Varanasi: The Inter-college competition Round 3 Grand Finale of the Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon (DPBH-2023) unfolded at the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) BHU, organized by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India. Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary DoCA, graced the event as the chief guest in collaboration with the institute.
DPBH-2023, an unprecedented initiative, has emerged as a nationwide movement against dark patterns. Launched by the Department of Consumer Affairs on 26th October 2023, this four-round Hackathon is a dedicated effort to combat deceptive online practices. Participants were tasked with designing innovative app or software-based solutions, ranging from browser extensions to mobile applications, capable of detecting and addressing dark patterns on e-Commerce platforms.
Shri Rohit Kumar Singh commended the students for their commitment and determination during the Grand Finale. He acknowledged the unparalleled talent showcased by participants, emphasizing that the solutions presented would not only aid in detecting dark patterns but also serve as a crucial tool in regulating other deceptive online practices. In his closing remarks, he underscored the transformative potential of AI in mitigating dark patterns, urging participants to leverage evolving technology ethically.
The DPBH-2023 witnessed widespread participation, with over 150 colleges and 40,000+ students registering for the competition. The fervor for addressing digital deception was evident as 380+ teams competed in the intra-college competition’s second round. From this competitive pool, 172+ teams advanced to the Grand Finale at IIT (BHU) on 17th February 2024.
The event hosted over 500 students, 150+ subject experts, and jury members. Teams presented real-time working models capable of detecting 13 different types of illegal dark patterns as recognized by the Government of India. Several groundbreaking innovations were showcased during the Grand Finale:
Large Language Models for Dark Pattern Detection: An exceptional project proposed a browser extension utilizing a 7 billion-parameter Large Language Model (LARA) for precise detection of dark patterns on e-commerce sites.
Serverless Architecture for Real-time Analysis: Solutions featured a serverless setup using AWS Lambda and cross-encoder machine learning models, showcasing scalability and efficiency in identifying “misdirection” and “forced action.”
Modular Approach for Comprehensive Protection: Some projects adopted a modular approach, integrating text and visual analysis with You Only Look Once (YOLO) technology for real-time use alerts, prioritizing user privacy.
Web and Mobile Platform Solutions: Utilizing Random Forest classifiers and Google’s Vision API, solutions focused on uncovering “hidden information” through a user-friendly platform developed with Flask and React Native.
Browser Extension for Enhanced Transparency: Some browser extensions employed JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Python, leveraging machine learning for data analysis and providing a streamlined user experience.
These solutions, designed to address 13 specified dark patterns, contribute to enhancing digital transparency, empowering users, and fostering a safer online environment. The DPBH-2023 is not only a showcase of innovation but also a commitment to ethical digital practices.
The DPBH-2023’s efforts have garnered global appreciation, with a webinar organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on “AI and Dark Patterns” applauding the students. The declaration of awards and cash prizes on March 15, 2024, World Consumer Rights Day, will mark the culmination of this impactful event, celebrating participants’ achievements and advancing consumer rights in the digital age.
Other dignitaries who addressed the event included Professor MK Meshram of IIT(BHU)’s Electronics Engineering Department, Professor Vikas Kumar Dubey, Dean of R&D at IIT(BHU), Shri Anupam Mishra Joint Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs, and Dr. NS Rajput, serving as the convener of DPBH-2023 and Associate Professor in Electronics Engineering, IIT(BHU).