The ACCC hosted the Global Commerce Conference in Sydney
Conference details
The conference was the second part in the Commission's global enforcement project, the first being the release of a discussion paper in September 1997 entitled The Global Enforcement Challenge: Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws in a Global Marketplace, which is attached below.
The primary objective of the conference was to discuss the consumer issues surrounding global and electronic commerce, and to initiate the development of specific strategies aimed at:
the better enforcement of consumer protection laws across borders and/or
improved compliance by industry participants with consumer protection laws.
Development of enforcement and compliance strategies
The ACCC is now determining which enforcement and compliance strategies should be developed, and what is the best forum or organisation to develop them. The strategies being considered include:
Enforcement strategies
ES1 Develop enforcement tips for the global marketplace ES2 Develop an education program for enforcement staff ES3 Develop protocols for targeting associated industry participants ES4 Develop guidelines for cooperative arrangements with ISPs ES5 Develop consumer education materials and an internet database of consumer information ES6 Develop compliance information materials ES7 Develop a quality trader database ES8 Develop arrangements for international cooperation ES9 Develop arrangements for regular staff exchange and/or meeting of senior level staff ES10 Develop a database of problem traders and practices ES11 International Internet Sweep Day 1999 ES12 International email/phone-in day 1999 ES13 Develop a directory of consumer protection agencies ES14 International Society of Consumer and Competition Officials ES15 Promote the finalisation and adoption of the OECD guidelines on CP for electronic commerce ES16 Develop global market standards
Compliance strategies
CS1 Develop a quality trader consumer charter CS2 Encourage and embrace the concept of a quality trader CS3 Develop and conduct consumer education campaigns CS4 Develop and conduct compliance education campaigns CS5 Develop industry-wide consumer issues committees CS6 Develop certification schemes CS7 Investigate the viability of independent industry-based dispute resolution systems CS8 Form a working group with government and consumer agencies CS9 Develop and encourage strategies for credit card companies and other payment systems CS10 Develop international standards for consumer protection in electronic commerce CS11 Develop international standards for the internet industry CS12 Develop international standards for consumer protection in distance selling
Conference papers
Many of the papers from the conference are available from this site. Those marked by an asterisk are attached below.
Day 1 Consumers in the global marketplace
ACCC global marketplace issues Professor Allan Fels Chairman ACCC * The Australian Parliamentary Inquiry into Internet Commerce Senator Helen Coonan Member of the Joint Committee eof Public Accounts and Audit, Australian Parliament *
New technologies and the global marketplace Daniel Petre, Chairman PBL On-Line
Consumer issues in the global market: a Japanese perspective Prof. Tsuneo Matsumoto Professor of Law, Hitotsubashi University, Japan *
Consumers in the global marketplace Louise Sylvan Executive Director, Australian Consumers' Association and Vice President, Consumers International
Global enforcement issues for ASIC Joseph Longo, National Director, Enforcement, Australian Securities and Investments Commission *
Are communities and governments `ready' for global electronic commerce? Ken Kay, Executive Director, Computer Systems Policy Project
Day 2 Enforcement strategies
Enforcement of consumer protection laws in the global marketplace Allan Asher Deputy Chairman, ACCC *
The UK and European experience John Bridgeman Director of Fair Trading, UK *
The North American experience The Hon. Orson Swindle Commissioner, US Federal Trade Commission *
Global commerce Global regulation? Richard Thomas, Director, Public Policy, Clifford Chance *
Interview video Risaburu Nezu Director, Science, technology and Industry, OECD *
Privacy in the global marketplace Moira Scollay FederalPprivacy Commissioner *
ISO global standards and Standards Australia John Henry, Standards Australia *
Day 3 Compliance strategies
Corporate consumer protection compliance in the global marketplace Stephen Locke Global Director of Research, Anderson Consulting (UK) *
Co-regulation in the telecommunications industry Johanna Plante Chief Executive Officer. Australian Communications Industry Forum
WebTrust': a case study in Internet certification Jan Muysken Chair, WebTrust Implementation Taskforce and Partner, Price Waterhouse & Coopers *
The Internet industry code of conduct Richard Cousins Chairman, Internet industry Association *
Consumer protection initiatives in the direct marketing industry Rob Edwards Chief Executive Officer, Australian Direct Marketing Association
Corporate fair trading initiatives in the global marketplace Michael Kay, Executive Chairman Corporate Affairs, AAMI *
