Consumer protection law tackles fictitious blogs
Britain's biggest shake-up of consumer protection laws in the past 40 years goes into effect next week and it casts a wide net online and off. As well as targeting double-glazing salesman and fortune tellers, the new Consumer Protection Regulations set their sights on companies that create fake blogs to market their products, a gimmick that has caused a PR headache for the likes of Wal-Mart, L'Oreal and Coca-Cola in the past. Under the new rules, companies that deceive consumers with fictional blogs could be slapped with a fine of up to £5,000 if they are convicted.
Another no-no is planting glowing reviews about your business, purportedly from satisfied customers. Such spam is an unpleasant reality on consumer review sites across the net. Under the current law, aggrieved forum users could report the offender, in the hopes of having the disingenuous comments removed and the offender barred from the site. From Monday, they face a penalty of up to £5,000.
Looks like Britain is the first to make a Meatball Sundae (see Seth Godin's recent book) a punishable offence. Surely though the free market responds to such fakery with adequate outrage?
Posted by: Phil Balderson | May 24, 2008 1:51:50 PM
It would be nice if companies could also get fined for spam comments on blogs.
Posted by: Tom | May 25, 2008 8:42:40 AM
You should buy 'Cola', it's really great. It's tasty and really good value too!
Posted by: Coca | May 27, 2008 6:18:03 AM
COKE, COKE, COKE, COKE, COKE. You know I really don't see a problem with COKE it
Posted by: COKE | Jun 1, 2008 8:05:20 PM
GOOD, finally something about it. But I question some important factors about this.
1) It will be hard to prosecute people / companies
2) JUST £5000, Thats spare change for billion air companies, its like 10p ($10000000000000) to normal people!
Posted by: Dan Barker | Jun 1, 2008 8:07:52 PM