From July 31, 2025, Meta requires all investment-related advertisers targeting Indian audiences—domestic or overseas—to undergo SEBI verification. Ads must display the advertiser’s SEBI registration number, name, and location, along with mandated disclaimers. Financial educators exempt from SEBI registration must complete alternative ID or business verification. Credentials will be shown on ads and stored in Meta’s Ad Library for seven years.
The move builds on earlier ASCI and SEBI guidelines for finfluencers, aiming to curb scams like the “Baap of Chart” and PR Sundar cases. Industry leaders, including ASCI’s Manisha Kapoor and creators like Ankur Warikoo, praised the policy as a trust-building measure that could benefit retail investors and genuine educators.
However, experts warn of gaps and challenges—loopholes for unpaid or organic content, unclear definitions of “advice,” and risks of migration to unregulated platforms. Concerns include possible overreach affecting legitimate educators, false compliance claims, and lack of clarity on enforcement or complaint mechanisms. Lawyers and industry stakeholders suggest stronger cross-check systems, whitelists of verified professionals, and dynamic blacklists of violators to strengthen oversight.