Overview

• Google has committed to stricter detection and removal of fake reviews on its platform following a UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation launched in 2021.
• Businesses found engaging in fake review practices will face sanctions, including the suspension of new reviews and deletion of existing ones for at least six months.
• Prominent warning alerts will be added to the profiles of businesses involved in suspicious review activity to inform consumers of potential misinformation.
• Individuals repeatedly posting fake reviews will be banned and have their review histories erased, regardless of their location.
• Google will report to the CMA over the next three years to ensure compliance, with the CMA gaining stronger enforcement powers starting in April.