Topics In Demand
Notification
New

No notification found.

Government Forms Joint Working Group on Dark Patterns
Government Forms Joint Working Group on Dark Patterns

June 9, 2025

30

0

In a significant step towards enhancing online consumer protection, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) to identify and eliminate dark patterns from e-commerce platforms. This decision, formalized through an Office Memorandum dated June 5, 2025, follows the Ministry’s earlier issuance of the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, which defined 13 manipulative design practices that deceive or mislead users.

The JWG will be chaired by Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs  brings together senior officials from key ministries including MeitY, DPIIT, DoT, DFS, I&B, Civil Aviation, Tourism, and Ayush, along with regulators like IRDAI, consumer law experts from premier law universities, and leading consumer rights advocates and organizations such as VOICE and Mumbai Grahak Panchayat.

Members of the JWG:

S. No. Name & Designation Organization/Body Role
1 Shri Bharat Harbanslal Khera Additional Secretary, DoCA Chairman
2 Shri Anupam Mishra Joint Secretary, DoCA Member
3 Joint Secretary MeitY Member
4 Joint Secretary DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce Member
5 Joint Secretary Department of Telecommunications Member
6 Joint Secretary Department of Financial Services Member
7 Joint Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Member
8 Joint Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation Member
9 Chief General Manager IRDAI Member
10 Joint Secretary Ministry of Tourism Member
11 Joint Secretary Ministry of Ayush Member
12 Director Central Consumer Protection Authority Member Secretary
13 Dr. Sudhanshu Kumar Associate Professor, NLSIU Bengaluru Member
14 Ms. Anushtha Saxena Assistant Professor, NUSRL Ranchi Member
15 Dr. Sushila Associate Professor, NLU Delhi Member
16 Mr. Ashim Sanyal CEO & Secretary, VOICE Member
17 Mr. Shirish Deshpande President, Mumbai Grahak Panchayat Member
18 Ms. Pushpa Girimaji Consumer Activist Member
19 Dr. N.S. Rajput Professor, IIT (BHU) Varanasi Member

 

Mandate of the JWG:

  • Regularly identify and report instances of dark pattern violations on e-commerce platforms.

  • Recommend measures to safeguard consumer rights and promote a transparent digital economy.

  • Suggest awareness programs to educate consumers about deceptive online practices.

The tenure of the group is 12 months, and it will meet regularly to submit findings and recommendations to the Department of Consumer Affairs.

 


That the contents of third-party articles/blogs published here on the website, and the interpretation of all information in the article/blogs such as data, maps, numbers, opinions etc. displayed in the article/blogs and views or the opinions expressed within the content are solely of the author's; and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of NASSCOM or its affiliates in any manner. NASSCOM does not take any liability w.r.t. content in any manner and will not be liable in any manner whatsoever for any kind of liability arising out of any act, error or omission. The contents of third-party article/blogs published, are provided solely as convenience; and the presence of these articles/blogs should not, under any circumstances, be considered as an endorsement of the contents by NASSCOM in any manner; and if you chose to access these articles/blogs , you do so at your own risk.


Download Attachment

Joint Working Group - Dark Patterns.pdf

© Copyright nasscom. All Rights Reserved.