FTC's rule banning fake online reviews goes into effect
Source: AP
Updated 7:45 PM EDT, October 21, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) A federal rule banning fake online reviews is now in effect.
The Federal Trade Commission issued the rule in August banning the sale or purchase of online reviews. The rule, which went into effect Monday, allows the agency to seek civil penalties against those who knowingly violate it.
Fake reviews not only waste peoples time and money, but also pollute the marketplace and divert business away from honest competitors, FTC Chair Lina Khan said about the rule in August. She added that the rule will protect Americans from getting cheated, put businesses that unlawfully game the system on notice, and promote markets that are fair, honest, and competitive.
Specifically, the rule bans reviews and testimonials attributed to people who dont exist or are generated by artificial intelligence, people who dont have experience with the business or product/services, or misrepresent their experience.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ftc-rule-fake-reviews-ban-b7e57e33c1818fa58dd742a921643239
Rhiannon12866
(222,887 posts)BumRushDaShow
(142,969 posts)but might at least cut them down some - notably the small outlets that aren't using "professional" fake review services!
Rhiannon12866
(222,887 posts)2naSalit
(92,948 posts)A couple-few decades overdue.
Farmer-Rick
(11,460 posts)I get tired of trying to figure out the fake reviews from the real reviews. I have made some awful purchases because of those fake reviews.
3catwoman3
(25,517 posts)if a review is fake?
skypilot
(8,937 posts)For me it's reviews that sound a bit pat and bland:
"Works great. Very affordable."
"I love this product. Would purchase again."
Stuff like that. Of course, not all of these kinds of reviews are necessarily fake but, like I said, you can start to get a feel.
I usually go straight to the negative reviews to see if there are any specific issues with a product that multiple people mention. That is usually how I ultimately come to a decision about whether or not to make the purchase. It's not necessarily fool-proof but it's something to go by.
PedroXimenez
(600 posts)My husband loves the shirt, he can wear it to the golf course and to dinner!
"Less filling. Tastes great!"
Some of them do resonate that way.
Farmer-Rick
(11,460 posts)Or misspellings in 5 stars. Lack of any identifying details in 5 stars.
I look at the 3 and 4 stars. Who would buy fake reviews with 4 stars? Fakers always give 5 stars.
And then I look at how many 1 and 2 stars there are. Total count of them not particularly what they are saying. Again fake reviews are 5 stars but if there are 100s of 1 and 2 stars stay away.
Sometimes 1 and 2 stars are just angry people or a competitor. If they recommend some other product, take it with a grain of salt. If they complain about delivery and packaging, that's usually a local post office issue and I don't put a lot of weight on those complaints. If they complain about things I don't really care about like color for a kitchen gadget or bagginess in a baggy sweater, I don't put much weight on them.
It requires looking at the reviews carefully. There are apps that will evaluate a rating based on reviews for you but they get it wrong a lot too.
Born Free
(1,619 posts)Yes, now avoid any that claim free gifts for "honest reviews" - I found switching from top reviews to "most recent" gives a better mix
RobinA
(10,157 posts)enforceable?
mdbl
(5,488 posts)They prosecute one over there and a hundred more pop up somewhere else.
BumRushDaShow
(142,969 posts)so if they can determine, even if using spoofed IPs, some source locations, they can shut that down.
When it comes to places like Amazon, there is a feature to filter out and look at "verified purchasers" only. So that makes it easier for a buyer to make a decision and isolates any "mass fraudulent reviews". I do know that I have seen reviews from people who have claimed to have purchased a product elsewhere but used it and wanted to add some comments, but that would still flag them as not being a "verified" purchaser (on Amazon). Sometimes that info can be useful too but like everything else, caveat emptor!
ampm
(343 posts)I see online ads. saying your medicare plans are ready to look at only to direct you to MA plans
maxsolomon
(35,129 posts)We've got a local Italian restaurant that is truly underwhelming, but it regularly gets hilarious, glowing 5-start reviews that push the real reviews far down in the results.
They're small fry; the FTC won't make them stop.
BumRushDaShow
(142,969 posts)The finalization of the Rule and it finally being "in effect", NOW gives them the "authority" to "make them stop".
I expect they may set up some kind "hotline" or reporting structure (or roll this into any existing one) so people can "report" on such, and then they can legally investigate it.