The International Consumer Protection and Enforcement
Network (ICPEN), a network of consumer protection
authorities from nearly 60 countries, including the Competition
Bureau of Canada, has published three sets of guidelines on online
reviews and endorsements for:
- review administrators,
- traders and marketing professionals,
and
- digital influencers.
The guidelines are timely, as the "digital economy", particularly online
representations that affect consumers, is an enforcement priority
for the Competition Bureau.
ICPEN Guidelines for Review Administrators
The impact of online reviews and endorsements is increasing with
the growth of the sharing economy, ICPEN notes. Buyers connect with
sellers on platforms, and rely on user reviews because they lack
familiarity with the sellers. Sellers, in turn, are relying more on
user reviews instead of traditional advertising. This, ICPEN says,
"amplifies the importance of ensuring that reviews on sharing
economy
