Google to Strengthen Measures Against Fake Reviews in UK Deal with Regulator

The tech giant agrees to new protocols with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority to address fraudulent reviews and ensure fairness for businesses and consumers.

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.