Nestle India Limited - Kit Kat

Recommendation: Not Upheld | Medium: General Public

The ASCI had approached the advertiser (Nestle India Limited) and the influencer (Shitiz Dogra) for their respective responses in addressing the grievances of the complainant and also forwarded the details of the complaint, verbatim with a request to respond to the same. The advertiser and the influencer were also offered an opportunity for a telecon with the ASCI Secretariat, which they did not avail, and subsequently submitted their respective responses.

The influencer clarified that the post in question is an organic post and has no connection with the brand.

The advertiser in their response stated that they have neither engaged the influencer nor have any material connection with him. They further provided a declaration confirming that there is no association with the influencer in relation to the advertisement.

The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) viewed the LinkedIn post

(https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shitizdogra_spotted-something-really-cool-on-ashoka-universityshare7484912899203735552vx8m/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEJGbT0BaImpJlcggZweuk0_5v_g9yb6C6c) considered the complaint, the influencer’s and the advertiser’s response.

The CCC noted that the LinkedIn post was made organically and the influencer has no connection with the advertiser.

The CCC further noted that the advertiser does not endorse the comments made in the LinkedIn post. They have submitted a declaration confirming the absence of any material relationship with the influencer. The feedback in the post reflects the influencer’s personal opinion indicating that the content was shared voluntarily.

Based on these observations, the CCC concluded that the LinkedIn advertisement is not in contravention of ASCI Guidelines for Influencer Advertising in Digital Media. This complaint was NOT UPHELD.