FTC Now Takes Aim at Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a Proposed Rule on June 30, 2023, titled “Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials” designed to take aim at deceptive consumer reviews and testimonials. Specifically, this proposed rule would prohibit the creation or dissemination of a consumer testimonial that is by an individual who does not exist or is by a reviewer who did not use the product/service/business or that materially misrepresents the reviewer’s experience.

This proposed rule would also prohibit buying positive or negative consumer reviews, company-controlled review websites or entities, review suppression tactics and the misuse of false indicators of social media influence.