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Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
BD-China-Pakistan trilateral mechanism: Beijing hosts inaugural conference
ISLAMABAD: In a positive development, Beijing hosted an inaugural conference of Bangladesh-China-Pakistan Trilateral Mechanism, during which the three sides agreed to establish a joint working group (JWG) to implement the understandings reached during the meeting to boost cooperation in the field of trade, investment and agriculture. The three sides also agreed that trilateral cooperation would be guided by the principles of openness, inclusivity, good neighbourliness, mutual respect and trust, while working towards win-win cooperation. According to statement issued by Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson, Bangladesh-China-Pakistan Vice Foreign Minister/Foreign Secretary meeting was held in Kunming, Yunnan province of China. Team comprising over dozen Chinese companies arrives in Pakistan Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladeshi Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique and Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated in the first phase of the meeting via video link. In her remarks, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Baloch commended the Chinese side for convening the inaugural meeting of the trilateral mechanism. Noting the common aspirations of the three sides for people-centric development, the foreign secretary expressed Pakistan's desire for a deeper engagement between China and South Asian countries. Expressing satisfaction at the upward trajectory of bilateral ties, the foreign secretary conveyed Pakistan's readiness to work with China and Bangladesh to enhance ties in trade and investment, agriculture, digital economy, environment protection, marine sciences, green infrastructure, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges. Pakistan, Bangladesh resume direct trade after more than 50 years It is noteworthy that relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have drastically improved since the ouster of pro-India Premier Sheikh Hasina Wajid in August last year. Both Islamabad and Dhaka agreed to strengthen diplomatic and trade ties with high level meetings between the leaderships of the two countries and exchanges of delegations. Beijing had also hosted an informal trilateral meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and China last month, which helped normalised strained relation between Islamabad and Kabul. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to elevate diplomatic status by upgrading of chargé d'affaires to the level of Ambassador. The Foreign Office spokesperson said that Islamabad and Kabul have exchanged the diplomatic documents for the formal appointment of full-fledged ambassadors in each other's country. Pakistan's chargé d'affaires in Kabul Obaidullah Niazamani has been upgraded to the level of Ambassador while Sardar Shakeeb's status has also been elevated to Ambassador. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Mint
13-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Mint Primer: What's behind the order to clean up dark patterns?
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has directed over 50 digital platforms to remove dark patterns and complete self-audits within three months. What are dark patterns, and why is the CCPA sounding the alarm? Mint explains. What are dark patterns? Dark patterns are deceptive practices used on websites or apps of digital platforms to influence users into actions they may not have planned. These tricks are designed to benefit the platform at the user's expense, and can lead to a financial loss for the user. Dark patterns could include a range of actions like requiring users to submit unrelated private details to continue, enabling automatic renewal of subscription without user-consent or making it hard for the user to unsubscribe, adding new items or increased quantity of a selected item without consent, showing ads disguised as content, among others. What's the CCPA advisory? The Central Consumer Protection Authority last week issued an advisory to e-commerce platforms, urging them to take concrete steps to eliminate unfair trade practices that fall under the category of dark patterns. The advisory called upon platforms to conduct self-audits within three months of the issue of the advisory to identify such practices and submit a self-declaration stating that they are not involved in dark patterns. This move comes in the wake of growing regulatory scrutiny, with the CCPA having already issued 11 notices related to dark patterns, according to Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare. Which are the companies under the lens? Notices went out to e-commerce firms, travel aggregators, food-tech platforms, ride-hailing firms, meditech start-ups, streaming services, and fintech firms. Companies include Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Paytm, Uber, Apple, Meta, Nykaa, Zomato, Swiggy, Tata 1mg, BookMyShow, BigBasket, Namma Yatri, and Snapdeal among others. How would it monitor dark patterns? The consumer affairs ministry has set up a joint working group (JWG) to strengthen oversight of dark patterns. Comprising key ministries, regulators, consumer rights groups and law universities, the JWG has been tasked with identifying violations, monitoring compliance with dark pattern guidelines, and recommending enforcement actions. It will also propose consumer awareness initiatives and policy measures aimed at curbing deceptive practices and promoting a fairer digital marketplace. Have there been any earlier guidelines? The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 mandate that platforms must obtain user-consent through 'clear and affirmative" action. Meanwhile, the Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021 hold entities directly accountable for engaging in deceptive or misleading trade practices. In 2023, the CCPA introduced the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, aimed at curbing 13 manipulative design tactics such aw 'false urgency,' which pressures users into immediate purchases.
New Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Panel to track dark patterns, e-commerce platforms told to conduct self-audits
NEW DELHI: The Central Consumer Protection Authority had issued an advisory to e-commerce platforms to conduct self-audits within three months to detect 'dark patterns' and take necessary steps to ensure its resolution. In order to identify and eradicate 'dark patterns', the government has constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) and advised e-commerce platforms to comply with Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. 'The e-commerce platforms, based on the self-audit reports, have also encouraged to give self-declarations that their platform is not indulging in any dark patterns. The self-declarations by the platforms will enable fair digital ecosystem along with building trust between consumers and e-commerce platforms,' a government release said. A 'dark pattern' refers to a deceptive design technique employed in user interfaces that misleads users or coerces them into making unintended choices. This practice undermines consumer autonomy, decision-making, and overall choice. The government has so far specified 13 dark patterns, namely: false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, forced action, subscription trap, interface interference, bait and switch, drip pricing, disguised advertisements and nagging, trick wording, saas billing and rogue malwares. The Department of Consumers Affairs has constituted a JWG comprising representatives from concerned Ministries, regulators, voluntary consumer organisations and NLUs. The group shall update the department also suggest appropriate awareness programmes for awaring the consumers.
India Gazette
07-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
CCPA issues advisory to E-Commerce platforms for self-audit within 3 months to detect dark patterns
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued advisory to all e-commerce platforms to take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms do not engage in deceptive and unfair trade practice which are in the nature of Dark Patterns. In a release on Saturday, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said that all e-commerce platforms have been advised to conduct self-audits to identify dark patterns within 3 months of the issue of the advisory and take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms are free from such dark patterns. The e-commerce platforms, based on the self-audit reports, have also encouraged to give self-declarations that their platform is not indulging in any dark patterns. The self-declarations by the platforms will enable fair digital ecosystem along with building trust between consumers and e-commerce platforms, the release added. CCPA has also issued notices to e-commerce platforms in some cases that have been found violating the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns. All e-commerce platforms are therefore, advised to refrain from deploying deceptive design interfaces that mislead consumers or manipulate their decision-making. The Authority has been keeping a close watch on the violation of the Guidelines issued for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns. Instances of Dark Patterns have been noticed on E-Commerce platforms. The Department of Consumers Affairs, Government of India constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprises of representatives from concerned Ministries, regulators, Voluntary Consumer Organisations and NLUs. The mandate of this JWG is examine and undertake measures to identify violations of Dark Patterns on e-commerce platforms and share the information with the Department of Consumer Affairs on regular intervals. The JWG shall also suggest appropriate awareness programmes for creating awareness amongst the consumers. As part of the Government's broader strategy and ongoing efforts to strengthen consumer protection in the digital era and curb unfair practices in e-commerce and online services, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India had notified the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns in 2023 and specified 13 dark patterns, namely: False urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm shaming, forced action, Subscription trap, Interface Interference, Bait and switch, Drip Pricing, Disguised Advertisements and Nagging, Trick Wording, Saas Billing and Rogue Malwares. (ANI)
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CCPA issues advisory to e-commerce platforms for self-audit within 3 months to detect dark patterns
The Central Consumer Protection Authority ( CCPA ) has issued advisory to all e-commerce platforms to take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms do not engage in deceptive and unfair trade practice which are in the nature of Dark Patterns . In a release on Saturday, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said that all e-commerce platforms have been advised to conduct self-audits to identify dark patterns within 3 months of the issue of the advisory and take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms are free from such dark patterns. The e-commerce platforms, based on the self-audit reports, have also encouraged to give self-declarations that their platform is not indulging in any dark patterns. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe What These Celebrities Studied in College Learn More Undo The self-declarations by the platforms will enable fair digital ecosystem along with building trust between consumers and e-commerce platforms, the release added. CCPA has also issued notices to e-commerce platforms in some cases that have been found violating the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns. Live Events All e-commerce platforms are therefore, advised to refrain from deploying deceptive design interfaces that mislead consumers or manipulate their decision-making. The Authority has been keeping a close watch on the violation of the Guidelines issued for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns. Instances of Dark Patterns have been noticed on E-Commerce platforms. The Department of Consumers Affairs, Government of India constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprises of representatives from concerned Ministries, regulators, Voluntary Consumer Organisations and NLUs. The mandate of this JWG is examine and undertake measures to identify violations of Dark Patterns on e-commerce platforms and share the information with the Department of Consumer Affairs on regular intervals. The JWG shall also suggest appropriate awareness programmes for creating awareness amongst the consumers. As part of the Government's broader strategy and ongoing efforts to strengthen consumer protection in the digital era and curb unfair practices in e-commerce and online services, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India had notified the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns in 2023 and specified 13 dark patterns, namely: False urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm shaming, forced action, Subscription trap, Interface Interference, Bait and switch, Drip Pricing, Disguised Advertisements and Nagging, Trick Wording, Saas Billing and Rogue Malwares.
