E-commerce fake reviews: Centre to issue standard guidelines next week

The Centre will issue standard guidelines by Monday next week to prevent posting of fake reviews on e-commerce and other platforms for all products and services. 

Sources said the guidelines may direct the companies to ask reviewers to submit their identity details, including bills, documents, pictures, and videos, to e-commerce platforms for cross-verification through KYC methodology.

According to sources, the e-commerce companies will also be asked to remove unverified buyers and reviewers, and on failing to do so, action will be taken against them.

The rules mentioned in the guidelines will be voluntary in the beginning, but will be mandatory after some time, if the companies do not adhere to the guidelines.

The guidelines have been prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on the basis of the report by the committee, which was formed in June. The committee included representatives from all stakeholders — Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

E-commerce companies will also be fined for paid and negative reviews against the competitor companies.