You can get flogged for flogging??

You can still flog it in Seattle, but a fake blog in the UK may get you more than a embarrassing moment. SEO Chicks lets us in on the new Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. ChrisG recaps the Walmart and Sony fiascos that would fall under these rules. At the very least, these fake blogging miscreants will be ‘named and shamed’ - Britain being one of the few countries left where this is actually punishment.

Of course, Morocco is even less tolerant - if you happen to create a fake Facebook profile of a crown prince. Then you get flogged for real!

Ironically, at the same time that more attention is being paid to floggers, the very value of content is being questioned. Sarah Perez questions whether content itself is becoming a commodity. Perhaps, as health search engine Hakia is gambling on, reputation and credibility is becoming the true coin of value.

When I look at my own browsing, linking, and reading habits, I find myself actually depending on the reputation of others. The number of Diggs something may have influences me less than if someone I am linked with has bookmarked/shared/dugg/recommended. Between fake blogs, borrowed content, and creditability gaps, perhaps we see a growing need for that gatekeeper some thought was no longer needed.

An editor.