Skip to content

FTC bans fake reviews

The FTC has been busy as the Biden presidency winds down. A few days ago they finalized "Click to Cancel," which requires businesses to make it as easy to cancel an order or subscription as it is to purchase one in the first place:

Today they announced a ban on fake reviews:

I don't know how effective these new rules will be, but three cheers to Lina Khan for trying.

8 thoughts on “FTC bans fake reviews

  1. Chondrite23

    Both of these rules are great. Both will be helpful. It will be interesting to see how the fake review rule works out.

    Reviews are extremely useful if used carefully. Having them diluted by a bunch of shills makes them far less useful.

    One problem with reviews is that people who are happy with a product tend not to post a review. Those who had some sort of bad experience are more likely to post. Also, people with unrealistic expectations or little understanding of how to use a product tend to vent their frustrations in reviews.

  2. rick_jones

    I trust the definition of a fake review is comprehensive and included in this new rule?

    ".gov" still uses Xitter? Did the announcement also go out on any other social media platforms?

  3. n1cholas

    As someone who likes to talk about being honest but would someday like to run a business where I can extract as much profit as I can without overtly breaking the law, I am deeply concerned with this recent bout of communism designed to take away my freedoms.

  4. Atticus

    How is it determined if the review is "fake"? Who is monitoring the reviews and how is the regulation enforced? If someone posts a bunch of fake negative reviews against a business, the owner of that business could report it. But if a company hires shills to make positive reviews about its own business, how would this be caught? It's great if they can effectively do. Just curious how it will work.

  5. D_Ohrk_E1

    It's not just that she's trying. She's creating a foundation for people to force companies to pay more attention to fake reviews.

    She's one of the best, most consequential FTC chairpersons in a very long time. 💖

Comments are closed.