Traceability first step to address fake reviews, govt tells e-commerce cos

The Centre and the e-commerce industry in a meeting agreed that the “traceability” of product reviews on online retail platforms is the first important step in addressing the issue of fake reviews.

The meeting was held on Friday by the Department of Consumers Affairs in association with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). E-commerce firms like Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance and Tata participated in the meeting along with trade organisations such as FICCI and CII and consumer forums and lawyers, according to the sources. Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh was also part of the meeting.

“It was discussed that there should be traceability of the reviews like if the person who wrote the review has actually bought the product,”