Finfluencers, beware

Investment adviser regulations.

Under the SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulations, 2013 (IA Regulations), SEBI presently regulates ‘investment advisers’ or individuals engaged in the business of providing ‘investment advice’ for consideration to clients. Under the aforesaid regulations, ‘investment advice’ is defined as any advice (oral or written) in relation to investing in or dealing in securities and investment for the benefit of the client. However, such ‘investment advice’ does not include investment advice given through newspaper, magazines, any electronic or broadcasting or telecommunications medium, which is widely available to the public. The IA Regulations impose registration requirements upon investment advisers. Additionally, while the net-worth requirements are not very taxing, individuals are required to meet the stringent criteria in relation to academics and professional experience to be able to obtain the investment adviser certification.

Given that investment advisers charge a certain fee for their advice and that investment advice provided through any electronic medium available to the general public is not governed by the IA Regulations, many finfluencers may not fall within the ambit of these regulations. However, in May 2023, SEBI fined more that INR 6 crore on a finfluencer, P R Sundar (along with his firm and his co-promoter) and prohibited them from conducting his business for one year. P R Sundar had a blog through which he offered various customised packages for their investment advisory services. SEBI noted that P R Sundar, through his firm, was recommending purchasing, selling and dealing in securities to various investors, viz., providing investment advice as per IA Regulations, without being registered as an investment adviser with SEBI. It must be noted that the order does not discuss the regulatory outlook of SEBI in relation to finfluencers.

Regulations governing fraudulent and unfair trade practices in the securities market

The SEBI (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices relating to Securities Market) Regulations, 2003 (PFUTP Regulations) were framed to counter the manipulative, fraudulent and unfair trade practices within the securities market in India.

In January 2022, through the ‘Interim Order in the matter of Svarnim Trade Udyog Limited’, SEBI observed that there has been a market abuse through stock recommendations using the social media channel, Telegram. Further, in March 2022, through the ‘Interim Order in the matter of Stock Recommendations using YouTube in the scrip of Sadhna Broadcast Limited’ and the ‘Interim Order in the matter of Stock Recommendations using YouTube in the scrip of Sharpie Broadcast Limited’, SEBI observed that several noticees had engaged in manipulative and unfair trade practices, through paid promotions on their YouTube channel. In both these orders, SEBI observed that the PFUTP Regulations, among others, had been violated. It must be noted that the aforesaid orders too do not discuss the regulatory outlook of SEBI in relation to finfluencers.

Consumer protection regulations

Finfluencers promoting investment products and services of their own or those of third parties can be viewed to be providing a ‘service’ under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (CPA). CPA and the rules and regulations thereunder prohibit false and misleading advertisements. Further, the guide on ‘Endorsements Know-hows! - for celebrities, influencers and virtual influencers on social media platforms’ (Endorsements Guide) issued under the CPA recently seeks to prevent misleading advertisements on social media platforms led by celebrities, influencers and virtual influencers. The Endorsements Guide is addressed to celebrities and influencers endorsing various products and services on the internet, where there is a material connection between the endorser and the advertiser of such products or services. The guide broadly imposes two types of restrictions upon the influencers, viz., transparency and disclosure requirements as well as due diligence requirements.

It must be noted that while the aforesaid consumer protection regulations largely cover finfluencers promoting investment products and services of their own or those of third parties, they may not cover all kinds of finfluencers.