A settlement may resolve a dispute, correct a mistake, or document that the parties reached an agreement. It should not require a person to publish a false statement, hide a material safety issue, or create a misleading picture of genuine customer feedback.
Acceptable outcomes
The record may show resolved, withdrawn by the submitter, corrected, superseded, or removed for a documented policy reason. Settlement receipts and agreements should remain private unless the parties lawfully authorize publication.
Review fairness
The FTC warns that paying people to change or remove truthful negative reviews can distort what consumers think and may be unfair or deceptive. Businesses also must not use groundless threats or intimidation to suppress reviews.