Italy to curb ‘fake’ online reviews for hotels and restaurants

ROME: Italy’s government on Tuesday unveiled a draft law to regulate online reviews of hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions, in a bid to stop fake or paid reviewers.

The law, which needs parliamentary approval to come into force, introduces a number of hurdles for would-be reviewers, including having to provide verifiable ID as well as proof that they visited the place they want to pass judgement on. Reviews will have to be posted within two weeks of the visit in question and can be removed if they are untrue or, in any case, two years after they were posted. The bill did not explain who would decide if a critique was false.

The proposed law, which can be amended in parliament, will also outlaw reviews that are paid-for or sponsored via incentives - an underhand practice that is fairly commonplace.

“Today marks an important step for the protection of our businesses,” said Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche.

Fake reviews are already illegal, but policing violations is difficult. The bill suggests giving the task of checking on reviews and handing out eventual fines to Italy’s antitrust watchdog.