Fake reviews continue to happen, sellers may be subject to stricter supervision

Fake orders and fake reviews are common practices among domestic e-commerce sellers. Due to the lax supervision of domestic platforms, this has become a "basic" operation. However, this is not so applicable abroad. Amazon and other platforms have severely cracked down on fake reviews, and the government has also issued relevant policies for strict supervision. It is not uncommon for sellers to be banned for this reason.

Despite supervision, this behavior still continues.

The European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) , an agency responsible for EU consumer protection law , screened online consumer review sites. The findings showed that nearly two-thirds of online stores and platforms raised questions about the reliability of consumer reviews . Of the 223 sites checked , 144 failed to ensure authentic reviews and provide relevant information to prevent fake reviews .

At least 104 of the 223 websites surveyed did not inform consumers how reviews were collected and processed, with only 84 sites mentioning this information on the review page itself, while the others mentioned it in small print in their legal terms and conditions. The results showed that "more than half of the websites provide no information on how to prevent fake reviews."

The final results showed that 55% of the inspected websites and platforms violated the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive , which requires websites to provide consumers with true information to ensure informed decisions.

The European Commission said that the next step will be taken by national authorities, who will contact the merchants concerned to rectify their websites. If necessary, they will also initiate enforcement actions according to national procedures. It is expected that legislation will be implemented from May 28 this year to prohibit the sale, purchase and submission of false consumer reviews to promote products.

A survey by NTS shows that approximately 56% of consumers use reviews as a deciding factor in purchasing products or services. Products with five-star ratings are more likely to be purchased, which has led to the phenomenon of sellers "brushing reviews".

Many sellers are helpless about the practice of fake reviews . With the fierce competition nowadays, it is difficult to stand out by just making products in obscurity. However, under the strict crackdown by the platform, sellers still need to act with caution.

Europe

E-commerce

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