T21 · TOOLS REFERENCE
Review rules (Google and the FTC)
Last verified: 2026-10-20
| Rule | Status |
|---|---|
| Google Maps: businesses may not offer incentives (payment, discounts, free goods or services) for a review, or for changing or removing a negative review | ✅ |
| Google Maps: businesses may not "discourage or prohibit negative reviews, or selectively solicit positive reviews" (no review gating) | ✅ |
| Google Maps: businesses may not require or pressure people to review on the premises, ask for specific content, set staff quotas for reviews, or ask for reviews that name a staff member | ✅ |
| Google Maps: asking for genuine reviews without incentives or steering the rating or content is allowed | ✅ |
| Reviews based on a conflict of interest (current or former employees, family) are not allowed | ✅ |
| FTC Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule (16 CFR Part 465, effective Oct 21, 2024) bans fake reviews (including AI-generated ones), buying reviews conditioned on sentiment, undisclosed insider reviews, certain review suppression (groundless legal threats, intimidation, false accusations), and fake social-media indicators | ✅ |
| FTC Q&A: you may respond publicly to a review, but don't make an accusation you know is false or make it with reckless disregard for the truth | ✅ |
Sources:
- https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114 (opens in a new tab) ✅
- https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-rule-banning-fake-reviews-testimonials (opens in a new tab) ✅
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-465 (opens in a new tab) ✅
- https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/consumer-reviews-testimonials-rule-questions-answers (opens in a new tab) ✅