New Delhi, June 3 -- CCPA has fined PhysicsWallah Rs 5 Lakh, McAfee Rs 1 Lakh for dark patterns on digital platforms. The action was taken under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, and the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra, said the practices interfered with consumers' ability to make free and informed choices.

In PhysicsWallah's case, CCPA took suo motu cognizance and found three violations. A Rs.10 donation to the PW Foundation was automatically pre-selected during checkout without explicit consent, which CCPA termed "Basket Sneaking." Emotional messages related to child...