RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: TheNetwork for Consumer Protection is going to join consumer organizations around the world to call for a 'Digital World Consumers can Trust' on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day on March 15 (Wednesday).

The day, coordinated by Consumers International, is aiming to create a better digital world by promoting better digital access, security, understanding and redress.

As part of the campaign, TheNetwork has drawn the attention of the legislators, policymakers and telecom regulators to take tangible steps so that consumers can trust the digital world.

Nadeem Iqbal, CEO of TheNetwork said, "The internet has changed consumers' lives dramatically and we have undoubtedly benefited from digital technology." However, Nadeem added, there are important questions need to be addressed by policymakers and telecom for consumers. These include: "How can we establish internet access for everyone? How can consumers stay secure online? What happens to data we share? And what are consumers' rights in relation to digital products?"

Creating simple efficient online redress systems will help to build confidence in digital products as too often consumers cannot exercise the same rights online as they do offline, says Nadeem.

The cost, time and effort required to resolve e-commerce disputes can be significant, which could discourage consumers from seeking redress, especially in low value transactions.

"Another area is that consumers should be given clear and informed choices as when they are being able to make clear and informed choices, it helps consumers know how to use products and services safely and effectively. The tendency to put a lot of information in lengthy terms and conditions puts a heavy burden on consumers to digest and translate huge amounts of information," demanded Nadeem.

World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) takes place every year to highlight consumer rights issues and bring together the global consumer movement to make lasting changes to people around the world. The WCRD is celebrated annually on March 15. It marks the anniversary of President John F Kennedy's address to the US congress on March 15, 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the first world leader to do so.

People are concerned about how secure their data is. And they are right to be, over half a billion digital personal records were lost or stolen in 2015, leaving 429 million identities exposed, and that's just the ones we know about, as many breaches go unreported.

People worry about what is happening to their data online. In fact, three quarters (74 per cent) of people worldwide are concerned about how companies online use their information.

This has resulted in rise in growth of online banking as according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the real-time online banking transactions also rose 135.4 million by volume and Rs 32.3 trillion by value.

The use of Alternate Delivery Channels (ADCs) such as ATMs, POS terminals, internet and mobile banking also showed rising trend as 39.2 million transactions valuing approximately Rs 200 billion were carried out at POS terminals. Likewise, internet and mobile banking also showed steady growth.

Amanda Long, Director General of Consumers International, an umbrella organisation of 200 organisations from 100 countries, said, "Half the world's population is now online and no one can deny that it has brought enormous benefits plus there's so much exciting potential for more. But too many people have patchy, unaffordable or non-existent connections, still more are worried about how their data is being used and whether it is safe, or what they have signed up to under unfeasible long online contracts.

"It's consumer who will drive the growth of the digital economy and that growth could easily stall if they don't trust the products and services they are being offered. Both governments and businesses have a crucial role in making this happen. Together this World Consumer Rights Day we will be campaigning to build a digital world consumer can trust."