Centre Tightens E-Commerce Rules to Protect Online Shoppers
What Happened
The Centre has amended the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, introducing stricter norms that will take effect from January 1, 2027. Key changes include mandatory disclosure of genuine pre-discount prices, clear labeling of sponsored products, a ban on misleading search result manipulation, tighter controls on "dark patterns," better product information disclosure, stronger grievance redressal, and limits on the use of consumer data without explicit consent.
Key Takeaways
The new rules aim to make online shopping more transparent and consumer-friendly. Shoppers will get clearer information on discounts, ads, product details, and complaint resolution, while e-commerce companies will face greater accountability for misleading practices.