TAMMY BALDWIN COMMITTEES: APPROPRIATIONS COMMERCE ?ttnittd genus ,%rnatt LABOR, AND PENSIONS WASHINGTON, DC 20510 November 2, 2017 The Honorable Maureen K. Ohlausen Acting Chairman Federal Trade Commission 600 Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580 Dear Acting Chairman Ohlhausen: In light of continued, troubling reports of US. citizens falling victim to unethical and even criminal activity while traveling in Mexico, including the tragic, alcohol?related death of Wisconsin resident Abbey Conner in January 2017, I am writing to express grave concerns and request that you investigate potentially unlawful business practices of certain entities that may hinder the ability of Americans to access accurate and unbiased information regarding the safety and quality of their foreign destinations, accommodations and activities. I have previously written to the US. State Department to express my disappointment that it is not providing suf?cient information regarding the health and safety of U.S. citizens in Mexico on its Country Speci?c Information page or on its Travel Warning page. This is especially concerning because these reports have made clear that local Mexican authorities and tourism-related businesses lack transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law in relation to this issue. Particularly in light of that lack of clear information from government sources, prospective travelers may rely even more on travel review websites, like TripAdvisor, for similar information as well as general recommendations regarding the value of travel-related expenses like resorts, hotels, and restaurants. TripAdvisor bills itself as ?the world?s largest travel site? which ?provides travelers with the wisdom of the crowds to help them decide where to stay, how to fly, what to do and where to eat.?1 It is imperative that it and websites like it, which serve to crowdsource travelers? reports of their personal experiences, do not censor reviews because their content might re?ect negatively on a particular business or venue. In particular, limiting or removing reviews that detail unsafe conditions could put future travelers, who look to TripAdvisor for accurate information, at risk. Troublingly, that type of censorship has been reported regarding traveler reviews that describe experiences similar to Abbey Conner?s during travel in Mexico. According to an investigative report by the Milwaukee ournal-Sentinel, numerous such reports have been taken down from the TripAdvisor website because they were ?determined to be inappropriate,? ?off?topic? or included language not deemed For example, according to the Journal?Sentinel report, the 1/1130er Tz?ip/ldvisor, 2 Raquel Rutledge and Andrew Mollica, Trr'pAdw'sor Removed Warnings About Ropes and Injuries of Mexico Resorts, Tourists Say, Journal Sentinel (November 1, 2017), l/Ol -mexico-resorts?tourists-say/ 8 7 I 7200 review of another Wisconsin woman, Jamie Valeri, recounting her sexual assault at a Mexican resort after being rendered unconscious from consuming a limited amount of possibly?tainted alcohol was taken down by TripAdvisor as ?hearsay,? and her repeated attempts to restore the posting were unsuccessful. These allegations of censorship by the company are even more concerning because a signi?cant source of its revenue is derived from click-based advertising and transactions for hotels booked through its website.3 As a result, the company has a financial interest in the ?wisdom of the crowds? translating into bookings through its website and thus a potential incentive to maximize positive reviews and minimize accounts of problematic experiences. Simply put, I am concerned that TripAdvisor may be prioritizing pro?ts over providing an open, honest forum for traveler reviews that its users expect. In light of these serious allegations, I urge the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether TripAdvisor?s practices run afoul of federal consumer protection laws, including the prohibitions on deceptive or unfair business practices and false advertising under the Federal Trade Commission Act. I also urge the Commission to build on the June 2013 letter advising search engines and the potential for consumer deception and provide similar guidance to websites that aggregate consumer reviews of products and services. Thank you for your attention to this matter and consideration of my requests. Sincerely, amm aldwin United States Senator 3 TripAdvisor,lO-Q Quarterly Report, Securities and Exchange Commission, August 8, 2017