Review Bombing: Positive reviews in exchange for money

Kochi: Positive film reviews are often published in exchange for money, says amicus curiae Shyam Padman in his report submitted at the High Court.

Negative reviews are published about movies of people who refuse to pay. As of now, there are limitations in taking action against this as it cannot be included along with crimes like robbery and extortion.

Vloggers defame actors and crew members of films through their reviews. Therefore, every review site, from now on, should follow Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)  guidelines. Separate portals should be set up under cyber cell inorder to register complaints against review bombing. Fake profiles and fake reviews should immediately be deactivated. Immediate actions should follow any activity that disregards the Digital Media Ethics Code rules, said the report.

Police can take action against review bombing as per the rules of Indian Penal Code, IT Act, and Copyright Act, as well. 

Justice Devan Ramachandran enquired whether people believe in negative reviews and orally observed that films become successful even after being slammed through negative reviews.