United Kingdom: CMA accepts Google’s commitments to tackle fake reviews

On 24 January 2025, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that Google had agreed to implement significant changes to combat fake reviews. These changes include enhanced processes to detect and remove fake reviews, sanctions against businesses and individuals involved in such activities, and the introduction of warning alerts on profiles of UK businesses that use fake reviews to boost their star ratings. To ensure Google is complying with the undertakings, the firm will report to the CMA over a 3-year period.This agreement follows the CMA's investigation into Google's practices concerning fake reviews and breach of consumer law launched on 25 June 2021.