What You Can Do About It
- Revealed in this exclusive report:
- Privacy Intrusion Unmasked: Discover how Indian apps are tricking users into giving up their personal data.
- Dark Patterns Exposed: Learn about the deceptive tactics used by popular travel, food delivery, and e-commerce apps.
- User Manipulation: Understand how dark patterns are pushing users into unwanted subscriptions and purchases.
- Protect Your Privacy: Find out how Incognito Browser can shield your online activities from prying eyes.
- FREE Access: Get exclusive insights into how to safeguard your privacy in the digital age.
The Alarming Rise of Dark Patterns in Indian Apps
A recent study by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and UI/UX design company Parallel HQ has unveiled a startling truth: over 79% of Indian apps are tricking users into giving away their personal data. This revelation, published on August 1, scrutinized more than 50 popular apps across various sectors like e-commerce, health, fintech, travel booking, and food delivery. With a staggering 21 billion downloads, these apps are employing deceptive practices known as dark patterns to manipulate users.
What Are Dark Patterns?
Dark patterns are tactics used by companies to mislead or manipulate users into actions they might not otherwise take. For instance, if you’re ordering chicken biryani and the final amount is higher than expected, that’s a dark pattern. If you find it nearly impossible to delete your account or understand the terms and conditions, you’re likely encountering dark patterns. These deceptive practices are designed to make you share personal data or subscribe to services unknowingly.
Common Dark Patterns in Indian Apps
The study identified 12 types of dark patterns, with Privacy Deception being the most prevalent. This is followed by Interface Interference, where apps hide certain parts of the platform to misdirect users, and Drip Pricing, where additional fees are quietly added to the final amount. Out of the 53 apps scrutinized, 52 showcased at least one dark pattern. This indicates that user manipulation is rampant across Indian apps.
Notorious Apps and Their Tactics
Travel booking apps like Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, and EaseMyTrip were found to be the worst offenders, followed by delivery and logistics apps such as Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, and Borzo. E-commerce giants like Amazon, Flipkart, and Nykaa make it difficult for users to delete their accounts. Health tech apps often rush users into making decisions through a tactic called False Urgency. Interestingly, Confirm-Shaming was observed mainly in travel booking apps, forcing users to buy ticket cancellation insurance or select a guilt-inducing option.
How to Protect Yourself
Given the widespread use of dark patterns, it’s crucial to take steps to protect your privacy. One effective way is to use an Incognito Browser. Unlike regular browsers that may still track your activity even in incognito mode, the Incognito Browser app offers enhanced privacy features. It ensures that your online activities remain private and shields you from prying eyes.
Why Incognito Browser Stands Out
While major tech company browsers offer incognito mode, they often fall short in truly protecting your privacy. The Incognito Browser app goes a step further by providing robust privacy controls that keep your data secure. It prevents tracking cookies from following you around the web and ensures that your browsing history is not stored.
The Need for Awareness and Regulation
During a panel discussion moderated by Manisha Kapoor, secretary general of ASCI, experts emphasized the need for express consent from users to mitigate dark patterns. Rohit Kumar Singh, former secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, highlighted that defining dark patterns clearly would help companies understand what design options are acceptable. However, he also noted that dark patterns are dynamic and constantly evolving.
Ashish Aggarwal from Nasscom pointed out that privacy needs to be integrated into a company’s operating model and business model. Meanwhile, Robin Dhanwani from Parallel HQ stressed the importance of creating resources and tools to address dark patterns holistically.
Tools for Developers
To help app developers identify and eliminate dark patterns, ASCI and Parallel HQ have introduced a Conscious Score Calculator. This tool allows companies to test if their app design contains any deceptive practices.
The prevalence of dark patterns in Indian apps is a wake-up call for all of us. As users, we need to be vigilant and take proactive steps to protect our privacy. Using tools like the Incognito Browser can provide an added layer of security against these deceptive practices. By staying informed and demanding better transparency from app developers, we can push back against these manipulative tactics and safeguard our digital lives.
