70% IRCTC users report forced action, survey flags six dark patterns - Business Standard
· Technology · Business Standard
A recent survey by LocalCircles reveals that 70 percent of IRCTC users have encountered forced actions while booking train tickets online. The findings highlight six distinct dark patterns, including forced subscriptions, hidden costs, and pre-ticked checkboxes designed to influence consumer choice. Many passengers report being nudged into adding travel insurance or promotional services without explicit consent during the checkout process. These deceptive design practices bypass clear user intent, raising regulatory concerns over digital consumer protection. The report calls for stricter oversight by authorities to curb manipulative interface designs on public ticketing platforms.
Why it matters
Millions of daily Indian rail commuters lose money or time to deceptive interface designs when booking tickets on IRCTC, highlighting the urgent need for stricter digital consumer protection in India.
Read the original report — Business Standard
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