The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has released an advisory for LinkedIn influencers, urging them to comply with guidelines that mandate the disclosure of any material connections with the brands, services, or advertisers they endorse. 

The move aims to reinforce adherence to self-regulatory and legal standards and to uphold the integrity of influencer marketing. 

Unlike other popular social media platforms, LinkedIn does not provide platform disclosure tools. In such a case, the influencers themselves have to display the permitted disclosure terms like 'Ad' or 'Partnership' amongst others.  

In recent times, the platform has seen several cases of professionals talking positively about certain products or services and even advertising campaigns without revealing that they are part of a campaign. These practices mislead audiences, who may believe that the views represented by such professionals are unbiased and not influenced by any collaboration. 

As per the new guidelines, influencers must disclose any relationship with an advertiser that could affect the content’s credibility. The disclosure must be clear, upfront, and not hidden within hashtags or links.

Manisha Kapoor, secretary general and CEO, ASCI, said, "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.” 

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