The Center for Data Innovation responded to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) request for comments on proposed rulemaking to address online fake reviews. While online reviews help consumers make informed decisions on products and companies and inform companies about consumer experiences, some bad actors use deceptive practices, including submitting fake reviews, to manipulate consumer behavior and businesses' reputations.
The Center for Data Innovation supports the Commission’s goal of protecting consumers and businesses from fake reviews, but notes that new rulemaking may be premature because there are no widely accepted best practices for how to stop fake reviews. The Center for Data Innovation suggests that, as an alternative to new regulation, the FTC should partner with stakeholders to create voluntary best practices to detect and prevent fake reviews, establish a public-private partnership to share data related to known bad actors, and amend the FTC’s Endorsement Guides to target actors soliciting fake reviews
