The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has issued an advisory to LinkedIn influencers, urging them to disclose material connections with brands or advertisers they promote. According to media reports, ASCI received 60 complaints about undisclosed brand associations on LinkedIn in the past week, with 56 flagged for violations of the ASCI Code, the Guidelines for Influencers in Digital Media, and the Central Consumer Protection Authority’s (CCPA) rules. Many influencers have been promoting products or campaigns without revealing their affiliations.
ASCI’s advisory stresses that disclosures must be clear, upfront, and not buried in hashtags or links. Influencers are expected to understand and follow ASCI and CCPA guidelines to ensure transparency and maintain audience trust.
“LinkedIn influencers are seasoned professionals and trusted voices in their respective fields; this makes it all the more important for them to lead by example when it comes to responsible influencing. Being transparent about material connections is mandated both by the ASCI Code and the CCPA guidelines. The advisory is a direct reminder that such non-disclosures could lead to a loss of credibility for violators, as well as possible action by the regulators. We thank the LinkedIn community of professionals who are aiding ASCI by sharing such links and helping keep the advertising ecosystem honest.” Manisha Kapoor, secretary general and chief executive officer, ASCI, said.
Unlike other platforms, LinkedIn lacks built-in tools for disclosure, requiring influencers to manually include terms like ‘Ad’ or ‘Partnership.’ Non-compliance has led to professionals reporting suspected posts to ASCI, which has prompted further investigations.