this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2024
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A federal rule banning fake online reviews is now in effect. 

The Federal Trade Commission issued the rulein August banning the sale or purchase of online reviews. The rule, which went into effect Monday, allows the agency to seek civil penalties against those who knowingly violate it.

“Fake reviews not only waste people’s time and money, but also pollute the marketplace and divert business away from honest competitors,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said about the rule in August. She added that the rule will “protect Americans from getting cheated, put businesses that unlawfully game the system on notice, and promote markets that are fair, honest, and competitive.”

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] Snapz 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago

She's 35, but born in England, and I think not a natural born US citizen

[–] [email protected] 99 points 1 week ago (7 children)

allows the agency to seek civil penalties against those who knowingly violate it.

I hate that wording. Ignorance of the law isn't a defense, unless you're a corporation, apparently.

It also looks like this doesn't address the practice of offering incentive for actual purchasers to leave positive reviews.

[–] FPSkra 68 points 1 week ago

That's not what knowingly means in this context. Knowingly refers to the level of intent required to pursue charges, not whether they knew there was a law against it.

In this case it requires the government to show that the person intended to leave a review and/or testimonials that misrepresent that they are by someone who does not exist.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Anyways my brother works for the FTC. With the current funding, they take thousands of complaints before they even look into something. It’s effectively useless as only the most publicised cases get any enforcement and the fines are tiny. And he says it was twice as bad before Biden.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago

The wording is a bit ambiguous but I'd read that as "intentionally" rather than "with knowledge they're violating the law"... it definitely could have used a good copy editor though.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago (2 children)

They'll just outsource it to foreign "reputation management" firms and pretend they had no idea what was happening, like how Coke got away with murdering union members in a foreign country.

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[–] [email protected] 77 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Awesome, now make them criminally liable.

Corporations are people, no? Throw them in prison.

[–] AngryCommieKender 15 points 6 days ago (1 children)

"I will believe that corporations are people, once Texas executes one."

[–] Naryn 2 points 6 days ago

It's executed plenty.

12 were executed in 2022

Zoom in: Texas had 23 clinics in operation before the decision — 12 shut down and 11 are open but only offer services other than abortion.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 week ago (3 children)

IMO, corporate punishments should work like that: steal a little from someone? Lose 90 days of profit. Steal a lot? Lose a couple years of profits. Kill someone? Lose 20 years of profits

[–] Wogi 5 points 6 days ago

They tried that when McDonald's served coffee that gave an old woman 3rd degree burns on her genitals.

A single days profits from coffee.

McDonald's fought that in court, and spent many thousands of dollars on a PR campaign to vilify the woman they burned.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago

Jail or volcano sacrifice. I'm sick of rich fucks being above the law and fines are just an expected, calculated, and bet against expense to a big business.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 week ago (7 children)

Jailing CEOs works better only because money is easy to manipulate. Loosing 20 years of profit just means bankruptcy. Make a new name new company buys all assets of bankrupt at fault company and nothing but the name changes. I'm with the idea that if companies have personhood than the person in charge is responsible for harm that personhood does.

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[–] [email protected] 61 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Lina Khan is literally too good for consumers, that's why she don't last :(

[–] 4lan 9 points 6 days ago

She is doing more for the working class than any other government official. And yet no one knows her name

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Who was that punchable face guy who undid net neutrality? And she is completely opposite.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Ajit Pai is that scumbags name. If I ever bump into him at a grocery store I plan to give him the same level of respect he gave the American people.

[–] dual_sport_dork 2 points 6 days ago

I.e. an atomic wedgie?

[–] MrPoopbutt 1 points 6 days ago

I doubt he does his own grocery shopping, because he doesn't have to, and also because of the exact reason you posted.

Having said that, if he were in a grocery store and I saw him, I'd be right at your side to ensure that piece of shit knew what I thought of him.

[–] Budakai 5 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

You mean this guy? Ajit Pai. Fuck him and his ridiculous mug

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

Literally the opposite lol. He got rid of net neutrality with the help of spamming with a bunch of fake bots for support. Nobody actually supported it, except the monopolies of course.

This is pretty close to banning that exact action. That should've instantly kicked him out of office for that, but it showed pretty clearly that we weren't in a democracy...

[–] PugJesus 43 points 1 week ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago

Give me 10 Lina Khans and I'll give you the world.

[–] FlyingSquid 13 points 1 week ago

I wish she was the one running for president. Maybe in eight years if we're lucky and have Harris. And/or legal elections in four.

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[–] FrowingFostek 32 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've said it once and I'll say it again. I love the work Lina Khan is doing. Its going to be so sad when Kamala gives her the boot :(

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Why would Harris give her the boot? Khan was placed in position by Biden.

[–] Postmortal_Pop 22 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Its up for debate if she will, but a lot of big ticket donors are ~~bribing her~~ requesting it as a favor for donating to her campaign.

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[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 week ago (7 children)

They can do it for reviews, why not news?

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[–] spankmonkey 25 points 1 week ago

The Federal Trade Commission today announced a final rule that will combat fake reviews and testimonials by prohibiting their sale or purchase and allow the agency to seek civil penalties against knowing violators.

Oh good, glad they didn't ban obvious joke ones people post for free, like the top reviews for the 50 gallon barrel of lube.

[–] finitebanjo 25 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Some guy in India is gonna get fined $7,498,342.37 in three years and I'm all for it.

[–] johannesvanderwhales 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

And then he won't pay it because he's in India and doesn't pay a lot of attention to the US FTC.

[–] finitebanjo 9 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

There is a very long history of expeditions and fines against foreign nationals involving spam, scams, etc. Here is a recent example., and another example, and a much older and bigger example

But you never hear about any of the good stuff the US Government does for its people, nobody ever talks about that stuff.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I am surprised we don't have a PR/propoganda department either breaking even or making money on Netflix documentaries. It's like endless content.

It could actually be a cool way for some career civil servants to ger a little payout towards the end of their career.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Oh dude they literally had an activity at my old cult where they had everyone make a dozen fake reviews at each of their local buildings. That's gonna be fun.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm sorry, "my old cult"? Care to give some background? Obviously if you'd rather not that's completely up to you :)

[–] finitebanjo 1 points 6 days ago

I personally thought it was better ambiguous.

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