Medianama to Host Briefing Call on Trust in E-commerce
Medianama announced a briefing call on "Trust in E-commerce" for September 2, 2026. The session will address platform liability and consumer trust following recent regulatory actions.
Medianama will host a virtual briefing call on "Trust in E-commerce" on September 2, 2026, to discuss increasing regulatory scrutiny of online marketplaces and the implications for consumer safety.
The call comes after Karnataka's Food Safety and Drug Administration suspended food licenses for Amazon, BigBasket, and Swiggy Instamart. The action cited the listing of poisonous Datura fruits and seeds as food on these platforms, with authorities holding the platforms themselves liable, not solely the third-party sellers.
This incident is part of a broader trend. Regulators have taken steps against e-commerce food operators, including repeated notices to Blinkit over spoiled food and flagging misleading claims by D2C brands. The briefing will examine how platforms can prevent toxic or prohibited goods from being listed, especially when valid licenses are required. It will also question who bears responsibility when a transaction goes wrong: the seller or the marketplace.
The session will delve into when a marketplace transitions from a neutral intermediary to a liable food business operator, the effectiveness of platform controls like listing removals and audits, and whether enforcement is keeping pace with the evolving e-commerce landscape. The call will feature a presentation followed by a Q&A session.