In order to combat review manipulation on Google Maps, two new restrictions have been put in place. These should help to create a more level playing field for businesses and give users a better idea of what to expect when they visit a place.

In Google’s Prohibited and restricted content support document you’ll find a Deceptive Content section that talks about Fake Engagement, Impersonation, Misinformation, and Misrepresentation. The new restrictions are included under the Fake Engagement point. Here’s a screenshot of the same below.

So we can conclude that only genuine reviews are encouraged, and if anyone tries to violate these restrictions, they can be penalized.