The Indian Film and Television Producers Council has decided to seek opinion to explore all legal remedies under both, civil and criminal laws, to stop extortion by some social media influencers from producers. The IFTPC has observed over the last few years an alarming trend where certain social media influencers are engaging in predatory practices by threatening producers of releasing malicious and disparaging reviews or reaction videos of films, series and other audio-visual content if their demand for payment is not met. Such influencers openly launch targeted campaigns designed to deliberately sabotage a project’s reception and commercial viability if they are not paid money.
Not too long ago, Vidyut Jammwal had come out openly against social media influencer Sumit Kadel for seeking money from him for a favourable review when Crakk, produced by him, was on release. But even after that exposé, things haven’t changed much because the unscrupulous ones continue to blackmail producers when they are most vulnerable — at the time of the release of their films.