Published: March 27, 2026 at 8:31 am
Autotrader and Just Eat are among five companies being investigated by the competitions watchdog as part of a crackdown on fake and misleading reviews.
The marketplace platforms are among five companies which may have infringed consumer law, says the Competition and Markets Authority.
In April 2025, several practices relating to online reviews became ‘banned practices’ under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, meaning they are automatically deemed unfair and illegal.
This includes obtaining and posting fake reviews, and paid-for reviews that are not clearly marked as incentivised. It also covers how reviews are handled – for example, if negative reviews are hidden, or if star ratings present an inaccurate picture.