The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into food delivery company Just Eat and automotive advertising platform Autotrader as part of a wider probe into fake and misleading online reviews. The CMA is examining how these companies collect, moderate, and display reviews to consumers, assessing whether their practices comply with consumer protection laws.
Just Eat and Autotrader are among five organisations under scrutiny, including a funeral services provider, a pasta manufacturer, and the Feefo reviews site. All parties are reportedly cooperating with the CMA’s inquiries.
The investigation centres on whether Feefo and Autotrader have excluded negative reviews, potentially preventing customers from gaining an accurate view of others’ experiences. Just Eat is being questioned over its rating system and whether it may have artificially boosted star ratings for certain firms.
In response, Just Eat stated it is working with the CMA to ensure its reviews are “clear, transparent and easy to use.” Autotrader has confirmed its intention to “co-operate fully” with the ongoing probe, according to BBC News Online.