Technological news desk – The central government has given a final warning to e-commerce Companies, which are openly misleading consumers, to stop misguided business tactics. The Union Consumer Ministry has ordered all e-commerce companies including Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho to self-regulate dark patterns. The companies have to prepare their blueprint, after which the government will seal it. If companies don’t do this, then the government will take a hard line.

The United States and the European Union have cracked down on dark consumption patterns. Shady employers attempt to influence or mislead consumers through various means, including deceptive advertisements. Suppose you browse a website and then there are clickbait offers, hidden ads, bet n switch, hidden prices, spam and barter (referral) system.

Meeting with e-commerce companies
According to the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, it is not a fair trade practice as it is used to attract, mislead or influence consumers. In Mumbai, senior ministry officials held a meeting with all the e-commerce companies, where the companies also agreed to self-regulation. Simply put, every business will remove dark patterns from their website. If any claim is made in this regard by consumers, it will also be resolved.

Last chance to control dark bosses
An official from the Union ministry told TV9 that dark patterns are also used to mislead consumers or not provide correct information. However, no one accepts this fact. In many reports about this in the European Union and America, large companies have been found to be involved in the use of dark patterns. This was the reason why the ministry has given the last chance to e-commerce companies doing business in the country to curb this trend.

Strict action will be taken against companies.
If companies don’t listen, the government will crack down. He reported that the companies will prepare a self-regulation draft and submit it to the ministry and then approval will be given to implement it. Significantly, if companies do not comply with the instructions, then under consumer law the central ministry can levy heavy fines on companies for unfair trade practice issues. Apart from this, new rules can be implemented to crack down on dark patrons.