The Antitrust says a stop to some reviews on a famous classifieds portal, fine of 170 thousand euros. What happened.
The Competition and Market Authority (AGCM), better known as Antitrust, recently issued a financial penalty against the famous online classifieds portal.
There fine amounts to 170 thousand euros and was imposed at the end of an investigation which highlighted a commercial practice considered unfair: the automatic publication of positive reviews.
The impact on online transactions
The heart of the matter lies in the policy adopted by Subito.it for its TuttoSubito service, introduced in June 2021. According to what was found by the Antitrust, the platform would have automatically attributed a five-star rating to both sellers and buyers involved in the transactions, if no review had been left within 14 days of the request sent by the site itself . This mechanism led to the ‘automatic’ generation of positive evaluations in the absence of direct feedback from interested parties.
The decision taken by Subito.it had the apparent aim of encouraging positive interactions within its community and ensuring a high level of trust among users. However, according to the Antitrust, this practice may have distorted the reality of the transactions that took place on the platform. In fact, up to 30% of the total ratings published on TuttoSubito appeared to have been generated automatically. This not only calls into question the authenticity and reliability of the reviews but may also have unduly influenced user decisions based on potentially misleading information.
The fine imposed represents a clear signal from the regulatory authority towards all online platforms that adopt similar practices. Integrity and transparency in online transactions are fundamental aspects of maintaining a safe and reliable environment for users. The Antitrust decision underlines the importance of the authenticity of the reviews left by users and puts an end to a policy that could have compromised it.
In response to the fine received and the criticisms raised by the Antitrust, Subito.it is expected to review its policies relating to user ratings to ensure greater transparency and truthfulness in the reviews published on its platform. This episode serves as a warning not only for Subito but also for other companies operating in the e-commerce and online services sector: user trust is earned through correct and ethical practices.
As digital continues to permeate more and more aspects of daily life, it is essential that companies operating in this sector act with responsibility and professional ethics. The fine imposed on Subito.it by the Antitrust represents a key step towards promoting a safer and more balanced digital space where every evaluation genuinely reflects the user experience.
