Legal Regulation of E-Commerce and Consumer Protection: A Comparative Analysis of the UK, USA, China and Other Jurisdictions
Keywords:
E -commerce, consumer protection, distance selling, jurisdiction, electronic contract, offer and acceptance, personal data, comparative legal analysis, digital economy.Abstract
This article examines legal mechanisms regulating e-commerce and consumer protection in the context of digital transformation. Particular attention is paid to UK distance selling legislation, including requirements for information disclosure, the right of withdrawal, and transparency of contractual terms. The study analyzes US legal approaches, focusing on jurisdictional issues, classification of websites, and the application of UETA and the E-SIGN Act. It also explores China’s mandatory registration system for e-commerce entities, along with regulatory practices in Germany, Kazakhstan, and Singapore. The paper concludes that diverse regulatory models are emerging, combining elements of state control and self-regulation.
References
1.Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 (UK).
2.Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 (UK).
3.Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (UK).
4.Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (UK).
5.Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
6.Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), 1999 (USA).
7.Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN Act), 2000 (USA).
8.Federal Trade Commission Act (USA).
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10.Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), Germany (§312i, §312j).
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13.Концепция правовой политики Республики Казахстан на 2021–2030 годы.
14.Securities and Futures Act (Singapore).
15.Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Regulatory Framework.
16.OECD. Consumer Policy and E-Commerce Reports. – Paris.
17.UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce, 1996.
