National Consumers Day: How 'Jago Grahak Jago' app, Jagriti app and dashboard will help combat 'Dark Patterns'

The Department of Consumer Affairs is set to launch the 'Jago Grahak Jago App,' 'Jagriti App,' and 'Jagriti Dashboard' on Tuesday, December 24, on the occasion of National Consumers Day. Developed by students of IIT (BHU) under the National Supercomputing Mission, these tools leverage AI and data analytics, operating through the Airawat AI Supercomputer.

Jago Grahak Jago app alerts users about unsafe or questionable URLs during online activities, while Jagriti app allows consumers to report suspected dark patterns and complaints are forwarded to the CCPA for redressal.

Jagriti Dashboard is a real-time monitoring system that identifies dark patterns in e-commerce platforms, generating actionable reports for CCPA intervention.

In 2023, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) introduced the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, identifying 13 manipulative design patterns, including 'False Urgency', 'Basket Sneaking', 'Confirm Shaming’, and 'Subscription Traps', among others.

The CCPA had earlier issued notices to InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo Airlines) and BookMyShow for alleged violations under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

BookMyShow was imposing an automatic ₹1 charge per ticket as a contribution to ‘BookASmile,’ pre-selected without explicit consumer consent. The questionable practice, classified as Basket Sneaking, was flagged under the 2023 guidelines. Following the intervention, BookMyShow removed the pre-selection and provided consumers the option to opt in for the contribution voluntarily.

IndiGo Airlines faced allegations of 'Confirm Shaming' through the wording “No, I will take risk” in its app, pressuring users to opt for additional services. The airline revised the wording to “No, I will not add to the trip”.

The airline also addressed issues with preferential seat selection by modifying its web check-in page, adding clear disclaimers and enabling an auto-assigned seat option for consumers who choose not to select a preferred seat.

With 'Jago Grahak Jago App,' 'Jagriti App,' and 'Jagriti Dashboard', the government aims to create a transparent and fair digital marketplace, educate consumers about their rights, regulate e-commerce platforms to prevent practices such as subscription traps, and encourage companies to adopt ethical design practices.