You cannot use fake reviews, misleading prices, or false advertising on your Shopify store.
Consumers benefit from this provision because it gives Shopify authority to remove merchants engaged in fake reviews and misleading pricing, but enforcement is discretionary and inconsistent enforcement could mean similar violations are treated differently across merchants.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Prohibition on Deceptive, Misleading, or Manipulative Practices and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →This provision aligns with FTC truth-in-advertising requirements and gives Shopify independent enforcement authority beyond what regulators may pursue, meaning merchants can lose their store for practices that regulators might not have yet taken action on.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision directly mirrors FTC Act Section 5 (15 U.S.C. § 45) prohibitions on unfair or deceptive acts or practices, FTC Endorsement Guides (16 C.F.R. Part 255) on fake reviews and testimonials, and the FTC's 2022 rule on commercial surveillance and data practices. EU merchants are additionally subject to the EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC) and the Digital Services Act (DSA, Regulation 2022/2065) Article 25 prohibiting dark patterns. The FTC is the primary US enforcement authority; EU national consumer protection authorities enforce UCPD.
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