In a bid to counter fake reviews, the Centre on Monday said that unfair trading practice, and indulgence in unfair review will come under Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and Consumer Protection Act, Consumer Commission for penal actions.
The government has announced frameworks to counter fake reviews and unverified star ratings on e-commerce websites, hotel, and travel booking platforms which will be effective from November 25. The guidelines will make provision for the segregation of paid or advertisement reviews from genuine and unpaid reviews, said Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh.
Websites will have to remove fraudulent reviews. Also, once classified as a fake review the author should be barred from writing future reviews. The government said anyone, any platform, any medium publishing reviews will have to voluntarily comply with these standards or guidelines.
Zomato, Swiggy, Reliance Retail, Tata Sons, Amazon, Flipkart, Zepto, Blinkit, Google, Meta, Meesho were part of the committee making these guidelines.
The guidelines will have parameters for accuracy, privacy, security, transparency, and accessibility. It will
also define consumer reviews, review author, experience date, unsolicited review, solicited review, and review administrator.
Websites will have to do proper verification of the review author.
Since e-commerce involves a virtual shopping experience, consumers heavily rely on reviews posted on platforms to see the opinion and experiences of users who have already purchased the goods or services. But fake reviews and star ratings mislead consumers into buying online products and services.
Stakeholders from e-commerce companies have claimed they have frameworks in place by which they monitor fake reviews.
With inputs from PTI
First Published: Nov 21, 2022 10:47 AM IST
Check out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!
Aftermath of Arvind Kejriwal’s bail — AAP's narrative boost and BJP's challenge
May 11, 2024 8:19 AM
Delhi voters can avail free rides from booths to their homes on polling day
May 10, 2024 6:26 PM
Kolkata North: TMC fights 'TMC' in battle reflecting party's Old vs New debate
May 10, 2024 5:14 PM