The Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC) is a trade association with more than 500 members from the film and tv industry. The Council is exploring legal options to take on "extortionist" social media influencers and online reviewers who allegedly blackmail film producers and OTT owners.
As per the Council, many influencers and online reviewers have been threatening to publish negative reviews if they are not paid the demanded money. Through their "targeted campaigns", they try to affect the commercial viability of new box office releases. The Council, therefore, is consulting legal experts to find out if they can file civil and criminal cases against such blackmailers.
The Council stated that it welcomes genuine and constructive reviews.
Recently, a prominent Tollywood reviewer on YouTube was apprehended by the Hyderabad police upon a complaint lodged by the producer of a small Telugu movie. As per the producer, the reviewer had demanded Rs 40,000 as bribe for not giving a negative review of his movie.
