Dark Patterns in India: What They Are, Examples & How to Avoid Them In today’s digital world, when you tap “buy” or “subscribe” with just a few clicks, you expect choice. But what if the design of the website or app nudges you into something you didn’t intend? That’s the world of “dark patterns” and for Indian consumers and businesses alike, it’s time to understand them and act.
What Are Dark Patterns? Dark patterns are design choices in interfaces websites, apps, dashboards where the user is subtly steered into decisions that benefit the business, not necessarily the user. These might include hidden extra charges, confusing opt-out flows, fake urgency (“Only 1 left!”) or default pre-ticks for add-ons you didn’t ask for. In India, as digital commerce, fintech and delivery apps grow rapidly, these design tricks have become widespread.
Why Should You Care? For consumers, dark patterns can mean loss of clarity, extra payments or unintentional data sharing. For businesses, they erode trust, harm brand reputation and invite regulatory risk. For digital marketers and UX strategists, understanding dark patterns helps you build fairer, more transparent user experiences the kind that create loyal customers and higher conversion rates.
The Indian Regulatory Landscape India is now formally addressing dark patterns. On 30 November 2023, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. These define dark patterns as deceptive design practices that mislead users or impair decision-making. The guidelines apply to all digital platforms offering goods or services in India, including advertisers and sellers.
In June 2025, the CCPA further advised e-commerce platforms to conduct self-audits to identify and remove manipulative UX elements a signal that enforcement is tightening.
How to Spot Dark Patterns ● ● ● ● ●
Hidden costs: Extra charges revealed only at checkout. Default pre-ticks: Auto-added services or add-ons without consent. False urgency: “Only 2 left!” or “Offer ends soon” messages. Tricky cancellations: Easy to subscribe, hard to unsubscribe. Bait and switch: Promising one thing, delivering another.
What Businesses Should Do ● ● ● ●
Conduct a UX audit to identify misleading design elements. Map user journeys and ensure consent-based actions. Ensure transparent pricing and easy opt-outs. Regularly review and remove manipulative design patterns.
Why Ethical UX Matters At Lumiverse Solutions, we believe in designing digital ecosystems that value user trust as much as performance. Eliminating dark patterns not only protects your brand but also strengthens customer retention. Pair this approach with strong cybersecurity and compliance practices through our insights on cybersecurity for the banking sector, AI-driven phishing protection, and penetration testing.
Final Thoughts Dark patterns aren’t always intentional, but their impact is real. As India’s regulatory landscape matures, businesses that prioritise ethical design will lead in trust and compliance. By spotting, preventing, and redesigning around dark patterns, you build a more transparent digital future one click at a time.
Source:https://lumiversesolutions.com/dark-patterns-identify-and-prevent-new-guide-for-india/
