The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized a consent order against Rytr, an AI service provider, over allegations related to the creation of false and deceptive online reviews. The FTC's complaint from September 2024 accused Rytr of offering a service that generated reviews with detailed content unrelated to user input, potentially leading users to publish misleading information.

The complaint stated that Rytr's practices violated the FTC Act by enabling the generation of deceptive written content for reviews. It further alleged that this constituted an unfair business practice, as it could flood the market with fake reviews.

Under the final order, Rytr is prohibited from engaging in similar activities in the future. The company is also barred from advertising or selling any service focused on generating consumer reviews or testimonials.

The Commission approved the final consent order following a public comment period, with a vote of 3-2. Commissioners Melissa Holyoak and Andrew Ferguson issued separate dissenting statements regarding the decision.

The FTC emphasizes its role in promoting competition and protecting consumers. The agency advises consumers to be cautious of scams and offers resources at consumer.ftc.gov for reporting fraud and learning about consumer protection topics.