Government of India Launches ‘Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon 2023’ to Combat Deceptive Practices in E-Commerce

The Department of Consumer Affairs, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), has officially launched the ‘Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon 2023’ to address the issue of deceptive practices on e-commerce platforms. This groundbreaking initiative aims to create innovative applications and software capable of detecting and preventing dark patterns that harm consumers.

In a move to enhance consumer protection, the Department of Consumer Affairs published draft guidelines on September 7, 2023, titled “Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns.” These guidelines are open for public feedback until October 5, 2023. The draft guidelines propose expanding the list of known dark patterns, introducing new categories such as Rogue Malwares, Trick Wording, and Saas Billing.

The ‘Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon 2023’ encourages participants to design and prototype innovative solutions, including browser extensions, plugins, add-ons, and mobile applications. These solutions will be geared towards identifying and combatting various dark patterns on e-commerce platforms. The event’s launch ceremony saw attendance from legal institutes, higher education institutions, national and international experts, students, and representatives from both physical and online companies and e-commerce platforms.

Participants in the hackathon are expected to focus on key areas such as pattern detection accuracy, user-friendly interfaces, pattern versioning, generative AI, repository management, data collection with privacy protection, crowd-sourced pattern identification, cross-browser compatibility, and artificial intelligence for detection and performance optimization. Evaluation criteria include innovation, solution demonstration, user interface and experience, accuracy and reliability, adherence to functionalities and features, privacy, and compliance.

The ‘Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon 2023’ will consist of four rounds, including registration, intra-institute competitions, inter-institute competitions, and the distribution of awards and prizes on World Consumer Rights Day. Winners will receive certificates of achievement and cash prizes, with the first prize amounting to INR 10 lakhs, followed by INR 5 lakhs for the second prize, INR 3 lakhs for the third prize, INR 2 lakhs for the fourth prize, and INR 1 lakh for the fifth prize.

The primary objective of this initiative is to safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices, providing them with a transparent and secure online shopping experience. To ensure comprehensive guidelines, the Department sought public comments and feedback on the draft guidelines for a 30-day period, receiving input from individuals, legal firms, educational institutions, government organizations, consumer advocacy groups, and industry associations.

The suggestions received during this process have led to proposed additions and modifications in the guidelines. These recommendations include the inclusion of “Trick Question,” “Saas Billing,” and “Rogue Malwares” as new dark patterns, as well as modifications to existing definitions such as “nagging,” “confirm shaming,” and “disguised advertisement.” The Department is also considering new dark patterns to address privacy concerns, particularly related to personal data sharing.

Furthermore, the Department is working on revising the guidelines based on these valuable insights, aiming to provide comprehensive regulations for preventing and regulating dark patterns in e-commerce. They are committed to ensuring consumer rights and promoting ethical practices in the digital marketplace.

For the latest updates on the ‘Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon 2023’ and the forthcoming guidelines, stay tuned for official announcements from the Department of Consumer Affairs.