Can probiotics cure autism? The anchor was punished for exaggerating the therapeutic effect, and the court ruled

China News Service, Beijing, November 11 (Reporter Liu Yue) "Drinking tea can protect eyes and improve tinnitus, and probiotics can also cure autism?" Faced with such promises in the live broadcast room, consumers should be cautious. The Beijing Internet Court recently concluded an Internet service contract dispute and clarified that exaggerating or fabricating the medical efficacy of products in live broadcasts constitutes false propaganda, and it is not inappropriate for the platform to close the product sharing function in accordance with the contract.

According to the case, the plaintiff Li opened a live broadcast account on a platform operated by a technology company and sold tea, probiotics and other products. During the live broadcast, Li repeatedly stated or implied that these products had the effect of treating autism and other diseases, and also used rhetoric to package the tea as a "health tool that can protect the eyes and improve tinnitus." The platform had warned him many times before for false propaganda and clearly informed him of the illegal content, but Li continued to violate the rules. The platform then permanently closed its product sharing function. Li claimed that he presented the information truthfully and that the punishment was unjustified, and requested that the account functions be restored.

The court held that the plaintiff associated non-medical products such as tea and probiotics with the effects of treating myopia, tinnitus and even autism, causing consumers to mistakenly believe that the purchased products had medical effects. The platform found that it was not inappropriate to conduct "false propaganda". The plaintiff has been punished many times for publishing false propaganda information, which has triggered a large number of user complaints and has caused serious adverse effects. The circumstances are serious, and the platform's corresponding punishment is not inappropriate. In the end, the court ruled to reject the plaintiff’s claim.

"The authenticity of live broadcast content is an important component of the platform's operating order and consumer trust." The court pointed out that exaggerating or even fabricating the medical efficacy of products may mislead consumers into making wrong purchasing decisions, delay normal diagnosis and treatment, and allow violators to gain competitive advantages based on false selling points. This case reminds network anchors: truthfully introducing the efficacy of products is the bottom line, and false advertising will eventually pay the price.