In a major boost to consumer protection in the digital marketplace, 26 leading e-commerce platforms have voluntarily submitted self-declaration letters confirming that they comply with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023.
According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, these companies undertook internal self-audits or third-party evaluations to identify, assess, and eliminate any use of dark patterns, deceptive design tactics meant to mislead or manipulate users.
The list spans multiple sectors, including retail, travel, e-commerce, healthcare, and food delivery.
Platforms such as Page Industries (Jockey, Speedo), William Penn (Sheaffer, Lapis Bard), Curaden India (Curaprox), Duroflex, Milkbasket, Netmeds, Hamleys, Swiggy, Tata 1mg, and Zomato reported that their internal audits found no dark patterns.
PharmEasy and BigBasket also completed internal reviews, with BigBasket noting that it has already implemented necessary corrective measures.
Zepto confirmed that its UI/UX has been audited and is under continuous monitoring.
Reliance Retail’s digital platforms, including Tira Beauty, JioMart, Reliance Jewels, Ajio, and Reliance Digital, have also declared themselves fully compliant.
Meanwhile, major e-commerce and travel platforms such as Flipkart, Myntra, Cleartrip, Walmart India, and Ixigo submitted third-party or internal assessments verifying that no dark patterns were detected.
MakeMyTrip stated that its platforms require explicit user consent and do not use pre-ticked boxes.
Blinkit highlighted its transparent and responsible design practices, while Meesho announced full compliance with all 13 dark-pattern guidelines and stated that it conducts regular internal checks to maintain these standards.
“The proactive industry-wide compliance demonstrates a strong commitment towards consumer transparency, fair trade practices, and ethical digital ecosystems,” according to a Consumer Affairs Ministry statement.
This voluntary alignment, it added, shows that consumer protection and business growth can go hand in hand, strengthening trust and long-term credibility for digital brands.
The Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, notified on 30 November 2023, prohibit 13 deceptive design practices such as False Urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm Shaming, Forced Action, Subscription Trap, Interface Interference, Bait & Switch, Drip Pricing, Disguised Advertisements, Nagging, Trick Wording, SaaS Billing, and Rogue Malware.
Earlier, on 5 June 2025, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued an advisory mandating all e-commerce platforms and online service providers to conduct a self-audit within three months to detect and eliminate dark patterns, an exercise that has now led to widespread voluntary compliance across the industry.