Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce

A working group comprised of industry trade groups, consumer rights advocates and the governments of Canada, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec have announced the development of a voluntary Canadian Code of Practise for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce ("Code"). The Code addresses minimum standards governing the accuracy and sufficiency of information on vendor websites, the continued provision of services in the language of the offer, the formation and fulfilment of contracts, online privacy, the security of personal and payment information, redress, unsolicited email and communications with children. Of note are provisions that:

• limit consumer liability and require refunds in some circumstances,
• require vendors to provide a system of complaint and redress for consumers,
• prevent unnecessary collection of information as a precondition of sale,
• require a clear opt-in process for the exchange of health related information, and
• create ongoing vendor liability for personal information that is exchanged.

The Code adopts the ten principles of the Canadian Standards Association's Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information. The Code will be piloted until March, open for review from April to June, and available for endorsement by interested parties from July until September 2003. For the full text of the Code, please visit: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/pics/ca/consumerprotection03.pdf