Subscription traps to hidden charges: Dark patterns are plaguing the UPI boom

Digital payments through downloaded apps have now become a part of day-to-day lives of Indians. From paying wayside vendors to making purchases at the local stores to recharging phones, booking tickets, millions use UPI (Unified Payments Interface) payments. However, a recent survey by LocalCircles reveals a concerning trend – the prevalence of “dark patterns” employed by online payment platforms.

What are dark patterns?

The manipulative practices used by platforms have been called out as dark patterns by the Government of India. The Government via the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has identified 13 types of dark patterns which include false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming,