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But it is legal. The obligation is on the reviewer to highlight they've been paid for a review, otherwise they are illegally misleading their readers. Whether

But it is legal. The obligation is on the reviewer to highlight they've been paid for a review, otherwise they are illegally misleading their readers. Whether that's moral is another thing.

bgidley 3y ago
It may not be legal depending on how it’s done - this was Asus UK and the rules are on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-reviews-and-endorsements-advice-for-businesses/online-reviews-giving-consumers-the-full-picture https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-reviews-an... The UK Government are also in processing tightening this up…
- c0m 3y ago
  I suspect the CSA’s new ‘rip-off tip-off’ campaign would be interested in this! https://ripoff-tipoff.campaign.gov.uk/ https://ripoff-tipoff.campaign.gov.uk/
orra 3y ago
You're right that paid reviews may be legal if they're clearly advertised as adverts, as opposed to framed as impartial reviews. But walking that line is fine, right, because people expect reviews to be impartial. Regardless, the legal obligation[1] to transparently advertise this is on the firm, not (just) the bought reviewer. IIRC the Advertising Standards Authority recently had a case on a social media paid promotion, which reinforced this. Regardless, IMO the statute is quite clear the obligation is on the firm. [1] https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1277/part/2/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1277/part/2/made
jeroenhd 3y ago
I'm not so sure about that: > Don’t commission third parties to write fake reviews – you may be liable for their actions https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-reviews-and-endorsements-advice-for-businesses/online-reviews-giving-consumers-the-full-picture https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-reviews-an... With proper disclosure there may be some leeway, but I wouldn't just assume paying someone for a fake review is legal. UK advertising laws can be very strict in some cases (and rightfully so, in my opinion).
- CWuestefeld 3y ago
  I don't know UK law, but at least in the US, there's a clear difference between "illegal" and "liable". There's a lot of stuff that's perfectly legal, but that I may be liable for.
  - chris-orgmenta 3y ago
    IANAL. I understand that fake reviews are indeed against the law in the UK (Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008, etc.)? But perhaps it's viewed as too loosely defined or hard to enforce. In context here, liable: 1) Liable for claims that the fake review makes, i.e. held to the same standards as any other marketing/claims you make about your product, 2) Liable if you mislead consumers by making them think it's a real review. "You are liable, i.e. you are the entity that may break the law" The Digital Markets Bill may affect this in 2024 (?) - Not sure whether it will be more focused on regulating 'platforms'.
gnopgnip 3y ago
Almost all new car reviews are paid. It often includes flying reviewers out and paying $500+ a night for their hotel
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
mrweasel 3y ago
It's just always surprising when companies think that legality and morality are the same thing. Either they didn't expect to get caught, or they see nothing wrong with it, that latter being worse. The majority of companies that gets punished by consumers these days seem to me to be those who think that just because something is legal, then it's without consequences.

But it is legal. The obligation is on the reviewer to highlight they've been paid for a review, otherwise they are illegally misleading their readers. Whether that's moral is another thing.

bgidley 3y ago

It may not be legal depending on how it’s done - this was Asus UK and the rules are on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-reviews-and-endorsements-advice-for-businesses/online-reviews-giving-consumers-the-full-picture https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-reviews-an... The UK Government are also in processing tightening this up…

c0m 3y ago
I suspect the CSA’s new ‘rip-off tip-off’ campaign would be interested in this! https://ripoff-tipoff.campaign.gov.uk/ https://ripoff-tipoff.campaign.gov.uk/

orra 3y ago

You're right that paid reviews may be legal if they're clearly advertised as adverts, as opposed to framed as impartial reviews. But walking that line is fine, right, because people expect reviews to be impartial. Regardless, the legal obligation[1] to transparently advertise this is on the firm, not (just) the bought reviewer. IIRC the Advertising Standards Authority recently had a case on a social media paid promotion, which reinforced this. Regardless, IMO the statute is quite clear the obligation is on the firm. [1] https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1277/part/2/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1277/part/2/made

jeroenhd 3y ago

I'm not so sure about that: > Don’t commission third parties to write fake reviews – you may be liable for their actions https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-reviews-and-endorsements-advice-for-businesses/online-reviews-giving-consumers-the-full-picture https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-reviews-an... With proper disclosure there may be some leeway, but I wouldn't just assume paying someone for a fake review is legal. UK advertising laws can be very strict in some cases (and rightfully so, in my opinion).

CWuestefeld 3y ago
I don't know UK law, but at least in the US, there's a clear difference between "illegal" and "liable". There's a lot of stuff that's perfectly legal, but that I may be liable for.
- chris-orgmenta 3y ago
  IANAL. I understand that fake reviews are indeed against the law in the UK (Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008, etc.)? But perhaps it's viewed as too loosely defined or hard to enforce. In context here, liable: 1) Liable for claims that the fake review makes, i.e. held to the same standards as any other marketing/claims you make about your product, 2) Liable if you mislead consumers by making them think it's a real review. "You are liable, i.e. you are the entity that may break the law" The Digital Markets Bill may affect this in 2024 (?) - Not sure whether it will be more focused on regulating 'platforms'.

gnopgnip 3y ago

Almost all new car reviews are paid. It often includes flying reviewers out and paying $500+ a night for their hotel

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

mrweasel 3y ago

It's just always surprising when companies think that legality and morality are the same thing. Either they didn't expect to get caught, or they see nothing wrong with it, that latter being worse. The majority of companies that gets punished by consumers these days seem to me to be those who think that just because something is legal, then it's without consequences.