CCPA Takes Action Against Nine Digital Platforms for Misleading Practices
Regulatory Measures Against Deceptive Online Practices
Representational Image
New Delhi, Aug 6: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has levied fines on nine digital platforms, including IndiGo, Zepto, Physics Wallah, BookMyShow, FirstCry, and SpiceJet, for employing misleading online strategies known as dark patterns that allegedly deceived consumers during their purchasing and subscription processes.
This enforcement action was revealed by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in a written statement to the Rajya Sabha, indicating that the government is intensifying its efforts to safeguard consumers from manipulative online interfaces that can sway purchasing choices.
The ministry reported that the CCPA has acted against companies utilizing various dark pattern techniques, such as drip pricing, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, subscription traps, and misleading prompts.
These strategies are designed to nudge consumers toward decisions they might not have made otherwise.
To date, the regulator has imposed approximately Rs 20 lakh in fines on companies found breaching these guidelines.
In June 2025, the CCPA instructed e-commerce platforms to perform self-audits to identify and eliminate dark patterns from their digital offerings.
Among those penalized, the quick commerce platform Zepto Marketplace received a fine of Rs 7 lakh for adding extra handling charges and membership fees during the checkout process after users had already seen the initial price.
This practice was categorized as drip pricing and basket sneaking. Following the CCPA's intervention, Zepto has ceased these identified practices.
The edtech platform Physics Wallah was fined Rs 5 lakh after the regulator took notice of a pre-selected Rs 10 donation option associated with its PW Foundation.
The CCPA noted that users were presented with emotionally charged messages urging them to keep the donation option selected.
Additionally, the regulator criticized the company's requirement for users to provide personal information before accessing free courses. Physics Wallah has since paid the fine and eliminated the contested practices.
In the case of IndiGo, the airline was found to be using a form of confirm shaming within its mobile application.
After the regulator's objection to the opt-out message stating "No I will take risk," the airline revised its user interface to a more neutral phrase, "No, I will not add to the trip."
BookMyShow was instructed to stop a pre-selected Rs 1 donation to its BookASmile initiative, which the regulator classified as basket sneaking.
Other companies penalized include FirstCry, fined Rs 2 lakh, coaching platform Anuj Jindal with a penalty of Rs 3 lakh, and PharmaEasy, McAfee, and SpiceJet, each facing fines of Rs 1 lakh.