The Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA) protects consumers’ ability to share their honest opinions about a business’s products, services, or conduct, in any forum, including social media. For example, businesses must comply with the CRFA when attempting to limit or respond to consumer reviews. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the CRFA, and believes contracts that prohibit honest reviews or threaten legal action over them harm consumers who rely on reviews when making their purchase decisions—and harm businesses that work hard to earn positive reviews.
In Georgia, as in all states, the Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA) applies to protect consumers' rights to post honest reviews about a business's products, services, or conduct. The CRFA makes it illegal for companies to use contracts that bar or penalize customers for posting negative reviews or sharing their honest opinion about the company in any forum, including social media. This federal law, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), ensures that consumers can freely share their experiences, whether positive or negative, without fear of legal retaliation from businesses. Georgia businesses must comply with the CRFA and cannot include provisions in their contracts that infringe on consumers' rights to communicate their honest reviews. Violations of the CRFA can be reported to the FTC, and businesses found in violation may face legal consequences.