Following a period of extensive industry and community
consultation, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
(ACCC) yesterday released its guidelines for
managing and using online reviews, Online reviews: a guide for
business and review platforms (Guide).
The development and publication of the Guide recognises the
important role of product reviews to both consumers and businesses,
and increasing concerns of the ACCC of the capacity for such review
platforms to be abused by people or businesses posting fake reviews
(negative or positive reviews), editing reviews, or providing
incentives to solicit particular types of reviews.
When announcing the release of the Guide on Tuesday, 3 December
2013, ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper observed that,
"Online reviews are an increasingly popular resource for
consumers purchasing goods or services. Many businesses rely on
these reviews to promote their businesses, however, some
unscrupulous businesses are taking
