Google will "impose penalties to deter businesses that attempt to profit from fake reviews, and penalise those who write false or misleading reviews," the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said in a statement.
"The changes we have pushed through at Google ensure robust processes are in place so people can trust reviews and make the best possible choices. This is a fairness issue for both businesses and consumers and we encourage the whole sector to comply," said CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell.
A Google spokesperson said its "work with regulators around the world, including the CMA, is part of our ongoing efforts to combat fake content and bad actors."
They added that investments to combat fake content already help Google "block millions of fake reviews a year, often before they are ever published".
Individuals who repeatedly post "false or misleading reviews of British businesses", both positive and negative, will have their reviews deleted and be banned from posting new reviews, the regulator said.
Among the penalties for U.K. businesses that boost their star rating through fake reviews will be "visible warning alerts added to their Google profiles" and their review feature may be disabled, the CMA reported.| BGNES
