This is the main problem with user reviews. Due to their anonymous nature, they are virtually impossible to regulate. All a reviewer needs is an email address and a username to post their thoughts. They could be a genuine consumer, a paid for stooge or even an employee of the company whose product they are commenting on. The online community has its value, but just as with any anonymous source, people should take its pronouncements with a pinch of salt.

By all means, let's see a greater focus on ethics, but don't make the mistake of thinking that this will clear up all the cloak and dagger practices enabled by the internet.

I agree that a greater call for ethics won't clear up all the "cloak and dagger" stuff; that's almost impossible given the hiding places the internet affords. It'd be nice to think that if we held businesses like Belkin accountable for this type of stuff (i.e. by voting with our wallets and blacklisting them) then they'd think twice about trying such stunts in future; unfortunately, I'm just not sure the economics of losing a few morally outraged customers outweigh the revenues gained from positive user feedback – genuine or otherwise.

i too agree that there is a need for a greater call for ethics in business, and i agree that it wont clear up the cloak and dagger issues too, but, cynical as i may be (or not as Belkin have proved), i've never been one for reading user comments anyway. anything i buy online i use websites i both trust and have used before and only purchase brands and products i use regularly anyway, so there is no need to read a "review" - however genuine that may be.

I agree with Joachim. In times such as these, transparency is of the essence.

I think there is no better time for consumers to demand more ethical practices by the companies they are buying from.
After all today is a buyer's and not a seller's market. And the sellers must do everything they can to attract business.
In lots of other ways, ethical considerations are influencing consumers' choices of products. The way people buy their groceries for instance is influenced not just by price but by the practices of manufacturers - hence the popularity of organic and free range products. If they want to stay in business companies MUST prove they are acting with integrity and honesty.

That could be impossible to probe Jomo