Rapido Fined INR 10 Lakh by CCPA for Dark Patterns, Misleading Prompts

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of INR 10 lakh on Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, which operates the ride-hailing platform Rapido, for allegedly using misleading prompts, unfair trade practices and dark patterns to encourage riders to pay more before their rides were confirmed. The action followed a sector-wide examination by the consumer watchdog of cab and bike-taxi aggregator platforms in India, with a focus on practices related to pre-ride tipping and dynamic pricing.

During its examination, the CCPA found that Rapido displayed prompts including “Higher the price, higher the chance of getting a ride” and “Captains aren't accepting at Rs 60. Try adding +10, +20, +30” while a rider's booking was still being processed. Rapido Rider Sends ‘I Love You’ to Noida Woman, Dares Her to File Complaint After She Objects.

According to the authority, Rapido would initially quote a fare to the rider. After the rider proceeded with the booking at that fare, the app could prompt the user to increase the amount on the grounds that captains were not accepting the original price. The CCPA said the practice created a false impression that paying more would increase the chances of getting a ride quickly. It noted that such prompts appeared at a stage when the rider had already committed to the booking and had limited scope to negotiate.

The authority held that the practice amounted to “Confirm Shaming”, a dark pattern identified under the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. According to the CCPA, the prompts created a sense of urgency and fear of losing the ride if the consumer declined to pay more. The watchdog also examined Rapido's “Set your price” feature. It found that the colour-coded design could influence users' pricing decisions, with higher fares accompanied by a “higher chance of getting a ride” message in green, while lower prices triggered red or orange warnings.

The CCPA further noted that the slider provided greater room for users to increase the fare than to reduce it, which the authority considered another factor capable of influencing consumer choice. The penalty comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of digital platforms over the use of interface designs and prompts that may influence consumer decisions. The CCPA's action highlights its focus on ensuring that ride-hailing platforms provide consumers with clear and fair information while booking services. Rapido Driver Loses INR 1,000 in ‘Hospital Emergency’ Scam After Fake INR 5,000 Credit Alert.

The latest action is separate from a previous CCPA penalty imposed on Rapido in August 2025 over misleading advertisements, including its “Auto in 5 min or Get Rs 50” and “Guaranteed Auto” campaigns. In that case, the authority had also directed the company to reimburse eligible consumers who did not receive the promised benefit.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2026 07:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).