BACKGROUND The ACCC found that 35% of the 137 businesses it recently reviewed had engaged in conduct which could manipulate reviews. A serious issue was identified where businesses engaged third-party professional reviewers or review removalists. These reviewers or removalists were tasked to manage the businesses’ online reputation. When the ACCC reviewed these kinds of businesses, they found they provided services to create fake reviews, and prevent, edit, or remove negative review...

The ACCC released a report that showed that 81% of social media influencers were making posts that may be infringing the Australian Consumer Law for misleading advertising. It also found that 37% of the businesses it reviewed had engaged in conduct relating to fake or misleading online reviews. The obligation not to engage in misleading or deceptive conduct applies to influencers and businesses alike. The main way that social media influencers may be infringing this law is by failing to di...

BACKGROUND Airbnb was ordered to pay penalties of $15 million for making misleading representations to consumers about accommodation prices. Basically, the misrepresentation applied to the display of prices on their website. The display did not indicate that prices were displayed in US dollars, leading customers to believe that the amounts were stated in Australian dollars. Then, when receiving a complaint from a customer, Airbnb falsely told those customers that it was the users who...