Fake Review Business Gets Off With a Light Slap

[engine]

A UK business that posted fake reviews online has had it knuckles rapped and told to take down the reviews. That seems a pretty lightweight slap, imho.

[gov.uk...]

If the authorities are going to be that soft I can't see an incentive for others to stop carrying out the activity.

[rogerd]

Not much disincentive there... I wonder if a civil lawsuit by a harmed third party might do a lot more damage.

It's difficult, though, fake reviews are a huge problem, even at busy and sophisticated sites like Amazon.

[tangor]

Disincentives come in the form of either financial lost or loss of freedom. This one seems so lightweight as to be absurd.

[not2easy]

I've been seeing a difference in Amazon reviews- it clearly states which are given by confirmed purchasers and some say that the review was given in return for goods. Some carry more weight than others and are less misleading imo.

[Andy Langton]

Funny thing is, if you search for the company - lots of positive reviews right on the Google results page ;)

[graeme_p]

They operated on a small scale - only 800 fake reviews. They will be in more trouble if they breach their undertakings.

[engine]

Agreed about the undertakings, but, how much damage is already done! Probably immeasurable.

[toidi]

Was any damage done? It looks like they were writing positive reviews, which might explain why the punishment was so slack.