The Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon was launched by the Indian government in October 2023 to develop apps, plug-ins, add-ons etc. to identify dark patterns in ____________.

Correct option is D

Correct Answer is (D) e-Commerce platforms

In October 2023, the Indian government's Department of Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with IIT (BHU), launched the Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon 2023. The primary objective of this initiative is to design and prototype innovative applications or software-based solutions—such as browser extensions, plugins, add-ons, and mobile applications—that can detect the use, type, and scale of dark patterns on e-commerce platforms.

• Dark Patterns: Deceptive design elements in user interfaces intended to mislead or trick users into actions they might not otherwise take, often compromising consumer autonomy and decision-making.

• Hackathon Focus Areas:

  • Pattern detection accuracy
  • User-friendly interfaces
  • Generative AI integration
  • Data privacy protection
  • Cross-browser compatibility
  • Performance optimization

• Evaluation Criteria:

  • Innovation
  • User experience
  • Accuracy and reliability
  • Privacy compliance

• Hackathon Structure:

  • Four stages: registration, intra-institute competition, inter-institute competition, and final awards distribution.
  • Winners to be awarded on World Consumer Rights Day with cash prizes ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakhs.