Italy introduces strict laws to curb fake hotel reviews
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 to help ensure their credibility.
The Italian government has taken the initiative to combat fake reviews on the internet, specifically related to 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 requiring consumers to disclose their identity and confirm that they were customers of the reviewed place. Reviews must be posted within 15 days of using the service and contain detailed information.
The bill, known as Adolfo Urso's project, states that opinions on lodging places should be more transparent, requiring consumers to confirm their identity before posting a review. The project was supported by Codacons, which highlighted the influence of reviews on consumer decisions.
Venue owners will have the right to respond to reviews, and in some cases, they may request their removal if they are older than two years or are unauthentic. The trade of 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 proves that the consumer's right to consistency between the offer and reality is essential. A court in Milan ruled that a customer is entitled to a refund for their booking because their expectations regarding the pool and gym were not met.
Italy's largest consumer rights organization, Codacons, expressed satisfaction with the bill's work. It pointed out that reviews significantly influence consumer decisions, as evidenced by research showing that 77 percent of citizens read reviews before making a purchase or reservation.
Codacons emphasizes the need to eliminate fake reviews and penalize entities that buy positive opinions. The organization also supports the requirement that review authors disclose their identities.
