If this is sufficiently widespread, seems like there's an opportunity for a honeypot operation.
I.e.:
(1) Guess at what information triggers this kind of shakedown by Yelp for a new business. E.g., credit-card sales data for new restaurants.
(2) Set up a fake business that pushes all of those buttons. E.g., register a new restaurant business in the state; temporarily rent a space and maybe put up signage; generate realistic credit-card purchase data and/or cell-location data for fake customers.
(3) Wait for the Yelp reviews to come in. [Possibly legal offence #1]
(4) Wait for the Yelp sales call. [Possibly legal offence #2]
(5) Turn down the sales offer.
(6) Wait for the negative reviews. [Possibly legal offence #3]
(7) Ask prosecutors to pursue criminal charges, and/or file a civil suit. Either way, get to the point of legally compelled discovery.
I wonder if this would be a fun first project for a newly minted government prosecutor.
I.e.:
(1) Guess at what information triggers this kind of shakedown by Yelp for a new business. E.g., credit-card sales data for new restaurants.
(2) Set up a fake business that pushes all of those buttons. E.g., register a new restaurant business in the state; temporarily rent a space and maybe put up signage; generate realistic credit-card purchase data and/or cell-location data for fake customers.
(3) Wait for the Yelp reviews to come in. [Possibly legal offence #1]
(4) Wait for the Yelp sales call. [Possibly legal offence #2]
(5) Turn down the sales offer.
(6) Wait for the negative reviews. [Possibly legal offence #3]
(7) Ask prosecutors to pursue criminal charges, and/or file a civil suit. Either way, get to the point of legally compelled discovery.
I wonder if this would be a fun first project for a newly minted government prosecutor.