ReviewProof · Compliance guide
The FTC's fake-reviews rule bans fake/AI reviews, bought followers, undisclosed influencers, and review suppression.
This rule applies if you use reviews, testimonials, influencers, or affiliates. Use reviews, testimonials, influencers or affiliates? Penalties run to ~$53k per violation. Not sure? The free checker tells you in about a minute — no signup.
In practice, ReviewProof's checker looks at whether you can answer "yes" to each of these. Each one is a place sellers commonly get caught:
⚠️ Exposure: up to $53,088 per violation (FTC). Status: Since Oct 2024.
Statutory maximums are worst-case ceilings, not a prediction — but they're why this is worth ten minutes now. Compare the penalty for every rule →
Yes — the FTC's rule (16 CFR Part 465, effective Oct 2024) bans fake or AI-written reviews, bought engagement, undisclosed insider reviews, and review suppression, with penalties up to about $53,088 per violation.
Yes — any material connection (payment, free product, or affiliate commission) must be disclosed clearly and conspicuously.
You can't deceptively suppress or threaten over honest negative reviews. Removing genuine criticism to mislead shoppers is prohibited.
RuleGoose checks this against the FTC reviews rule (16 CFR Part 465) + Endorsement Guides. Read it yourself: eCFR — 16 CFR Part 465 →
see the penalty for every rule, or get one RuleGoose Score across every rule that applies to you.
How this rule lands depends on where you sell — what the platform handles for you and what's still on you differs. Pick yours:
Informational only, not legal advice, and not affiliated with the FTC. Last reviewed 2026-07-04.