Firefox to introduce 'Review Checker' to spot fake e-commerce reviews

Mozilla Firefox is reportedly set to incorporate a new feature called "Review Checker" to identify fake product reviews, following the acquisition of Fakespot, a service that screens counterfeit products and bogus reviews. The tool, currently under testing, is scheduled for launch in November and will initially operate on major e-commerce sites such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.

The Review Checker grades reviews from A to F to evaluate their authenticity, with grades A and B deemed "Reliable reviews", C indicating a mix of reliable and unreliable reviews, and D and F considered "Unreliable reviews". Users can activate the feature by opting "Yes, try it" after clicking a new price tag icon on product pages.

The tool uses Oblivious HTTP (OHTTP) to safeguard user privacy and is designed to be lightweight, ensuring no impact on browsing speed or browser performance. The feature is set to debut in Firefox version 120 for desktop and Android, releasing on November 21, 2023.