Recently, a Beijing university student, who was unsatisfied with a cake she had bought on a meal-ordering platform, gave the vendor a negative rating. It led to the vendor attacking her online.

Consumers have the right to give a negative rating to online vendors. The Law on Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests says they have the right to supervise products and services. Their ratings serve as a reference for other consumers to shop online. It's not only the supervisory department's responsibility but also the e-commerce platform's to protect consumers' right to give negative ratings.

The E-Commerce Law, which will be enacted in January, stipulates that e-commerce platforms should allow consumers to comment on the products online. The platforms are prohibited from deleting the comments. If they still do so, they will be subject to a maximum fine of 500,000 yuan ($71,927). Therefore, e-commerce platforms should show consumers' comments truthfully and objectively and refrain from deleting unfavorable ratings.

All comments by consumers based on their shopping experiences deserve respect, as long as they are not intended to insult or defame the vendors. In order to protect consumers, e-commerce platforms may make consumers' accounts invisible to vendors.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in Yanzhao Evening News on October 30 on November 6)