Alibaba lawsuit throws spotlight on 'brushers' gaming rankings

Hong Kong

A LAWSUIT filed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is shining a light on the fake reviews and purchases on its websites.

China's biggest e-commerce operator sued Shatui.com, which allegedly links merchants with people willing to falsify purchases and write positive comments that can drive sellers up Alibaba's rankings. The suit in Hangzhou West Lake District People's Court is seeking 2.16 million yuan (S$450,000). Alibaba worked with the authorities that raided Shatui's office and took away its accounting books for allegedly rigging the market, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Alibaba has a complicated history with so-called brushing operators, who have pumped up gross merchandise volume for years but now undermine its push for credibility. As it now emphasises sales over transactions and expands into new businesses, the c…