The ad regulator said that health and financial influencers must disclose their qualifications and registration details on relevant endorsements in their content prominently
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has expanded the definition of celebrities in its ad code to cover influencers having over 500,000 followers or earning above Rs 40 lakh ($54,600) annually. Celebrities are required to conduct due diligence before endorsing a brand and provide evidence of the same when called upon by Asci. The amendment reflects the fact that social media influencers have created new centres of mass influence, and follows over 500 instances of misleading ads featuring celebrities being processed by Asci in the last financial year.