EU cracks down on corporate astroturfing

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1361968.ece

Fake bloggers soon to be ‘named and shamed’
Sam Coates, Political Correspondent

Hotels, restaurants and online shops that post glowing reviews about themselves under false identities could face criminal prosecution under new rules that come into force next year.

Businesses which write fake blog entries or create whole wesbites purporting to be from customers will fall foul of a European directive banning them from “falsely representing oneself as a consumer”.

From December 31, when the change becomes law in the UK, they can be named and shamed by trading standards or taken to court.

The Times has learnt that the new regulations also will apply to authors who praise their own books under a fake identity on websites such as Amazon. (more at link)

[Mythsaje]

1. Oh, no!

Authors might have to rely on actual reader reviews?

<snicker>

I find it hard to believe that some actually do that, but, well, I guess it shouldn't surprise me.

Question is--how are they going to catch them? Someone would have to take the time to actually chase down the info.

:shrug:

All in all I approve of the law, I think. It seems a little weird, but that's just because it's weird to create a fake identity to promote oneself in the first place.

[Cerridwen]

2. Wow! Truth in advertising? Naw, isn't that a 'dated' idea?

This could be fun to watch. I need to go see if it will be retroactive. Be fun to watch the businesses unveiled.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Wait, it gets better. From the article:

The change is part of a Europe-wide overhaul of the consumer protection laws. It will oblige businesses not to mislead consumers and also will outlaw aggressive commercial practices such as aggressive doorstep selling, bogus “closing down” sales and pressurising parents through their children to buy products.

[Cerridwen]

4. Yay!

Wouldn't it be great if 1) this idea came to the US and 2) companies were finally held accountable for selling their products based on the real, rather than perceived, quality of and need for the product?

I know, I know, but the idea that great products disappear due to poor marketing and lousy products become popular due to great marketing makes my teeth itch.

[The2ndWheel]

5. We really need the state to do this?

Obviously the corporations will only find new ways of doing what they did before. It's a cat and mouse game. The corporations will learn how to get around new laws and regulations to fill our emptiness, and states will create new laws and regulations to save us from ourselves. Hooray indeed.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. Yeah, and thieves find ways around locks too. Your point was? -nt

[The2ndWheel]

7. It's the further enlargement of the institutions that own

increasing amounts of our lives. Not that it's surprising in the UK, they're the most watched society in the Western world, if not the planet.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. It seems you and I have different ideas of what

"the institutions that own increasing amounts of our lives" are.

[The2ndWheel]

10. Both corporations and states are playing the game

Hell, they're working together on most of it. There isn't much you can do to stop it, if anyone wanted to. We have more and more people, so more and more order is needed. We're learning more about how things work(including the brain, which what corporation or state wouldn't kill for that knowledge?), so we're attempting to create a completely artificial society where chance is taken out of any equation completely. Predictability and efficiency, that is what our future is based on.

Different ideas are good. The world is increasingly lacking any real difference anyway.

[Edweird]

8. A fool and his money are soon parted.

What about reason and experience? You can't save people from themslves. The bad guys will simply change tactics.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. SHouldn't there be laws against swindling? -nt

[Edweird]

12. I thought there already were laws.

But people still get ripped off anyway. Legislation is no substitute for due diligence. I'm not saying there shouldn't be laws, it's just damn near impossible to get your money back after being ripped off. It's much easier to just pay attention and keep it.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. In fact, laws against corporate swindling can be more effective.

Pfizer can't exactly hide in a lousy hotel room in the port zone and stay there for weeks.