'Digital influencers' must disclose paid-for content, says new guidance Online publishers, bloggers, tweeters and other "digital influencers" must "clearly and prominently" label content they are paid to produce as paid-for promotions, new guidance developed by a body of regulators from around the world has said. The International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), in work led by …
This is going to be hard to enforce. Is there enough room in jails? Commercially Paid Bullshit and outright lies permeate the internet and if everyone doing CPB had to admit it, their credibility would be destroyed and they simply can't have that, right? Hate to say it, but there are examples here at the Reg with all the puff pieces on DevOps and Storage and what not. How are you going to handle that?
There are also a large number of gray areas here. I get paid to train on a set of products and I also comment on posts I run into on multiple sites, but no one pays me for that activity. Do I have to disclose I get paid to train every time I post something that is favorable to the company? What about when I post something that is a pure bitch about the company? " XYZ totally sucks. Disclosure - I am paid by XYZ to train on their products". Is there going to be some central " Truth Registry" where the up to date status on who is doing CPB can be found or where people can turn in anyone for engaging in CPB and operating without the disclaimer? Who verifies that the accusation is valid? What's the consequence for false claims? What's' the consequence for valid claims? How many people are going to be employed to do this? How long does the complaint process take? Will there be a registry of violators? Will it go on their permanent record? Will violations affect their financial credit - they are liars you know? Will they be able to own snakes? Adopt puppies from animal shelters? Inquiring minds want to know.
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