Product review site banned from claiming reviews are real

[Whitey]

Following a four month investigation, the Advertising Standards Authority found that it was possible for “non-genuine content” to appear on Tripadvisor, which is designed to allow holidaymakers to share tips and opinions on places they have visited.

The advertising watchdog said that because reviews can be posted on the site without any form of verification, Tripadvisor must no longer claim that all of its reviews are honest, or even from real people.

[telegraph.co.uk...]

More feedback, interviews and comments here :
[bbc.co.uk...]

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Long overdue (and I am a regular TA user).

[g1smd]

Nothing on the web is ever completely trustworthy.

[lucy24]

the Advertising Standards Authority found that it was possible for “non-genuine content” to appear on Tripadvisor

You don't hear it so often lately, but somebody on the Telegraph must be familiar with the words "Dog Bites Man".

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Part of TAs statement read "But there is a broader question here about the integrity of user-created content and we feel that this is something we must absolutely, and passionately, defend."

This is nonsense IMO. I have reported obviously bogus contributions and comments in the past and they did nothing about it. The reason for this is that to start doing the right thing would require resources that would cut into their bottom line.