Zepto, Zomato among 26 e-commerce platforms declared free of dark patterns

The central government on Thursday announced that 26 of India’s major e-commerce companies have submitted self-declaration letters confirming that their platforms are free from dark patterns — manipulative design elements that mislead users.

Zepto, Zomato, Swiggy, BigBasket are among the prominent names on the list.

According to the Department of Consumer Affairs, this marks a significant milestone in ensuring safer and more transparent digital commerce for Indian consumers. The declarations have been made under the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023.

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Also Read: Government orders probe into e-commerce 'dark patterns' after complaints over hidden charges

First wave of compliance after Centre’s push

This is the first major set of disclosures since the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued an advisory earlier this year directing companies to conduct mandatory audits of their platforms and publish the results.

Following the CCPA’s June 2025 advisory, all 26 companies carried out internal or third-party audits to identify and eliminate any dark patterns from their interfaces. "All 26 companies have declared that their platforms are free from dark patterns and do not deploy any manipulative user interface designs," the statement said.

Also Read: E-commerce platforms advised to self-audit, eliminate dark patterns: Union Minister

What guidelines prohibit

The 2023 dark-pattern rules prohibit 13 manipulative practices, including: False Urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm Shaming, Forced Action, Subscription Trap, Interface Interference, Bait & Switch, Drip Pricing, Disguised Advertisements, Nagging, Trick Wording, SaaS Billing and Rogue Malwares.

Key platforms that have self-declared compliance include PharmEasy, Zepto Marketplace, Flipkart Internet, Myntra Designs, Walmart India, MakeMyTrip, BigBasket, Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Ajio, Meesho, Cleartrip, Netmeds, Tata 1mg, Hamleys, Tira Beauty, Duroflex, and others.

Also Read: Dark Patterns: E-commerce platforms to conduct self-audits, address lapses in 3 months

CCPA urges all remaining companies to comply

The CCPA said these declarations would set a benchmark for the industry and encourage more companies to adopt proactive self-regulation.

It also noted that all announcements are publicly available on the CCPA website: https://www.doca.gov.in/ccpa/slef-audit-companies-dark-pattern.php

In a message to the broader digital ecosystem, the CCPA cautioned that companies must prioritise transparency: Every business operating in India’s digital space must understand that providing misleading information is a short-sighted strategy that can harm both consumers and businesses in the future.