Should Fake Blogs Be Illegal?
(www.businessandblogging.com) A reader alerted me to this post about a new UK ruling on fake blogs over at ChrisG.com. (Thanks Yvonne!)
Apparently the United Kingdom (UK) is about to make creating fake blogs (also known as flogs) illegal.
We’ve posted about fake blogs here at Business and Blogging before. Back in February Liz asked “When is a Fake Blog Not a Fake Blog?”
A typical instance of a flog occurs when a corporate blogger poses as an unbiased customer when they are actually working for a company. The supposed “customer” blogger creates blog posts that cast a favorable light upon the company.
Wal-Mart and Sony are two companies that have been exposed for creating flogs, much to their embarrassment.
The proposed UK legislation may also impact paid customer reviews and other forms of marketing where a paid relationship between a publisher and a company is not revealed.
The creation of flogs and paid reviews is looked down upon by many bloggers and industry insiders as being a deceptive marketing practice. Others see it as a necessary part of corporate reputation management.
Likewise, some bloggers are applauding the proposed UK legislation as necessary protection for the consumer. Others feel that it smacks of censorship.
What’s your take on this issue?
Should a government attempt to control flogs and similar forms of Internet marketing, or should the blogosphere be responsible for policing itself?
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POSTED IN: Blogging, Corporate, Reputation Management
4 opinions for Should Fake Blogs Be Illegal?
Robert Hruzek
Apr 9, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Laura, just because something becomes illegal won’t stop it - but then you knew that, of course! I don’t know… it seems like this sort of thing is doomed to failure just because it’s going to be impossible to police. Oh, sure, you’ll probably see a few high-profile cases show up, but just like the Napster debacle, it will never go away, just more underground. Look how long we’ve been trying to stamp out spam!
Laura Spencer
Apr 9, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Thanks Robert! Personally, I can see both sides of this issue. I also see the enforcement problem since the Internet is international.
Millionaire Richard Quick, Esq.
Apr 9, 2008 at 4:31 pm
No.
See you on the veranda!
Millionaire Richard Quick, Esq.
http://www.Franworst.com
Liz Fuller
Apr 9, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I appreciate your (brief) point, Richard. What happens to fake blogs that are intentionally fake - for the amusement of the readers vs. fake blogs that are intentionally misleading? It seems like a lot of effort would be put into segregating the two.
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