From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Centre’s Department of Consumer Affairs is developing a framework to check the fake reviews on the E-commerce websites.
The mechanism was discussed by the department with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), along with the stakeholders like the E-commerce firms, consumer forums, law universities, lawyers, FICCI, CII and consumer rights activists.
Since e-commerce involves a virtual shopping experience without any opportunity to physically view or examine the product, consumers heavily rely on reviews posted on e-commerce platforms to see the opinion and experience of users who have already purchased the good or service. The E-commerce firms take advantage of this by putting the fake reviews on google and other websites.
“Traceability by ensuring the authenticity of the reviewer and the associated liability of the platform are the two key issues here. Also e-com players must disclose as to how they choose the “most relevant reviews” for display in a fair and transparent manner,” said Secretary DoCA, Shri Rohit Kumar Singh said.
All stakeholders agreed that the issue deserves to be monitored closely and appropriate framework governing the fake reviews may be developed to address the issue for protection of consumer interest.
Stakeholders from e-commerce companies claimed that they have frameworks in place by which they monitor fake reviews and would be pleased to take part in developing a legal framework on the issue.
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