BIS For Online Review Of Sites For Benefit Of Consumers
Stakeholders will have to submit their feedback on the draft by November 10
The draft standard by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) entails requirements and recommendations for the administrators to comply with in their collection, moderation and publication of online consumer reviews.
This standard is applicable to any organization that publishes consumer reviews online, including suppliers/sellers of products and services that collect reviews from their own customers, a third party contracted by the suppliers/sellers or an independent third party.
With a view to bring more fairness to online shopping websites reviews, the BIS has suggested that the online sites administrators should make it easier for consumers to differentiate between authentic independent and reward-based reviews.It has suggested that the administrators need not account ratings collected with rewards when calculating a product’s overall rating or service. Stakeholders will have to submit their feedback on the draft by November 10
Senior Public Policy Specialist and Managing Director of White Dolphin Media, Shri Mohan Shukla said “In a digital, connected environment where the role of e-commerce, and other consumer facing industries is ever expanding, the move by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to bring in a standard entailing the online sites administrators including suppliers/sellers of products and services to help consumers to differentiate between authentic, independent and reward-based reviews thus bringing transparency in the entire process is indeed remarkable and will have a significant impact in day to day business operations. This step will definitely help consumers in building trust with the platform/ company as well as deter companies who engage in such fraudulent practices”.
