Q: Does this Google

[kexej28769@nongnue]

As for Google's intent with this action, my assumption is that it's a step toward increasing transparency. Not their own transparency, but accountability to the reviewing public. Google doesn't really like to admit it, but their review corpus is full of spam, some of it the product of global networks of bad actors who have made a business of leaving fake reviews. Personally, I welcome any effort by Google to combat this, but removing this particular type of anonymous review is certainly not an adequate solution to review spam when real people's livelihoods are at stake.

Q: Does this Google update mean my business is now protected from anonymous reviews?
A: Unfortunately, no. While this means you're unlikely to see reviews marked as "Google users," it doesn't in any way prevent people from creating as many Google identities as they'd like to review your canada number data . Consider:

Google's review product has yet to reach a level of sophistication that can automatically flag reviews left by "Rocky Balboa" or "whatever," perhaps lacking some degree of legitimacy.
Google's product also doesn't seem suspicious of profiles that are designed just to leave one-time reviews, even though this is a clear sign of many instances of spam.
Google will not remove text-less negative star ratings, despite owner requests.
Google has historically not been swayed to remove reviews based on the owner claiming that there is no record showing that the negative reviewer was ever a user.
Question: Will removing anonymous Google reviews change my review strategy?
A: No, not really. I sympathize with business owners who expressed frustration at the loss of reviews they were proud of and worked hard to earn. I see actions like this as an important reminder to all local businesses to remember that you do not own your Google Reviews, you do not own your Google My Business listing/Knowledge Panel. Google owns these assets, and manages them in whatever way they see fit for Google.