Location

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 *

Sydney global commerce conference