LocalCircles will escalate the findings of this survey to the key stakeholders for action.
The survey comes at a time when India is planning to bring in a unified system to tackle consumer complaints against misleading ads, days after the Supreme Court pulled up the government citing inadequate action.
Recently, the Supreme Court mandated all companies to submit a self-declaration form before advertising any product. The apex court has also asked influencers and celebrities to endorse products with a sense of responsibility.
These actions take place against the backdrop of a surge in misleading advertisements during the pandemic, with numerous brands claiming to protect consumers from the Covid-19 virus or to enhance immunity. Misleading claims spanned a wide range of products, from mattresses and multivitamins to hand sanitisers and ready-made clothing, with many household brands contributing to consumer confusion. Additionally, this period saw the rise of digital influencers, many of whom promoted various products without clearly disclosing their sponsorships.
Ramdev-led Patanjali Ayurveda has drawn rebuke from the top court as misleading advertisements have triggered concerns about violations of consumer rights.
“With limited action from self-regulating body ASCI and the government, the misleading ads and influencer media have continued post-pandemic as well, leading to a significant reduction in consumers’ trust in advertisements,” according to LocalCircles.
The government’s plan for a unified mechanism is likely to be presented to the Supreme Court this week by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.