Summary
The UK's competition regulator is investigating companies like Just Eat and Autotrader for possibly using fake online reviews. The investigation seeks to determine if these firms broke consumer protection laws by manipulating reviews.
Key Facts
- The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is conducting the investigation.
- Five companies are under scrutiny: Just Eat, Autotrader, Feefo, Dignity, and Pasta Evangelists.
- The focus is on how these companies handle online reviews.
- New powers allow the CMA to fine companies for breaking consumer law without court proceedings.
- Just Eat is being investigated for possibly inflating restaurant ratings.
- Autotrader is being examined for potentially excluding negative reviews.
- Dignity might have asked employees to write positive reviews about its services.
- Pasta Evangelists could have offered discounts in exchange for 5-star reviews.
