Consumer Affairs Ministry summons airlines over dark pattern - Details

The Indian Consumer Affairs Ministry has taken a tough stand in the dark pattern used by airlines and has summoned them today at 3 pm. According to sources, the ministry has sought responses from these airlines on the presence of dark patterns on their websites.

According to sources, online travel companies like MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Yatra, IRCTC and others will also attend today's meeting.

The meeting of Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) meeting will be chaired by the Consumer Affairs Secretary.

Earlier, a 17-member Task Force submitted its report to the Consumer Affairs Ministry. The Task Force was set up to frame draft guidelines to stop the menace of "dark patterns" by online players. 

The Task Force that was constituted on June 28, submitted the draft guidelines to the nodal Consumer Affairs Ministry on August 14.

Dark patterns are the tactics used by online players to deceive customers or manipulate their choices.

In the draft guidelines, the Task Force has clearly defined "dark patterns" which are against the interest of consumers and should not be used by online platforms. The draft guideline also classified different forms of "dark patterns' that are in use on various e-platforms.

These guidelines were finalised after an elaborate discussion with representatives of Amazon, Flipkart, Google, Meta, Ola Cabs, Swiggy, Zomato, Ship Rocket, Go-MMT, and Nasscom, who were members of the Task Force.

Right now, dark patterns have been noticed as part of misleading advertisements.