Extortion Two-Point-Woe

Mar 08

Paul Lamari, Esq.General Business Practices, Web & Legal , No Comments

Over the past two weeks, Yelp has been hit with several class action lawsuits, alleging that it has engaged in False Business Practices.  After a review of the complaint, the Crux of the allegations are that Yelp solicited large sums of money from its users in exchange for removing, or otherwise hiding, negative reviews.  These alleged kickbacks, dubbed “advertising fees”, spur Yelp employees to make those negative reviews less noticeable.  More importantly, the suit alleges that upon a refusal to pay “advertising fees”, negative reviews are made more visible, thereby injuring the online presence of the business.

Taken as true, it would seem as if Yelp is playing the part of the Internet version of the Cost Nostra, soliciting protection money from its customers.  Those who refuse to pay risk getting a digital brick through their online store’s window.  While taking no side one way or the other without a healthy dose of the facts, I believe that this is potentially a matter of major concern for the Internet viewing public.  However, the bigger concern comes from the selective censoring of negative reviews.  Currently, millions of people visit sites like Yelp to hear what their fellow citizens think of local businesses offering food, goods, and services.  If those businesses can put a muzzle on any comment that they don’t agree with then, really, what is the point?  Impartiality has gone out the window, and the site’s visitors might as well forego the process all together…and if sites like Yelp don’t like what I have to say, then I’d be happy to move it to somewhere less noticeable, for a small advertising fee.