EC wants to foster a culture of consumer protection on the net

Neelie Kroes states a desire for simpler legal and commercial rules governing online transactions

Vice president of the European Commission Neelie Kroes wants internet users to know that their rights are protected by default with web transactions.

In a speech titled Internet and Societies: New Innovation Paths, given at the Paradiso conference in Brussels today, Kroes explained that users should be able to click through small print when buying goods and services online, with the assumption that their rights will be protected.

"We need to ensure people are not caught in a web of complicated legal and commercial issues each time they transact on the internet. How many people actually want to read to the end of the 'terms of use' for each and every new service or piece of software?" said Kroes.

"Whereas how many would rather just be able to click that they accept, and know their rights will be protected?"

Kroes added that public bodies, such as the European Commission, are partly responsible for creating this atmosphere of consumer trust.

"In the online world, public authorities have a role to play, standing side by side with consumers and ensuring that, by default, commercial conditions broadly match consumer expectations," she said.

"Of course, we need to preserve entrepreneurship and open markets, but the internet also needs consumer confidence to unlock its potential."

She added that the internet must be a tool that is available and safe to use for all.

"We don't want to shut anyone out, so we will need to guard against a socially undesirable digital divide between those who do or don't have internet capability," explained Kroes.

"And if vital services like healthcare are involved, we will need to ensure even more that the system is safe, secure and reliable enough to maintain connectivity, and avoid potentially life-threatening situations."