Bhaiyon-behno, India ke quick-commerce platform Zepto ab controversy ke beech aa gaya hai. Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) ne Zepto ko ₹700,000 ka fine lagaya hai — kyunki regulator ke mutabik company ne “hidden fees” aur misleading checkout design yaani “dark patterns” ka use kiya tha.
🔎 Kaise hua issue shuru
CCPA ka kehna hai ki Zepto apne platform par aisa pricing model use karta tha jisme pehle low price dikhaya jaata, lekin checkout ke last step par extra charges — jaise handling fee, membership fee etc. — add ho jaate. Is practice ko “drip pricing” kehte hain.
Saath hi ek aur tareeka — “basket sneaking” — bhi use hua: matlab optional add-ons ya subscriptions ko cart me bina user ke clearly samjhaaye add kar diya jaata.
🚨 Timeline aur pehle warnings
- Is saal May mein, consumer-affairs ministry ne top online platforms ko dark-pattern guidelines bheji thi, warning ke sath ki agar unethical design/fee practices aayein toh action hoga.
- CCPA ne suo-motu cognizance li aur investigation ki — jisme Zepto par additional charges checkout ke last step tak chhupane ka aarop laga.
📣 Zepto ka jawab & company reaction
Aadit Palicha (Zepto ke co-founder & CEO) ne kaha hai ki company ne pricing aur checkout design experiments kiye the, lekin user feedback aur backlash ke baad unhone “dark patterns” hata diye hain.
Company ne formally commit kiya hai ki ab se sab mandatory charges checkout page par upfront dikhaye jaayenge — transparency aur compliance ensure karne ke liye.
🏛️ Context: Regulators ka approach aur consumer rights
Dark patterns — jisme hidden costs, misleading UI nudges, forced default options wagairah include hote — ab strictly nazar mein hain. CCPA ne 2023 ke guidelines jari kiye the, jisme 13 prakaar ke deceptive design tactics prohibited hain.
Ye action dikhata hai ki India ab online consumer protection ko serious le raha hai, khas kar jab quick-commerce jaise business models tezi se popular ho rahe hain.
✅ Aage kya hone ki ummeed hai
Zepto ko kaha gaya hai ki wo apna UI/UX redesign kare, upfront pricing disclosure laaye, aur compliance report CCPA ko 15 din mein submit kare. Agar company fails hoti hai, toh aage strict action ho sakta hai.
Is decision ka asar dusre online retail/quick-commerce players par bhi padega — jise regulators aur consumers dono closely dekh rahe hain.
