Deceptive Design Practices Rampant in Top Indian Apps, Study Reveals

A recent study by ASCI found that 52 of the top 53 Indian apps use deceptive design practices, affecting user autonomy and informed decision-making. These apps, downloaded 21 billion times, employ patterns like privacy deception, interface interference, drip pricing, and false urgency, most notably in health-tech, travel booking, and e-commerce sectors.

Almost all leading Indian apps are employing deceptive design strategies that undermine user autonomy and informed decisions, according to a study released on Thursday.

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) reported that 52 out of the top 53 apps feature misleading UI/UX practices, which mislead users into unintended actions.

In collaboration with design firm Parallel HQ, the study highlighted that these problematic apps have been downloaded 21 billion times, significantly impacting consumer behavior.

The deceptive practices identified include privacy deception, interface interference, drip pricing, and false urgency, the ASCI said in a statement. Privacy deception was seen in 79% of apps, followed by interface interference (45%), drip pricing (43%), and false urgency (32%).

Examples cited include e-commerce apps making it hard for users to delete accounts, and most health-tech apps creating false urgency to expedite decisions. Health-tech led in deceptive practices, followed by travel and e-commerce sectors, while gaming and streaming apps had the lowest incidence.

Manisha Kapoor, ASCI's secretary general and chief executive, stressed the need for ethical design that supports informed consumer choices, advocating for conscious design principles.