I would like to clarify what I am talking about. I am talking about misrepresentation on the internet for financial gain. I get hundreds of emails about home based businesses as well as other things each saying they are free but ask for money in an indirect way. Either by S & H or I see it fraud.

Nowell, Smithfield, United States

I am a reader from Asia.
I am quite interested in this directive. I've read the whole text through internet. But I failed to catch the articles on prohibition of fake blog or comments. Could you please point it out for me ?
Thanks a lot.

daisy, shanghai, china

Just how is this going to be policed?

Right now in the UK the police just issue a crime number for a whole range of thefts over the phone. One police force (it's rumoured) has outsourced their call centre to India in an attempt to save money.

This is madness..

RE: John Rechy gave himself a five-star review on Amazon for his book

How many times have you bought a totally boring, useless book based on the five-star reviews printed on the back cover?

John's just taking that marketing ploy one step further.

JackatSea, Clipstone, UK

Heh, yes, this is very silly. I sell PC dating-sim games from Japan, and have a good way of promoting the games -- I show my face and honestly tell what I think is good or memorable about each game, and thus, I think, give useful guidance for my customers, who trust me all the more next time around. That should be enough for any businessman.

Peter Payne, Isesaki, Japan, Gunma, Japan

It's quite right that there should be naming and shaming especially if there is obvious commercial benefit but lets also remember it cuts both ways.

i.e.There are companies who have posted very negative reviews of their competitors.

Swings and roundabouts.

If looks like cheese and smells like cheese then it probably is cheese.

Robin Gurney, Tallinn, Estonia

Let's start the naming and shaming here...
Anybody fall for that pathetic McDonalds fake blog? Or the Coke Zero flog (fake blog) that backfired so beautifully?
My pesonal favourite was the Sony PSP flog created by the marketing geniuses at Zipatoni (check out their website for a really good laugh!). They tried to pretend their blog was the work of some enthusiastic teenagers - but forgot that they'd registered it in the name of their ad agency.
Check out this diabolical effort at http://consumerist.com/consumer/psp/we-reupload-fake-sony-psp-blog-223187.php
Painful but oh so funny.

Londoner, London, UK

Nowell is talking about a completely different issue that has no relationship to the article in question. As far as fake reviews go, reviews both bad and good are to be taken with a lorryload of salt. There are certain types of product for which reviews are appropriate, and for these a reputable organisation in the field should be consulted (eg Michelin Guide for Restaurants /Hotels). When it comes to artistic endeavours, if you need to be told what's good and what's not... you're a cretin.

David Richards, Adelaide, Australia

Anyone who knows how email works (i.e. not politicians) knows that this is utterly unenforceable, save for a very few cretins who use an email in their own name to hype their product. But it's bound to create a new department of eurocrats: where do I join the gravy train?

Mark, London, UK

These fake blogs are virtually impossible to stop. But internet is still on our side, simply becouse the real blogs vastly outnumber the fake ones.

Herman, Sneek, The Netherlands

It is still going on in the worst way. These people pray on individuals asking for money on the internet by either stating a family member died and they have not found the next of kin and they will split the inheritance with you but first you need to send them money. or they make up names and this cyle starts all over again.

most of these people either have a yahoo.uk or es address these people need to be stopped at all cost.

Business are advertising for employees to cash money orders and to send the money to england. I am not sure if ths is legitamite but this needs to stop as well. There is not anyway to prove these businesses are real.

if these companies who want employees can get a website up and running they may get some more help. otherwise they need to stop as well.

Nowell Rydalch, Smithfield, Utah

For someone to represent themselves as someone else, for personal gain, is fraud, Pure and Simple.

Frank, Aliquippa, PA USA