👊Big Tech vs India - The Dark Pattern Issue
Big Tech including Meta, Google, and Amazon are fighting the Indian govt over dark patterns regulation. Find out why.
In Today's Siam Sixers
👊 Big Tech Fights Indian Govt. Over Dark Pattern Rule
📺 A video on CRED’s love-hate product design
💡 Essential Reading for Product Leaders
🎧 Podcast: The Introvert who founded Spotify
💰 Contribution of Startups to India’s $5Tn Economy Goal
😂 Just for gags
1️⃣Big Tech Fights Indian Govt. Over Dark Pattern Rule
In an earlier issue of Siam Sixers, I had written about dark pattern designs and how the Indian government has been taking steps to control the menace. At the time, the Consumer Affairs Department and The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) had urged online platforms to refrain from incorporating any platform interface designs that may deceive or manipulate consumer choice and issued guidelines
But Big Tech does not want to listen.
Asia Internet Coalition - the industry group representing major US tech companies (including Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon, etc) has opposed the Indian government’s proposal against dark patterns and said the move would adversely affect the state promise of enabling “ease of doing business” in the economy and bring “regulatory overlap” with existing laws.
The Coalition has instead recommended the Indian government consider adopting the approach taken by the European Union, which is also working on regulating the practice of using dark patterns.
“At present, the Draft Dark Pattern Guidelines provide for a blanket provision requiring that no person including platforms should engage in any dark pattern. However, such a blanket provision would raise serious concerns for online intermediaries,” the group said.
Read More
📜Big Tech’s Response to Indian Regulations
2️⃣Video: The Love-Hate Relationship with CRED’s Design
Atul Khola, the lead product designer at CRED, is aware that their product elicits mixed reactions from users. They have a store that doesn’t have a search bar, coins that cannot technically be used to buy anything tangible, and many other quirks.
But no one can deny that CRED has captured the imagination of the masses with these quirks. In this video, Atul explains why CRED is better than the rest in product design and talks about the design philosophies and frameworks used at CRED.
Key Segments in the video:
Mixed Reactions to CRED’s design choices
Origins of Design Rook community
Build and Guild frameworks
Importance of the overall user experience vs UI
Gamification theories and principles
3️⃣Essential Reading for Product Teams and Leaders
Here are the latest articles from Siam Computing and the ProdWrks publication that I feel will be useful for product teams and product leaders.
🧲From Clicks to Connections: Unveiling the Secrets of Digital User Stickiness
📦Elixia’s Grand Plan to Become the Zoho of Supply Chain and Logistics Tech Space
📱Navigating Challenges of Designing a Social Media App’s News Feed
🧩Decoding The Ideal System Design For A Social Media App’s News Feed
🎮Gamification in EdTech – Lessons from Duolingo, Khan Academy, IXL, and Kahoot!
🔐Practical Guide to Navigate Privacy and Data Security Compliances for Digital-First Firms
🏆Winning Back Lost Customers: A User-Centric Approach to D2C Product Development
💰Propelld Shows the Way for Fintechs to Tackle NPAs in Education Loans
📜 Navigating Compliance with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023
😓Is Your Startup Team Suffering from Software Development Fatigue?
4️⃣Podcast: The Introvert who founded Spotify
If you enjoy hearing about the personal journeys of founders, I recommend you listen to this podcast with Daniel Ek, the Swedish entrepreneur who co-founded Spotify alongside Martin Lorentzon in 2006.
The introverted founder of Spotify talks about how his introverted nature made him feel like he didn't fully belong in any one group. He shares the importance of building relationships, seeking different perspectives, as well as understanding both the details and the bigger picture in business. Also, he shares why he thought Spotify was a stupid idea.
5️⃣Contribution of Startups to India’s $5Tn Economy Goal
Indian startups, fueled by government support and massive funding, are pivotal to India's $5Tn Economic goal. In 2022, they secured $42 billion in investments, although 2023 saw a funding dip.
Sectors like fintech and EV are driving the charge, creating jobs, boosting exports, and making India the tech startup hub to watch. With startups transforming everything from electric vehicles to healthcare, they're not just disruptors; they're India's economic Avengers, poised to conquer the $5 trillion universe. Prime Minister Modi might as well say, "Startups, assemble!"
6️⃣Just for gags
I hope you enjoyed this week's curated stories and resources. Check your inbox again next week, or read previous editions of Siam Sixers for more insights. To get instant updates, connect with me on LinkedIn.
Cheers!
Khuze Siam
Founder: Siam Computing & ProdWrks