Google is pledging to crack down on fake online reviews with tougher punishments for rogue reviewers and businesses after an investigation by regulators in Britain.

Businesses which boost their star ratings will have warnings attached to them - fake reviewers will be banned.

This includes deactivating the ability to add new reviews for businesses found to be using fake reviews, and deleting all existing reviews for at least six months if they repeated

Google will do more to tackle fake reviews, including sanctioning UK businesses and people involved in manipulating star ratings, Britain's competition regulator said on Friday following a lengthy investigation.

Google has committed to cracking down on fake reviews by improving fraud detection and punishing offenders. Businesses using shady tactics will lose the ability to submit reviews or have existing ones wiped for at least six months.