Amazon to Crack Down on Fake Reviews After UK Regulator Probe

Today’s ESG Updates

• Amazon to Ban UK Sellers Over Fake Review Abuse: CMA forces tougher enforcement after probe into review manipulation and catalogue fraud.
• Aircapture Raises $50M to Scale On-Site Carbon Capture Tech: Startup expands global deployment of modular DAC units.
• EU Flags Vision Risk in Popular Weight-Loss Drugs: Semaglutide tied to rare eye disorder, EMA seeks warning update.
• Trump Administration, Nippon Steel Push Forward U.S. Steel Deal: Court pause extended as $14.9B talks continue.

Amazon agrees to crack down on fake reviews after UK watchdog probe

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has secured commitments from Amazon to enhance efforts against fake reviews. Following a four-year investigation, Amazon agreed to implement stricter measures, including sanctions on UK businesses that artificially inflate ratings through fraudulent reviews. The CMA’s probe revealed issues like ‘catalogue abuse,’ where sellers misuse reviews from unrelated products to boost their own ratings. Under its expanded powers, the CMA can independently determine violations of consumer law and enforce actions, such as imposing fines and mandating improvements in business practices. Companies can keep up to date on the latest regulations with ESG solutions.

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Further reading: UK secures action from Amazon to tackle fake reviews

Aircapture secures $50M to scale carbon removal technology globally

Aircapture, a California-based carbon removal technology firm, has raised $50 million in Series A funding to scale its Direct Air Capture (DAC) systems. Founded in 2019, the company develops modular on-site units that extract CO₂ from the air and integrate it into industrial production processes, eliminating the need for CO₂ transport and reducing emissions and impurities. Backed by the Larsen Lam Climate Change Foundation, the funding will support expansion in North America, Europe, and Asia. Aircapture recently won $1 million in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition and secured multi-year contracts with major brands like AB InBev.

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Further reading: Direct Air Capture Startup Aircapture Raises $50 Million to Remove and Re-use CO2 at Industrial Sites

EMA warns of rare vision loss risk linked to Ozempic and Wegovy

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has warned that semaglutide-based drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus may increase the risk of a rare eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which can cause permanent vision loss. The EMA’s safety committee (PRAC) launched a review in January and found that NAION is a “very rare” side effect, potentially affecting up to 1 in 10,000 users. People with diabetes taking semaglutide face a twofold increased risk. The EMA has recommended updating product information to reflect this risk, pending final approval from the European Commission.

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Further Reading: Ozempic has ‘very rare’ sight loss side effect, EU drugs regulator finds

Nippon Steel and Trump administration seek more time to finalize U.S. steel deal

Nippon Steel, the Trump administration, and a U.S. court of appeals have requested an extension to an eight-day pause in litigation to continue negotiating a potential $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel. The pause, originally granted by President Trump on April 7 for a second national security review, was set to expire on June 5. Both Trump and Biden previously opposed the deal, insisting U.S. Steel remain American-owned, especially amid election-year politics in Pennsylvania. Biden blocked the deal in January over security concerns, prompting lawsuits. Now under Trump’s administration, negotiations are progressing, and a settlement may be near. Businesses can keep up to date with the latest developments by using ESG tools.

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Further reading: Nippon Steel, US seek 8-day pause in litigation to resolve deal concerns

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit:  Christian Wiediger