Government’s move to Curb Fake Reviews On Online Shopping
Centre’s Move to Curb Fake Reviews On Online Shopping Websites, Apps
On Friday, the Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) convened a virtual meeting with stakeholders. Including e-commerce companies, to explore the prevalence of bogus reviews on their platforms.
New Delhi:
The government announced that it will build a framework to monitor bogus reviews placed on e-commerce websites and applications to protect consumers’ interests.
Consumers are misled into purchasing online items and services because of fake reviews. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) will build these frameworks. After evaluating the current process used by e-commerce businesses in India as well as best practices from around the world, according to an official release.
Consumer forums, law schools, lawyers, the FICCI, the CII, also the consumer rights advocates, among others. Attended the meeting to explore the scope of the problem and the path forward for fraudulent online reviews.
Consumers rely extensively on reviews placed on platforms to see the opinion and experience of users. Who have already purchased the thing or service because e-commerce entails a virtual shopping experience with no ability to physically inspect or check the product.
“The two main challenges here are traceability by guaranteeing the legitimacy of the reviewer as well as the platform’s associated liability. E-commerce businesses must also reveal fair and transparent reviews” for display”. Rohit Kumar Singh, the Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs stated fairly and transparently.
According to the statement, all stakeholders agreed that the issue should be continuously monitored. And an adequate structure for phony reviews should be devised to defend consumer interests.
Stakeholders
E-commerce company stakeholders stated that they have systems in place to monitor bogus reviews. Stated that they would be happy to participate in drafting a regulatory framework on the subject, according to the report.
The meeting was also attended by Nidhi Khare, additional secretary, and Anupam Mishra, joint secretary at the Department of Consumer Affairs.
The impact of fraudulent and misleading reviews on consumer interest was noted by Manisha Kapoor, CEO of ASCI.
The meeting focused on how paid reviews, unverifiable reviews, as well as the lack of disclosure in the case of incentivized reviews made it difficult for customers to distinguish genuine reviews.
WRITTEN BY: SONALI SINGH
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