Govt takes up fake review in e-comm sites

The Department of Consumer Affairs will take up the issue of fake reviews in e-commerce platforms with the industry players.

The department in association with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) will virtually meet stakeholders in the e-commerce sector on Friday.

The meeting is expected to be attended by ecommerce entities like Flipkart, Amazon, Tata Sons and Reliance Retail besides, consumer forums, lawyers, Ficci, CII and consumer rights activists.

The meeting will try to understand the magnitude of fake reviews on e-commerce platforms which mislead consumers into buying online services or products and to prepare a roadmap ahead to correct the anomaly.

‘It is relevant to mention that with growing internet and smartphone use, consumers are increasingly shopping online to purchase goods and services. Given that 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 goods or service. As a result, due to fake and misleading reviews, the right to be informed, which is a consumer right under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is violated,’ the letter written by the consumer affairs department to the stakeholders said.

“Since the issue impacts people shopping online on a daily basis and has a significant impact on their rights as a consumer, it is important that it is examined with greater scrutiny and detail,” it added.