Panel formed to block fake reviews on e-com sites

THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS MINISTRY IS ALSO EXAMINING RECENT INCIDENTS OF ELECTRICVEHICLE BATTERY EXPLOSIONS, WHILE ISSUING NOTICES TO EV MAKERS

The consumer affairs ministry has set up a committee to tackle fake customer reviews and inflated ratings on e-commerce platforms, a hard-to-crack global problem, and is also examining recent incidents of electric-vehicle battery explosions, while issuing notices to a bunch of EV makers, according to a senior official.

Sellers on e-commerce companies often manipulate ratings and commission paid reviews to boost sales. Currently there are no legal provisions in India to crackdown on the menace of inflated ratings and reviews.

Nidhi Khare, additional secretary, ministry of consumer affairs, said on Tuesday, that “people in India are dependent” on reviews, and the ministry intends to bring out guidelines on fake and paid reviews soon.

The official also said the ministry was currently examining a series of recent incidents involving fires in EVs, such as scooters. “About four to five companies have been issued notices and have been told to explain why the fires happened,” Khare said, declining to name the companies because the first hearings are to be held shortly

While recent cases of explosions and batteries catching fire in electric vehicles are being already probed by multiple ministries and agencies, the consumer affairs ministry in the process of looking violation of consumer rights and possible use of sub-standard components that resulted in loss of lives, according to the official quoted above.