Shoppers wary of Net purchases

Concerns about security and privacy are deterring potential customers from buying goods over the Internet.

According to a Consumers' Association report, during 1995 about $500 billion of credit card transactions were made, compared with $500 million over the Net. It said steps must be taken to win consumer confidence in buying goods remotely. The association claims the Net has the potential to generate $100 billion of revenue by 2000 if purchasers' fears can be allayed.

The report proposed a self-regulating body be established to provide a framework covering security and privacy issues, based on an European Union distant selling directive that is due to be implemented in 1999.

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