Google Maps is cracking down on business pages that post fake reviews and alerting its users to such activity. Google will now impose restrictions on business profiles that violate the search giant's fake engagement policy. These include temporarily removing reviews, blocking new reviews or ratings, and displaying a warning message on profiles whose fake reviews have been deleted.
According to Google's Prohibited and Restricted Content policy, posts on Maps should “reflect a real experience at a place or business.” Business pages are not allowed to display content that “does not accurately represent the place or product in question” or that has been rewarded with payments, discounts, or free gifts to reviewers. Google Maps also looks for reviews that attempt to manipulate ratings by posting from multiple accounts or using emulators, modified operating systems, or other methods that “fake real engagement.”
It's unclear exactly how Google will determine which reviews violate these rules, but the threat of being publicly shamed may be enough to deter some businesses from artificially inflating their ratings. The warning message may also help users avoid visiting places Google considers untrustworthy, rather than having suspicious reviews simply disappear without explanation.