CCPA issued 20 notices to IAS coaching institutes for misleading ads: Union minister Ashwini Choubey

NEW DELHI: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued 20 notices to IAS coaching institutes, of which 8 have been penalised, for misleading advertisements.

The union minister of state for consumer affairs Ashwini Kumar Choubey gave the information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. The reply added that the CCPA has notified the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022. These guidelines provide for conditions for an advertisement to be non-misleading and valid, certain stipulations in respect of bait advertisements and free claim advertisements, and duties of manufacturer, service provider, advertiser and advertising agency.

The reply mentioned that the CCPA has issued Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, on November 30 for prevention and regulation of dark patterns listing 13 specified dark patterns.

Under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the CCPA was established in July 2020 to regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of public and consumers as a class.

“The department of consumer affairs is continuously working for consumer protection and empowerment of consumers by enactment of progressive legislations. With a view to modernise the framework governing the consumer protection in the new era of globalisation, technologies, e-commerce markets etc Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was repealed and Consumer Protection Act 2019 was enacted,” the reply said.

Also Read | CCPA probing 20 IAS coaching centres for misleading ads, unfair trade practices

Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, misleading advertisement in relation to any product or service is defined as an ad which— (i) falsely describes such product or service; or (ii) gives a false guarantee to, or is likely to mislead the consumers as to the nature, substance, quantity or quality of such product or service; or (iii) conveys an express or implied representation which, if made by the manufacturer or seller or service provider thereof, would constitute an unfair trade practice; or (iv) deliberately conceals important information.