• Google has introduced a display of the number of deleted reviews for businesses, increasing transparency.
  • In 2025, 99.97% of all review deletion requests in the EU were filed in Germany, citing defamation.
  • A ‘deletion industry’ has emerged with agencies and law firms specializing in removing negative reviews.
  • The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) requires platforms to be more transparent.
  • Consumer centers welcome the new feature but criticize that Google often does not verify the validity of requests.
  • Stuttgart innkeeper Osman Madan deleted over 250 reviews to remove ‘hater comments’.

Sources & Links