In a surprising turn of events, Reviewed, a consumer reviews site that was shut down by Gannett last fall, has risen from the dead under new ownership. The site, which was embroiled in an AI scandal in 2023, is now back online, with a smattering of new articles and updates, including coverage of the 2025 CES trade show.

The sudden revival of the site has left many former staff members, who were laid off when Gannett announced its decision to shut down the site, confused and concerned. According to a former staffer, who requested anonymity due to separation agreements they signed, the understanding was that the site would remain online for a period of time, but not continue to be updated with new content. "None of us were aware that the site was going to continue being updated, nor that our bylines would be updated and promoted on the site," the former staffer said.

The new owner of Reviewed is StackCommerce, an online shopping platform that works with publishers to create affiliate marketing content. The acquisition, which was mostly kept quiet, was confirmed by StackCommerce CEO Karl House, who declined to provide terms of the sale. House said that StackCommerce had hired five former Reviewed employees and had engaged with Gannett after the media giant announced it was shutting down the site in August 2024.

Despite the change in ownership, the site appears to be operating as usual, with many of the same editorial promises and claims of "thousands of hours" of "tough, objective, hands-on testing" of products. However, it is unclear how reviews and recommendations are being carried out under the new ownership, and whether the site's testing process has changed. StackCommerce did not respond to questions about its testing process, raising concerns about the integrity of the site's reviews.

The acquisition also raises questions about the fate of the site's unionized staff members, who were laid off when Gannett shut down the site. The relationship between Gannett and the NewsGuild of New York, which represents unionized Reviewed workers, was contentious, with staff previously walking off the job after they were unable to secure bargaining dates with management. The union had raised concerns about the use of AI-generated content and the impact on its members' jobs, which now seem prescient.

The revival of Reviewed under new ownership has significant implications for the tech industry and the world of online reviews. As consumers increasingly rely on online reviews to make purchasing decisions, the integrity and credibility of review sites like Reviewed are crucial. The fact that the site is continuing to operate without transparency about its testing process and editorial promises raises serious concerns about the trustworthiness of its reviews.

As the online review landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Reviewed will operate under its new ownership and whether it will be able to regain the trust of its readers. One thing is clear, however: the resurrection of Reviewed is a significant development that warrants close scrutiny and attention from the tech industry and beyond.