Google Maps has started a crackdown on business pages that publish fake reviews, now notifying visitors to those pages. To enforce its Fake Engagement policy, Google is imposing restrictions on profiles that violate it: fake reviews are removed, new ones are blocked, and a message indicates that fake reviews have been deleted.
New Restrictions Rolled Out
The enforcement of these restrictions began in the UK segment of the platform this year. In September, Google updated its support page to announce that the new rules would now apply globally. However, at present, these warnings are still only displayed to users in the UK. We’ll keep you updated as this expands to other regions.
Google’s Policy on Reviews
According to Google’s policy, reviews on the Maps platform “must reflect a genuine experience about a place or business.” Business owners are prohibited from posting content that doesn’t “accurately represent the location or product in question” or that was written by a paid author. Google Maps will also be looking for reviews intended to manipulate ratings — such as those posted by multiple accounts, using emulators, modified operating systems, or other methods that “make it look like real activity.”
Deterring Fake Reviews
Google hasn’t disclosed how it plans to identify fake reviews or enforce these rules more broadly, notes NIX Solutions. Still, the visible warning about fake reviews could be a strong deterrent for businesses trying to manipulate their ratings. As a result, customers might avoid visiting businesses with suspicious review activity.
We’ll keep you updated on any further developments regarding this policy change.