Government Cracks Down on ‘Dark Patterns’: Zepto, BookMyShow, IndiGo Among 9 Apps Fined
New Delhi: Have you ever added something to your online cart, only to notice the final bill is higher than expected? Maybe a handling fee appeared at checkout, a membership was added automatically, or a donation box was already ticked. These small charges often go unnoticed—but together, they can cost consumers much more than they intended to pay.
Taking a tough stand against such practices, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalties on nine digital platforms, including Zepto, BookMyShow, IndiGo, Physics Wallah, FirstCry, PharmEasy, McAfee, SpiceJet, and Anuj Jindal, for using deceptive design techniques known as “dark patterns.” The government informed the Rajya Sabha that nearly ₹20 lakh has been collected in penalties from the companies involved.
Among the biggest penalties, Zepto was fined ₹7 lakh after the regulator found that the quick-commerce platform added handling charges and membership fees at the final payment stage, making the actual cost higher than the price initially shown. The CCPA classified these practices as drip pricing and basket sneaking. Following the action, Zepto has reportedly discontinued the flagged practices.
BookMyShow also came under scrutiny for automatically including a ₹1 donation to its BookASmile charity initiative during ticket bookings. While the amount was small, the regulator said consumers should not have to manually remove a pre-selected charge. The practice was also treated as basket sneaking, and the platform was directed to stop using it.
In the case of IndiGo, the regulator objected to the airline’s use of confirm shaming. Customers declining travel insurance were shown the message, “No, I will take risk,” which the CCPA said could pressure users into making purchases. IndiGo has since changed the wording to a neutral option: “No, I will not add to the trip.”
Physics Wallah was fined ₹5 lakh after the regulator found that a ₹10 donation to its foundation was automatically selected for users. The CCPA also raised concerns over emotionally persuasive messages encouraging donations and the requirement for users to share personal information before accessing free courses. The company has paid the penalty and removed the identified practices.
The crackdown extended to FirstCry, PharmEasy, McAfee, SpiceJet, and coaching platform Anuj Jindal, which were fined between ₹1 lakh and ₹3 lakh each for practices such as hidden charges, misleading countdown timers, forced subscriptions, and manipulative renewal prompts.
The action is part of the government’s efforts to enforce the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, which identify 13 types of deceptive online design practices, including false urgency, basket sneaking, drip pricing, subscription traps, confirm shaming, and trick questions.
The government says the aim is simple: online platforms should make purchasing decisions easier and more transparent, allowing consumers to choose freely without being influenced by misleading or manipulative design tricks.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
