International Consumer Protection
Globalization is one of the central consumer protection developments of the 21st century, commanding the attention of businesses, consumers, law enforcers, and policymakers around the world. The FTC pursues the development of an international market-based consumer protection model, which focuses on protecting consumers from significant harm while maximizing economic benefit and consumer choice. The FTC is working toward its goals by participating in an international cooperation network to combat cross-border fraud and by promoting effective market-oriented consumer protection and privacy policies.
A project of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) to gather and share cross-border complaints and to help consumers resolve those complaints.
FTC International Consumer Protection Documents
- FTC Staff Comments on the European Commission's Green Paper Titled "Towards an Integrated European Market for Card, Internet and Mobile Payments" (April 10, 2012)
- FTC Staff Comment on the United Kingdom Department of Business Innovation & Skills Consultation, Empowering and Protecting Consumers: Consultation on institutional changes for provision of consumer information, advice, education, advocacy and enforcement (September 27, 2011)
- FTC Staff Comments on the Modernization of the Council of Europe's Convention 108 (March 9, 2011)
- FTC Staff Comments on the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Do Not Call Case Study (February 16, 2011)
- FTC Staff Comments on the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Spam Case Study (February 15, 2011)
- FTC Staff Comments on South Africa’s Proposed Consumer Protection Regulations, 2010 (January 31, 2011)
- FTC Staff Comments submitted to the European Commission (EC) in connection with the EC data protection framework consultation, January 13, 2011
- Comments by the FTC staff and the DHS Privacy Office on the Joint Proposal for International Standards on the Protection of Privacy with regard to the Processing Of Personal Data (the "Madrid Resolution") (August 10, 2010)
- U.S. SAFE WEB Act: The First Three Years, A Report to Congress
- U.S. SAFE WEB Requests for Information and Investigative Assistance: Information Sheet for Foreign Authorities
- Comment by staff of the FTC and the DHS Privacy Office dated May 14, 2009 on Version 3 of the Joint Proposal for a Draft of International Standards on the Protection of Privacy with regard to the processing of Personal Data
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission Staff Response to the U.K. Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Law Reform's Consumer Law Review: Call for Evidence (April 2008)
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission Staff Comments to the European Commission on its Draft RFID Recommendation (April 2008)
- FTC Federal Court Cases with Cross-Border Components (updated December 16, 2008)
- Staff Comment of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission
to the European Commission’s Public Consultation
on the Safer Internet and Online Technologies for Children - Implementing the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
- The US SAFE WEB ACT: Protecting Consumers from Spam, Spyware and Fraud, A Legislative Report to Congress
- Comments Submitted by FTC Staff to the European Commission on the EU Review of the Telecommunications Legal Framework (December 2006)
Key International Documents
- OECD Guidelines for Consumer Protection in the Context of Electronic Commerce
- OECD Guidelines for the Security of Information Systems and Networks
- OECD Guidelines for Protecting Consumers from Fraudulent and Deceptive Practices Across Borders
- London Action Plan on International Spam Enforcement
- OECD Recommendation on Cross-Border Co-operation in the Enforcement of Laws against Spam
Advocacy
- Hugh G. Stevenson, Deputy Director, FTC Office of International Affairs, 30 Years After: The Impact of the OECD Privacy Guidelines, Paris, March 10, 2010
- Letter from the FTC, SEC, and CFTC on Revision of Uniform Foreign Country Money Judgments Recognition Act.
- Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras, Comments on Proposed Consumer Trading and Standards Authority
- Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras, Protecting Consumers in a High-Tech World , Internet Foundation Lunch, Brussels, April 6, 2005.
- Lydia Parnes, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Remarks for Safe Harbor Workshop, December 7, 2005
Links
- International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN)
- econsumer.gov
- OECD Committee on Consumer Policy
- OECD Working Party on Information Security and Privacy
- APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group
- APEC Telecommunications & Information Working Group
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Comments on the Draft Manual on Consumer Protection
Contact Information
- For matters concerning international consumer protection issues, please contact the Office of International Affairs at IntlConsumerProtection@ftc.gov