Top News

• Was Spicejet cheating passengers?
• Govt busted for using dark patterns
• What exactly happened to the customers?

SpiceJet News: If you are booking flight tickets online, then this news is very important for you. The Central Consumer Protection Authority i.e. CCPA has taken a major action against the airline SpiceJet. A fine has been imposed. The investigation found that the company was using digital designs like dark patterns on its website and mobile app at the time of ticket booking, which allowed passengers to accept certain services without their consent. Using this, Exa money was being extorted in secret. According to the CCPA, such practices create confusion among consumers and unwittingly link them to certain services and advertising messages. Due to this, passengers were being charged extra money. Let’s understand exactly what type.

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What did the CCPA’s investigation reveal?

The CCPA’s investigation revealed that when we start the process of booking a ticket on SpiceJet’s website and mobile app, some of those options are already selected. This led to many customers unknowingly becoming part of the SpiceClub loyalty program. Not only this, consent to receive advertising messages through email, WhatsApp and other media was automatically recorded. Due to all this, without the permission of the customer, their personal social permission was taken without their knowledge.

What hidden types were found?

Involving customers in loyalty programs without their express consent.
Preselect certain options on the website.
Using wording and interfaces that easily confuse consumers.

Why was the company fined?

The CCPA states that consent obtained through an already ticked box or fraudulent design cannot be considered valid. This is a violation of Consumer Protection Act 2019 and E-Commerce Rules 2020. Even after receiving the notice, the company only changed its approach, but did not completely reform the process of obtaining promotional consent from consumers. Following this, the CCPA imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on SpiceJet.

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