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Ministry of Trade targets fake e-commerce reviews and artificial engagement
The Turkish Ministry of Trade has launched a comprehensive crackdown on deceptive practices in e-commerce, specifically targeting fake reviews, ratings, and artificial engagement. Following consumer complaints, the Advertising Board has already blocked access to numerous websites that sell followers, likes, and comments to manipulate online presence.
New regulations, set to take full effect by August 1, 2026, will mandate that only customers who have actually purchased a product or service are permitted to leave reviews. This measure aims to eliminate fraudulent evaluations made by non-buyers.
Furthermore, e-commerce platforms and sellers will no longer be allowed to selectively highlight only positive feedback. Both positive and negative reviews must be published without discrimination, and reviews must remain accessible to consumers for at least one year. The regulations also prohibit platforms from sorting reviews in a manner that unfairly directs consumers toward specific products or sellers, requiring instead that sorting be based on objective criteria such as date or rating.
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What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Platforms are forbidden from sorting reviews in a way that manipulates consumers toward specific products or sellers. www.gzt.com · www.yenisafak.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Trade has increased inspections against fake reviews and artificial engagement on e-commerce platforms. www.gzt.com · www.yenisafak.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] New regulations effective August 1, 2026, mandate that only consumers who have actually purchased a product or service can leave reviews. www.gzt.com · www.yenisafak.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Reviews must remain accessible on platforms for at least one year. www.gzt.com · www.yenisafak.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] E-commerce platforms are prohibited from deleting or hiding reviews solely because they are negative. www.gzt.com · www.yenisafak.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Access has been blocked to numerous websites providing fake follower, like, and comment services. www.gzt.com · www.yenisafak.com