The term ‘ dark patterns ’ was coined in 2010 by Harry Brignull, a user-experience (UX) designer. It refers to a variety of manipulative design tactics that have a singular aim – the acquisition of users’ attention, personal data, or money. On 7 September, India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) released specific guidelines to combat such practices. These guidelines identify and prohibit specific dark patterns used by digital platforms, advertisers, and sellers. However, due to the amorphous nature of dark patterns, such prescriptive provisions may lead to unintended consequences, such as regulatory arbitrage and asymmetric compliance burdens. Vigilance and enforcement…