Editing E-commerce (section)

== Governmental regulation ==
In the United States, California's Electronic Commerce Act (1984), enacted by the Legislature, the more recent [[California Privacy Rights Act]] (2020), enacted through a popular election proposition and to control specifically how electronic commerce may be conducted in California. In the US in its entirety, electronic commerce activities are regulated more broadly by the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC). These activities include the use of commercial e-mails, online advertising and [[consumer privacy]]. The [[CAN-SPAM Act of 2003]] establishes national standards for direct marketing over e-mail. The [[Federal Trade Commission Act]] regulates all forms of advertising, including online advertising, and states that advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 2000|title=Advertising and Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road|url=https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/advertising-marketing-internet-rules-road|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308111628/https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/advertising-marketing-internet-rules-road|archive-date=8 March 2020|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Federal Trade Commission]]}}</ref> Using its authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive practices, the FTC has brought a number of cases to enforce the promises in corporate privacy statements, including promises about the security of consumers' personal information.<ref>{{cite web|title=Privacy and Security|url=https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/privacy-and-security|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Federal Trade Commission]]|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504101605/https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/privacy-and-security}}</ref> As a result, any corporate privacy policy related to e-commerce activity may be subject to enforcement by the FTC.

The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008, which came into law in 2008, amends the [[Controlled Substances Act]] to address [[Online pharmacy|online pharmacies]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2 October 2008|title=H.R. 6353 (110th): Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr6353/summary|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[GovTrack]]|archive-date=19 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319223858/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr6353/summary}}</ref>

Conflict of laws in cyberspace is a major hurdle for harmonization of legal framework for e-commerce around the world. In order to give a uniformity to e-commerce law around the world, many countries adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce (1996).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://uncitral.un.org/sites/uncitral.un.org/files/media-documents/uncitral/en/19-04970_ebook.pdf|title=UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce|publisher=[[United Nations Commission on International Trade Law]]|year=1999|isbn=92-1-133607-4|location=New York|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225221820/https://uncitral.un.org/sites/uncitral.un.org/files/media-documents/uncitral/en/19-04970_ebook.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Internationally''' there is the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), which was formed in 1991 from an informal network of government customer fair trade organisations. The purpose was stated as being to find ways of co-operating on tackling consumer problems connected with cross-border transactions in both goods and services, and to help ensure exchanges of information among the participants for mutual benefit and understanding. From this came Econsumer.gov, an ICPEN initiative since April 2001. It is a portal to report complaints about online and related transactions with foreign companies.

There is also '''Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation'''. APEC was established in 1989 with the vision of achieving stability, security and prosperity for the region through free and open trade and investment. APEC has an Electronic Commerce Steering Group as well as working on common privacy regulations throughout the APEC region.

In '''Australia''', trade is covered under Australian Treasury Guidelines for electronic commerce and the [[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]]|publisher=[[Government of Australia]]|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503171522/https://www.accc.gov.au/}}</ref> regulates and offers advice on how to deal with businesses online,<ref>{{cite web|title=Dealing with other businesses online|url=http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/54056|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119002704/http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/54056|archive-date=19 January 2013|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]]|publisher=[[Government of Australia]]}}</ref> and offers specific advice on what happens if things go wrong.<ref>{{cite web|title=What to do if thing go wrong in Australia|url=http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/815341|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212103511/http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/815341|archive-date=12 February 2013|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]]|publisher=[[Australian Federal Government]]}}</ref>

The '''European Union''' undertook an extensive enquiry into e-commerce in 2015–16 which observed significant growth in the development of e-commerce, along with some developments which raised concerns, such as increased use of selective distribution systems, which allow manufacturers to control routes to market, and "increased use of contractual restrictions to better control product distribution". The [[European Commission]] felt that some emerging practices might be justified if they could improve the quality of product distribution, but "others may unduly prevent consumers from benefiting from greater product choice and lower prices in e-commerce and therefore warrant Commission action" in order to promote compliance with [[European Union competition law|EU competition rules]].<ref>European Commission, [https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/ict/sector-inquiry-e-commerce_en Sector inquiry into e-commerce] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206060506/https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/ict/sector-inquiry-e-commerce_en |date=6 February 2023 }}, accessed 6 February 2023</ref>

In '''the United Kingdom''', the [[Financial Services Authority]] (FSA)<ref>{{cite web|title=Financial Services Authority|url=http://www.fsa.gov.uk/portal/site/fsa|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228184712/http://www.fsa.gov.uk/portal/site/fsa|archive-date=28 December 2012|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Financial Services Authority]]}}</ref> was formerly the regulating authority for most aspects of the EU's [[Payment Services Directive]] (PSD), until its replacement in 2013 by the [[Prudential Regulation Authority (United Kingdom)|Prudential Regulation Authority]] and the [[Financial Conduct Authority]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Parker|first1=George|last2=Masters|first2=Brooke|date=16 June 2010|title=Osborne abolishes FSA and boosts Bank|work=[[Financial Times]]|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0203b99e-797f-11df-b063-00144feabdc0|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308132651/https://www.ft.com/content/0203b99e-797f-11df-b063-00144feabdc0|url-status=live}}</ref> The UK implemented the PSD through the Payment Services Regulations 2009 (PSRs), which came into effect on 1 November 2009. The PSR affects firms providing payment services and their customers. These firms include banks, non-bank credit card issuers and non-bank merchant acquirers, e-money issuers, etc. The PSRs created a new class of regulated firms known as payment institutions (PIs), who are subject to prudential requirements. Article 87 of the PSD requires the European Commission to report on the implementation and impact of the PSD by 1 November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|date=9 February 2009|title=The Payment Services Regulations 2009|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/209/contents/made|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[legislation.gov.uk]]|archive-date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312123339/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/209/contents/made}}</ref>

In '''India''', the [[Information Technology Act 2000]] governs the basic applicability of [[E-commerce in India|e-commerce]].

In '''China''', the Telecommunications Regulations of the People's Republic of China (promulgated on 25 September 2000), stipulated the [[Ministry of Industry and Information Technology]] (MIIT) as the government department regulating all telecommunications related activities, including electronic commerce.<ref>{{cite web|date=25 September 2000|title=Telecommunications Regulations of the People's Republic of China|url=http://www.china.org.cn/business/laws_regulations/2010-01/20/content_19273945.htm|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[China Internet Information Center]]|archive-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405012152/http://www.china.org.cn/business/laws_regulations/2010-01/20/content_19273945.htm}}</ref> On the same day, the Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services were released, the first administrative regulations to address profit-generating activities conducted through the Internet, and lay the foundation for future regulations governing e-commerce in China.<ref>{{cite web|date=20 September 2000|title=Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services|url=http://www.china.org.cn/business/2010-01/20/content_19274704.htm|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[China Internet Information Center]]|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716184027/http://www.china.org.cn/business/2010-01/20/content_19274704.htm}}</ref> On 28 August 2004, the eleventh session of the tenth NPC Standing Committee adopted an Electronic Signature Law, which regulates data message, electronic signature authentication and legal liability issues. It is considered the first law in China's e-commerce legislation. It was a milestone in the course of improving China's electronic commerce legislation, and also marks the entering of China's rapid development stage for electronic commerce legislation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Swan|first=Erin|date=30 October 2015|title=The PRC Electronic Signature Law|url=https://www.efilecabinet.com/the-prc-electronic-signature-law/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[eFileCabinet]]|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024110/https://www.efilecabinet.com/the-prc-electronic-signature-law/}}</ref>