Google has updated its Google Maps contributor fake engagement policy to provide more detailed guidelines. The revised offers a clearer explanation of what constitutes fake engagement.

Fake Engagement Policy

Contributions to Google Maps must reflect genuine experiences. Fake engagement is prohibited and will be removed.

Prohibited Actions:

• Non-genuine Content: Content not based on real experiences or inaccurately representing the location or product.
• Incentivized Content: Content posted due to incentives like payments, discounts, or free goods/services. This includes content posted after requests for revision or removal of negative reviews in exchange for incentives.
• Multiple Accounts: Content posted from multiple accounts to manipulate ratings.
• Device Tampering: Content posted using emulators, modified operating systems, or other methods to mimic genuine engagement or manipulate data.

Merchant Restrictions:

• No Solicitation of Fake Content: Merchants cannot solicit or encourage posting of non-genuine content.
• No Incentives for Reviews: Merchants cannot offer incentives for posting reviews, revising, or removing negative reviews.
• No Discouragement of Negative Reviews: Merchants cannot discourage or prohibit negative reviews or selectively solicit positive reviews.
• No Undermining Competitors: Merchants cannot post content on a competitor’s place to harm their reputation.

Permitted Actions:

• Genuine Content Solicitation: Merchants can solicit or encourage posting of genuine experiences without offering incentives.