Why IT minister issued clarification over a YouTube ad

The minister of state for electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has issued a clarification over the outcry over a YouTube ad. The minister called all social media platforms to excercise caution while using government logos. He was referring to a public interest campaign issued by Google-owned video streaming platform YouTube, depicting a popular social media personality who offers stock market courses. The YouTube ad featured the logos of the IT ministry and India’s G20 presidency, the body copy stated, “There are real as well as fake experts on the internet. Spotting the difference between the two can be tricky. So, before you trust any self-proclaimed expert, know a little more about them.”

The ad drew criticism from several social media users. Some Twitter users had raised concerns over the government endorsing certain individuals — such as investment advisors — as experts on the internet. These users asked whether YouTube and MeitY endorsed them as “trusted” experts.

“Just to be very clear – this is not an endorsement of any person or any social media platform. @suchetadalal @GoI_MeitY

encourages all digital platforms to create awareness of Safe&Trust And Accountable #Internet and is supportive of all genuine campaigns/advocacy for this but that is not an endorsement. 🙏🏻Given that these type of advocacy ads cud be misintepreted, i hv advised more careful use of Govt logos in these campaigns by private platform,” the minister tweeted. He tagged @mygovindia and @_DigitalIndia in the tweet.

Stock market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently red-flagged unregistered social media influencers for offering financial and investment advice to their followers. Last month, SEBI barred PR Sundar, a financial influencer — or ‘finfluencer’ — from the securities markets for a year for allegedly providing advisory services such as daily stock investment or trading calls without registering with the regulator.

Earlier this month, Zerodha cofounder Nithin Kamath told Economic Times that while investment advisors such as Sundar have been helpful to investors, the expectations they set on market returns is a problem that eventually leads to disappointment.

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