Trustpilot Accused by Competition Center of Questionable Practices - Trustpilot Faces Filed Complaint by Competition Authority
The Consumer Competition Center in Bad Homburg, Germany, has filed complaints against Trustpilot, a Danish online review platform, alleging that the company has made misleading statements regarding the authenticity of its reviews. According to a letter obtained by the German Press Agency, the Center claims that Trustpilot fails to meet its promise of 100% authentic reviews, violating the German law against unfair competition.
Between October of last year and February, the Center alleges that 86 false reviews were intentionally submitted on Trustpilot, with 31 being published and 55 being removed. The Center alleges that Trustpilot predominantly removes positive reviews.
The complaint against Trustpilot was brought to the Center by a member company, though the Center did not specify the involved company's name. The Center has demanded a response from Trustpilot.
Trustpilot, based in Copenhagen, has stated it is examining the complaints from the Consumer Competition Center. The company stated that it has developed measures over the years to protect the integrity of its platform, using technologies, specialists, and transparent practices to detect fraud.
In the context of consumer complaints regarding fake reviews, it's important to note that Trustpilot, like other online review platforms, faces the challenge of fake reviews. Regulatory bodies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States and the Competition Bureau in Canada have taken action against companies that use fake reviews to mislead consumers.
Despite the allegations, Trustpilot employs an automated review detection system and manual processes to identify and remove fake reviews, as well as a flagging and reporting system for both consumers and businesses to report suspicious reviews. If a review is reported or detected as fake, Trustpilot investigates and, if validated, removes it.
References:
- Trustpilot measures to protect integrity of platform
- FTC enforcement actions against fake reviews
- Competition Bureau action against fake reviews
- No specific record of Consumer Competition Center complaints against Trustpilot
- The Consumer Competition Center's complaint against Trustpilot highlights the need for finance, politics, and general-news outlets to scrutinize the genuineness of online review platforms' claims, as vocational training in business ethics and responsible journalism emphasizes the importance of accurate reporting.
- If Trustpilot is found to have violated the German law against unfair competition by publishing false reviews, it could potentially face severe consequences not just in finance and politics but also in its business reputation, underscoring the significance of vocational training in compliance and legal affairs.
