CCPA's Crackdown On Dark Patterns: Mandates Self-Audit To Eliminate Dark Patterns In 3 Months

Introduction

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), in a move that reaffirms its commitment to protecting the interests of digital consumers, has issued a fresh advisory under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. This advisory, published on 5 June 2025, mandates all e-commerce platforms to conduct self-audits for identifying and eliminating the use of dark patterns on their platforms. The directive seeks to foster a transparent, ethical, and consumer-centric digital ecosystem.

Key Directives of the Advisory:

1. Mandatory Self-Audit: All e-commerce platforms are required to carry out a comprehensive self-audit of their user interfaces and marketing practices to identify any instances of dark patterns. The audit must be completed within a period of three months from the date of issuance of the advisory.