The Central Shopper Safety Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Roppen Transportation Providers Non-public Restricted, which operates the ride-hailing platform Rapido, over deceptive commercials, unfair commerce practices, an unfair contract, and using darkish patterns to encourage riders to pay extra earlier than their rides have been confirmed.
The motion was taken after the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra, examined the practices adopted by cab and bike-taxi aggregators in India, notably these involving pre-ride tipping and dynamic pricing, in keeping with a press launch.
Throughout the overview, the authority discovered that Rapido displayed prompts to riders whereas their bookings have been nonetheless being processed. These included messages akin to “Increased the value, increased the possibility of getting a journey” and “Captains aren’t accepting at ₹60. Attempt including +10, +20, +30”.
CCPA calls Rapido prompts ‘Verify Shaming’
In keeping with the CCPA, Rapido first confirmed a fare to the rider after which, after the reserving was made at that worth, inspired the rider to supply extra money by stating that Captains weren’t accepting the unique fare.
The authority stated this might give customers the impression that paying an extra quantity would enhance their probabilities of getting a journey rapidly. It additionally famous that the prompts appeared after the rider had already dedicated to the reserving, leaving restricted scope for negotiation.
The CCPA categorized the apply as “Verify Shaming”, a darkish sample listed underneath the Tips for Prevention and Regulation of Darkish Patterns, 2023. The authority stated the design created urgency and made riders really feel they might lose the journey if they didn’t comply with pay extra.
Color-coded ‘Set your worth’ function additionally flagged
The CCPA additionally examined Rapido’s “Set your worth” slider and located that its color scheme might affect the quantity a rider selected to supply.
Growing the fare displayed a“increased probability of getting a journey” in inexperienced, whereas decreasing the quantity triggered a pink or orange warning. The authority additionally discovered that the slider allowed more room for growing the value than for decreasing it.
The CCPA held that the design amounted to a different darkish sample, “Interface Interference”, because the interface visually inspired customers to supply the next quantity whatever the accompanying textual content.
CCPA questions advance funds being proven as ideas
The authority stated the fare proven throughout reserving already accounts for components akin to distance, time, visitors, tolls and the quantity payable to the captain. It subsequently discovered no justification for subsequently asking riders to pay an extra quantity for a similar journey earlier than it had began.
The CCPA noticed {that a} tip is usually a voluntary cost made after a service has been offered and shouldn’t be portrayed as a situation for receiving the service.
The authority additionally cited the Motor Automobile Aggregator Tips, 2025, which state that tipping options ought to be obtainable solely after completion of the journey, reasonably than throughout reserving or the journey.
Rapido had argued that tipping on its platform is voluntary and that its matching algorithm continues to work no matter whether or not a rider presents an extra quantity. The corporate additionally stated the prompts represented real-time negotiation just like an offline dialog between a rider and a driver.
The CCPA rejected these arguments, saying the timing and design of the prompts put stress on riders once they have been most depending on the platform. The authority additionally famous that Rapido had not offered information exhibiting that paying an extra quantity truly improves a rider’s probabilities of getting a journey.
The declare was consequently held to be unsubstantiated and deceptive.
CCPA scrutiny extends to different ride-hailing platforms
The motion in opposition to Rapido is a part of a wider CCPA examination of advance-tip and dark-pattern practices amongst ride-hailing and bike-taxi platforms.
The authority had earlier issued notices to Uber, Ola, Rapido and Namma Yatri, asking them to adjust to the Tips for Prevention and Regulation of Darkish Patterns, 2023 and submit self-declarations on compliance.
The CCPA’s examination of Uber and Ola on the problem is presently ongoing.