The European Commission and national consumer protection authorities have given social media networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+, one month to finalise detailed measures to protect consumers from fraud and scams. This follows a meeting on Thursday 16 March with the representatives of these internet giants.
“It is not acceptable that EU consumers can only call on a court in California to resolve a dispute. Nor can we accept that users are deprived of their right to withdraw from an on-line purchase. Social media companies also need to take more responsibility in addressing scams and fraud happening on their platforms”, stated European Consumers Commissioner Vera Jourova in a press release on Friday 17 March.
The companies have agreed to take steps in two areas in particular. Firstly, they will have to bring their terms and conditions into line with EU law. This means, for example, that consumers must be able to go to court in their own member state of residence in the event of any dispute, and to withdraw from an online purchase. Sponsored content must be clearly identifiable as such and social media operators must not be able to terminate contracts unilaterally.
Secondly, the companies must remove any fraud and scams appearing on their websites, such as scams involving payments taken from consumers, subscription traps, marketing of counterfeit products and fake promotions, such as “win a smart phone for €1”.
National consumer protection authorities should have a direct and standardised communication channel to signal such wrongdoings on their platforms to social media operators and obtain take down of content, as well as information concerning the traders responsible for the infringements. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)