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FTC's rule banning fake online reviews goes into effect

(abcnews.go.com)
374 points indus | 3 comments | 22 Oct 24 15:21 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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AdmiralAsshat ◴[22 Oct 24 15:29 UTC] No.41915264[source]▶
> It also bans businesses from creating or selling reviews or testimonials. Businesses that knowingly buy fake reviews, procure them from company insiders or disseminate fake reviews will be penalized. It also prohibits businesses from using “unfounded or groundless legal threats, physical threats, intimidation, or certain false public accusations.”

Still seems like it leaves in a giant loophole for all of those overly-cheery reviews that start with, "This item was provided to me by the manufacturer in exchange for a fair and honest review!"

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shkkmo ◴[22 Oct 24 15:35 UTC] No.41915334[source]▶
You are no longer allowrd to provide compensation for reviews. So companies can still send out stuff for your to possibly reviews but it can't make recieving items dependent on actually writing a review, even 'implicitly', though we'll see how enforcement shakes out.
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1. nerdponx ◴[22 Oct 24 16:11 UTC] No.41915782[source]▶
It will be impossible to enforce. The people who don't leave good reviews simply will get dropped from the mailing list. However, it forces the whole thing to kind of move underground, which should help at least reduce the scale of the problem, and creates a deterrent against getting too aggressive with it.
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2. youworkwepay ◴[22 Oct 24 16:29 UTC] No.41915973[source]▶
And if enforced aggressively, will only provide a set up for false flag operations to get a competitor banned for fake reviews. I think we've already seen this movie in SEO....
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3. shkkmo ◴[22 Oct 24 18:18 UTC] No.41917099[source]▶
The evidentiary standards for Google search ranking changes is VERY different than the one used for FTC enforcement actions.

I'm pretty sure getting caught for trying to frame a company for buying reviews would bring criminal charges that are more serious than the FTC enforcement action.