Italy cracks down on fake reviews to boost tourism trust
A law has been established in Italy to tackle the problem of fake reviews about restaurants and hotels. The bill introduces regulations governing how opinions are posted online, which is intended to help ensure their credibility.
The Italian government has launched an initiative to combat fake reviews on the internet, specifically concerning restaurants and hotels. The bill, prepared by the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, was presented during Giorgia Meloni's government session.
The new regulations will introduce a code of conduct that requires consumers to disclose their identity and confirm that they were customers of the reviewed location. Reviews must be posted within 15 days of using the service and include detailed information.
The bill, known as Adolfo Urso's project, stipulates that reviews of lodging places should be more transparent, requiring consumers to confirm their identity before posting a review. Codacons supported the project, emphasizing the influence of reviews on consumer decisions.
Venue owners will have the right to respond to reviews and, in some instances, may request their removal if they are older than two years or unauthentic. Trading reviews in exchange for discounts or other benefits will be prohibited. The Italian media regulatory authority will supervise publishing reviews on platforms.
Italy fights against fake reviews
Tourists frequently encounter a discrepancy between hotel photos and reality. An incident involving a hotel in Apulia underscores the necessity of maintaining consistency between offers and reality. A court in Milan ruled that a customer is entitled to a refund for their booking because the pool and gym did not meet expectations.
Italy's largest consumer rights organization, Codacons, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the bill. Research shows that 77 percent of citizens read reviews before making a purchase or reservation, highlighting the significant influence of reviews on consumer decisions.
Codacons stresses eliminating fake reviews and penalizing entities that buy positive opinions. The organization also supports the requirement that review authors disclose their identities.
