New Google lawsuit aims to curb fake business reviews

Alphabet’s Google on Friday sued a Los Angeles man and his firms in San Jose, California federal courtroom, claiming he created tons of of pretend business listings on its platforms and bought them to actual companies to lure in unsuspecting prospects.

Fake opinions have been a recurring drawback on web commerce websites. Google stated in a press release that it filed the lawsuit in opposition to Ethan QiQi Hu to “help put an end to these types of malicious schemes.”

Hu didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Google’s lawsuit stated Hu creates sham companies that seem in its search engine and Google Maps, utilizing an “elaborate set of props” to confirm them on video calls with the tech large’s brokers.

The lawsuit stated Hu retains a device bench as a prop to confirm fraudulent listings for storage restore, tree slicing and plumbing, and important oils for verifying pretend aromatherapy and reiki remedy companies.

Google stated Hu buys hundreds of pretend optimistic opinions to make the companies seem respectable. He then allegedly sells the profiles as “leads” to actual companies in the identical fields, which obtain contacts from potential prospects who attain out to the pretend companies.

Google stated Hu created greater than 350 false profiles bolstered by over 14,000 illegitimate opinions. The lawsuit accused Hu of false promoting, illegal business practices and violating Google’s phrases of service. Google requested the courtroom for an unspecified sum of money damages and an order to dam Hu’s alleged misconduct.

The case is Google LLC v. Hu, U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California, No. 5:23-cv-02964.

For Google: Whitty Somvichian of Cooley

For Hu: lawyer data not obtainable

Stay on high of expertise and startup news that issues. Subscribe to our day by day publication for the newest and must-read tech news, delivered straight to your inbox.