Google Maps Might Finally Crack Down on Review Bombing

I garbage to cheque retired a caller spot until I person thoroughly researched its reviews connected Google Maps. However, I ever find it suspicious erstwhile a spot has an unusually precocious fig of overwhelmingly affirmative reviews. So, I’m blessed to spot Google Maps volition present commencement flagging businesses with suspected fake reviews.

Mike Blumenthal spotted the alteration (via Engadget) and took it to X. In the screenshot helium uploaded, the Overview leafage of a carpet cleaning institution shows a informing motion reading, “Suspected fake reviews were precocious removed from this place.”

We haven’t received an authoritative connection from Google astir the change, but Search Engine Roundtable (Via Engadget) reports that Google precocious updated its review restrictions document with this information.

In the document, Google establishes that it “takes ratings and reviews that are fake, and/or offered successful speech for a benefit, precise seriously” and that “Businesses that interruption [its] argumentation connected artificial engagement whitethorn beryllium taxable to restrictions.”

It outlines 3 examples of restrictions it would perchance spot connected establishments. Apart from removing the fake reviews, it volition marque the concern incapable to person caller reviews for a fixed period, marque the existing reviews oregon ratings incapable to beryllium published for a circumstantial play of time, oregon person the constitution amusement a informing connection to users telling them that non-compliant reviews person been removed. Google besides says that the restrictions aren’t constricted to these three.

It adds that it volition email the spot owners to fto them cognize erstwhile it has applied a regularisation to their business. However, it besides mentions that companies whitethorn entreaty the regularisation here. It is unfastened to immoderate discourse the institution provides and tin see that to reappraisal its last decision.

The alteration could trim politically motivated ‘review-bombing’ similar the benignant that has precocious impacted Palestinian businesses successful the U.S. since the commencement of the Israeli genocide successful Palestine. Al Jazeera reported the communicative of the Palestinian bakery and edifice Reem’s, which was inundated with fake one-star ratings wrong a week of opening, on with ridiculous reviews specified arsenic “I went there, and their nutrient was terrible” portion mentioning products the bakery doesn’t adjacent serve.

Though I person ever thoroughly enjoyed (and americium somewhat blameworthy of this) those peculiar deals astatine restaurants that springiness you an other point upon giving them a affirmative reappraisal connected Google Maps, I americium gladsome that signifier is ending. While they’re enjoyable for the consumer, I hold that that’s an unhealthy and misleading mode for restaurants to summation affirmative feedback.