2023-11-21 02:12:08
Sharing a negative review might cost you dearly.
Consumers in Canada are facing hefty fines of up to $115,000 for their digital reviews.
Véronique Parent, lawyer and analyst at Option Consommateur, is concerned regarding the lack of protection for those who give their opinions online. She also wrote a 77-page report which documents a notable increase in defamation suits filed by companies once morest consumers.
“Consumers are increasingly being prosecuted for criticizing a company,” says the lawyer. “Often, these are sums which are sometimes quite high. In Quebec, it went up to $25,000.”
How far can we go in criticism?
The report highlights a gray area: how far consumers can go in criticism without crossing the line into defamation.
“The absence of guidelines at the moment exposes consumers to legal action, hence the need, in our opinion, to regulate this phenomenon,” explains Ms. Parent.
Alberta is the only Canadian province that currently regulates these digital practices.
“It recognizes that consumers have the right to criticize a company and limits the situations in which the consumer can be prosecuted,” she adds.
Watch the full interview above to learn more.
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