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ARTICLE · 21 FEBRUARY 2022

Zero Stars: FTC And NAD Will Not Permit Consumer Review Suppression

Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance (GALA)
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is encouraging marketers to evaluate their policies regarding consumer reviews. The Commission's recent efforts — publishing guidelines for marketers...

United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Allison Fitzpatrick (Davis & Gilbert LLP)
Allison Fitzpatrick (Davis & Gilbert LLP)
Paavana Kumar (Davis & Gilbert LLP)
Paavana Kumar (Davis & Gilbert LLP)
Sumi Naidoo (Davis Gilbert LLP)
Sumi Naidoo (Davis Gilbert LLP)
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is encouraging marketers to evaluate their policies regarding consumer reviews. The Commission's recent efforts — publishing guidelines for marketers, issuing warning letters to review-management platforms, and reaching a $4.2 million settlement with retailer Fashion Nova LLC (Fashion Nova) — target review suppression and promote neutral review selection criteria and increased transparency. The National Advertising Division's (NAD) recent inquiry of review moderator BestCompany.com LLC (Best Company) also demonstrates a self-regulatory focus on ensuring consumer reviews are authentic and substantiated. 

FTC Guidance Encourages Increased Transparency, Equal Treatment for Good and Bad Reviews

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