Is it legal to remove Google reviews?

Yes. Reporting a review is a feature Google built into every Google Business Profile. The owner selects Report next to the review, picks a reason, and Google checks it against the Maps user-generated content policy. Google’s help page for owners says you can report any review, but “only those that violate Google policies are eligible for removal.” Asking Google to apply its own rules does not break the law. This page is general information, not legal advice.

The US law that applies is the FTC Consumer Review Rule, 16 CFR Part 465, in force since 21 October 2024. Its review suppression section, 465.7, bans threats, intimidation and knowingly false public accusations used to stop a review or get one removed. A report to Google uses none of these. It goes to Google, not to the reviewer, and Google applies its own written policy. The rule targets pressure on the reviewer, such as a reply that threatens a baseless lawsuit or a message demanding the customer delete the review. Is review removal legal covers the whole rule and the other platforms.

Google’s own policy points the same way. Its Rating manipulation rule bans coercing or pressuring customers over their ratings or reviews, so pressure on a reviewer can break Google’s policy as well as the FTC rule. Someone who demands money to stop or remove negative reviews is the one acting unlawfully; Google has a separate report for that, covered in Google review extortion.

Google also runs a legal removal request for content an owner believes breaks the law, such as defamation. That is a legal claim, separate from a policy report, and Google asks people to flag the content in the product first. When a lawsuit makes sense is covered in can you sue for a fake review.

We use the report route Google gives every owner. We file the reviews you choose with Google under its own policy, and Google decides each one. A review that breaks no policy usually stays up. We do not contact reviewers, ask Google who a reviewer is, use fake accounts or mass flagging, or buy or post reviews. For the warning signs of a service that does, see review removal scams.