New Delhi, Dec 22 (NationPress) The Department of Consumer Affairs is preparing to unveil the Jago Grahak Jago App, Jagriti App, and Jagriti Dashboard on Tuesday in celebration of National Consumers Day.
An official announcement made on Sunday indicated that these initiatives aim to foster a transparent and fair digital marketplace where consumers are empowered to make informed choices without the risk of deception or coercion. Furthermore, consumers will receive education regarding their rights.
According to the statement, “These Apps will significantly boost the capabilities of the CCPA in initiating suo motu actions to safeguard consumers against dark patterns.”
The Jago Grahak Jago App offers crucial e-commerce information regarding all URLs during a consumer's online activities, notifying them if any URL appears unsafe and requires caution. In contrast, the Jagriti App enables users to report URLs where they suspect the existence of one or more dark patterns that are deemed illegal. These reports are subsequently registered as complaints with the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) for potential resolution and further action.
Moreover, the Jagriti Dashboard is strengthening the CCPA's operations by generating real-time reports on e-commerce URLs to detect dark patterns, thereby enhancing their ability to monitor and regulate online consumer interactions effectively.
This initiative will assist the CCPA in recognizing dark patterns, expediting the resolution of consumer disputes, and significantly curbing practices that harm consumer interests, as the statement highlighted.
As part of the government's extensive strategy and continuous efforts to bolster consumer protection in the digital age and combat unfair practices in e-commerce and online services, the Central Consumer Protection Authority established the Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns in 2023, identifying 13 dark patterns, including: False urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm shaming, forced action, Subscription trap, Interface Interference, Bait and switch, Drip Pricing, Disguised Advertisements, Nagging, Trick Wording, SaaS Billing, and Rogue Malwares.
The three applications are part of an intelligent cyber-physical system that functions in real-time and operates on the Airawat AI Supercomputer under the National Supercomputing Mission for AI and Data Analytics. This advanced system analyzes existing text and design elements on e-commerce platforms to assess whether they are being employed to influence consumer psychology, as explained in the statement.
Previously, the CCPA had issued notices to IndiGo Airlines and BookMyShow under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, for alleged Misleading Advertisement and Unfair Trade Practices due to deceptive design patterns. Following the CCPA's intervention, both companies took corrective actions to ensure a fair deal for consumers.
