Govt guidelines for social media influencers soon; move against fake reviews: report

Social media influencers will now be required to put disclaimers for their associations with paid brands, news agency PTI reported quoting sources.

The move is seen as an attempt to curb fake reviews posted on e-commerce websites. The consumer affairs department has completed the process of developing a framework to curb forged reviews posted on these sites, sources said

In the next 15 days, the government is expected to introduce guidelines which will make it mandatory for influencers to declare their involvement with the products they endorse.

The 'dos and don'ts' for influencers which require social media influencers to declare their brand associations will be notified by the Department of Consumer Affairs, sources said.

The social media influencers will be required to put disclaimers for paid endorsements to outline their association with products.

In May, the department along with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) held a virtual meeting with stakeholders, including e-commerce entities, to discuss the magnitude of fake reviews on their platforms.

Fake reviews mislead consumers into buying online products and services.

The department had then decided it would develop these frameworks after studying the present mechanism being followed by e-commerce entities in India and best practices available globally.

ALSO WATCH: A social media outpouring on Bengaluru rains: these Twitter users didn't mince words