Attention: New Legislation on Reviews – Avoid Breaking the Law!

As of May 28, displaying fake reviews is officially prohibited by law. Continuing to use fake reviews after this date is a punishable offense. The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) states that violations of this new law will result in fines of at least 4% of the company’s revenue in the relevant country.

While this is a significant regulatory measure, at Feedback4Sports, we fully support it. Transparency is at the core of what we do. For years, we’ve provided our clients with the ability to showcase authentic customer stories on their websites, with clear validation so visitors can see how these stories are created. No need to worry—the solution is within reach.

Why the New Legislation?

Let’s start at the beginning. A national survey

conducted by the consumer platform Kassa revealed that over 90% of Dutch consumers read reviews before purchasing a product or service. Nearly all respondents said reviews influence their decisions. However, 50% of those surveyed admitted they don’t currently trust reviews. Surprising, isn’t it? We’re heavily influenced by reviews, yet deep down, we don’t trust them. This was reason enough for the Dutch government to (finally) take action.

Modernizing Consumer Protection Law

After the Dutch House of Representatives approved the proposed legislation in March, the Senate followed suit later that month. This means that as of May 28, businesses are legally required to disclose the source of their online reviews. While this might seem challenging, we’re here to help.

The Solution for Fitness Clubs

By using Feedback4Sports to continuously gather customer experiences, your gym can automatically collect dozens to hundreds of authentic customer stories per month—all fully compliant with the law. Our story widget is easy to implement on any website, giving you complete control and eliminating concerns about fake reviews.