Dissatisfied with the experience, a guest perhaps published a negative review on the well-known platform in which she highlighted delays in the service.
Later, also on Facebook, on the page “Gufo? No thanks!” the same customer published another negative review of the place using the word “bettola” and calling the owners “rude”.
Unwelcome words for the managers who turned to the criminal judge of Macerata who, considering those expressions damaging to their image and that of the place, sentenced the author of the review for defamation with the obligation to pay the sum of €5,000.00 as compensation, in addition to a fine of €2,000.00 and legal costs .
This is further proof of the need to regulate the phenomenon of online reviews , which the Government has recently addressed with the annual bill for SMEs, providing for:
1) the mandatory identification of the reviewer and proof of having actually used the reviewed service or product;
2) publication within 15 days of purchase or service;
3) the ban on buying and selling reviews;
4) the right to reply and remove false, misleading or untrue comments. in favor of the reviewed facilities will have the right to reply to the reviews and may request the removal of false, misleading or untrue comments.
Author: Alessandro Klun
(@acenacondiritto)