Government launches AI tools, e-com safety measures to boost consumer protection
- IBEF
- December 26, 2024
On December 24, 2024, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, New and Renewable Energy, Mr. Pralhad Joshi, launched several initiatives to enhance consumer protection, including an artificial intelligence-enabled helpline and tools to detect deceptive marketing practices. Major e-commerce companies such as Reliance Retail, Tata Sons, and Zomato pledged to improve online shopping safety. These new measures include the AI-powered National Consumer Helpline, the e-maap portal, and the Jago Grahak Jago mobile app, which aim to empower consumers and facilitate quicker dispute resolution.
At the National Consumer Day event, he noted that the country had made significant strides in resolving consumer disputes. Between January and November 2024, 6,587 cases were resolved through the three-tier consumer court system, compared to 3,628 new cases filed with the National Commission. The e-Daakhil Portal, launched in 2020 and expanded nationwide in June 2023, has achieved full adoption for online complaint filing in states like Karnataka, Punjab, and Rajasthan. He highlighted that while the digital revolution presents immense opportunities, ensuring consumer confidence is crucial. The Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is also working on new guidelines to regulate surrogate advertising, with 13 companies recently issued notices for non-compliance with existing regulations.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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