Dark Patterns on the web

Ministry of consumer affairs (MCA) has come out with draft guidelines on Prevention and Regulations of Dark Patterns. Government said the objective of the guidelines is to identify and regulate practices which tend to manipulate or alter consumer choices, often by using deceptive or misleading techniques or manipulated user interfaces/ web designs. Thus, the proposed guidelines seek to oversee such practices which are prejudicial to the consumer interests. The guidelines would be applicable to all the persons and online platforms including sellers and advertisers.