EU to Whip Floggers

The EU is set to introduce new rules to turn the screws on businesses and individuals who use blogs, forums or other online entities to misrepresent themselves as consumers. As more consumers take to the internet looking for reviews and information on products and services, the more businesses are realizing that they can influence consumer habits by creating the opinions that consumers seek. You would think with the risk, businesses would not misrepresent themselves -- surprisingly however, many do, or take third parties on the payroll to spin the yarn for them. Next year, companies that get caught representing their opinions as that of consumers will be recognized as such by a trading standards body -- or will face prosecution. It's great that the EU is taking consumer rights seriously, even as they continue to erode in North America. Our governments could learn something here.