Consumer Protection In The Age Of The Information Economy

To date, there have been few theoretical inquiries into the relationship between the technological innovation and basic objectives of consumer protection laws. This book addresses this need by considering the impact of technological innovation on the foundations of consumer advocacy, contracting behaviour, control over intellectual capital and information privacy. The collection presents a unique and timely perspective on these issues. The authors, internationally renowned experts, from diverse areas such as consumer issues in technology markets, contract, and intellectual property provide a fresh perspective on these topics. Contributions provide novel approaches to the question of what consumer protection might consist of in the context of technological innovation. The book will be a valuable resource to academics and researchers in law and public policy and is easily accessible to graduate and undergraduate students working in these areas.

This volume considers the impact of technological innovation on the foundations of consumer advocacy, contracting behaviour, control over intellectual capital and information privacy. A unique and timely perspective on these issues is presented by internationally renowned experts who provide novel approaches to the question of what consumer protection might consist of in the context of technological innovation.

The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection are an influential declaration of best practices in consumer protection law and policy. But as they were last amended in 1999, they are now overdue for an update - not least in areas where advances in technology have affected consumers, such as access to knowledge, Internet and telecommunications services, e-commerce, and digital products and services. Consumers International (CI), as the global campaigning voice for consumers, is well placed to make recommendations about what amendments should be made to address these new and emerging areas of consumer rights. This publication - which is a companion volume to a broader set of amendments developed by CI - explains our reasoning behind those proposed amendments that particularly affect consumers in the digital age. A focus of this volume - and of the Guidelines themselves - is on how effective consumer laws and policies can benefit consumers in developing and emerging economies. As such, in-depth analysis is provided of how the proposed amendments relate to consumers in India, Brazil and South Africa, either by reflecting existing best practices in those countries, or by shining light on problem areas that the proposed amendments could help address.

This is a time of extraordinary change: technology is transforming interpersonal and business communication, including marketing and advertising to consumers. Products are evolving as a result of innovation. Even the way consumers are paying for goods and services is being revolutionised, as electronic payment systems serve up new and inventive ways to exchange money. Increasingly, people of all ages are using wireless phones and devices for communicating, for information gathering, and for entertainment- in all types of locations. And, as new wireless technologies are introduced, so too are new and expanded ways to get information and be entertained via your wireless phone or device. This book examines ways to adapt consumer protection strategies to ensure that all consumers, including the vulnerable, are equally well served. Applying existing policies and creating new ones is also looked at to address emerging challenges regarding new technologies and products that may be unfamiliar to consumers. This book also discusses how the ever-expanding number of marketing channels in the world-wide marketplace will be monitored for instances of deception of unfairness and finally, the collaboration with law enforcers from around the world will be examined to protect consumers in the global marketplace.

Cyber Policy and Economics in an Internet Age is a collection of essays from some of the world's best-known experts on Internet public policy. It provides an accessible introduction to critical issues that policymakers, businesspeople, and the public will need to confront in coming years: universal access, appropriate content (pornography, free speech, cultural values), Internet broadcasting, intellectual property, Internet taxation, consumer protection, privacy, fair E-business competition, regulation of the Internet infrastructure, and more. This book is intended for the industry practitioner, analysts, and researchers. It would also be suitable for use in graduate and undergraduate courses, as well as by researchers.

Cover -- Half Title -- Why Privacy Matters -- Copyright -- Contents -- Introduction: The Privacy Conversation -- Part I -- 1. What Privacy Is -- 2. A Theory of Privacy as Rules -- 3. What Privacy Isn't -- Part II -- 4. Identity -- 5. Freedom -- 6. Protection -- Conclusion: Why Privacy Matters -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Index.

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) is rapidly transforming the way in which enterprises are interacting among each other as well as with consumers and governments. Despite important potential benefits, businesses and consumers in developing countries were for a long time slow to exploit e-commerce. As a result of changes in the evolving landscape for information and communications technologies (ICTs), this pattern is now changing, and e-commerce is growing rapidly in emerging markets and developing economies. Against this background, this publication revisits the potential opportunities and risks of e-commerce and examines how countries can benefit the most from the phenomenon in today's Information Society. Using official statistics and private sector data, it provides an up-to-date review of global and regional trends related to e-commerce in view of changes in the ICT landscape, focusing on developing countries while drawing lessons from developed countries.