FTC Rules concerning reviews - News to me!

[TLEDDY]

Federal Trade Commission Announces Final Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials

The Federal Trade Commission today announced a final rule

www.ftc.gov

I just ran across this on-line. I am still absorbing what it says, so comments are solicited and welcome…

It, on my first reading, appears to ban “Snake-oil ¨ type reviews - that could destroy advertising in some popular publications and
On-line shills. I do wonder how such could be enforced?

 

[Esprit]

Rules that apply only in the USA, then there is the rest of the world and the internet…

 

[Sokel]

There's already a couple of threads for it.

 

[TLEDDY]

There's already a couple of threads for it.

Where? A search gave no hits before I published. Please advise!

 

[ViciousAndCruel]

Where? A search gave no hits before I published. Please advise!

The new FTC power rating rule takes effect 8/12/2024! It only took 50 yrs to revise it!

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/06/12/2024-12744/trade-regulation-rule-relating-to-power-output-claims-for-amplifiers-utilized-in-home-entertainment?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2d_9fvbRvshw-BjSvk4po_Fq_1aXSYr83a6Z_o01E2BGle-c3BQK4RyuU_aem_B-6twgqDy4irFcI9jEU-JA

www.audiosciencereview.com

EDIT: This is a different topic. Don’t text while sleeping.

 

[Sokel]

Also,older ones:

FTC Power Amplifier Rule

The Federal Trade Commission will be publishing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register in a day or two. The Notice will seek comment on proposed amendments to the Rule that may affect how power ratings for multichannel receivers must be measured. Currently, such AVR's need only...

www.audiosciencereview.com

FTC may drop amplifier rules

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ftc-proposes-eliminating-its-amplifier-rule Seems strange and short sighted to drop the whole rule rather than modify it. Then again it appears there is pretty much zero enforcement. Still hard to see how this benefits the consumer. Heck they need a new rule...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[KSTR]

^ Completely unrelated

 

[somebodyelse]

The new FTC power rating rule takes effect 8/12/2024! It only took 50 yrs to revise it!

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/06/12/2024-12744/trade-regulation-rule-relating-to-power-output-claims-for-amplifiers-utilized-in-home-entertainment?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2d_9fvbRvshw-BjSvk4po_Fq_1aXSYr83a6Z_o01E2BGle-c3BQK4RyuU_aem_B-6twgqDy4irFcI9jEU-JA

www.audiosciencereview.com

Also,older ones:

FTC Power Amplifier Rule

The Federal Trade Commission will be publishing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register in a day or two. The Notice will seek comment on proposed amendments to the Rule that may affect how power ratings for multichannel receivers must be measured. Currently, such AVR's need only...

www.audiosciencereview.com

FTC may drop amplifier rules

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ftc-proposes-eliminating-its-amplifier-rule Seems strange and short sighted to drop the whole rule rather than modify it. Then again it appears there is pretty much zero enforcement. Still hard to see how this benefits the consumer. Heck they need a new rule...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Those are about a completely different FTC rule.

 

[Jim Taylor]

This is about the fake customer "reviews' that you find on many sites. They are (and have been) a lucrative business to mislead buyers.

They apply to all merchandise. Here is a complaint from a few years back on fishing goods: https://www.alanhawk.com/blog/rotr.html

There's even an AI to detect them: https://www.fakespot.com/

Jim

 

[TLEDDY]

^ Completely unrelated

As KSTR indicates, not related. The Rules I address are MUCH broader; I still think the new Rules are a serious threat to what we call ¨Snake Oil¨

My reading of the rule would require that reviews be ´truthful´, thereby rendering such claims concerning vast improvements in sound quality due to “Audiophile Grade” fuses and Magic Bricks placed on top of electronics not allowed!

The Thread on this Forum concerning “Snake Oil” would almost become a relic of the past (sarcasm) - charlatans will be forever with us!

 

[Sokel]

^ Completely unrelated

Those are about a completely different FTC rule.

Those describe the process,comments,etc for the one we'll about to have,that's why I said older ones.

 

[Soniclife]

My reading of the rule would require that reviews be ´truthful´, thereby rendering such claims concerning vast improvements in sound quality due to “Audiophile Grade” fuses and Magic Bricks placed on top of electronics!

I didn't read it like that at all, which sections say that?

 

[sq225917]

So the reviwer says " I heard" and it's all good, as no one can prove what someone did or didn't hear after the fact....

Nothing to see here.

 

[Galliardist]

Rules that apply only in the USA, then there is the rest of the world and the internet…

Inevitably, US rules tend to gain traction internationally that, say, rules in Brazil or France don't, generally (I pick those countries as those going after Internet bad actors).

Things like social media take down policies tend to follow US laws, because the US is a key market, and the companies tend to be either US or US based. So this US law may indirectly lead to a reduction in the social media scams using fake Australian celebrity endorsements, if we're really lucky.

It might explain some of those legal attacks on audio reviewers in recent months, because this rule will stop companies pressuring reviewers in other ways. If using lawsuits had worked, we would have seen more of them as they became the only legal resort for companies who could no longer use other threats.

So maybe there is something to see here.

What would be really good would to see an interpretation of this ruling that stops, for example, expensive skin cream advertising based on surveys of thirty women "reporting fewer wrinkles after using the product for a month". If you think the audio industry is bad...

 

[NTK]

So the reviwer says " I heard" and it's all good, as no one can prove what someone did or didn't hear after the fact....

Nothing to see here.

Except that the companies and reviewers will have to comply with this:

 

[TLEDDY]

Also:

Misuse of Fake Social Media Indicators: The final rule prohibits anyone from selling or buying fake indicators of social media influence, such as followers or views generated by a bot or hijacked account. This prohibition is limited to situations in which the buyer knew or should have known that the indicators were fake and misrepresent the buyer’s influence or importance for a commercial purpose.

 

[NTK]

FTC has also publishes its disclosure requirements for "social influencers". If a "social influencer" has received benefit(s) from the manufacturer, whether they are related to the specific product being reviewed or not, the influencer needs to clearly disclose their relationship.

Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers

Do you work with brands to recommend or endorse products? If so, you need to comply with the law when making these recommendations. One key is to make a good disclosure of your relationship to the brand. This brochure from FTC staff gives tips on when and how to make good disclosures.

www.ftc.gov

 

[Esprit]

Inevitably, US rules tend to gain traction internationally that, say, rules in Brazil or France don't, generally (I pick those countries as those going after Internet bad actors

False, many American laws, which influence trade, in Europe have not only not led to similar laws but even to opposite laws.
Ask Apple, ask Google, ask Tesla.

 

[kemmler3D]

Unfortunately, as I read it, this has nothing to do with snake oil reviews... at a STRETCH maybe the implicit threat of pulling advertising from a publication in case of a negative review could be enforced against... but otherwise, you can still say anything you want about how anything sounds, for any reason or no reason at all.

What's really targeted here are things like paid Amazon reviews or testimonials that are completely fabricated.

"Highly imaginative" reviews of audio gear still seem to be legal from what I can tell.

 

[wwenze]

I doubt FTC can win against all the invisible lizard people who funded Dustborn and their army of review websites