CCPA widens enforcement from misleading ads to dark patterns and e-commerce

India’s consumer regulator has expanded scrutiny beyond misleading FMCG advertising to digital interfaces, pricing, disclosures, product safety and service platforms—raising compliance stakes for retailers and marketplaces.

— Source publishedMon, 7 Sept, 2026, 11:27 IST·First seen Mon, 7 Sept, 2026, 11:31 IST·Source Mint · Industry

What happened

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) · CCPA enforcement has expanded from misleading FMCG advertising to e-commerce, dark patterns, travel, payments,

Key facts

  • 206 orders and judgments since 2021
  • 10 orders in 2021
  • 20 orders in 2022
  • 80 orders in 2023
  • 38 orders in 2024
  • 19 orders in 2025
  • 39 orders in 2026 through 1 September
  • 13 dark-pattern types identified in 2023 guidelines

Why this matters

Deal teams should diligence target companies’ digital-consent, pricing, disclosure and marketplace practices, as unresolved dark-pattern exposure could create regulatory liabilities and integration costs.