I share the concerns raised about fake reviews and appreciate how they can cause serious harm to businesses and livelihoods.
In July 2021 the Government consulted on a number of proposals concerning consumer protection law. The Government’s response set out its approach to ensuring consumers are supported with a robust set of rights. In particular, the Government confirmed it will consult in due course on adding fake reviews to the list of banned practices – giving greater clarity to business on the current law and, where fake reviews are posted, allowing enforcers to take effective action quickly.
However, it is important to stress that companies that post fake reviews are breaking consumer law. In the past, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has taken enforcement action against a UK marketing company that wrote fake online reviews for small businesses. It has also taken enforcement action against a number of review sites to improve their systems and practices. The CMA continues to monitor the sector closely and will consider further enforcement work if necessary.
Indeed, following work conducted by the CMA, Facebook, Instagram and eBay have all taken action to tackle the trading of fake reviews. You can find out more about these actions here: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/fake-and-misleading-online-reviews
I am also aware of Baroness Buscombe’s proposed amendment to the Online Safety Bill which seeks to widen the Bill’s false communications offence to include financial harm and harm to a person or an organisation, including a business, due to false communication. This amendment is due to be discussed in the House of Lords and I will follow this discussion closely.
I welcome the work the Government is undertaking to strengthen protections for businesses. For example, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill will ensure businesses and consumers are protected from rip-offs and can reap the full benefits of the digital economy with confidence. Fake reviews that cheat customers, subscription traps that cost more than a billion pounds a year and new powers for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to tackle businesses that breach consumer rights law are all elements of today’s far-reaching Bill. In competitive markets, firms strive to give consumers the best products, most choice, and lowest possible prices. The Bill will provide the CMA with stronger tools to investigate competition problems and take faster, more effective action, including where companies collude to bump-up prices at the expense of UK consumers.
I hope that this will give greater clarity to rural business and, where fake reviews are posted, allow enforcers to take effective action quickly.
(May 2023)
