A Policy Framework for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce

Citation
Commonwealth of Australia, A Policy Framework for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce (1999) (not available online).

Overview
This Framework sets out the Government's policy for consumer protection in electronic commerce. It first discusses the context in which this framework must be developed, focusing on the nature of electronic commerce and its uptake in Australia. It also looks at the Government's overall policies for the information economy and consumer protection.

The framework outlines the Government's overall objective of building a world class consumer protection environment for electronic commerce in Australia. The Government's vision is to empower Australians to be at the forefront of global commerce, both as online consumers and as online traders. Australia will establish a reputation around the world as a centre of excellence for business-to-consumer electronic commerce. It also details the principles which will be applied in achieving this objective.

The framework then identifies a number of key issues that need to be addressed to ensure that there is a safe and efficient online environment. These key issues are:


 * Information &mdash; the provision of adequate information to consumers;
 * Payment &mdash; establishing secure methods for paying online;
 * Redress &mdash; availability of effective and accessible redress in Australia and overseas;
 * Jurisdiction &mdash; international agreement on the appropriate jurisdiction for consumer contracts; and
 * Privacy &mdash; protection of personal information in the online environment.

Finally, the framework outlines specific initiatives that the Government will be undertaking to achieve these objectives in the areas of: Self-regulation; International Co-operation; Education; Legal Framework; and, Enforcement Co-operation.