Facebook UK Removes 16,000 Groups As CMA Tackles Fake Reviews

Facebook has removed 16,000 groups that traded fake product reviews on its platforms as the UK’s competition regulator uncovered more evidence of misleading content, reported Yahoo.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stated it was the second time it had taken action against Facebook. In January last year, Facebook, along with online selling firm eBay, committed to better identifying, investigating, and removing groups and other pages, as well as preventing them from reappearing.

Facebook gave a similar pledge in relation to its Instagram business in May 2020, after the CMA had identified similar concerns.

However, the watchdog was forced to intervene for a second time after a follow-up investigation found evidence that the illegal trade in fake reviews was still taking place on both Facebook and Instagram.

The tech giant is set to make it harder for people to find groups and profiles that buy and sell fake reviews.

Further changes to its systems include suspending or banning users who are repeatedly creating Facebook groups and Instagram profiles that promote, encourage, or facilitate fake and misleading reviews.

Other changes include introducing new automated processes that will improve the detection and removal of this content, and making it harder for people to use Facebook’s search tools to find fake and misleading review groups and profiles on Facebook and Instagram.

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