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Given that, at two different times, but in pursuit of similar objectives, both Argentine and Spanish Law have introduced the category of the particularly vulnerable consumer in their respective systems, a conceptual and technical study of this category is proposed in order to assess the content and scope of the protection offered by both. Spanish Law is of particular interest, to a certain extent, as it is a recent Law that provides a novel technique in the way of approaching the matter. This comparative study therefore responds to two specific objectives: firstly, to enrich the analysis of the proposed topic with material from both legislations, and secondly, to produce results beneficial to the two legal systems involved, and more generally to the determination of technical improvements in the regulation of the matter in question., Dado que, en dos momentos distintos, pero con objetivos similares, tanto el derecho argentino como el español han introducido en sus respectivos ordenamientos la categoría del consumidor especialmente vulnerable, se propone un estudio conceptual y técnico de la misma en orden a valorar el contenido y alcance de la protección ofrecida por ambos. Especial interés reviste, en cierta medida, el derecho español, por tratarse de un derecho reciente que aporta una técnica novedosa en la forma de abordar el asunto. Este estudio comparativo responde, en consecuencia, a dos objetivos concretos: en primer lugar, enriquecer el análisis del tema propuesto con materiales procedentes de ambos derechos y, en segundo lugar, producir resultados que redunden en beneficio de los dos ordenamientos jurídicos implicados y, más en general, para la determinación de mejoras técnicas en la regulación de la materia en cuestión.

The rapid growth of internet-connected devices has led to a significant increase in the number of cyber attacks, resulting in security challenges related to IoT. Researchers have discovered a new attack technique that can be used for launching large DDoS attacks, which involves TCP reflective amplification by abusing middleboxes and IoT devices. In order to assist Internet Service Providers (ISP's) in mitigating this vulnerability present at their customers, a deeper understanding of this novel attack technique is needed. The thesis primarily focuses on exploring vulnerable devices and their end-users within the consumer network of a Dutch ISP, KPN. The ultimate goal is to gather more information on the types of vulnerable devices and actors involved to eventually assist an ISP in making informed decisions to remediate the vulnerability in their network. The study found that the problem can be described in two different issues: vulnerable middleboxes and vulnerable consumer IoT devices with broken TCP protocols. The problem of vulnerable middleboxes has been solved in the network of the Dutch ISP as manufacturers have released updates remediating the vulnerability. This is not the case for vulnerable consumer IoT, as updating consumer IoT devices does not necessarily address the vulnerability present in the devices that have been identified. However, vulnerability notifications can potentially be useful for end-users to encourage them to update their vulnerable devices. The study highlights the presence of vulnerable devices in the ISP network that cannot be remediated by updating the device due to the unavailability of a fix. This calls for the exploration of alternative notification methods like walled garden notifications for ISP's to address the issue as mail notifications seem not feasible at the moment of writing. While updating devices is a suggested solution, it may not be feasible for end-users with vulnerable consumer IoT devices, making it c, Engineering and Policy Analysis

Millions of vulnerable consumer IoT devices in home networks are the enabler for cyber crimes putting user privacy and Internet security at risk. Internet service providers (ISPs) are best poised to play key roles in mitigating risks by automatically inferring active IoT devices per household and notifying users of vulnerable ones. Developing a scalable inference method that can perform robustly across thousands of home networks is a non-trivial task. This paper focuses on the challenges of developing and applying data-driven inference models when labeled data of device behaviors is limited and the distribution of data changes (concept drift) across time and space domains. Our contributions are three-fold: (1) We collect and analyze network traffic of 24 types of consumer IoT devices from 12 real homes over six weeks to highlight the challenge of temporal and spatial concept drifts in network behavior of IoT devices; (2) We analyze the performance of two inference strategies, namely "global inference" (a model trained on a combined set of all labeled data from training homes) and "contextualized inference" (several models each trained on the labeled data from a training home) in the presence of concept drifts; and (3) To manage concept drifts, we develop a method that dynamically applies the ``closest'' model (from a set) to network traffic of unseen homes during the testing phase, yielding better performance in 20% of scenarios.

Las tarifas sociales son, junto con la transferencia de rentas y las medidas de eficiencia energética, uno de los instrumentos para paliar la pobreza energética. A la tarifa social española, creada en el año 2009 se le denomina “bono social”. Para acceder al bono social, aparte de cumplir los requisitos socioeconómicos estipulados por ley, hay que tener contratada la electricidad con alguna comercializadora de referencia, las cuales tienen la obligación de ofrecer el bono social. Las cooperativas energéticas verdes, un fenómeno reciente, al no ser comercializadoras de referencia, no están obligadas a ofrecer el bono social. Esto no quiere decir que entre los socios de estas cooperativas no haya personas vulnerables o en riesgo de pobreza energética. Este trabajo centra su análisis en dos objetivos. El primero es trazar el perfil socioeconómico del socio de las cooperativas verdes. El segundo es observar si estos socios tienen derecho al bono social actual, así como a otras tarifas sociales alternativas con requisitos diferentes a los del bono social. Para ello, se realiza una encuesta a los socios de la mayor cooperativa energética verde de España. Los resultados evidencian que sí existe riesgo de pobreza energética entre los socios de las cooperativas energéticas verdes, si bien su incidencia depende de cómo se defina al consumidor vulnerable., Social tariffs are, along with transfer payments and energy efficiency measures, an instrument to alleviate energy poverty. The name of the Spanish social tariff is “bono social”, and it was established in 2009. To qualify for bono social, the electricity consumer should meet any of the socioeconomic requirements stipulated by law and contract the electricity supply with a “comercializadora de referencia”, companies that are required to offer the bono social by law. Renewable energy cooperatives, a recent phenomenon in Spain, are not comercializadoras de referencia, so they are not obliged to offer the bono social. This does not mean there are no cooperative members at risk of energy poverty or vulnerable consumers. This study has two objectives. The first is to sketch the socioeconomic profile of members of the renewable energy cooperatives. The second is to analyze if these members are entitled to the bono social, or would be to other subsidized prices with different requirements to those of the bono social. For this purpose, we conducted a survey to members of the largest renewable energy cooperative in Spain, Som Energia. The results show that the members of renewable energy cooperatives are exposed to energy poverty risk, although its reach depends on the definition of vulnerable consumer., Escuela de Estudios Cooperativos, Fac. de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, TRUE, pub

Spanish electricity sector has changed during the last 25 years. In the twentieth century, it was a public service controlled by the State. Nevertheless, in order to introduce private competition, as a way to improve the efficiency of the system, the European Union passed a directive in 1997 to liberalise that market. As a result, private companies must provide public services to ensure access to energy. In this context, private companies finance part of the vulnerable consumer´s electricity bill. This is not enough to eradicate energy poverty, which requires stable economy and an efficient electricity system. In conclusion, Spain must develop a more effective public policy against energy poverty., El sector eléctrico español ha cambiado durante los últimos 25 años. En el siglo XX, fue un servicio público controlado por el Estado. Sin embargo, para introducir la competencia privada, entendiéndola esta como un medio de mejorar la eficiencia del sistema, la Unión Europea aprobó una directiva en 1997 para liberalizar dicho mercado. Como consecuencia, las empresas privadas deben prestar servicios públicos para asegurar el acceso a la energía. En este contexto, las empresas deben financiar parte de la factura de la luz de los denominados consumidores vulnerables. Una figura esta que no es suficiente para eliminar la pobreza energética, la cual requiere una economía estable y un sistema eléctrico eficiente. En definitiva, España debe desarrollar una política pública más efectiva contra la pobreza energética.

Spanish electricity sector has changed during the last 25 years. In the twentieth century, it was a public service controlled by the State. Nevertheless, in order to introduce private competition, as a way to improve the efficiency of the system, the European Union passed a directive in 1997 to liberalise that market. As a result, private companies must provide public services to ensure access to energy. In this context, private companies finance part of the vulnerable consumer´s electricity bill. This is not enough to eradicate energy poverty, which requires stable economy and an efficient electricity system. In conclusion, Spain must develop a more effective public policy against energy poverty., El sector eléctrico español ha cambiado durante los últimos 25 años. En el siglo XX, fue un servicio público controlado por el Estado. Sin embargo, para introducir la competencia privada, entendiéndola esta como un medio de mejorar la eficiencia del sistema, la Unión Europea aprobó una directiva en 1997 para liberalizar dicho mercado. Como consecuencia, las empresas privadas deben prestar servicios públicos para asegurar el acceso a la energía. En este contexto, las empresas deben financiar parte de la factura de la luz de los denominados consumidores vulnerables. Una figura esta que no es suficiente para eliminar la pobreza energética, la cual requiere una economía estable y un sistema eléctrico eficiente. En definitiva, España debe desarrollar una política pública más efectiva contra la pobreza energética.

Millions of vulnerable consumer IoT devices in home networks are the enabler for cyber crimes putting user privacy and Internet security at risk. Internet service providers (ISPs) are best poised to play key roles in mitigating risks by automatically inferring active IoT devices per household and notifying users of vulnerable ones. Developing a scalable inference method that can perform robustly across thousands of home networks is a non-trivial task. This paper focuses on the challenges of developing and applying data-driven inference models when labeled data of device behaviors is limited and the distribution of data changes (concept drift) across time and space domains. Our contributions are three-fold: (1) We collect and analyze network traffic of 24 types of consumer IoT devices from 12 real homes over six weeks to highlight the challenge of temporal and spatial concept drifts in network behavior of IoT devices; (2) We analyze the performance of two inference strategies, namely "global inference" (a model trained on a combined set of all labeled data from training homes) and "contextualized inference" (several models each trained on the labeled data from a training home) in the presence of concept drifts; and (3) To manage concept drifts, we develop a method that dynamically applies the ``closest'' model (from a set) to network traffic of unseen homes during the testing phase, yielding better performance in 20% of scenarios., Comment: Submitted to IEEE IoT Journal

Technological Society in the 21st Century requires a redefinition of principle of private autonomy. This essay analyses this issue referring to the problems of vulnerable consumer and application of blockchain technology to private contracts., La sociedad tecnológica del siglo XXI exige una redefinición de la autonomía de la voluntad como principio vertebrador del Derecho privado. Este artículo introduce una reflexión sobre la actualidad de este principio a la luz de dos fenómenos: la creciente vulnerabilidad del consumidor en la contratación de productos y servicios complejos y el incierto panorama resultante de la implementación de la tecnología blockchain a las transacciones contractuales inter privatos.

La legislació alimentària, entesa com aquella que regula tots els aspectes relacionats amb l'aliment, però especialment la seguretat alimentària, s'ha vist obligada a adaptar-se a les noves circumstàncies derivada de l'aparició de crisis alimentàries a la UE en la dècada dels 90, veient-se obligada a incorporar el sistema d'anàlisi del risc, en les seves diferents fases (avaluació, gestió i comunicació del risc) i a introduir com a objectiu aconseguir un nivell elevat de protecció de la salut del consumidor. La recerca analitza l'evolució d'aquesta nova situació, els seus antecedents i estudia com ha evolucionat i regulat en l'àmbit alimentari els drets del consumidor i el nivell de protecció que li atorga la legislació alimentària, així com aquella que regula i protegeix els seus drets fonamentals. La relació directa entre aliment i salut del consumidor determinen un grau de vulnerabilitat superior al de qualsevol altre producte de consum. La recerca analitza també l'evolució que han tingut, tant el concepte de consumidor, consumidor mitjà i consumidor vulnerable; i, al mateix temps, el concepte de seguretat alimentària, que acull diferents factors que veurem que manera incideixen en la pròpia protecció del consumidor final. I d'altra banda, la recerca analitza els aspectes que determinen també una protecció del mercat, i com aquest pot veure's perjudicat per la inobservança dels drets del consumidor. A fi de valorar els aspectes que protegeixen la salut i la seguretat del consumidor final analitzem aquelles estructures que han estat establertes per a efectuar un adequat control de la legislació alimentària, de l'avaluació de la seguretat dels aliments i del compliment de la mateixa per part dels operadors alimentaris, realitzant un especial estudi de la situació a Catalunya, com a exemple de l'estructura que sobre el control dels aliments es desenvolupa a Espanya, i d'aquelles estructures o organismes que informen de determinats riscos a fi de prevenir danys addic, La legislación alimentaria, entendida como aquella que regula todos los aspectos relacionados con el alimento, pero especialmente la seguridad alimentaria, se ha visto obligada a adaptarse a las nuevas circunstancias derivada de la aparición de crisis alimentarias en la UE en la década de los 90, viéndose obligada a incorporar el sistema de análisis del riesgo, en sus diferentes fases (evaluación, gestión y comunicación del riesgo) y a introducir como objetivo alcanzar un nivel elevado de protección de la salud del consumidor. La investigación analiza la evolución de esta novedosa situación, sus antecedentes y estudia como ha evolucionado y regulado en el ámbito alimentario los derechos del consumidor y el nivel de protección que le otorga la legislación alimentaria, así como aquella que regula y protege sus derechos fundamentales. La relación directa entre alimento y salud del consumidor determinan un grado de vulnerabilidad superior al de cualquier otro producto de consumo. La investigación analiza también la evolución que han tenido, tanto el concepto de consumidor, consumidor medio y consumidor vulnerable; y, al mismo tiempo, el concepto de seguridad alimentaria, que acoge diferentes factores que veremos de que manera inciden en la propia protección del consumidor final. Y por otro lado, la investigación analiza los aspectos que determinan también una protección del mercado, y como este puede verse perjudicado por la inobservancia de los derechos del consumidor. A fin de valorar los aspectos que protegen la salud y la seguridad del consumidor final analizamos aquellas estructuras que han sido establecidas para efectuar un adecuado control de la legislación alimentaria, de la evaluación de la seguridad de los alimentos y del cumplimiento de la misma por parte de los operadores alimentarios, realizando un especial estudio de la situación en Cataluña, como ejemplo de la estructura que sobre el control de los alimentos se desarrolla en España, y de aquellas estructu, The food legislation, which is the body that regulates all aspects of food relations, but especially food safety, has been obliged to adapt to new circumstances derived from the appearance of food crises in the EU in the In the 90s, it is now obliged to incorporate the risk analysis system, in several different phases (assessment, management and communication of the risk) to introduce as an objective to advise a high level of protection of consumer health. The analysis of the evolution of this new situation, its antecedents and studies how it has evolved and regulated in the area of food, the consumer's drets and the level of protection granted by the food legislation, així as that which regulates and protectsix els seus drets fonamentals. The direct relationship between food and consumer health determines a degree of vulnerability higher than that of qualsevol altre product of consumer. The analytical research also evolved that they have, both the concept of consumer, consumer mitjà and vulnerable consumer; I, at the same time, the concept of food safety, which includes different factors that see how they affect the protection of the final consumer. I d'altra banda, the investigation analyzes the aspects that also determine a protection of the market, and how this can be seen to be detrimental to the lack of observation of the consumer's drets. In order to assess the aspects that protect the health and safety of the final consumer, analyze those structures that have been established to carry out an adequate control of the food legislation, of the evaluation of the food safety and of the compliance of the mateixa per part of the alimentary operators, carried out a special study of the situation in Catalonia, as an example of the structure that on the control of foodstuffs is developed in Spain, and of those structures or organizations that report determinations of risks in order to prevent damage additionals. In the same way, an analysis of the responsibility derive, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Programa de Doctorat en Seguretat Humana i Dret Global

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of social support on young adults with disabilities (YAWDs) independent mobility behavior with the aim of understanding how better to support this vulnerable consumer segment in their transition into the workforce. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted which examined how social support (high and low) influenced YAWD’s path to independent mobility behavior. The data were analyzed using partial least squares-SEM. Findings: It was identified that different factors were more effective at influencing independent mobility behavior for high and low socially supported YAWDs. For high social support individuals, anticipated positive emotions and perceived behavioral control were found to drive attitudes to independent mobility with perceived behavioral control significantly stronger for this group than the low socially supported group. For the low socially supported group, all factors were found to drive attitudes which then drove individual behavior. One entire path (risk aversion to anticipated negative emotions to attitude to behavior) was found to be stronger for low supported individuals compared to high. Originality/value: This study is unique in that it is the first to identify the theoretical constructs that drive vulnerable consumer’s independence behavior and understand how these factors can be influenced to increase independence. It is also the first to identify that different factors influence independent behavior for vulnerable consumers with high and low social support with anticipated negative emotions important for consumers with low social support and perceived behavioral control important for those with high social support.

Purpose Besides the direct physical health consequences, through social isolation COVID-19 affects a considerably larger share of consumers with deleterious effects for their psychological well-being. Two vulnerable consumer groups are particularly affected: older adults and children. The purpose of the underlying paper is to take a transformative research perspective on how social robots can be deployed for advancing the well-being of these vulnerable consumers and to spur robotic transformative service research (RTSR). Design/methodology/approach This paper follows a conceptual approach that integrates findings from various domains: service research, social robotics, social psychology and medicine. Findings Two key findings advanced in this paper are (1) a typology of robotic transformative service (i.e. entertainer, social enabler, mentor and friend) as a function of consumers' state of social isolation, well-being focus and robot capabilities and (2) a future research agenda for RTSR. Practical implications This paper guides service consumers and providers and robot developers in identifying and developing the most appropriate social robot type for advancing the well-being of vulnerable consumers in social isolation. Originality/value This study is the first to integrate social robotics and transformative service research by developing a typology of social robots as a guiding framework for assessing the status quo of transformative robotic service on the basis of which it advances a future research agenda for RTSR. It further complements the underdeveloped body of service research with a focus on eudaimonic consumer well-being.

Purpose Besides the direct physical health consequences, through social isolation COVID-19 affects a considerably larger share of consumers with deleterious effects for their psychological well-being. Two vulnerable consumer groups are particularly affected: older adults and children. The purpose of the underlying paper is to take a transformative research perspective on how social robots can be deployed for advancing the well-being of these vulnerable consumers and to spur robotic transformative service research (RTSR). Design/methodology/approach This paper follows a conceptual approach that integrates findings from various domains: service research, social robotics, social psychology and medicine. Findings Two key findings advanced in this paper are (1) a typology of robotic transformative service (i.e. entertainer, social enabler, mentor and friend) as a function of consumers' state of social isolation, well-being focus and robot capabilities and (2) a future research agenda for RTSR. Practical implications This paper guides service consumers and providers and robot developers in identifying and developing the most appropriate social robot type for advancing the well-being of vulnerable consumers in social isolation. Originality/value This study is the first to integrate social robotics and transformative service research by developing a typology of social robots as a guiding framework for assessing the status quo of transformative robotic service on the basis of which it advances a future research agenda for RTSR. It further complements the underdeveloped body of service research with a focus on eudaimonic consumer well-being.

As the principle of safety is an informing guideline in the Consumer Protection Law, this text reviews its concretization in the rights, duties and good practices that take place with regard to consumer care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. With that objective, it begins with an approach to the pandemic and its main characteristics. Subsequently, the safety principle is explained in relation to three aspects: The consumer’s personal and patrimonial integrity, and its main characteristics; its scope in the Chilean consumer protection system; and the notion of vulnerable consumer as an adequacy criterion. This topic is then explained in a general way and with regard to remote and face-to-face market. In that sense, this study postulates that, in all these dimensions, the behavior of suppliers and consumers must be adjusted to the safety imperatives that prevent risk for the consumer and the rest of the country. That is derived from the character of public order that has the protection of the personal and patrimonial integrity of the consumer., Siendo el principio de inocuidad una directriz informante en los estatutos de protección de los consumidores, este texto propone revisar su concretización en los derechos, deberes y buenas prácticas que tienen lugar a propósito de la atención del consumidor en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19. Para ello, comienza con una aproximación a la pandemia y sus principales características. Subsecuentemente, aborda el principio de inocuidad en relación a tres aspectos: la integridad personal y patrimonial del consumidor como su fundamento, y sus características principales (concepto indeterminado que da origen a deberes o informa prácticas autónomas e inicialmente preventivas); su ámbito de vigencia en el sistema de consumo chileno; y la noción de consumidor vulnerable como criterio de adecuación. Luego, examina dicha temática tanto de manera general como a propósito de la atención remota y presencial. En ese sentido, este estudio postula que, en todas esas dimensiones, la conducta de proveedores y consumidores debe ajustarse a los imperativos de seguridad que permitan prevenir la generación de un daño para los sujetos intervinientes en la relación de consumo y el resto de la población. Ello se deriva del carácter de orden público que reviste elresguardo de la integridad personal y patrimonial del individuo.

Purpose Besides the direct physical health consequences, through social isolation COVID-19 affects a considerably larger share of consumers with deleterious effects for their psychological well-being. Two vulnerable consumer groups are particularly affected: older adults and children. The purpose of the underlying paper is to take a transformative research perspective on how social robots can be deployed for advancing the well-being of these vulnerable consumers and to spur robotic transformative service research (RTSR). Design/methodology/approach This paper follows a conceptual approach that integrates findings from various domains: service research, social robotics, social psychology and medicine. Findings Two key findings advanced in this paper are (1) a typology of robotic transformative service (i.e. entertainer, social enabler, mentor and friend) as a function of consumers' state of social isolation, well-being focus and robot capabilities and (2) a future research agenda for RTSR. Practical implications This paper guides service consumers and providers and robot developers in identifying and developing the most appropriate social robot type for advancing the well-being of vulnerable consumers in social isolation. Originality/value This study is the first to integrate social robotics and transformative service research by developing a typology of social robots as a guiding framework for assessing the status quo of transformative robotic service on the basis of which it advances a future research agenda for RTSR. It further complements the underdeveloped body of service research with a focus on eudaimonic consumer well-being.

Purpose Besides the direct physical health consequences, through social isolation COVID-19 affects a considerably larger share of consumers with deleterious effects for their psychological well-being. Two vulnerable consumer groups are particularly affected: older adults and children. The purpose of the underlying paper is to take a transformative research perspective on how social robots can be deployed for advancing the well-being of these vulnerable consumers and to spur robotic transformative service research (RTSR). Design/methodology/approach This paper follows a conceptual approach that integrates findings from various domains: service research, social robotics, social psychology and medicine. Findings Two key findings advanced in this paper are (1) a typology of robotic transformative service (i.e. entertainer, social enabler, mentor and friend) as a function of consumers' state of social isolation, well-being focus and robot capabilities and (2) a future research agenda for RTSR. Practical implications This paper guides service consumers and providers and robot developers in identifying and developing the most appropriate social robot type for advancing the well-being of vulnerable consumers in social isolation. Originality/value This study is the first to integrate social robotics and transformative service research by developing a typology of social robots as a guiding framework for assessing the status quo of transformative robotic service on the basis of which it advances a future research agenda for RTSR. It further complements the underdeveloped body of service research with a focus on eudaimonic consumer well-being.

Purpose Besides the direct physical health consequences, through social isolation COVID-19 affects a considerably larger share of consumers with deleterious effects for their psychological well-being. Two vulnerable consumer groups are particularly affected: older adults and children. The purpose of the underlying paper is to take a transformative research perspective on how social robots can be deployed for advancing the well-being of these vulnerable consumers and to spur robotic transformative service research (RTSR). Design/methodology/approach This paper follows a conceptual approach that integrates findings from various domains: service research, social robotics, social psychology and medicine. Findings Two key findings advanced in this paper are (1) a typology of robotic transformative service (i.e. entertainer, social enabler, mentor and friend) as a function of consumers' state of social isolation, well-being focus and robot capabilities and (2) a future research agenda for RTSR. Practical implications This paper guides service consumers and providers and robot developers in identifying and developing the most appropriate social robot type for advancing the well-being of vulnerable consumers in social isolation. Originality/value This study is the first to integrate social robotics and transformative service research by developing a typology of social robots as a guiding framework for assessing the status quo of transformative robotic service on the basis of which it advances a future research agenda for RTSR. It further complements the underdeveloped body of service research with a focus on eudaimonic consumer well-being.

Behavioural forms of regulation, e.g. nudging and debiasing, increasingly take centre stage in regulatory agendas and are making their way into consumer law. In order to warrant for an effective implementation from a legal point of view, findings from behavioural sciences need to confirm with the regulatory context conditions of the underlying legal system and need to be fit for purpose to answer questions the law requires. Behavioural studies hence need to pass a regulatory validity test before they can be operationalised in the law. Subsequently I will explain how such a regulatory validity check can work in consumer law. I will first illustrate the different context conditions of behavioural sciences and law (I.). Subsequently, I will illustrate these differences on the example of a comparison of the recently commissioned behavioural science study on the “vulnerable consumer” and the legal requirements of the “average consumer” benchmark (II.). To overcome the so illustrated shortfalls I will introduce a regulatory validity test which can be applied by behavioural and legal scientist, courts, regulators (III.). I will conclude then conclude the findings (IV.).

Increasing the participation of vulnerable consumers from low socio-economic (LSES) communities has been a policy focus of the Australia government since the Bradley Review in 2008. In education, LSES consumers are often viewed from a deficit-based perspective rather than from a strengths-based perspective—focusing on what they do not have (deficits) rather than leveraging what they have (strengths) to improve outcomes. We challenge this deficit perspective through the use of service design to co-create ideas for digital services that will assist parents to support their children in participating in the tertiary education sector. The data was collected through two qualitative studies involving 35 parents from LSES communities using a service design approach. The data (transcripts and visual images drawn by participants) was analysed using thematic and content analysis. The results show that vulnerable consumer can co-create services given the opportunity however the preferences for services vary across different persona groups.

Europe's Energy Transition: Insights for Policy Making looks at the availability and cost of accessing energy and how it significantly affects economic growth and competitiveness in global markets. The results in this book, from a European Commission (EC) financed project by INSIGHT_E, provide an overview of the most recent analyses, focusing on energy markets and their implications for society. Designed to inform European policymaking, elements of this book will be integrated into upcoming EC policies, giving readers invaluable insights into the cost and availability of energy, the effect of price increases affecting vulnerable consumer groups, and current topics of interest to the EC and ongoing energy debate. INSIGHT_E provides decision-makers with unbiased policy advice and insights on the latest developments, including an assessment of their potential impact. Presents answers to strategic questions posed by the European Commission. Coherently assesses the energy transition, from policies to energy supply, markets, system requirements, and consumer needs. Informed the EC "Clean Energy for All Europeans" package from end of 2016, e.g., regarding aspects of energy poverty. Endorsed by thought leaders from within and outside of Europe, including utilities, energy agencies, research institutes, journal editors, think tanks, and the European Commission., QC 20220627

Las tarifas sociales son, junto con la transferencia de rentas y las medidas de eficiencia energética, uno de los instrumentos para paliar la pobreza energética. A la tarifa social española, creada en el año 2009 se le denomina “bono social”. Para acceder al bono social, aparte de cumplir los requisitos socioeconómicos estipulados por ley, hay que tener contratada la electricidad con alguna comercializadora de referencia, las cuales tienen la obligación de ofrecer el bono social. Las cooperativas energéticas verdes, un fenómeno reciente, al no ser comercializadoras de referencia, no están obligadas a ofrecer el bono social. Esto no quiere decir que entre los socios de estas cooperativas no haya personas vulnerables o en riesgo de pobreza energética. Este trabajo centra su análisis en dos objetivos. El primero es trazar el perfil socioeconómico del socio de las cooperativas verdes. El segundo es observar si estos socios tienen derecho al bono social actual, así como a otras tarifas sociales alternativas con requisitos diferentes a los del bono social. Para ello, se realiza una encuesta a los socios de la mayor cooperativa energética verde de España. Los resultados evidencian que sí existe riesgo de pobreza energética entre los socios de las cooperativas energéticas verdes, si bien su incidencia depende de cómo se defina al consumidor vulnerable., Social tariffs are, along with transfer payments and energy efficiency measures, an instrument to alleviate energy poverty. The name of the Spanish social tariff is “bono social”, and it was established in 2009. To qualify for bono social, the electricity consumer should meet any of the socioeconomic requirements stipulated by law and contract the electricity supply with a “comercializadora de referencia”, companies that are required to offer the bono social by law. Renewable energy cooperatives, a recent phenomenon in Spain, are not comercializadoras de referencia, so they are not obliged to offer the bono social. This does not mean there are no cooperative members at risk of energy poverty or vulnerable consumers. This study has two objectives. The first is to sketch the socioeconomic profile of members of the renewable energy cooperatives. The second is to analyze if these members are entitled to the bono social, or would be to other subsidized prices with different requirements to those of the bono social. For this purpose, we conducted a survey to members of the largest renewable energy cooperative in Spain, Som Energia. The results show that the members of renewable energy cooperatives are exposed to energy poverty risk, although its reach depends on the definition of vulnerable consumer., Escuela de Estudios Cooperativos, Fac. de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, TRUE, pub

Item does not contain fulltext, The European Online Games, Social Media and Mobile Application sector has grown substantially in recent years and children are exposed to increasingly sophisticated marketing techniques online which are often outside the purview of existing regulatory frameworks. This study aims to provide a better understanding of online marketing to children and to inform effective policy measures for the protection of children as consumers. The study uses a range of information sources, including a systematic literature review, a review of legislation and regulatory framework at EU and Member State level, in-depth analysis of games, focus groups with parents and children, a survey with parents, and behavioural experiments on advergames and in-app purchases. The study finds that online marketing practices have an impact on children, and that children have difficulties recognizing marketing content, in activating defence mechanisms and in taking decisions. The analysis also shows that although parents play an important role in mediating their children’s online behaviour, parents are often not fully aware of the risks their children are exposed to in online environments. The study concludes with policy recommendations focussing on policies to address children as a particularly vulnerable consumer group.

Social tariffs are, along with transfer payments and energy efficiency measures, an instrument to alleviate energy poverty. The name of the Spanish social tariff is “bono social”, and it was established in 2009. To qualify for bono social, the electricity consumer should meet any of the socioeconomic requirements stipulated by law and contract the electricity supply with a “comercializadora de referencia”, companies that are required to offer the bono social by law.Renewable energy cooperatives, a recent phenomenon in Spain, are not comercializadoras de referencia, so they are not obliged to offer the bono social. This does not mean there are no cooperative members at risk of energy poverty or vulnerable consumers.This study has two objectives. The first is to sketch the socioeconomic profile of members of the renewable energy cooperatives. The second is to analyze if these members are entitled to the bono social, or would be to other subsidized prices with different requirements to those of the bono social.For this purpose, we conducted a survey to members of the largest renewable energy cooperative in Spain, Som Energia. The results show that the members of renewable energy cooperatives are exposed to energy poverty risk, although its reach depends on the definition of vulnerable consumer., Las tarifas sociales son, junto con la transferencia de rentas y las medidas de eficiencia energética, uno de los instrumentos para paliar la pobreza energética. A la tarifa social española, creada en el año 2009 se le denomina “bono social”.Para acceder al bono social, aparte de cumplir los requisitos socioeconómicos estipulados por ley, hay que tener contratada la electricidad con alguna comercializadora de referencia, las cuales tienen la obligación de ofrecer el bono social.Las cooperativas energéticas verdes, un fenómeno reciente, al no ser comercializadoras de referencia, no están obligadas a ofrecer el bono social. Esto no quiere decir que entre los socios de estas cooperativas no haya personas vulnerables o en riesgo de pobreza energética.Este trabajo centra su análisis en dos objetivos. El primero es trazar el perfil socioeconómico del socio de las cooperativas verdes. El segundo es observar si estos socios tienen derecho al bono social actual, así como a otras tarifas sociales alternativas con requisitos diferentes a los del bono social.Para ello, se realiza una encuesta a los socios de la mayor cooperativa energética verde de España. Los resultados evidencian que sí existe riesgo de pobreza energética entre los socios de las cooperativas energéticas verdes, si bien su incidencia depende de cómo se defina al consumidor vulnerable.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine marketing tactics used in the clinic websites of cross-border reproductive care (CBRC) providers and analyse what ethical implications exist when targeting the vulnerable consumer group of infertility sufferers. Design/methodology/approach: The sampling design was to collect clinic websites from regions known to be popular destinations for CBRC, and who were marketing directly to US-based consumers through their online websites. There were three stages of data collection: organic Google search that displayed Google AdWords of clinics who advertised; organic Google search results; and searching via the WhatClinic.com database for additional private clinics with websites. The websites were then audited for their marketing tactics according to the best practice guidelines from the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, ethics committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Findings: Through this analysis, it was confirmed that these clinics are attempting to establish their credibility and attract foreign consumers through their promised rates of success, years of experience and use of testimonials. In total, 32 of the 35 sites contained at least one factor considered misleading by ASRM guidelines, such as the publishing of inaccurate or non-transparent success rates, the use of sales promotions and guarantees often used in consumer products, or the use of misleading language. Out of the 24 sites that posted success rates, 17 of those rates would be considered deceptive by not clarifying the source of the numbers or by being so far from the global averages of 30 per cent. Research limitations/implications: Marketing practitioners have a specific responsibility to recognise vulnerable market segments; therefore this initial study seeks to add to the understanding of consumer vulnerability through an intersectional view of global reproductive service consumpt

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine marketing tactics used in the clinic websites of cross-border reproductive care (CBRC) providers and analyse what ethical implications exist when targeting the vulnerable consumer group of infertility sufferers. Design/methodology/approach: The sampling design was to collect clinic websites from regions known to be popular destinations for CBRC, and who were marketing directly to US-based consumers through their online websites. There were three stages of data collection: organic Google search that displayed Google AdWords of clinics who advertised; organic Google search results; and searching via the WhatClinic.com database for additional private clinics with websites. The websites were then audited for their marketing tactics according to the best practice guidelines from the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, ethics committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Findings: Through this analysis, it was confirmed that these clinics are attempting to establish their credibility and attract foreign consumers through their promised rates of success, years of experience and use of testimonials. In total, 32 of the 35 sites contained at least one factor considered misleading by ASRM guidelines, such as the publishing of inaccurate or non-transparent success rates, the use of sales promotions and guarantees often used in consumer products, or the use of misleading language. Out of the 24 sites that posted success rates, 17 of those rates would be considered deceptive by not clarifying the source of the numbers or by being so far from the global averages of 30 per cent. Research limitations/implications: Marketing practitioners have a specific responsibility to recognise vulnerable market segments; therefore this initial study seeks to add to the understanding of consumer vulnerability through an intersectional view of global reproductive service consumpt

Item does not contain fulltext, The European Online Games, Social Media and Mobile Application sector has grown substantially in recent years and children are exposed to increasingly sophisticated marketing techniques online which are often outside the purview of existing regulatory frameworks. This study aims to provide a better understanding of online marketing to children and to inform effective policy measures for the protection of children as consumers. The study uses a range of information sources, including a systematic literature review, a review of legislation and regulatory framework at EU and Member State level, in-depth analysis of games, focus groups with parents and children, a survey with parents, and behavioural experiments on advergames and in-app purchases. The study finds that online marketing practices have an impact on children, and that children have difficulties recognizing marketing content, in activating defence mechanisms and in taking decisions. The analysis also shows that although parents play an important role in mediating their children’s online behaviour, parents are often not fully aware of the risks their children are exposed to in online environments. The study concludes with policy recommendations focussing on policies to address children as a particularly vulnerable consumer group.

Item does not contain fulltext, The European Online Games, Social Media and Mobile Application sector has grown substantially in recent years and children are exposed to increasingly sophisticated marketing techniques online which are often outside the purview of existing regulatory frameworks. This study aims to provide a better understanding of online marketing to children and to inform effective policy measures for the protection of children as consumers. The study uses a range of information sources, including a systematic literature review, a review of legislation and regulatory framework at EU and Member State level, in-depth analysis of games, focus groups with parents and children, a survey with parents, and behavioural experiments on advergames and in-app purchases. The study finds that online marketing practices have an impact on children, and that children have difficulties recognizing marketing content, in activating defence mechanisms and in taking decisions. The analysis also shows that although parents play an important role in mediating their children’s online behaviour, parents are often not fully aware of the risks their children are exposed to in online environments. The study concludes with policy recommendations focussing on policies to address children as a particularly vulnerable consumer group.

Social tariffs are, along with transfer payments and energy efficiency measures, an instrument to alleviate energy poverty. The name of the Spanish social tariff is “bono social”, and it was established in 2009. To qualify for bono social, the electricity consumer should meet any of the socioeconomic requirements stipulated by law and contract the electricity supply with a “comercializadora de referencia”, companies that are required to offer the bono social by law.Renewable energy cooperatives, a recent phenomenon in Spain, are not comercializadoras de referencia, so they are not obliged to offer the bono social. This does not mean there are no cooperative members at risk of energy poverty or vulnerable consumers.This study has two objectives. The first is to sketch the socioeconomic profile of members of the renewable energy cooperatives. The second is to analyze if these members are entitled to the bono social, or would be to other subsidized prices with different requirements to those of the bono social.For this purpose, we conducted a survey to members of the largest renewable energy cooperative in Spain, Som Energia. The results show that the members of renewable energy cooperatives are exposed to energy poverty risk, although its reach depends on the definition of vulnerable consumer., Las tarifas sociales son, junto con la transferencia de rentas y las medidas de eficiencia energética, uno de los instrumentos para paliar la pobreza energética. A la tarifa social española, creada en el año 2009 se le denomina “bono social”.Para acceder al bono social, aparte de cumplir los requisitos socioeconómicos estipulados por ley, hay que tener contratada la electricidad con alguna comercializadora de referencia, las cuales tienen la obligación de ofrecer el bono social.Las cooperativas energéticas verdes, un fenómeno reciente, al no ser comercializadoras de referencia, no están obligadas a ofrecer el bono social. Esto no quiere decir que entre los socios de estas cooperativas no haya personas vulnerables o en riesgo de pobreza energética.Este trabajo centra su análisis en dos objetivos. El primero es trazar el perfil socioeconómico del socio de las cooperativas verdes. El segundo es observar si estos socios tienen derecho al bono social actual, así como a otras tarifas sociales alternativas con requisitos diferentes a los del bono social.Para ello, se realiza una encuesta a los socios de la mayor cooperativa energética verde de España. Los resultados evidencian que sí existe riesgo de pobreza energética entre los socios de las cooperativas energéticas verdes, si bien su incidencia depende de cómo se defina al consumidor vulnerable.

Unless just and inclusive, transitions to low carbon-energy systems are unlikely to receive sufficient legitimacy and broad public support. While research on inequalities and injustices in energy transitions is growing, these issues remain less explored in the case of the digitalisation of the energy systems through smart grids and smart homes. This paper aims to synthetise our understandings of inequality, exclusion and vulnerability in energy transitions by systemically analysing different dimensions of marginalisation in the transition to a digitalised electricity infrastructure in Sweden. To synthetise understandings of marginalisation and exclusion, conceptualisations of these processes in different social science approaches to energy studies are reviewed. Moreover, an empirical analysis of interviews with a range of Swedish actors such as energy utilities, social housing developers or pensioner organisations is carried out and enriched by previous research on smart grid users. The empirical analysis demonstrates what specific forms that diverse categories of marginalisation, as already identified generally in different social science approaches to energy studies, may take in smart grids. We argue that marginalisation of household users in smart grids may take place along multiple dimensions, relating to matters of literacy, participation, infrastructure, and the economy. The analysis suggests that bundles of marginalisation aspects concerning household users in sustainable energy transitions should be recognised and addressed simultaneously.

Contains fulltext : 144290.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access), Public service deregulation is favoured for motivating providers to offer consumers better price-quality services. Consequently, consumers are enabled to make informed choices and choose for the best service provider. However, recent publications reveal that consumers are not capable of exercising optimal choice behaviour. Despite these concerns, evidence is lacking on the extent to which potentially vulnerable consumers make use of the core element of deregulation—switching health plans. This article is meant to study whether potentially vulnerable consumers do indeed switch less health plans in the deregulated Dutch health insurance market than regular consumers. In order to answer this question, we extract questionnaire data from the LISS panel, covering the years 2009-2012. A total of 16,779 health insurance consumers were included in the sample. The average response rate was 78%. Logistic regression results show that consumers being chronically ill, 60 and older, and without Internet access, do indeed switch less often. Intriguingly, non-working consumers and those living equal to or below the poverty line, turn out to switch more often than regular consumers. As a result, we conclude that the vulnerable consumer in the Dutch health insurance market is described by the following characteristics: chronically ill, 60 and older, and without Internet access. This specific group tends to get locked-in and suffers disproportion- ately from suboptimal choice behaviour.

Contains fulltext : 144290.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access), Public service deregulation is favoured for motivating providers to offer consumers better price-quality services. Consequently, consumers are enabled to make informed choices and choose for the best service provider. However, recent publications reveal that consumers are not capable of exercising optimal choice behaviour. Despite these concerns, evidence is lacking on the extent to which potentially vulnerable consumers make use of the core element of deregulation—switching health plans. This article is meant to study whether potentially vulnerable consumers do indeed switch less health plans in the deregulated Dutch health insurance market than regular consumers. In order to answer this question, we extract questionnaire data from the LISS panel, covering the years 2009-2012. A total of 16,779 health insurance consumers were included in the sample. The average response rate was 78%. Logistic regression results show that consumers being chronically ill, 60 and older, and without Internet access, do indeed switch less often. Intriguingly, non-working consumers and those living equal to or below the poverty line, turn out to switch more often than regular consumers. As a result, we conclude that the vulnerable consumer in the Dutch health insurance market is described by the following characteristics: chronically ill, 60 and older, and without Internet access. This specific group tends to get locked-in and suffers disproportion- ately from suboptimal choice behaviour.

Contains fulltext : 144290.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access), Public service deregulation is favoured for motivating providers to offer consumers better price-quality services. Consequently, consumers are enabled to make informed choices and choose for the best service provider. However, recent publications reveal that consumers are not capable of exercising optimal choice behaviour. Despite these concerns, evidence is lacking on the extent to which potentially vulnerable consumers make use of the core element of deregulation—switching health plans. This article is meant to study whether potentially vulnerable consumers do indeed switch less health plans in the deregulated Dutch health insurance market than regular consumers. In order to answer this question, we extract questionnaire data from the LISS panel, covering the years 2009-2012. A total of 16,779 health insurance consumers were included in the sample. The average response rate was 78%. Logistic regression results show that consumers being chronically ill, 60 and older, and without Internet access, do indeed switch less often. Intriguingly, non-working consumers and those living equal to or below the poverty line, turn out to switch more often than regular consumers. As a result, we conclude that the vulnerable consumer in the Dutch health insurance market is described by the following characteristics: chronically ill, 60 and older, and without Internet access. This specific group tends to get locked-in and suffers disproportion- ately from suboptimal choice behaviour.

SAML assertions are becoming popular method for passing authentication and authorisation information between identity providers and consumers using various single sign-on protocols. However their practical security strongly depends on correct implementation, especially on the consumer side. Somorovsky and others have demonstrated a number of XML signature related vulnerabilities in SAML assertion validation frameworks. This article demonstrates how bad library documentation and examples can lead to vulnerable consumer code and how this can be avoided.

This study analyzes the regulatory community and national start-up in order to protect the consumer of electrical service and the need for EU Members to take measures to combat the "energy poverty" in the framework of the process of liberalization of the electrical sector. The delivery to the market of this economic activity has been done while safeguarding the public interest that lies behind it. For this purpose the obligations that EU law imposes on Member States are dealt to ensure the domestic consumer the right to an electrical supply of quality and at a reasonable price - as universal service - and the need to adopt measures to protect the vulnerable consumer and fight against the "energy poverty"; as well as the optional character which the European Union grants the electrical companies the establishment of "public service obligations". Besides this, we expose the weaknesses detected in the transposition from EU regulation to the Spanish domestic Law and the proposals for improvement., Este estudio analiza la regulación comunitaria y nacional puesta en marcha para proteger al consumidor del servicio eléctrico y la necesidad de que los Estados miembros adopten medidas de lucha contra la "pobreza energética" en el marco del proceso de liberalización del sector eléctrico. La entrega al mercado de esta actividad económica se ha hecho salvaguardando el interés general que subyace en la misma. Para ello se tratan las obligaciones que el Derecho comunitario impone a los Estados miembros en cuanto a garantizar al consumidor doméstico el derecho a un suministro eléctrico de calidad y a un precio razonable - como servicio universal - y la necesidad de adoptar medidas para proteger al consumidor vulnerable y de lucha contra la "pobreza energética", así como, el carácter potestativo que la Unión Europea otorga al establecimiento de "obligaciones de servicio público" a las empresas eléctricas. Junto a ello se exponen las deficiencias que se detectan en la transposición de la regulación comunitaria al Derecho interno español y las propuestas de mejora.

The paper is a translation of the Gutachten prepared for the 69. Deutschen Juristentag to be held in September 2012. It pleads for a separate consumer law code outside private law codifications. The benchmarks are: rethinking the concept of the consumer (the vulnerable consumer and the consumer/customer), focussing beyond traditional consumer law on internet sales and on consumer services (telecom, energy, transport, financial services), integrating and developing a consistent approach to consumer law enforcement via individual and collective action, via ADR, courts and administrative bodies. The solution is seen in a movable system (bewegliches System) that allows for connecting substantive rights and remedies to the different concepts of consumers, vulnerable, confident and responsible.

The paper is a translation of the Gutachten prepared for the 69. Deutschen Juristentag to be held in September 2012. It pleads for a separate consumer law code outside private law codifications. The benchmarks are: rethinking the concept of the consumer (the vulnerable consumer and the consumer/customer), focussing beyond traditional consumer law on internet sales and on consumer services (telecom, energy, transport, financial services), integrating and developing a consistent approach to consumer law enforcement via individual and collective action, via ADR, courts and administrative bodies. The solution is seen in a movable system (bewegliches System) that allows for connecting substantive rights and remedies to the different concepts of consumers, vulnerable, confident and responsible.

The paper is a translation of the Gutachten prepared for the 69. Deutschen Juristentag to be held in September 2012. It pleads for a separate consumer law code outside private law codifications. The benchmarks are: rethinking the concept of the consumer (the vulnerable consumer and the consumer/customer), focussing beyond traditional consumer law on internet sales and on consumer services (telecom, energy, transport, financial services), integrating and developing a consistent approach to consumer law enforcement via individual and collective action, via ADR, courts and administrative bodies. The solution is seen in a movable system (bewegliches System) that allows for connecting substantive rights and remedies to the different concepts of consumers, vulnerable, confident and responsible.

von Nicola Pfisterer, Universität Innsbruck, Diplomarbeit, 2020, (VLID)5464758

The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive has been one of the most significant developments in European Consumer Law. It introduced provisions on aggressive commercial practices for the first time on a European level and provides the key definition of consumer vulnerability in European Consumer Law. This thesis draws attention to the previously overlooked topics of aggressive commercial practices and vulnerable consumers. It shows that the UCPD fails to ensure a high level of protection from aggressive practices for vulnerable consumers. The main reason for that is that the system of the UCPD which focuses on information and the average consumer is not well suited for aggressive practices and vulnerable consumers, which require a broader consideration of factors. Furthermore, it is argued that the vulnerable consumer standard in the UCPD is too narrow to adequately protect vulnerable consumers. A conceptualisation of consumer vulnerability based on the understanding that vulnerability is universal and can be experienced by anyone is suggested. The aggressive practices provisions are analysed and it is argued that inequality of power is at their core. The aggressive practices provisions suffer from lack of clarity that makes their application difficult. A key problem is that the average consumer is unsuitable for aggressive practices. This can be addressed with the introduction of the concept of resilience to pressure. Finally, it is argued that the use of empirical evidence in interpreting the UCPD can be beneficial for the protection of vulnerable consumers.