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There are widespread concerns about the online harms to children operating online. As such, governments have enacted laws to require online service providers to deploy age verification to prevent such harms. We investigate the following three research questions regarding this topic: (1) To what extent have different governments legislated age verification controls? (2) Do governments embrace a responsibilization strategy when it comes to online age verification? and (3) How does the UK public feel about online age verification legislation? We find that governments are applying a responsibilization strategy, which has led to widespread deployment of privacy-invasive or ineffective age verification. The former violates the privacy of underage users, with the latter undermining the overarching aims of the legislation. We have also found general disengagement and a lack of trust in the government amongst the public with regards to new online age verification laws within the UK. To conclude, despite governments globally looking to put more robust online age verification mechanisms in place, there remains a general lack of privacy preservation and affordable technological solutions. Moreover, the overarching aims of the online safety and age verification legislative changes may not be satisfied due to the general public stakeholder group's disengagement and lack of trust in their government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides an overview of a legal case in the Netherlands involving Stichting Brein and News-Service Europe B.V. The case centers around whether a Usenet service provider can claim exemption from liability under Dutch copyright law. The Supreme Court ruled that while providing a platform for information exchange does not automatically disqualify a provider from claiming exemption, if the provider actively communicates with the public or deliberately allows access to copyrighted content, they cannot rely on the exemption. The court of appeal found that NSE, the service provider in question, had a passive and technical role, did not have knowledge of illegal activity, and had effective procedures for removing illegal content. The court also determined that NSE was not liable for copyright infringements committed by its users and ordered Brein to pay NSE's legal costs. [Extracted from the article]

This study aimed to obtain empirical proof of tax uncertainty and tax avoidance's impact on e-commerce businesses. Regression data panels with independent variable variations in tax rates and tax types were used as dummy variables. This study found that this type of tax affects tax avoidance, whereas variations in tax rates show no effect. In ecommerce businesses, various types of taxes are avoided. The types of taxes vary between countries that affect tax avoidance. The calculation mechanism can have an impact on changing selling prices which can reduce e-commerce margins. Margin is the determinant of CETR as a tax avoidance formulation, which can be used as a consideration for e-commerce to make its tax avoidance strategy. Tax avoidance can be viewed as opportunistic action committed by taxpayers. E-commerce businesses can also avoid taxes by considering the types of taxes they receive. This research examines tax uncertainty about e-commerce tax legislation. Tax uncertainty occurs because of variations in tax rates and the type of tax imposed on e-commerce transactions in each country, which contain risks for crossborder e-commerce players. It has never been analyzed in terms of tax avoidance efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the expressions of will in electronic contracts, highlighting the unique characteristics of mutual assent in these contracts compared to traditional ones. Topics include the legal provisions governing electronic contracts, the challenges posed by their uniqueness, and the distinction between national and international characteristics of electronic contracts.

This document provides a list of references from various academic sources related to e-commerce and consumer behavior. The sources cover a range of topics including the factors influencing online purchase decisions, the impact of technology on different industries, and the behavior of specific demographic groups in e-commerce. These sources offer valuable insights for researchers studying these subjects and can serve as references for further exploration. [Extracted from the article]

The article examines the impact of electronic contracts on financial systems, highlighting the changes brought about by financial technologies (FinTech) through electronic contracts as well as digital signatures. The impact of FinTech also extends to markets, transforming the way businesses and institutions interact, including intra-organisational and stakeholder relationships. The article highlights the benefits of e-contracting, such as reduced costs, increased efficiency and process automation. Through FinTech, e-commerce has evolved significantly, facilitating new business models with a digital presence and improving contracting between companies and their customers. Particular attention is paid to electronic signatures, which are considered legal means of signing documents in the digital environment. The article also highlights the evolution of smart contracts, based on blockchain technology, which automate contractual processes and can be concluded without the direct involvement of the parties. Thus, a landscape is emerging in which financial technologies continue to redefine and innovate the global financial system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, globalization and digital technologies are significantly transforming the landscape of international trade. Digital transformation has become a critical aspect that determines the competitiveness of countries and businesses in the international arena. The study aims to identify the impact of the digitalization of international trade on the economic development of countries and their competitiveness based on technological innovations that determine the future of global competition at the country and company levels, affect trade processes, and identify and justify investment priorities to support digital transformation in Ukraine. The study analyzes the impact of the digitalization of international trade on the economic development of countries, which is caused by the digital divide between developed and least developed countries (LDCs). Developed countries are characterized by Internet coverage and access of more than 90%, as opposed to LDCs, where the corresponding figure is less than 20%. Given the current conditions of access to the Internet, the countries of the latter group are not able to be fully involved in e-commerce and cross-border trade in digital products. An additional barrier to developing digital commerce in certain regions of the world is the need for more legislation on various ecommerce trade issues. The impact of the war in Ukraine on the e-commerce market is determined: the ecommerce market declined 12 times in 2022 compared to the pre-war period and began to recover gradually in 2023. The market is expected to recover almost fully in Ukraine by the end of 2023 or early 2024. The main challenge for Ukraine will be to expand the scope of the existing free trade agreements to cover services, e-commerce, and investment. Ukraine should become a significant player in several global markets for services and digital products, given the availability of an updated regulatory framework on these issues. E-commerce is expected to grow rapidly after the end of the war in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses possibilities for amending the withdrawal right under the EU consumer law, aiming to reduce the information asymmetry between contracting parties in distance sales and thus increase the number of concluded contracts and the overall contractual surplus. The main findings are that the rules suggested in law and economics theory (the personalized mandatory rules and the mandated-choice model) may not be optimal tools for amending the withdrawal right because they mostly seem to neglect the allocation of risk between contracting parties. Thus, this paper suggests the new 'risk allocation' rules as a tool for amending the withdrawal right, focusing on its use in distance sales. If amended in line with those rules, the withdrawal right could deal with information asymmetry problems more efficiently, incentivise contracting parties to enter more distance sales contracts, and increase the overall contractual surplus, especially within the realms of e-commerce. The suggested proposal is conceived – at least for the time being – more as a thought experiment; relevant empirical analysis may follow up at a subsequent phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policymakers were surprised to find increases in sales tax revenues in 2020 due to expectations that they would drop 8–20%. We investigate this puzzle and provide novel insights into consumption taxes based on this experience. Using a case study from the State of Utah, we document that shifts in the structure of consumption played a significant role in the robustness of sales tax revenue. Two factors stand out in our results. The first factor is the structure of the tax base for sales taxes in the USA. This tax base covers only a subset of personal consumption, excluding, for example, many services. During the pandemic, when services were restricted or shut down, this caused a shift in spending toward goods that are more likely to be in the sales tax base. The second factor is the boom in e-commerce during the pandemic, which boosted sales tax collections. This was catalyzed by recent legal changes that made the collection of sales taxes in e-commerce easier. Interestingly, this e-commerce boost also shifted the point of sale and related sales tax revenues away from urban areas toward suburban areas. Our case study of the pandemic's effect on sales taxes in the USA generally, and Utah's experience specifically, provides lessons for consumption taxes, such as the VAT more broadly, and lessons on the role of consumption taxes for tax revenue volatility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Betriebswirt is the property of Duncker & Humblot GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The rise of the platform economy in the 21st century has also raised many legal issues, including anti-competitive practices. China's competition law disputes stem from the fierce competition among e-commerce platforms, resulting in administrative sanctions against transaction platforms such as Alibaba and Meituan for abusing their market dominance due to the 'choose one of two' policy. I find two problems with the anti-monopoly decisions on transaction platforms in China. First, it seems unreasonable for the Alibaba decision to consider the business-to-customer and customer-to-customer models as the same relevant market, and for the Meituan decision to define the online food delivery platform service and the online food delivery service operated by food delivery companies as different relevant markets. Second, whether Alibaba's and Meituan's exclusionary conduct abused their market dominance and restricted market competition is still debatable, because the 'choose one of two' policy may not violate consumers' rights to get better prices or services. From these cases, I conclude that algorithms are a controlling tool for transaction platforms to manage sellers on the platforms, so competition authorities should investigate whether platforms are using algorithms to treat sellers unfairly. There are calls from society for platforms to disclose their algorithms, but they often resist disclosing their algorithms to protect their trade secrets. This article suggests that platform governance policies can encourage companies to exercise self-discipline and to implement explainable artificial intelligence and AI audit systems to review the potential systemic risks of algorithms. This is likely to strike a balance between the platform's algorithmic transparency obligations and the protection of trade secrets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Taiwan Law Review is the property of Angle Publishing Co., Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main purpose of the article is to identify key ways for the development of electronic commerce within the framework of compliance with the norms and rules of financial law in Jordan. The object of the study is the e-commerce system and its activities in the legal field of Jordan. The scientific task is to determine the strategy for the development of e-commerce within the legal framework of Jordan, taking into account the specifics of the region. The research methodology involves the use of the hierarchy analysis method in constructing a hierarchical model, determining the sums of the elements of the columns of square inversely symmetric matrices, and checking the consistency of the results. As a result, we have determined the optimal strategy for the development of e-commerce within the framework of compliance with the norms and rules of financial law. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the proposed methodological approach to determining the strategy for the development of e-commerce in Jordan within the framework of compliance with the norms and rules of financial law. The study is limited by taking into account the specifics of e-commerce and Jordanian financial law. Prospects for further research should be devoted to the specifics of the development of ecommerce in the framework of compliance with the norms and rules of financial law in other countries of the world in order to attract international experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethics in management refers to the principles and values that guide decision-making and behaviour in organisations. It involves considering the moral implications of actions, policies and decisions and ensuring that they align with societal and organisational norms and values. Ethics are principles of life and business is run by people. The paper aims to investigate the various factors influencing consumer trust and privacy on e-commerce system and identify different ethical factors that affect consumer perceptions towards e-commerce adoption. The paper further highlights on the various aspects that enhance deeper understanding on values, trust and ethics for business sustainability while providing fair trade and sourcing for citizens and stakeholders. In this process, the article tries to study the meaning, need for ethical code in business, Indian ethos and ethical values, effective ethical practices, emergence of global e-commerce business, legal framework, etc., and provide conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the internet-based biosurveillance to describe the Brazilian e-commerce of non-inspected dairy products and maps its traditional sale in a medium-sized city (Londrina). We searched the sales of illegal dairy products on Facebook Marketplace and conducted a census of street markets and a random sample of formal markets. Although prohibited in Brazil, consumers can easily find informal dairy products on internet and retail sale. In addition, 7% of the food products hold a false label to mimic food inspection. The e-commerce was linked with regions with higher access to technology and Human Development Index (HDI). We believe that our approach shows a step forward in the public health interventions and could be replicated stimulating debates about policies required to improve the public health surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-commerce starts to replace traditional commerce in variety of aspects. Thus, the Saudi legislator enacted eCommerce Law to be the first right step toward updating and upgrading the Saudi legal system to keep up with social, commercial, cultural, industrial and political changes. Since all these efforts are merely a human jurisprudence, it is subject to error and miss legislating. Therefore, the Saudi authorities took notice and start reviewing as many regulations as possible. This research titled (Saudi Electronic Commerce Law and its Regulations, Reality and Hope - Critical Study of the 1440 law) is a contribution to these efforts. The research found that it is good time to have a law governs the ecommerce in Saudi Arabia; however, nothing is perfect. Consequently, this research covered in its first part the articles on the contract, its provisions and contract’s parties. The second part was dedicated to explore the aspects ecommerce that were not covered by the law, or needs to be changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia's first attempt at digital economic transformation began in the mid-1990s and lasted for some fifteen years. The Multimedia Super Corridor had some initial success but underachieved in some areas. The second phase of strategic policies took place in the period 2016-21 with the launch of four successive policies and plans dealing with e-commerce, 4IR manufacturing and the digital economy. The legal and regulatory landscape for the digital economy has also evolved. However, significant challenges lie ahead given the prevailing digital divide and unevenness in ICT adoption across industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singapore's digital transformation journey has been primarily driven by the national government's strong public policies and their successful implementation. In the beginning, the policies' focus was on digitalizing the public sector and relying on the potential cascading effect on the private sector. Subsequently, policies were more heavy-handed on the private sector with strong incentives provided to encourage Information Technology (IT) adoption and the development of the IT-related sectors through investment in manpower and infrastructure. As the Internet became increasingly pervasive, the policies shifted towards growing e-commerce and eventually became indistinguishable from economic growth policies. At the same time, manpower skills, and physical and legal infrastructure were consistently improved to ensure that they kept up with digital advancements. There are several potential factors contributing to Singapore's success, including: (i) strong collaborative ability across government agencies; (ii) extensive development and deepening of partnerships with multinational companies (MNCs); (iii) evidence-informed policy decisions; (iv) high adaptability and reactivity of the Singapore government; and (v) using Singapore's small size as a strength. However, there are several challenges the country could face in the future. These include the limited pool of skilled manpower and slow IT adoption by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the legal framework for website marketing. The presentation of the numerous legal provisions, which are spread over several areas of law, is oriented towards business challenges and measures. After placing the website in the context of marketing, the article focuses on the legal framework relating to the establishment, design and operation of a website. If, in addition to its communication function, a website also has a sales function, i. e. in e-commerce (online trade), additional specific legal conditions must be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an in-depth comparative legal analysis of the fundamental digital trade provisions in three modern trade agreements: the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CP-TPP), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), and Joint Statement Initiative on electronic commerce (eJSI) draft text. It features new, diverse regulatory priorities and approaches to govern digital trade. The comparative analysis will enable policymakers and civil society to appreciate the underlying regulatory concerns in negotiating digital trade agreements. The analysis aims to support an advancement of such digital trade provisions and make these deliberations more inclusive in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In other jurisdictions, smart contracts may be seen as a new form of contract and may not be recognized under existing contract laws. Contract Administration: A smart contract can be used to automate the contract administration process, including the distribution of contracts, the tracking of changes, and the management of approvals. The use of smart contracts in the construction industry can increase the security of the contract, reducing the risk of fraud and ensuring that the terms of the contract are executed as agreed upon. [Extracted from the article]

An immature, underdeveloped data culture limits a digitised strategy (which has been seen as the best approach to treat the complexities of e-commerce and ‘fast couriers’) and stands in the way of the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) developing its capacity as a truly SMART (Secure, Measurable, Automated, Risk management based, Technology driven) administration. A commitment to paper-centric processes, disjointed legacy systems, fear and mistrust of technology, a lack of regard for data integrity and an underdeveloped appreciation for the need for advanced technology that facilitates necessary cooperation and collaboration of internal and external data flows are evident oppositions to data proficiency, and a foothold on e-commerce. JCA’s information management and border professionals have shed light on the challenges that disruptive innovations in the form of e-commerce and ‘fast couriers’ present to border management, and expressly identifies big data as a hopeful strategy to overcome current challenges. However, there is an acceptance of the fact that stakeholders need to develop an appreciation for data and its relevance in modern customs operations, as this is the key to a proactive Customs that can conduct intelligent targeting and make decisions based on evidence. Current trends in cross-border e-commerce and the legal and technological adaptations that have been necessary in Europe, Africa, Middle East and parts of the Caribbean have been cited as models for policy adjustments that the JCA could consider. In addition to its development of local standards for data management and technology that would foster the appetite of internal stakeholders, the JCA also needs to look to national technocrats for policy provisions to facilitate data use and flows among Border Regulatory Agencies (BRAs). The JCA should also appeal to national technocrats to institute policies related to and provide the requisite technological infrastructure to facilitate big data management locally and cross-border. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights how the EU fundamental rights framework should inform the liability regime of platforms foreseen in secondary EU law, in particular with regard to the reform of the E‐commerce directive by the Digital Services Act. In order to identify all possible tensions between the liability regime of platforms on the one hand, and fundamental rights on the other hand, and in order to contribute to a well‐balanced and proportionate European legal instrument, this article addresses these potential conflicts from the standpoint of users (those who share content and those who access it), platforms, regulators and other stakeholders involved. Section 2 delves into the intricate landscape of online intermediary liability, interrogating how the E‐Commerce Directive and the emerging Digital Services Act grapple with the delicate equilibrium between shielding intermediaries and upholding the competing rights of other stakeholders. The article then navigates in Section 3 the fraught terrain of fundamental rights as articulated by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) under the aegis of the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter. This section poses an urgent inquiry: can the DSA's foundational principles reconcile these legal frameworks in a manner that fuels democracy rather than stifles it through inadvertent censorship? Section 4 then delves into the intricate relationship between fundamental rights and the DSA reform. This section conducts a comprehensive analysis of the key provisions of the DSA, emphasising how they underscore the importance of fundamental rights. In addition to mapping out the strengths of the framework the section also identifies existing limitations within the DSA and suggests potential pathways for further refinement and improvement. This article concludes by outlining key avenues for achieving a balanced and fundamental rights‐compliant regulatory framework for platform liability within the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares three case studies in the context of Japanese competition law enforcement with the US experience. Although each case involves important issues, this study focuses on extracting common aspects of competition law by critically examining the following cases of Antimonopoly-Law-suspected violations pursued by the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC): the e-commerce case against Amazon Japan, the shipping charges case against the Rakuten group, and billing-related suspected violations by Apple. After extracting the common aspects from each case, this study recursively re-examines the cases to clarify the aspects that should be emphasized in competition law enforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We quantify the distortionary effects of nexus tax laws on Amazon's distribution network investments between 1999 and 2018. We highlight the role of two features of the expansion of Amazon's network: densification of the network of distribution facilities and vertical integration into package sortation. Densification results in a reduction in the cost of shipping orders, but comes at the expense of higher facility operating costs in more expensive areas and lower scale economies of processing shipments. Nexus laws furthermore generate additional sales tax liabilities as the network grows. Combining data on household spending across online and offline retailers with detailed data on Amazon's distribution network, we quantify these trade‐offs through a static model of demand and a dynamic model of investment. Our results suggest that Amazon's expansion led to significant shipping cost savings and facilitated the realization of aggregate economies of scale. We find that abolishing nexus tax laws in favor of a non‐discriminatory tax policy would induce the company to decentralize its network, lowering its shipping costs. Non‐discriminatory taxation would also entail lower revenue, however, as tax‐inclusive prices would rise, resulting in a fall in profit overall. This drop and the decline in consumer welfare from higher taxes together fall short of the increases in tax revenue and rival profit, suggesting that the abolishment of nexus laws would lead to an increase in total welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-commerce is becoming more and more important when deciding the purchasing process of new consumers, so much so that it is estimated that by the year 2040, 95% of purchases will be made online. In this sense, the need to regulate these practices arises because, being a relatively new field, there are spaces for new negative practices that, despite being carried out to improve success indicators of organizations, have a direct impact on the perception of consumers about the different companies in the market, these are the so-called Dark Patterns. In practice, these Dark Patterns restrict consumer's decision-making capacity and manipulate them to provide information and make more purchases. Although these dark patterns are transversal to the markets, given that nowadays most product/service companies have a website, this research focuses on the Chilean airline market. Of all the airlines studied, 95% presented at least one instance in their purchase process with the appearance of a Dark Pattern. Although any website that incorporates a purchasing process should be free of dark patterns, this research places special emphasis on those that may have negative legal consequences for the respective airline companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union's new regulatory agenda targeting online platforms such as social media has been presented as a progressive watershed moment after a long period of regulatory restraint. The attempt to construct an internal market lends legal competence to the two centerpieces of this agenda—the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This Article analyzes the Union's attempts to govern online platforms as a part of internal market construction. After examining the underlying aims of the internal market, the Article proceeds to analyze how those aims have been operationalized in existing EU electronic commerce law and more recently in the DSA and DMA proposals. The Article argues that the Union regulatory agenda is not particularly transformative. While the DSA and DMA introduce many novel regulatory mechanisms with an equalizing potential, they also remain faithfully committed to the aims and pre-existing mechanisms of internal market construction that have enabled the rise of platform corporations in the first place. Thus, the proposals risk reproducing and legitimizing various inequalities in the European digital economy. The article seeks to connect alternative visions of platforms with the re-imagination of internal market construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global data divide has emerged as a major policy challenge threatening equitable development, poverty alleviation, and access to information. Further, it has polarised countries on either side of the data schism, who have often reacted by implementing conflicting and sub-optimal measures. This paper surveys such policy measures, the politics behind them, and the footprints they have left on the digital trade or electronic commerce rules contained in free trade agreements (FTAs). First, this paper details an understanding of what constitutes the global data divide, focusing on three components, namely access, regulation, and use. Second, the paper surveys electronic commerce or digital trade rules in FTAs to understand whether existing rules deal with the widening data divide in a comprehensive manner and, if so, how. Our primary argument is that the existing FTA disciplines are deficient in addressing the global data divide. Key problems include insufficient participation by developing countries in framing digital trade rules, non-recognition of the data divide affecting developing countries, and lack of robust and implementable mechanisms to bridge the data divide. Finally, we present a proposal to reform digital trade rules in line with best practices emerging in FTA practice and the main areas where gaps must be bridged. Our proposals include enhancing technical assistance and capacity-building support, developing a tailored special and differential treatment (SDT) mechanism, incentivising the removal of data-related barriers by designing appropriate bargains in negotiations, and boosting international regulatory cooperation through innovative and creative mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the rapid growth and emerging trend of e-commerce have changed consumer preferences to buy online, this study analyzes the current Indian legal framework that protects online consumers' interests. A thorough analysis of the two newly enacted laws, i.e., the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 and literature review support analysis of 290 online consumers answering the research questions and achieving research objectives. The significant findings are that a secure and reliable system is essential for e-business firms to work successfully; cash on delivery is the priority option for online shopping; website information and effective customer care services build a customer's trust. The new regulations are arguably strong enough to protect and safeguard online consumers' rights and boost India's e-commerce growth. Besides factors such as security, privacy, warranty, customer service, and website information, laws governing consumer rights protection in e-commerce influence customers' trust. Growing e-commerce looks promising with a robust legal framework and consumer protection measures. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge on e-commerce and consumer rights protection by elucidating the key factors that affect customer trust and loyalty and offering an informative perspective on e-consumer protection in the Indian context with broader implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Palermo Business Review is the property of Universidad de Palermo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As the largest free trade agreement in the world at present, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has made provisions for cross-border e-commerce, regional trade cooperation, data and intellectual property protection, providing new opportunities for the digital economy development with its functions of optimizing factor resource allocation, accelerating the upgrading of industrial chains and value chains, and pushing close collaboration in international trade. This research consists of mechanism analysis, risk assessment and policy suggestions. First, it analyzes the mechanism of RCEP in promoting the development of the digital industry from three dimensions, namely dual-circulation of digital industry, spatial cooperation of digital economy and digital tariff guarantee, and explores the compatibility between the provisions of the RCEP agreement and the highquality development of the digital economy. Second, it interprets the digital rules from the intention of digital rules, domestic knowledge legislation background of the parties, the effectiveness of digital regulation and coordination in the agreement, and the external environment; it analyzes the challenges that RCEP brings to China. Finally, this paper puts forward suggestions on how to promote high-quality development of China’s digital economy with RCEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey has recently implemented a new e-commerce law aimed at regulating digital platforms. The law includes provisions to address monopolization and promote competition in digital markets. However, upon closer examination, it appears that the law may prioritize protecting competitors over consumer welfare and serve as a tool for state control. The law imposes unconventional obligations on digital platforms, such as prohibiting the sale of private label products and imposing restrictions on advertising and discount budgets. These provisions may have social costs and raise concerns from a competition policy perspective. Additionally, the law imposes annual license fees on platforms, which may increase operational costs and hinder economic growth. Overall, the law's obligations are disproportionate, burdensome, and potentially anticompetitive, and may set a precedent for other jurisdictions. [Extracted from the article]

The article assessed the development potential of e-commerce, considering virtualisation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The achievement of the assumed goal was made possible by the use of strategic analysis methods. The following groups of factors were used in the identification of factors influencing the conditions for running a business: social, legal, ethical, economic, political and technological (according to the SLEPT concept). Subsequently, two methods of strategic analysis were applied independently of each other -- Porter's Five Forces and TOWS/SWOT, considering the perspective of both the consumer and the entrepreneur. The final stage of the study was to compare the results obtained with the use of both methods. The results of Porter's Five Forces analysis showed that the e-commerce sector is a restrainedly unattractive area with more negative than positive external factors. However, the TOWS/SWOT analysis showed that the strengths and opportunities of the environment are so strong that, in order to develop the e-commerce sector even further, an aggressive strategy (maxi-maxi) should be implemented. The impact of the pandemic on e-commerce was enormously significant, as both lockdown and fear of contagion led consumers to choose the Internet as their preferred purchasing location. Thus, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic not only expanded the current e-commerce market segments, but also created new ones. The research combined theoretical and practical aspects; therefore, the results of the study can serve as a benchmark for further scientific research, especially at the micro level, which would explain the behaviour of individual consumers when choosing the Internet as a place to shop, as well as how entrepreneurs adapt to the realities of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the determinants of consumer purchase intentions on foreign multi-sided e-commerce platforms (MSPs) within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study relies on a survey of a representative sample of 810 Poles. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyze the data. The study confirms the influence of the perceived usefulness and legal protection of online purchases, changes in retailers' activity during the pandemic, and perceived value of purchases on a MSP on purchase intentions. The article provides insight into consumer online behavior, i.e., determinants of the intention to purchase via MSPs, including those not extensively studied yet. It also takes into account the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study's results may be valuable both from the prism of its contribution to the literature on consumer behavior and to business practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Article develops the five-element HAPPY model to study Chinese regulation: the regulatory process is hierarchical, the top leadership is adaptable, the Chinese regulators are parochial, the firms are pliant and the Chinese public need to yelp to be heard. By focusing on China’s great reversal in regulating the platform economy, I show that Chinese policy volatilities have stemmed from the hierarchical structure in which power is centralized among top leaders, who also suffer from a chronic deficit of information. I particularly highlight how favorable support from the top leadership, aggressive lobbying from tech firms, and the bureaucratic inertia of the regulators together contributed to a lag in regulating Chinese online platforms. When a crisis looms, the top leadership quickly mobilizes all administrative resources and propaganda to initiate a law enforcement campaign against tech giants. However, without strong judicial oversight, aggressive agency interventions create the risk of over-enforcement and administrative abuse. Thus far, China’s reorientation of its policy control has significantly bolstered its regulatory capacity across various fronts including financial, antitrust, and data regulation. By exerting greater oversight over platform governance, the government has enhanced the bargaining power of the various platform participants in dealing with the platforms. The government’s heavy-handed approach has also afforded it great leverage to nudge tech firms to prioritize developing cutting-edge technologies, and to steer them away from foreign stock markets, thus reducing reliance on the West for both technologies and capital. Despite the campaign’s immediate impact, it remains to be seen whether it will bring about lasting changes, especially in light of the persistent lobbying from tech firms and the risk of regulatory capture. At the same time, the volatile policy swing has itself generated risks and uncertainties, which in turn could cause turmoil to domestic social and financial stability. As the rest of the world is similarly confronted with thorny questions about how to rein in Big Tech, China’s experience with platform regulation could offer some lessons that inform the global policy debate. Although this Article focuses primarily on the platform economy, the HAPPY model has the promise to shed light on the complexity and dynamics in other areas of regulatory governance in China and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible insects are an alternative protein source with environmental, social and health benefits. Insect-based products (IBPs), considered as Novel Foods by the EU legislation, are mainly sold on the EU market through e-commerce. In this study, the current situation of the EU IBPs e-commerce was characterized by i) identifying Food Business Operators involved in the selling and ii) assessing the IBPs' compliance to the EU labelling requirements. Overall, 26 e-commerce platforms were identified, mainly with head offices located in North and Central Europe and 656 IBPs proposed to be sold online were found. Most of IBPs consisted of whole insects (54.9%), followed by protein products (9.5%) and powder insects (8.1%). IBPs made with House cricket (A. domesticus) (50.2%) were the most represented. Overall, only 3.4% of the IBPs were fully compliant with the EU labeling requirements. The high level of non-compliance was mainly related to the absence, incompleteness or inaccuracy of the " additional specific labelling requirements " imposed by Implementing Regulations authorizing the placing on the EU market of IBPs, probably due to their recent entrance in force. Among these, issues related to allergens' declaration observed in many IBPs reflected possible safety implication for consumers. This study, by providing useful data on the FBOs involved in e-commerce of IBPs and describing the main IBPs categories sold on the EU online market, could also support the Competent Authorities towards more targeted official control activities. • Insect-based products (IBPs) sold on EU e-commerce platforms were selected. • The compliance of IBPs labelling information to EU legislation was assessed. • Most IBPs were non-compliant, especially respect to requirements of CIRs. • Outcomes from this study could support official controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article compares the regulations and laws of the U.S. and the European Union (EU), particularly the EU's Electronic Commerce (E-commerce) Directive and the U.S.' law on civil claims. Other topics include the laws' standard of user expression, how to reduce the discretionary power of platforms' content removal abilities, and how to preserve private governance of social media business practices.

The article reports that the COVID-19 pandemic have tax administrations and states been challenged by e-commerce in terms of the uniformity of taxation. Topics include considered that in general, VAT evasion is a cross-industry challenge and financial authorities and legislators have reacted to this by tightening compliance requirements and digitizing VAT functions to increase the transparency of transactions.

Numerous platform operators provide composite services comprising electronic and non-electronic elements, whose legal classification has been highly debated. This is partly explained by the fact that the EU law regime applicable to information society services (ISS) is far more favourable to businesses than that applicable to other types of services. The most recent case-law, however, has noticeably strengthened Member State regulatory prerogatives regarding ISS by, inter alia, giving a whole new meaning to the provisions of the E-commerce Directive. This twenty-year old legal act certainly needed reshuffling, but the Court's approach has created a high degree of uncertainty for Member States wishing to regulate ISS in compliance with their notification obligations. Further, the applicable legal framework fails to guarantee the freedom to provide composite platform economy services that classify as two independent services of offline and online nature. The present article presents the main takeaways from recent judgments and highlights the structural differences between the legal regime applicable to ISS and that applicable to other kind of services, as well as their shortcomings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rigorous deliberations of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law to create a global regulatory framework for Online Dispute Resolution have failed to generate a consensus. This paper analyses whether UNCITRAL's ambition to develop an inclusive ODR regulatory platform has considered the complexities of cutting across cultural boundaries and power (im)balances. The objective here is to challenge UNCITRAL's assumption that technology's a-territorial nature facilitates homogeneity in ODR. To this end, the paper examines the implications of globalisation and the evolution of diverse cultures on ODR and proposes that an alternative approach is needed to combine cosmopolitan and legal pluralism in developing a platform trusted by all disputing parties. The author argues that the focus of contemporary research should extend to consider commonalities across and between national, regional and global levels of governance when regulating for ODR. The paper's findings will inform policy makers and regulators, including UNCITRAL, when considering the role and interaction of various stakeholders when developing an ODR framework. The significance of this article lies in bringing out that the creation of a regulatory ODR framework needs to be more finely nuanced due to its nature as a normative and legal hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative services such as mobile payments are potentially transformative because they can increase access to financial services, especially in developing countries. However, such innovations can disrupt the financial services ecosystem, prompting regulators to respond in different ways. These regulatory responses often have a significant impact on the success of such innovative services. Using Nigeria's regulatory approach as a case study, this article highlights specific lessons that should inform future attempts at regulating mobile payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]