Can Blockchain Be Used to Fight Fake Reviewers and Identities?

• Amber Smith
• August 14, 2023

In today’s day and age, you can take almost any business or individual down by waging a reputation war against them. And, with the help of AI and chatbots, you don’t even need to invest that many resources.

True, you still need some level of technical knowledge, time, and determination to schedule a campaign of negative reviews. Also, to make it more believable, you’d have to use accounts that look real. But there are lots of ill-intended individuals who sell entire databases of online profiles on the dark web, so it’s not an impossible task. 

The good news is that there are tools to help you fight such injustices, and blockchain is one of the best. In today’s article, we’ll talk about why a good reputation is crucial for a business or brand (personal or commercial) and how to protect yours using blockchain technology.

A Good Reputation is a Business’s Most Valued Asset

A strong online reputation is built on positive reviews, testimonials, and feedback from satisfied customers. While it can take years of diligent work, it is worth all your efforts because it helps attract potential customers or clients and enhances trust in your products, services, or expertise.

According to several studies, people are more likely to engage with businesses or individuals they perceive as trustworthy. Additionally, existing customers are more likely to remain loyal when they see that others also endorse your brand.

However, all your hard work can turn into dust if your brand starts gathering negative reviews and increased chargeback claims. This was the case for Monica Eaton, an online business owner who, after years of hard work, had to face the hard truth – customer disputes were eating away at her company’s revenue.

Even more worrisome, she learned that most businesses are left to fend for themselves. There were no platforms or solutions designed to help with the prevention of invalid chargeback claims or with remedying the damage. This is when she decided to create Chargebacks911, a merchant-centric solution that will have your back in such grim scenarios.

How Can Blockchain Help?

While blockchain technology became famous with the rise of cryptocurrencies, its applications are far more compelling. 

In short, a blockchain is a decentralized database or digital ledger that can be used for secure data storage, smart contracts, supply chain management, identity verification, and more. 

As such, businesses can use blockchain-based reputation systems that ensure complete transparency and immutability. With this technology, once data is recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be modified or tampered with. This transparency allows users to have verifiable proof of their actions and interactions, which contributes to building a trustworthy reputation. 

Moreover, a blockchain-based reputation system gives users control over their own data. This way, users can choose which details to share in order to build their reputation profile. As a result, individuals have greater ownership and agency over their reputations.

Another important benefit of blockchain technology is resistance against Sybil attacks. These attacks involve individuals creating multiple fake identities to manipulate reputational rankings or ratings artificially. 

Blockchain-based reputation systems make it more challenging to engage in such attacks as they require proof of work or proof of stake mechanisms that limit the creation of fake identities. The decentralized nature of blockchain also makes it difficult for a single entity to control or manipulate reputation scores.

Other Benefits You May Want to Consider

Blockchain technology is not new, but businesses and individuals are just starting to discover its many benefits. So if you’re still not convinced, here are a few more:

• Interoperability – Blockchain technology allows different platforms and services to integrate and share reputation data through standardized protocols or smart contracts. 
• Decentralized Identity Verification – Blockchain can provide a decentralized and tamper-proof system for verifying identities online. 
• Digital Notary – Businesses can use blockchain to create tamper-proof, timestamped records of online interactions. This enables an individual to prove their authenticity during online transactions or disputes.
• ID Verification and KYC – Blockchain can streamline the process of identity verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures for online services. This means that organizations can securely verify identities, reducing the chances of people using fake identities.

Wrap Up

In the battle against fake reviewers and misinformation, blockchain technology can be an amazing asset. With its transparency, immutability, and decentralized nature, blockchain technology can revolutionize reputation management.

Moreover, anyone interested can gain access to this technology. Just make sure to find specialized service providers who can guide you through the implementation process and provide technical expertise in deploying blockchain solutions tailored to your business’s needs.