The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering adjusting its power to allow it to crack down on "false positive comments or manipulate public opinion by suppressing bad comments". In a new statement issued by U.S. government agencies, Samuel Levine, director of the Consumer Protection Bureau of the Federal Trade Commission, said:
"We are updating our guidelines to combat false reviews and other forms of misleading marketing. We warn marketers not to put invisible advertisements on children. Whether it's false reviews or hiding that they are hired influencers, this deception leads people to pay more for bad products and services and hurts honest competitors."
The new guidelines will also warn social media platforms that post comments, such as youtube and INS, that their tools are insufficient to ensure proper disclosure of paid content and may expose them to potential responsibilities.
The new guidelines will put virtual influencers (i.e. v-tubers) under supervision. V-tubes are usually animated characters controlled in real time by creators, allowing them to respond and express real-time messages and events in their own streaming media.