Google Maps’ New Feature to Enhance Transparency: Fake Reviews on Business Profiles to Be Detected Instantly

New Delhi, 27th September 2024: Google Maps is widely used to search for and navigate unknown routes. Along with information about a business’s location, the reviews provided by users can significantly aid decision-making. However, issues arise when fake reviews about a business are added on Google Maps.

To address this concern, Google Maps has introduced a new feature for its users. With this feature, users will receive warnings about fake reviews on the platform. If any business on Google Maps has fake reviews, users will be immediately informed.

The new warning system will display a notification on specific business profiles. This notification will appear only when inauthentic reviews are present in high proportions, artificially boosting a business’s reputation. According to the Search Engine Roundtable, Google has introduced warning cards for Google Maps users.

Whenever Google Maps removes a fake review from a specific business, users checking that business’s profile will be notified. This feature was first launched in the United Kingdom and has now been introduced in the United States as well.

Users often choose local businesses and services based on ratings provided on Google Maps. Therefore, this feature will prove useful for Google Maps users in various situations. However, Google has not provided specific details about how this feature will operate.

It is believed that with this new feature, local businesses will also face restrictions on adding new reviews for some time after submitting fake reviews. Additionally, any old reviews and ratings may be unpublished during the investigation process.