CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
Ola fined Rs 10 lakh for seeking extra payments before rides are confirmed
The Central Consumer Protection Authority has penalized ANI Technologies for its misleading payment practices on Ola. The regulator noted that soliciting add-on payments misleads consumers and constitutes an unfair trade practice. This feature suggested that paying extra could expedite ride allocation, despite evidence depicting the opposite. Ola has been ordered to cease this practice immediately and ensure compliance with consumer protection laws.
Ola passengers asked to pay tips to get faster rides, but data shows extra payments didn't improve confirmation chances; company ordered to pay Rs 10 lakh fine
Central Consumer Protection Authority has fined Ola's parent company ANI Technologies Rs 10 lakh for soliciting advance tips and add-on payments before cab confirmation. The regulator found that Ola's own data showed lower driver acceptance rates for rides with add-ons and ordered the company to discontinue the prompts.
MeitY examines data collection by home services platforms for physical AI training
The consultation comes amid growing interest among AI and robotics developers in first-person video and sensor data, which can help train machines to understand and replicate human actions in real-world environments. Such recordings capture how people perform routine activities, providing training inputs for robots designed to undertake physical tasks.
Page Industries shares crash over 13% after Q2 results, FEMA non-compliance disclosure
Page Industries shares fell sharply on Thursday after the company disclosed FEMA non-compliance involving online sales of imported Jockey and Speedo products. The stock's decline came despite an 11.5% rise in Q2 FY27 revenue and a 4% increase in profit. The company also declared an interim dividend of Rs 150 per share.
Gym closes 15 minutes earlier than advertised time, Punjab man quits six-month membership within two months; consumer court orders gym to refund and pay Rs 6,500
An Amritsar man paid Rs 5,760 for a six-month gym membership but left within two months, alleging that they closed earlier than advertised time and problems with facilities, including the steam bath. The district consumer commission ordered the gym to refund Rs 3,500 with 6% interest, pay Rs 2,000 compensation and Rs 1,000 litigation costs.
EU threatens significant fines for unfair online trade practices
The European Commission is proposing a new Digital Fairness Act aimed at enhancing consumer rights. This legislation will impose fines on companies engaging in unfair practices such as deceptive advertising targeted at children. It seeks to ban dark patterns and other misleading digital strategies that cost consumers significantly. Companies will need to comply with these new rules to avoid substantial penalties.
EU to make addictive app features easier to switch off
The European Union will on Wednesday unveil new rules to crack down on influencer marketing, ban online features that trick Europeans and force platforms to give users the right to turn off "addictive" features.
How intelligent commerce is shaping the next frontier of merchant payments
For a decade, the task in India’s merchant payments was to get every shop and website to accept digital money. The value, leaders argued, at GFF 2026, is now moving to identity, risk, credit and growth, and to preparing the checkout for AI agents that may soon shop on consumers’ behalf.
US: Senate advances sweeping energy legislation in first major action since midterm elections
The Senate voted 73-25 to formally take up the bill, which senators and the president have pushed as a way to meet growing demand for electricity and other forms of energy that now face yearslong delays in getting to the grid.
Indian organisations on edge as sites fail to Captcha AI intruders
Personal AI agents such as Instinct, Muse, Grokbot and OpenClaw have taken over the consumer internet in the US. But last month, major US banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley, reportedly flagged AI agents such as Meta’s Muse accessing customer accounts using login credentials voluntarily shared by users laying bare the risks of handing AI agents the keys to consumers’ digital lives.
Woman expects 12% interest on fixed deposit, puts Rs 9.5 lakh in Karnataka society, fails to recover money after maturity, consumer court orders society to pay Rs 17.63 lakh
A woman and her family member deposited money in a Karnataka credit society, expecting returns of up to 12% on their fixed deposits. They later struggled to recover their money, including a deposit that had matured. The consumer commission has now ordered the society's office-bearers to repay Rs 17.63 lakh with interest, compensation and legal costs.
Woman deposits Rs 1 lakh in post office, postmaster issues receipt but no certificate, then runs away with her money; court orders department to pay her Rs 1.15 lakh
A woman above 60 deposited Rs 1 lakh at Karnataka's Kodikoppa Post Office for a Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme account and Rs 500 for a savings account on November 14, 2023. After receiving neither certificate nor passbook, she approached the consumer commission, which ordered a refund with 6% interest, compensation and litigation costs.
Rahul Gandhi questions Centre over excess ethanol in E20 petrol, seeks action against oil companies
Rahul Gandhi has raised concerns regarding high ethanol levels in petrol sold in Karnataka. He claims that numerous petrol samples exceeded the prescribed limit of 20%. Oil marketing companies have disputed these allegations, asserting their fuel meets regulatory standards. Karnataka authorities are seeking accountability and transparency regarding fuel quality. An investigation into the matter has been called for to protect consumer interests.
Man books overnight bus, reaches pickup point on time, then watches driver speed past his stop, leaving him behind; company ordered to pay Rs 14,725
A Ballari passenger who booked a Rs 1,725 bus ticket to Hyderabad alleged that the bus missed his pickup point, later broke down and left him unable to attend an urgent office meeting. The Ballari District Consumer Commission ordered the operator to pay Rs 14,725, including compensation and litigation costs.
Google, Meta, TikTok sue to block California youth social media law
The law, known as Assembly Bill 1709, prohibits such platforms from offering underage children "psychologically exploitative features" that could lead to compulsive use, such as providing personal recommendations and sending videos through autoplay features. It also requires the deletion of children's accounts with those features.
FSSAI accuses PepsiCo of ‘duping’ consumers by marketing Sting, Adrenaline Rush as 'energy drinks'
FSSAI has told the Delhi High Court that PepsiCo India deliberately markets its Sting Energy and Adrenaline Rush beverages as energy drinks to mislead consumers, despite the absence of prescribed standards for the category. The regulator has opposed the company's request for a 12-month extension to exhaust existing packaging material, citing public health concerns.
Crypto's midterm spending spree stumbles as Democrats rack up big wins
The race was one of the most expensive in the Senate's history. Strategists viewed it as a major test of crypto's political clout after the Senate in September voted against advancing major crypto legislation known as the Clarity Act due to opposition from Democrats, in a blow for an industry that has grown close to President Donald Trump.
Woman seeks Rs 50,000 compensation from Gillette India, alleges women pay up to five times more for razors; consumer commission issues notices to top executives
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has issued notices to Gillette India Ltd regarding discriminatory pricing practices. Shipra Mathur alleges that women's razors are priced four to five times higher than men's razors. Counsel Inder Mohan Singh states that this constitutes unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act. The complainant seeks directions to prevent such pricing and claims compensation for mental distress.
Homebuyers’ body FPCE urges PM Modi to restructure RERA as consumer protection law
The Forum for People’s Collective Efforts has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to overhaul the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act. They emphasize the critical need to distinguish consumer protection from the promotion of the real estate sector, citing persistent enforcement challenges. The group reveals that many homebuyers are facing financial losses due to stalled projects.
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