Core Viewpoint - The prevalence of fake reviews in online shopping, driven by practices like "brushing," undermines consumer trust and market integrity [1][2][3] Group 1: Case Study and Legal Framework - A recent case in Henan province resulted in a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence and a fine of 6.25 million yuan for an individual involved in organizing fake reviews [1] - The practice of "brushing" involves creating false sales and positive reviews to artificially inflate a store's reputation without actual transactions [1][2] - Legal regulations, such as the Anti-Unfair Competition Law and the Interim Provisions on Online Anti-Unfair Competition, prohibit businesses from engaging in false transactions and misleading promotions [2] Group 2: Market Impact and Consumer Experience - The phenomenon of "brushing" leads to a cycle where genuine businesses struggle to compete against those that manipulate reviews, ultimately harming the overall consumer ecosystem [2] - Consumers often encounter incentives for leaving positive reviews, such as cash back or rewards, which can blur the lines of ethical behavior in online shopping [2] Group 3: Solutions and Recommendations - Addressing the issue of fake reviews requires a collaborative effort from merchants, consumers, platforms, and regulatory bodies [3][4] - Merchants should focus on genuine customer experiences to build real reputations, while consumers need to be vigilant about identifying fake reviews [3] - Platforms must invest in technology to detect and penalize fraudulent review practices, and regulatory authorities should enforce strict penalties across the supply chain [3][4] - Establishing a mechanism that rewards integrity and punishes dishonesty can shift the focus from "brushing" to genuine business practices [4]

为进一步规范网络市场竞争秩序，切实维护经营者、消费者合法权益，9月15日，新疆维吾尔自治区乌 苏市市场监管局强化党建引领，积极践行"实干争先"理念，围绕"网络安全为人民 网络安全靠人民 以高 水平安全守护高质量发展"主题，联合市委宣传部，市公安局、法院、司法局、教科局、应急管理局、 卫健委、国安办、总工会、团委、妇联、科协、各街道，国家金融监管总局乌苏监管支局、各基础电信 企业、属地各银行，在乌苏市和谐广场，深入开展网络反不正当竞争宣传活动。 活动现场，工作人员通过悬挂条幅，设置宣传台和展板，现场讲解等方式，向过往市民集中宣讲网络安 全知识、典型案例，宣传食品药品、工业产品、特种设备等法律法规知识，耐心解答群众提出的疑问， 引导大家树立科学网络安全观念，共同参与网络安全监督，为市民带来了一场丰富实用的"网安盛宴"。 此次活动，乌苏市市场监管局执法人员深入辖区网络经营企业及个体工商户，与经营者面对面交流，详 细了解经营现状，了解运营过程中的问题及合规经营需求。结合当前网络环境下不正当竞争行为的新特 点、新趋势，执法人员以"刷单炒信""好评返现""数据流量造假"等高频违法行为为重点，逐条解读政策 要求，督促经营者 ...

Core Points - The event aimed to promote the implementation of the "Interim Provisions on Anti-Unfair Competition in the Online Environment" and foster a fair competition environment for consumers and businesses [4][12] - The competition attracted over 1.2 million participants and received more than 30 million exposures online since its launch in June 2025 [4] - The event highlighted the importance of understanding and implementing laws to address the complexities of market competition in the digital economy [6][11] Group 1: Event Overview - The 2025 Consumer Environment High-Quality Development Conference and the National Knowledge Competition Finals on Anti-Unfair Competition were held on September 12, 2025 [1] - The event was guided by the State Administration for Market Regulation and organized by the China Electronics Chamber of Commerce and other partners [1][3] - The theme of the event was "Unified Market, Fair Competition Future," focusing on building a solid foundation for the implementation of the new regulations [4] Group 2: Key Participants and Contributions - Notable attendees included officials from the State Administration for Market Regulation and leaders from various sectors, emphasizing the collaborative effort in promoting fair competition [3][6] - The event featured a roundtable discussion on applying the new regulations to regulate self-preferential behaviors of platform enterprises [8][11] - The competition's champion, Tong Lishu from Shenzhen University, showcased the engagement and knowledge of participants [4] Group 3: Regulatory Context and Implications - The "Interim Provisions on Anti-Unfair Competition in the Online Environment" came into effect on September 1, 2024, to combat emerging unfair competition behaviors in the digital economy [4][12] - The regulations are seen as essential for ensuring fair competition and protecting consumer rights, with strong support from industry leaders [6][11] - The event served as a platform for discussing the challenges and innovations needed in law enforcement to address online unfair competition effectively [11]

Core Viewpoint - A recent case revealed that an online seller fabricated transaction volumes to create a false impression of product popularity, highlighting the need for stricter regulation in e-commerce to protect consumer rights [1][3][5]. Group 1: Case Details - The seller claimed over 105,000 transactions for a lapel microphone, while actual sales were found to be less than 1,000 [3]. - The seller exploited a loophole by splitting a main product into accessory links, setting a low price to encourage bulk purchases, resulting in 104,764 inflated transactions through repeated fake orders [3][4]. Group 2: Regulatory Framework - The case falls under the provisions of the E-commerce Law and the Interim Regulations on Anti-Unfair Competition, which prohibit false transactions and misleading commercial practices [4][5]. - The successful investigation marked the first case handled by the Haidian District Market Supervision Bureau under the new regulations, demonstrating a commitment to purifying the digital economy and safeguarding consumer rights [5][6]. Group 3: Market Context - As of December 2024, China's online shopping user base is expected to exceed 900 million, making sales data a critical factor for consumer purchasing decisions [5]. - The rise of e-commerce has led to increased scrutiny of sales practices, with the implementation of new regulations aimed at curbing unfair competition in the digital marketplace [5].