Google is testing a new label to notate that the reviews aren't verified in Google Search and Google Map. The label is above the reviews in the local business listing and it says "reviews aren't verified."
If you click on that label, it says "reviews aren't verified by Google, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified."
This was spotted by Robin Dirksen and he posted these screenshots on Twitter:
Forum discussion at Twitter.
Update: Another variation of this:
Google disclaimer added to reviews!
— ClaudiaT (@ClaudiaTomina) January 24, 2023
@mblumenthal @keyserholiday @rustybrick pic.twitter.com/bodvNsPZBn
Update 2: Also in web search:
found new labels under product review search results too. saying "Reviews aren't verified by Google search"
— Shameem Adhikarath (@shemiadhikarath) February 22, 2023
cc: @rustybrick pic.twitter.com/X0QQEeUC6B
Update 3: March 21, 2023, Google may be rolling this out more widely but not yet in the US:
Latest in SEO: Google has now added a 'Reviews aren't verified by Google Search' icon to organic results
— Brodie Clark (@brodieseo) March 21, 2023
So far, the icon is only appearing in the UK and parts of Europe. Are you able to see it?
Previous test details via @rustybrick & @shemiadhikarath: https://t.co/UBLPwkLa92 pic.twitter.com/Ebg5a5uUbX
Seems like Google has now rolled out the 'Reviews aren't verified by Google Search' icon in web search in the UK. The test has been spotted in various areas in the past, with the latest discovery from @shemiadhikarath in web search via @rustybrick. Source: https://t.co/PHP4Shy6cF pic.twitter.com/OdYIDclXZa
— SERP Alert (@SERPalerts) March 21, 2023
And on LinkedIn via Rüdiger Dalchow.
