LocalCircles

India's leading community platform and citizen pulse aggregator

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

So #Zee5 with 8 #darkpatterns now stands out as the most manipulative platform of India across 32 sectors and 300 platforms 👑! #FIFA

@_mrchaturvedi @venkatatweets @Akshat__001 @Jimmmyjose

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

Several friends in the media have reached out this week for LocalCircles’ view on a dark patterns report released by Datum Intelligence.

We welcome more voices working on this issue — consumer harm from dark patterns is real and large, and the report is useful in sizing the macro impact.

On the platform-level findings, our view is one of method, not rivalry. LocalCircles operates a live, AI-assisted dark pattern monitoring system tracking 300+ platforms across 32 sectors, grounded in real consumer complaints. What that work has taught us is simple: no platform-level rating — prevalence, severity or ranking — is credible without real, current, dated examples that can be independently verified. Examples are what let platforms fix issues, regulators act, and consumers trust the finding.

We would encourage Datum to publish the live, reproducible examples behind every platform cited in its report. That single step would turn a useful macro study into actionable intelligence for all stakeholders — platforms, government and above all the consumer. We hold ourselves to the same standard and publish our evidence.

More broadly, we’d urge media and stakeholders to seek the underlying evidence for any platform-level claim on this subject before it is disseminated. The cost of getting a specific platform’s classification wrong — in either direction — is borne by consumers who rely on these findings.

LocalCircles continues to make strides with all 8 regulators in the country, with CCPA, IRDAI and RBI already advancing this cause, SEBI seeking a framework, and others evaluating. As these mandates take shape, our focus remains where it has been since the dark pattern legislation came into being: rigorous, evidence-led consumer research that stands up to scrutiny.

@VishnuFNO @1987Kulbhushan @AA_speaks @SartanparaYash @skh27 @GenericIPguy @amitranjan @ikaveri @DanishKh4n @malpani @_zenman @ggganeshh @speakshoutroar @nixxin

[Connected Consumers @consaffcircle]

Please share exact screenshots where ZEE5 Bait & Switch #darkpattern is happening

@shawshank_r @Samhitab4u @guyfromhills @Himansh93071112 @sankasm @AhsanKharbai @nndn @CRICitism @THWAYYIIB @AbhijeetSarka24 @Madhu2119 @neeraj240 @iamnikeshb

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

#ZEE5 is the worst #OTT platform of India. Yesterday, it retracted its #ForcedAction #darkpattern (of removing 3 screen viewing post sale) after @LocalCircles raised the issue.

Later, it introduced #BaitandSwitch #darkpattern by advertising 4K streaming and then switching to 720P.

As usual regulators #CCPA @jagograhakjago @JoshiPralhad @inidhikhare @AshwiniVaishnaw @MIB_India are not aware and will get to it by the time #FIFA is over

@VishnuFNO @1987Kulbhushan @NotProsaicview @baxiabhishek @_mrchaturvedi @IndianTechGuide

[Transforming Delhi @TransformingD]

Noida Airport gains traction ahead of launch as fare cuts boost traveller interest: Survey

https://t.co/rTo1IAsnTk

@theupindex @NoidaUpdatesX

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

नोएडा एयरपोर्ट: फ्लाइट किराया किफायती होने से बढ़ी हवाई यात्रियों की दिलचस्पी ! #Noidaairport

https://t.co/5u8mOmrWJk

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

Latest @LocalCircles survey with over 42,000 old (pre-2023) vehicle owners that just concluded finds 1 in 2 wanting E0/E10 petrol back. Claim to have already spent between ₹5000-25000 in additional costs due to #E20 since early 2025.

#consumerchoice is must!

https://t.co/gRAjk0sSvX

@VishnuFNO @sphavisha @ggganeshh @sarviind @TheVishalKay @Nher_who @kapsology @KantInEastt @malpani @gemsofbabus_ @sandygrains @ikaveri @adityakalra @venkat_fin9 @Broufus @geekyranjit @Ragnaar888 @Sydusm @TheSincereDude @IndianTechGuide

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

Why are you averse to giving the choice of fuel to the consumer, given that the additional efficiency loss/repair costs are not being borne by the Government ? @nitin_gadkari @HardeepSPuri

@VishnuFNO @sphavisha @ggganeshh @sarviind @TheVishalKay @kapsology @KantInEastt @_mrchaturvedi @sandygrains @ikaveri @adityakalra @venkat_fin9 @Broufus @Ragnaar888 @Sydusm @TheSincereDude @speakshoutroar @bsdhanoa

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

And finally the much awaited @LocalCircles number is here: 43% - the percentage of prospective vehicle buyers who will avoid or defer their purchase in the next 12 months due to concerns over #E20 petrol and planned transition to #E30 Automakers better work with the Government and sort this!

@VishnuFNO @ggganeshh @ikaveri @TheVishalKay @kapsology @Broufus @sandygrains @venkat_fin9 @Sydusm @Ragnaar888 @bsdhanoa @sanket @TheSincereDude @_mrchaturvedi
@magarmach_ @pablochaterji @speakshoutroar @pushpendrakum @vizhpuneet @ashishmasih1

[Business Today @business_today]

E20, E30 fuel concerns may keep 43% of buyers away from new vehicles: Survey https://t.co/KmOloOvyje

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

Usage of #E20 petrol is reducing mileage and increasing wear & tear for pre-2023 vehicles, finds @LocalCircles with 50,000 consumer responses.

The ask is simple: Government needs to make E0 & E10 available at all petrol pumps so the choice resides with the consumer!

#dontforce #consumerchoice

https://t.co/PnWkXTTNZG

@VishnuFNO @sphavisha @ggganeshh @varungrover @amitkilhor @sarviind @TheVishalKay @Nher_who @kapsology @KantInEastt @gemsofbabus_

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

This is called #ForcedAction #darkpattern where #Zee5 has promised and sold something to the user and after the purchase, forcefully changed the terms.

#CCPA @jagograhakjago @JoshiPralhad @inidhikhare must act.

As it stands #OTT platforms like #ZEE5 are riddled with dark patterns and in addition to consumer regulator the sector regulator @MIB_India also needs to jump to action @AshwiniVaishnaw

@VishnuFNO @ikaveri @NotProsaicview @ggganeshh @1987Kulbhushan @upadhyay_harsh1 @IndianSportsOTT

[IndiaToday @IndiaToday]

E20 today, E30 tomorrow? Should you rethink your next petrol vehicle purchase?

While E20 is now the norm, the notification of E22, E25, E27 and E30 standards raises fresh questions about how future fuel policies could impact today's petrol vehicles and in the future diesel will likely be blended with 15 percent isobutanol.

Read in detail: https://t.co/CpoCDvU1II

#Fuel #E20 #E30 #Petrol #Diesel

[Business Today @business_today]

#MoneyToday | E20, E30 fuel concerns may keep 43% of buyers away from new vehicles: Survey https://t.co/KmOloOvyje

[Sachin Taparia @sachintaparia]

पेट्रोल के बदलते नियमों के कारण ४३% ग्राहक जो गाड़ी खरीदना चाहते थे अब नहीं ख़रीदेंगे । #E20 #E30

@VishnuFNO @TheVishalKay @kapsology @Broufus @sandygrains @Ragnaar888 @bsdhanoa @sanket @TheSincereDude @_mrchaturvedi
@pablochaterji @speakshoutroar @vizhpuneet @ashishmasih1 @ranvijaylive @MhaskarChief

[LocalCircles @LocalCircles]

@sachintaparia @volklub @ShivrattanDhil1 @nachiket1982 @kkstau @Aunindyo2023 @NsNitinsinha @rana_kshitij @Anand_Journ @indtxpyr 43% buyers may delay vehicle purchases over E20, E30 fuel concerns; only 6% plan to buy new petrol vehicles: LocalCircles Survey

https://t.co/iGnQeoV4R6

[LocalCircles @LocalCircles]

@sachintaparia @volklub @ShivrattanDhil1 @nachiket1982 @kkstau @Aunindyo2023 @NsNitinsinha @rana_kshitij @Anand_Journ @indtxpyr 43% buyers may delay vehicle purchases over E20, E30 fuel concerns; only 6% plan to buy new petrol vehicles: LocalCircles Survey

https://t.co/iGnQeoV4R6

[LocalCircles @LocalCircles]

@sachintaparia @volklub @ShivrattanDhil1 @nachiket1982 @kkstau @Aunindyo2023 @NsNitinsinha @rana_kshitij @Anand_Journ @indtxpyr 43% of buyers may defer vehicle purchases over E20, E30 concerns: Survey

https://t.co/5zhIbJKorG

[LocalCircles @LocalCircles]

@sachintaparia @volklub @ShivrattanDhil1 @nachiket1982 @kkstau @Aunindyo2023 @NsNitinsinha @rana_kshitij @Anand_Journ @indtxpyr E20, E30 fuel concerns may keep 43% of buyers away from new vehicles: Survey

https://t.co/IPvmSEOIIY

[LocalCircles @LocalCircles]

@sachintaparia @volklub @ShivrattanDhil1 @nachiket1982 @kkstau @Aunindyo2023 @NsNitinsinha @rana_kshitij @Anand_Journ @indtxpyr 43% of buyers may defer vehicle purchases over E20, E30 concerns: Survey

https://t.co/5zhIbJKorG