Call for Chapters: The Architecture of Deception by CCRP NUSRL Ranchi: Submit by October 30!

CCRP NUSRL Ranchi invites chapters for an ISBN volume on dark patterns and consumer consent. Submit by October 30, 2026.

About National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi

The National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi (NUSRL) was established by the Government of Jharkhand under the National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi Act, 2010. The Chair on Consumer Research and Policy (CCRP) was established at NUSRL in October 2024 by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India. The Chair promotes research, teaching and training in consumer law and policy. Its official website describes work on consumer awareness, grievance redressal and protection against unfair trade practices.

About the Book

The Architecture of Deception: Consumers, Dark Patterns and the Limits of Consent is an edited volume examining how deceptive or manipulative digital interfaces challenge the assumption that an online transaction reflects free and informed choice. The book seeks critical contributions on how consumer law can recognise harm, provide remedies when consent may not be freely given, and address conduct embedded in digital design.

About the Call

CCRP NUSRL Ranchi invites original and unpublished chapters from academicians, practitioners, policy experts, research scholars and law students. Submissions should engage with consumers, dark patterns and the limits of consent, or another topic reasonably connected to the call themes.

Themes and Sub-Themes

• Defining and detecting dark patterns, including the CCPA Prevention of Dark Patterns Guidelines, 2023; taxonomies such as drip pricing, confirmshaming, forced action, false urgency, nagging and basket sneaking; and comparative regulatory approaches in India, the European Union and the United States.
• Consent as a legal fiction, including pre-ticked boxes, disguised advertisements, cookie banners, subscription traps and the ability of contract law to address manipulated assent.
• Platforms, algorithms and behavioural exploitation, such as personalisation, targeted marketing, dynamic and drip pricing, recommender systems, infinite scroll and engagement-maximising design.
• Vulnerable users, including children, elderly and first-time digital users, and gig workers facing dark patterns in onboarding, ratings or payout processes.
• Enforcement and remedies, including CCPA action, overlap among consumer, competition and sectoral regulators, and private remedies under consumer protection, contract or tort law.

Submission Categories and Word Limits

• Articles: 5,000-6,000 words.
• Short Articles: 2,500-4,000 words.
• Legislative Comments: 1,500-2,500 words.
• Book Reviews: 1,000-2,500 words.

Word limits are inclusive of footnotes.

Eligibility

Submissions are invited from academicians and faculty members; legal practitioners and policy professionals; research scholars and doctoral candidates; undergraduate and postgraduate students at recognised institutions; and interdisciplinary contributors in fields such as economics, public policy, business and technology, where the work engages with consumer protection, market regulation or consumer rights.

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions must be original, unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere. Submit the manuscript in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).
• A separate cover page must list each author’s name, institutional affiliation or designation, contact email and phone number. Do not include the cover page as part of the main manuscript.
• A maximum of two authors is permitted. All manuscripts undergo blind peer review and must not identify their author or institutional affiliation.

Formatting Guidelines

• Use Times New Roman; 12-point main text, 10-point footnotes, and 16- or 14-point headings and subheadings.
• Use 1.5 line spacing for the main text, single spacing for footnotes, justified alignment and Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 21st Edition.

Plagiarism and Use of AI

Submissions must be original and free from plagiarism. The use of generative AI tools to draft substantive portions is discouraged. Authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality and integrity of their work.

Publication Details

Selected submissions will be published as chapters in an accredited book bearing an ISBN. Submission and publication are free of cost, and each author will receive one complimentary copy of the published volume.

Important Dates

• Release of call for chapters: September 27, 2026.
• Last date for paper submission: October 30, 2026.
• First phase of acceptance: November 10, 2026.
• Editorial feedback: November 12, 2026; book name release: November 14, 2026.
• Final acceptance: November 20, 2026; publication: November-December 2026.

The dates are tentative and may be changed at the organisers’ discretion.

Contact

Contact person: Aditi Vivek Singh, Student Editor-in-Chief, CCRP, NUSRL. Phone: 8957370313. Email: ccrp@nusrlranchi.ac.in.

Application Procedure

Submit the manuscript in Microsoft Word format through the online form. The submission deadline is October 30, 2026.