JustEat among 5 firms facing probe in ‘fake and misleading reviews’ crackdown | UK | News
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into five firms as part of a crackdown on fake and misleading reviews. Highlighting the importance customers place on reviews, the CMA said Autotrader, Feefo, Dignity, Just Eat and Pasta Evangelists are companies subject to consumer law investigations.
In a statement, the CMA said: “Online reviews play a key role in people’s decisions, influencing billions of pounds of spending in the UK each year. Research from Which found that 89% of people use reviews when researching a product or service, making it imperative that the information they trust is genuine and transparent.”
In April 2025, various practices related to online reviews became ‘prohibited practices’ under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act); This means they are automatically deemed unfair and illegal. This includes receiving and posting fake reviews and paid reviews that are not clearly encouraged.
The CMA’s study examines key stages in the online review ecosystem, from how reviews are obtained, to the way they are moderated and displayed, to the star ratings people often trust. The CMA considers cases at each of these stages, investigating multiple practices that could shape what people see when they search, shop or book online.
