The UK is warning of tough new penalties for writing or hosting fake reviews
Sites hosting reviews will have to take reasonable steps to check they are genuine, and businesses will be specifically prohibited from paying for fake reviews. The Competition and Markets Authority is to be given new powers to enforce the rules by directly imposing financial penalties and awarding compensation, rather than forcing complainants to go through the courts.
The announcement also covers 'subscription traps', in which businesses make it difficult to exit a contract. They will now be required to provide clearer information to consumers before they enter a subscription contract, and allow them to exit a contract in a straightforward, cost-effective and timely way.
They must also issue a reminder to consumers that a free trial or low-cost introductory offer is coming to an end, as well as a reminder before a contract auto-renews onto a new term. "No longer will you visit a five-star-reviewed restaurant only to find a burnt lasagne or get caught in a subscription in which there’s no end in sight," says consumer minister Paul Scully.
"Consumers deserve better, and the majority of businesses out there doing the right thing deserve protection from rogue traders undermining them."launched last summer into Amazon and Google. The CMA was concerned that the companies were doing too little to detect misleading reviews or suspicious patterns of behavior, or to remove them when found.
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