Centre to introduce framework to check fake reviews on e-commerce platforms...

Several instances and complaints of fake reviews on e-commerce sites …

Witnessing a lot of fake revenant complaints over the e- commerce sites, the government is soon to launch new rules to curb this ongoing issue. 

The department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs had formed a committee to submit a report in a month. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) held several rounds of consultation with trade bodies and discussed the issue of fake reviews on e-commerce platforms.

The committee submitted its report to the government on July 26 and the legal framework is likely to be issued by the government on July 31. This move is also seen as a direction of action taken by the government to prevent misleading advertisements by consumer protection.

Fake online reviews have been a matter of concern for stakeholders on e-commerce platforms. The guidelines by the government and its framework are likely to follow the practices being exercised globally.

The central consumer protection authority officials held meetings with the Advertising Standards Council of India and other stakeholders, like trade bodies including FICCI and CII and e-commerce stakeholders as well.

Most of the time, it has been noticed that consumers are influenced by the reviews and opinions shared on e-commerce platforms regarding particular product and speed reviews or fake reviews violate the competitive market.

The government aims to bring transparency in the e-commerce market by preventing biased, fake or paid reviews of goods.

This year the central consumer protection authority issued 119 notices that included misleading and unfair trade practices. Many of these companies withdrew their advertisements after being called by the Central Consumer Protection Authority as misleading.