Infocalypse: AI, fake reviews and trust in digital commerce
1 year, 5 months ago

Infocalypse: AI, fake reviews and trust in digital commerce

Hindustan Times  

Fears surrounding artificial intelligence have plagued human society since the dawn of the computer age. Online marketplaces also have market incentives to address this problem, as they are well aware that fake reviews undermine trust and credibility, leading to decreased user engagement and ultimately people's reluctance to use their platforms. Further, in India, initiatives such as the Open Network for Digital Commerce which are encouraging interoperability could also play a potential role in building systems of cooperation to check fake reviews. Fixing accountability of fake reviews and law enforcement mechanisms may also need to be revisited as AI’s impact on this aspect becomes clearer. We should take proactive steps to regulate and combat the proliferation of fake reviews to enable informed decision-making and protect online commerce from AI-powered manipulative practices.

India Consumer Commerce Digital Online Digital Commerce Ai Generative Ai Fake Reviews Online Marketplaces  commerce  online  proliferation  fake  reviews  consumer  platforms  digital  infocalypse  trust  ai

History of this topic

The internet is filled with fake reviews. Here are some ways to spot them
2 weeks, 3 days ago

The internet is filled with fake reviews. Here are some ways to spot them

New Indian Express  

The FTC, which this year banned the sale or purchase of fake reviews, said some of Rytr’s subscribers used the tool to produce hundreds and perhaps thousands of reviews for garage door repair companies, sellers of “replica” designer handbags and other businesses. “It can help with reviews make it more informative if it comes out of good intentions,” said Michigan …

The internet is filled with fake reviews. Here are some ways to spot them
Trending News
2 weeks, 3 days ago

The internet is filled with fake reviews. Here are some ways to spot them

Associated Press  

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce novel and detailed online reviews with almost no work has put merchants, service providers and consumers in uncharted territory, watchdog groups and researchers say. The FTC, which this year banned the sale or purchase of fake reviews, said some of Rytr’s subscribers used the tool to produce …

As Yelp turns 20, online reviews continue to confound and confuse shoppers
3 months ago

As Yelp turns 20, online reviews continue to confound and confuse shoppers

Salon  

For the past 20 years, Yelp has been providing a platform for people to share their experiences at businesses ranging from bars to barbershops. For example, a recent study estimates that fake reviews compel consumers to waste 12 cents for every dollar they spend online. Real reviews can still mislead Even if all fake reviews were filtered out, do product …

AI smackdown: How a new FTC ruling just protected the free press
3 months, 2 weeks ago

AI smackdown: How a new FTC ruling just protected the free press

Salon  

I couldn’t be more delighted to be the bearer of such bad news. If you’re a digital media company whose revenue comes from publishing AI-generated articles and fake product reviews which pose as journalism, then Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina “The Lion” Khan just landed on your wallet with a WWE-style People’s Elbow-drop from the top-rope. It’s been almost a …

$5 for a good online review? No way, says new FTC rule
4 months, 1 week ago

$5 for a good online review? No way, says new FTC rule

Live Mint  

The new rule, finalized this month and set to go into effect later this year, prohibits a slew of practices including: providing incentives for reviews that convey a particular sentimentreviews and testimonials by company insiders that don’t disclose the authors’ connection to the brandsuppressing unflattering reviewsreviews and testimonials attributed to people who haven’t used the product or aren’t real “The …

Fake online reviews and testimonials are a headache for small businesses. They hope the FTC can help
4 months, 1 week ago

Fake online reviews and testimonials are a headache for small businesses. They hope the FTC can help

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Online reviews and testimonials are a key way that small businesses can attract new customers and boost sales of products. But fake reviews and testimonials have been a persistent problem for small businesses, many of whom rely on recommendations for business. “Fake reviews not only waste people’s time and money, but also pollute the marketplace and divert …

Fake online reviews and testimonials are a headache for small businesses. They hope the FTC can help
4 months, 1 week ago

Fake online reviews and testimonials are a headache for small businesses. They hope the FTC can help

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Online reviews and testimonials are …

Govt likely to make anti-fake review rules mandatory for e-commerce firms
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Govt likely to make anti-fake review rules mandatory for e-commerce firms

India TV News  

The government is set to take strict action to deal with fake reviews of products being sold on e-commerce websites/apps. The government is likely to make it mandatory for e-commerce companies to comply with quality norms for consumer reviews. However, the last year's direction failed to stop fake reviews of products and services on e-commerce platforms are still slipping through …

The internet is littered with fake reviews. Amazon, Glassdoor and others are trying to fight back
1 year, 2 months ago

The internet is littered with fake reviews. Amazon, Glassdoor and others are trying to fight back

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Some of the most used platforms for travel and online shopping said Tuesday they’re going to team up to battle fake reviews. Amazon, reviews site Glassdoor and Trustpilot, as well as travel companies Expedia Group, Booking.com and Tripadvisor said in an announcement they’re launching a coalition that aims to protect access to “trustworthy consumer reviews” worldwide. Last …

Bogus online reviews are targeted by US regulators with new, proposed bans
1 year, 6 months ago

Bogus online reviews are targeted by US regulators with new, proposed bans

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators are looking to crack down on fake reviews and other deceptive internet practices. “Our proposed rule on fake reviews shows that we’re using all available means to attack deceptive advertising in the digital age,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. “The rule would trigger civil penalties for violators …

Explained | What does the new draft on online reviews outline?
2 years, 1 month ago

Explained | What does the new draft on online reviews outline?

The Hindu  

The story so far: On Monday, the Department of Consumer Affairs issued guidelines to curtail fake and deceptive product and service reviews on e-commerce websites. Work on the framework titled, ‘Online Consumer Reviews – Principles and Requirements for their Collection, Moderation and Publication’, began in June, when a committee was set up comprising industry stakeholders and consumer organisations. There are …

Govt goes tough on fake online reviews of products, services; issues guidelines
2 years, 1 month ago

Govt goes tough on fake online reviews of products, services; issues guidelines

India TV News  

Fake online product reviews: E-commerce players like Amazon and Flipkart will have to voluntarily disclose all paid consumer reviews of products and services offered on their platforms, with the government bringing in new norms to curb fake reviews and help buyers make informed decisions. Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh on Monday said the Bureau of Indian Standards has formulated …

Fake reviews may land online vendors in consumer courts
2 years, 1 month ago

Fake reviews may land online vendors in consumer courts

Live Mint  

E-commerce companies and eateries will have to ensure that the online reviews of their products and services are genuine, and their authors verifiable, under a new government framework to counter fake reviews released on Monday. If an organization wants to check if its website is adhering to the BIS standards, it can go to BIS and get it checked and …

Govt Announces New Norms to Curb Fake Online Reviews of Products, Services
2 years, 1 month ago

Govt Announces New Norms to Curb Fake Online Reviews of Products, Services

News 18  

E-commerce players like Amazon and Flipkart will have to voluntarily disclose all paid consumer reviews of products and services offered on their platforms, with the government bringing in new norms to curb fake reviews and help buyers make informed decisions. Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh on Monday said the Bureau of Indian Standards has formulated a new standard ‘IS …

Centre sets ‘standard’ for product reviews on e-commerce platforms to protect consumers from ‘fake and deceptive’ reviews
2 years, 1 month ago

Centre sets ‘standard’ for product reviews on e-commerce platforms to protect consumers from ‘fake and deceptive’ reviews

The Hindu  

The Centre is bringing out a standard for publishing product reviews for e-commerce platforms from November 25. Talking to reporters here on Monday, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Rohit Kumar Singh, said the framework was meant to safeguard and protect consumer interest from fake and deceptive reviews on e-commerce platforms. If made mandatory, the violation of the standard, …

Online Shoppers Not Happy With E-Commerce Platforms, Want Negative Reviews Published: Report
2 years, 6 months ago

Online Shoppers Not Happy With E-Commerce Platforms, Want Negative Reviews Published: Report

News 18  

More than one in two consumers complain that their negative product ratings and reviews are not being published by e-commerce platforms, a new report showed on Tuesday. About 90 per cent of those surveyed said the e-commerce platforms should restrict low-rated products from sellers to be re-listed as another product, according to community social media platform LocalCircles. According to consumers, …

Govt Working On New Ways To Protect Online Consumers From Fake Reviews
2 years, 7 months ago

Govt Working On New Ways To Protect Online Consumers From Fake Reviews

News 18  

New Delhi, May 27: The Centre on Friday said it will come out with a standard operating procedure to protect online consumers from fake reviews of products and services, after a detailed discussion with e-commerce entities and other key stakeholders on this issue. Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh, who chaired the virtual meeting with stakeholders, discussed the impact of …

Centre to formulate SoP to protect online consumers from fake reviews
2 years, 7 months ago

Centre to formulate SoP to protect online consumers from fake reviews

Firstpost  

Consumer organisations said e-commerce players are using filters like ’top reviews’ and ‘most relevant’, clearing away the negative reviews or pushing them down so that the ordinary consumer will not read those reviews New Delhi: The Centre on Friday said it will come out with a standard operating procedure to protect online consumers from fake reviews of products and services, …

Seeing stars: Charles Assisi on the murky world of fake reviews
3 years ago

Seeing stars: Charles Assisi on the murky world of fake reviews

Hindustan Times  

When an old acquaintance told me that he could massage the ratings of a book I wrote in 2018 and have it listed as a best-seller for as little as ₹5,000, he got my attention. He told me, rather casually, that he would use what is called the “fake reviews economy”. His business depended heavily on touched-up images, effusive reviews …

Amazon and Google investigated in UK over fake product reviews
3 years, 6 months ago

Amazon and Google investigated in UK over fake product reviews

CNN  

London CNN Business — British regulators are investigating whether Amazon and Google have broken consumer protection law by not doing enough to protect shoppers from fake product reviews. “Our worry is that millions of online shoppers could be misled by reading fake reviews and then spending their money based on those recommendations,” CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said in a …

New law to ban fake reviews and protect consumers online
4 years, 2 months ago

New law to ban fake reviews and protect consumers online

Dutch News  

Fake reviews of products will be banned in new Europe-wide laws to protect consumer rights. ‘The rules for consumers in the physical world need to apply online,’ she said in a press release. Social media sites which require people to give up their personal information in order to gain ‘free’ access will need to be clearer about the contract they …

New law to ban fake reviews and protect consumers online
4 years, 2 months ago

New law to ban fake reviews and protect consumers online

Dutch News  

Fake reviews of products will be banned in new Europe-wide laws to protect consumer rights. ‘The rules for consumers in the physical world need to apply online,’ she said in a press release. Social media sites which require people to give up their personal information in order to gain ‘free’ access will need to be clearer about the contract they …

Market authority to fine businesses for fake likes, reviews, followers
4 years, 6 months ago

Market authority to fine businesses for fake likes, reviews, followers

NL Times  

The Dutch authority on consumer and markets launched an investigation into companies who use fake likes and fake reviews online, and companies who sell these fake responses. Fake reviews are also used by companies to put competitors in a bad light, according to the ACM. "The deliberate use of fake reviews, fake likes, and fake followers damages consumer confidence in …

Smart holiday shopping: Avoiding fake reviews and tricky ads
5 years ago

Smart holiday shopping: Avoiding fake reviews and tricky ads

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — There are lots of bargains online during the holidays, but also plenty of ways to get scammed, even at established outlets like Amazon. REVIEWING THE REVIEWS Online reviews at major retailers such as Amazon and Walmart and listing services such as Yelp look like a good place to get first-hand information from people who’ve tried a product …

E-commerce sites are riddled with fake reviews with no regulatory solution in sight
5 years, 1 month ago

E-commerce sites are riddled with fake reviews with no regulatory solution in sight

Firstpost  

An increase of just one star in a rating on Amazon correlates with a 26 percent increase in sales In the world of e-commerce, the online review is king, the internet’s answer to walking into a store and trying out a product for yourself. “How can you tell if I’m just someone who’s being paid to write a review versus …

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