Act as a senior journalist and professional content writer to write 1500+ words news article, SEO-optimized news article,, easy-to-understand news article. Begin with a compelling, keyword-rich title wrapped in an H1 HTML tag (

[Insert Title]

). Follow with a bolded one-paragraph summary wrapped in a div with the class name “yellowbg” (

). Structure the article with an engaging lead paragraph that answers the 5 Ws and 1 H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How), followed by informative subheadings (use

for main subheadings and

for supporting subheadings). Include bullet points for key highlights, relevant quotes, and data where applicable. Use simple, clear language for broad accessibility. Conclude with a strong closing paragraph, a list of keyword-rich terms, and relevant hashtags. Ensure the content is well-structured, concise, and tailored for readability while maintaining a professional tone. Example format:

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, Summary:

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, Lead: [Engaging opening answering 5 Ws and 1 H],

[Main Subheading]

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[Supporting Subheading]

, [Key points], Conclusion: [Closing paragraph], Keywords: [List], Hashtags: [List]. Rewrite the following content accordingly:

The Indian government’s patience with consumer-tech platforms using manipulative design tricks is running out.

In late May, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi corralled the country’s top internet companies into a room, and gave them an ultimatum: conduct self-audits to identify and remove dark patterns, or face the music. The deadline was set for 5 September. In the room were companies like Zomato (now Eternal), Makemytrip, and Ola Electric, as well as global majors Google and Amazon.

Dark patterns are design tactics that trick users into actions that benefit the business more than the user. Essentially, interface nudges that nudge a little too hard.

And the tactics are the deepest on the biggest platforms.

Take Amazon India’s friendly-looking “at this price” call-to-action, explained a person familiar with how product flows are designed on large platforms. Click it, they said, and you’re met with monthly charges, hidden costs, and fine print. Or consider how it made customer service harder to reach—the “Chat with us” option quietly disappeared, replaced by a labyrinth of help pages.

And this isn’t just an Amazon problem. Entertainment-ticketing platform Bookmyshow was spotted quietly pre-selectingInternet Freedom FoundationDark Patterns and weak remedies: Why the CCPA Advisory falls short a Rs 1 donation at checkout, while in 2024, the airline Indigo was seen using guilt-inducing pop-ups like “No, I will take a risk” to push in-flight insurance and travel assistance on unwitting customers.

None of this is for the consumer’s benefit.

In fact, for years, many edtechs, fintechs, and quick-commerce companies have struck a Faustian bargain: they’ve traded rapid scale in exchange for their integrity. What it boils down to is beguiling users into giving up more—more money, more data, more control. All at the cost of something more intangible: consumer trust.

The regulator Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has already issued 11 noticesTimes of IndiaGovt issues notices to 11 firms including Zepto, Uber for using dark patterns to sway consumers, warns action to companies for such practices as part of the 2023 guidelinesThe Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, aimed to combat deceptive design practices by online platforms.

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