Online consumers need better protection, says international watchdog
Web can help consumers' voices be heard and reveal scale of problems, says global watchdog
Governments around the world are slow in adopting technology to protect consumers' rights, a global consumer watchdog federation says.
"Governments are not keeping pace with technological development when it comes to consumers' digital rights, which would include privacy, data abuse, e-commerce and online redress," Consumers International director general Amanda Long said yesterday.
It was now time for authorities and watchdogs the world over to step up their online presence, said Long, who was in Hong Kong for a symposium hosted by the Consumer Council.
Governments [around the world] are not keeping pace with technology
A good example Long had observed was in Britain.
The authorities created an online log for consumers to file their grievances after they received many complaints against a particular car model last year, she said. The move allowed consumers' voices to be heard, and after it was implemented, the number of complaints surged, showing the magnitude of the problem.
In the Netherlands, consumers can collectively switch to another power supplier simply by signing up on a website, Long said. An independent organisation would then help the group of consumers negotiate with multiple suppliers to reach a deal on their energy supply.
The examples demonstrated the uses of online platforms in enhancing consumer rights, Long said. Consumer watchdogs could also set up online dispute resolution mechanisms to work across borders, she said.