A recent survey highlights that a significant majority of Indians, eight out of ten, have experienced dark patterns in the telecom sector. These unethical design practices, which manipulate consumers for the benefit of mobile operators, range from receiving less internet data than advertised to being trapped in unwanted subscriptions and facing persistent prompts.

A recent survey highlights that a significant majority of Indians, eight out of ten, have experienced dark patterns in the telecom sector. These unethical design practices, which manipulate consumers for the benefit of mobile operators, range from receiving less internet data than advertised to being trapped in unwanted subscriptions and facing persistent prompts.

A recent survey highlights that a significant majority of Indians, eight out of ten, have experienced dark patterns in the telecom sector. These unethical design practices, which manipulate consumers for the benefit of mobile operators, range from receiving less internet data than advertised to being trapped in unwanted subscriptions and facing persistent prompts.

Eight out of 10 people in India have experienced at least one dark pattern in the telecom sector, a new report revealed. Examples of dark patterns range, in this case, from being delivered less internet usage per day than what is stated in the recharge plan to cases of inability to share internet connection via hotspots. 

There are also umpteen cases of ‘subscription traps’ and ‘nagging’, unethical user interface elements crafted to manipulate users, prioritising the mobile operator's interests rather than that of the consumer. 

A nationwide survey released this week by Local Circles, a community social media platform, has revealed the steady penetration of dark patterns in the telecom sector. According to the survey, subscription traps, forced action, drip pricing, nagging, and bait and switch are the dark pattern concerns in the telecom sector. 

It is a problem, considering that India banned such dark-pattern practices in the telecom sector under the 2023 guidelines. And now, the Centre has asked for a report to pursue further action.

Dark patterns have been a major issue facing online consumers, especially in this era where every service and activity has moved into cyberspace. Making it difficult for one to unsubscribe is a ‘subscription trap’; on the other end, buying extras to access a product is ‘forced action’.

Similarly, hiding fees that are later added is ‘drip pricing’; pressuring to subscribe through constant pop-ups is ‘nagging’; and advertising deals that change is ‘bait and switch’. 

The telecom sector is instrumentalising such tactics to exploit the cognitive bias of the consumer, according to the findings.

The battle against dark patterns has been uphill, though governments of the world have been trying for the last few years, including India. 

In 2023, 13 categories of ‘dark patterns’ were identified under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and officially banned. 

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) also issued Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns to limit websites and apps from manipulating and extracting data from customers. 

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 and the Dark Pattern Guidelines, 2023 together are provisions to determine the nature of the violation.

The latest survey received over 74,000 responses from 341 districts across the country. At least 59 per cent reported the final charge was higher than what was shown, 78 per cent faced repeated messages or pop-ups, and 50 per cent were forced to buy at least one additional service or share private details to complete a purchase.

Local Circles has insisted that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) mandate the removal of dark patterns by all telecom operators. It also stated that the CCPA has not issued a single notice in the past two years, despite the three leading private telecom companies' services being riddled with these dark patterns. 

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