified the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023 ("Guidelines") on November 30, 2023. The Guidelines were preceded by the Draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, which were released by the CCPA on September 07, 2023, for public consultation.

The Guidelines have been framed after detailed deliberations between the Department of Consumer Affairs ("DoCA") and all stakeholders involved, such as e-commerce platforms. The DoCA had also issued a letter to major online platforms on June 30, 2023, urging such platforms to refrain from incorporating any design or patterns in their online interface that may deceive or manipulate consumer choice and fall in the category of dark patterns, as that would be construed to be an unfair trade

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026: A Comprehensive Regulatory Overhaul Of India’s Digital Marketplace

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, acting through the Department of Consumer Affairs, has notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, vide Notification No. CG-DL-E-10092026-276125, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), dated 9 September 2026.
IndiaConsumer Protection
IndiaLaw LLP
IndiaLaw LLP
Article

Rethinking E-Commerce Compliance: Key Changes Under The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026

On September 9, 2026, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs) notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (“Amendment Rules”), amending the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 (“E-Commerce Rules”). The Amendment Rules will come into force on January 1, 2027.
IndiaConsumer Protection
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Article

CCPA’s Guidelines On Dark Patterns: An Overview

The visual interface of ecommerce platforms increasingly influences how consumers select, purchase, subscribe to and cancel goods and services. Before the issuance of a framework specifically addressing dark patterns, the Consumer Protection Act 2019 (“Consumer Protection Act”) and the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020 (“E-Commerce Rules”) already prohibited unfair trade practices in e-commerce.
IndiaConsumer Protection
Tuli & Co
Tuli & Co
Article

Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Amendment Rules, 2026: Enhancing Transparency And Consumer Protection In E-Commerce

The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Amendment Rules, 2026 introduce significant compliance obligations for e-commerce platforms, particularly regarding the disclosure of Country of Origin and other product information. This article analyses the key amendments, their implications for manufacturers, importers, and online marketplaces, and the broader objectives of strengthening consumer protection in the digital marketplace.
IndiaConsumer Protection
Khurana & Khurana, Advocates and IP Attorneys
Khurana & Khurana, Advocates and IP Attorneys
Article

Indian FSSAI’s New Labelling Rules 2026

India's food safety regulator has introduced new labelling amendments that simplify compliance for infant nutrition products and small packages while strengthening traceability requirements for non-retail containers. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is pushing for front-of-pack warning labels on products high in fat, sugar, and salt, raising critical questions about implementation thresholds, consumer accessibility, and the balance between public health and industry concerns.
IndiaConsumer Protection
Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance (GALA)
Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance (GALA)
Article

Front-of-Pack Labelling In India: Supreme Court Examines FSSAI’s Proposed Framework

India's Supreme Court is examining the food regulator's proposed front-of-pack labelling framework for packaged foods, which would require red hexagonal warnings on products exceeding specified levels of sugar, salt and fat. The Court has raised critical questions about nutrient thresholds, label design, implementation timelines and practical implications for food businesses, while the final requirements remain subject to judicial determination and subsequent regulatory process.
IndiaConsumer Protection
Lexplosion Solutions Private Limited
Lexplosion Solutions Private Limited
Article

Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026: Recalibrating E-Commerce Compliance Across The Indian Data Privacy Framework

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, has amended the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 through the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, with the objective of strengthening consumer protection while facilitating a transparent and balanced regulatory framework for the e-commerce sector.
IndiaConsumer Protection
S.S. Rana & Co.
S.S. Rana & Co.
Article

India’s New E-Commerce Rules: What The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 Mean For Platforms, Marketplaces And Sellers In India

For most of the last decade, e-commerce compliance in India has been a question of what a platform says: the disclosures on a product page, the terms in a policy, the identity of a seller. The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 change the question. They reach into how a platform is built and how it behaves, its ranking logic, its discount displays, its interface design and its use of consumer data, and make those matters of compliance rather than of commercial discretion. Notified on 9 September 2026 and effective from 1 January 2027, the amendments give businesses a defined, and short, runway to adapt.
IndiaConsumer Protection
S.S. Rana & Co.
S.S. Rana & Co.
Article

Enhancement Of PF Wage Ceiling To INR 25,000

The Ministry of Labour & Employment has issued a notification dated September 17, 2026, notifying INR 25,000 per month as the new wage ceiling for the purposes of the provident fund provisions (“PF“) of the Code on Social Security, 2020 (“SS Code”). The notification is effective from September 17, 2026. The wage ceiling was last revised 12 years ago in September 2014, when it was increased from INR 6,500 per month to INR 15,000 per month.
IndiaEmployment and HR
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Article

Rethinking E-Commerce Compliance: Key Changes Under The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026

On September 9, 2026, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs) notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (“Amendment Rules”), amending the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 (“E-Commerce Rules”). The Amendment Rules will come into force on January 1, 2027.
IndiaConsumer Protection
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Article

FCRA Amendment Rules, 2026: Key Changes And Practical Implications

AZB & Partners provides important disclaimers regarding the nature and purpose of their website, clarifying that no solicitation or advertising has occurred and that the information is provided solely at the user's request. The firm outlines the limitations of the website content and emphasizes that accessing it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Users are informed about their responsibilities when using the site and the firm's intellectual property rights over the content.
IndiaCorporate/Commercial Law
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Article

Arbitral Award Signed, Not Stamped: The Delhi High Court In URC Construction v. Airports Authority Of India Closes The Door On Deferred Stamp Duty At The Enforcement Stage

The Delhi High Court has ruled that arbitral awards must be stamped when signed, not when enforcement is sought, closing a decades-old practice of deferred stamp duty payment. Once the one-month statutory window expires, award holders cannot cure the deficiency through unilateral deposit and must pay both deficit duty and penalty at a fixed rate, fundamentally reshaping enforcement practice for arbitration practitioners across India.
IndiaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Article

New Social Security Schemes For Employees In India

India has introduced three new social security schemes under the Code on Social Security, 2020, effective July 1, 2026, fundamentally restructuring the country's provident fund, pension, and insurance frameworks. These schemes replace decades-old regulations and introduce special provisions including enrollment campaigns, damage relief programs, and retrospective exemptions for establishments. The new framework maintains contribution structures while introducing significant operational changes and transitio
IndiaEmployment and HR
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners