SLANDER OF GOODS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: REGULATING FAKE REVIEWS

AUTHOR – ADVAITH SRI KRISHNA DATTA MAMIDAN, STUDENT AT SYMBIOSIS LAW SCHOOL NOIDA

BEST CITATION – ADVAITH SRI KRISHNA DATTA MAMIDAN, SLANDER OF GOODS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: REGULATING FAKE REVIEWS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (11) OF 2025, PG. 520-524, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344
INTRODUCTION

In today’s digital marketplace online ratings and reviews have a significant effect on businesses. They are a significant influence on consumer decision making and the formation of the reputation of the brand in the network. In a way, they contribute to the transparency. However, when fake and misleading reviews are involved, their presence can lead to financial damage. In many cases, these are proven practices of unfair competition, which in turn can lead to loss and damage the consumer’s trust. This phenomenon is called a slander of goods; that is, a deliberate or accidental publication of false information causing the decline in the reputation of the product or company. With the increasing reliance of businesses on the digital world, the issue of malicious reviews, fake testimonials, and competitors’ negative campaigns has become an area of serious legal concerns. Addressing these challenges will create a strong regulatory framework, balancing the right to freedom of speech with the protection against commercial reputation damage.