Data Analysis
Data is powerful. If you know how to read it.
Turn information into decisions that drive your business forward.
A recent report by La Vanguardia has exposed a controversial practice that shakes the credibility of online reviews: a company offers packs of 10 fake reviews for just 35 euros. This revelation has once again put the reliability of opinions appearing on Google and other platforms under scrutiny, raising questions about how easily they can be manipulated to favor or harm businesses.
The review system has become a key tool for consumers when making purchasing decisions or choosing services. A high rating can boost a business, while a low rating can seriously damage its reputation. This has led some businesses—or third-party companies specializing in such services—to engage in questionable practices, such as purchasing positive reviews or posting negative opinions targeting competitors.
These services, which operate in a legal gray area, compromise user trust and put the transparency of the digital market at risk. Platforms like Google claim to have mechanisms in place to detect and remove fraudulent reviews, such as geolocation tracking, but as of today, this remains merely a proposed solution to address the controversy.
This situation raises several questions: Should platforms implement stricter measures to ensure the authenticity of reviews? Should clearer regulations be established to prevent these practices from becoming normalized?
The debate is open.
Data is powerful. If you know how to read it.
Turn information into decisions that drive your business forward.
