New Consumer Protection Apps Launched on National Consumer Day 2024
On National Consumer Day 2024, the Department of Consumer Affairs launched three new apps aimed at enhancing consumer protection and addressing deceptive online practices. These apps are part of a larger initiative to empower consumers in the digital age, addressing emerging challenges such as dark patterns in e-commerce. This marks a significant step forward from the Consumer Protection Act of 1986, which laid the foundation for safeguarding consumer rights in India. The new tools highlight the government’s ongoing commitment to consumer empowerment and digital transformation.
The Jago Grahak Jago App provides consumers with crucial information about e-commerce platforms, helping them identify potentially unsafe websites. The app alerts users to online shopping risks, aiming to raise awareness and empower consumers to make informed decisions when shopping online.
Designed to encourage proactive consumer engagement, the Jagriti App allows users to report websites suspected of using deceptive online practices, such as dark patterns. These reports are sent to the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) for further investigation, making it easier for consumers to voice their concerns and take action against unfair practices.
The Jagriti Dashboard aggregates data from the complaints submitted through the Jagriti App, offering a comprehensive view of consumer trends. It helps authorities track the prevalence of dark patterns across different platforms, enabling more effective regulation and intervention.
The theme for National Consumer Day 2024, “Virtual Hearings & Digital Access to Consumer Justice,” underscores the growing need for digital solutions in consumer protection. It highlights the importance of making consumer justice more accessible through virtual hearings, thus empowering consumers to seek redress without needing to be physically present.
National Consumer Day is also an opportunity to remind consumers of their rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. These rights include the right to safety, information, choice, being heard, seeking redressal, and consumer education—principles that guide the government’s ongoing efforts to protect consumers in both the physical and digital marketplace.
| Why in News | Key Points |
|---|---|
| National Consumer Day 2024 | Launch of 3 apps: Jago Grahak Jago, Jagriti, Jagriti Dashboard to combat deceptive online practices like dark patterns. |
| Jago Grahak Jago App | Provides information about e-commerce platforms, alerts consumers about unsafe websites. |
| Jagriti App | Allows users to report websites using deceptive online practices (dark patterns). Complaints forwarded to CCPA for investigation. |
| Jagriti Dashboard | Aggregates data from Jagriti App, tracks trends in complaints related to dark patterns. |
| Theme of National Consumer Day 2024 | “Virtual Hearings & Digital Access to Consumer Justice.” |
| National Consumer Day Date | December 24, marks the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. |
| Consumer Rights | Right to Safety, Information, Choice, Be Heard, Seek Redressal, and Consumer Education under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. |
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