Confederation of European Computer User Associations

CECUA Euro-news flash

Citizenship and consumerism - what's it to you?

With the rapid development of the Internet, governments, commercial organisations, lobbying bodies etc. etc. have quickly realised the huge potential of the Internet. It provides cheap and fast communication at a global level which is unprecedented in the history of mankind. Unfortunately, the Internet also has attracted hackers, credit card fraudsters, criminals, malicious parties etc.

Fears and Concerns

CECUA has published a draft Bill of Rights for Citizens in the Global Information Society. This was produced to address the fears and concerns raised by delegates at the 1998 Brussels Conference. (see http://www.ispo.cec.be/citizen ). This Conference and the subsequent draft Bill of Rights has proved to have been the starting point in addressing these concerns and fears.
There are currently two major initiatives, the proposed Charter for Consumers by Madame Bonino (ex Commissioner for DG XXIV) and the adoption of a Charter for Citizens and Consumers in the Information Society as one of the main activities of the Information Society Forum (See "A European Way for the Information Society" which will shortly be published as a report and on http://www.ispo.cec.be/policy/i_isforum.html ). (The Information Society Forum is an advisory body to the Commission set up by the Councial of Europe. The Secretary General of CECUA is a member of this organisation).

Is Protection for the consumer enough?

There can be no doubt that many citizens' concerns focus on consumer issues and that increasingly robust consumer legislation and global enforcement is essential to preserve confidence by the general public. It only by ensuring that transactions are secure and consumers privacy is protected that global eCommerce will thrive and expand. Interested partners in eCommerce, dominated by suppliers and government, are now working to provide suitable technical and legal frameworks.

However, consumer protection does not (and cannot) go far enough. The essence of consumer legislation is that it focuses on the contract between the supplier and the buyer. There are many issues of concern citizens which are outside this relationship, such as privacy, criminal activity, malicious acts, hackers etc. These are issues of a social and political nature that only governments can address and police, by analogy a "contract" between citizens and the state.

Take, for example, the example of privacy. Have you heard about "cookies"? Do you know what they are and what can be done with them? Well they are small programmes which are loaded by third parties on your computer. They are usually useful and harmless. But not always. They can remember your password every time you log into a restricted service over the Interent, so you don't have to type it in every time. Useful, is'nt it! However, cookies can also look at you computer and its data and send details over the Internet. They can look at your on-line bank accounts. Like a built in spy. Of course, it is only used anonymously for marketing purposes, they say. However, when governments deny citizens the right to securely encrypt their data, then you begin to wonder why!

Now that we are part of a global society, governments must act to ensure that there are global answers to these fears and concerns. What is needed is a contract between the government and its citizens, and this is a responsibiltiy that politicians cannot ignore by stating the "the market knows best" or leaving it to consumer legislation. That is an opt out! It is an endorsement of anarchy! We need a social and political answer. That is why we need a Bill of Rights for Citizens in the Global Information Society.

The way forward - a Bill of Rights for Citizens in the Global information Society

The voice of the citizen is not very loud or effective! Major global multi national organisations are very effectively and efficiently organising themselves for a global market without frontiers - but then they have the money!! Governments (who arguably represent the citizens) are preparing national legislation in preparation for their own domains (with an eye on the competition outside their domain!). But there is no effective activity by citizens (or even consumers) at a global level, and so their interests are very poorly represented compared with the suppliers. CECUA is filling part of that role, but is severely handicaped because of very limited funding (and what commercial organisations would fund this sort of activity!) it is forming partnerships and working through the Information Society Forum to get citizens, politicians and legislators aware and informed of what is happening .

To start the debate, CECUA published a draft Bill of Rights for discussion (see http://www.CECUA.org) which proposes that Citizens should have their basic rights protected against a raft of assaults by governments, commercial interests, criminals and the curious which is guaranteed by International agreement and enforced internationally by governments. This proposal has been taken up by the Information Society Forum (http://www.ispo.cec.be/policy/i_isforum.html) and is committed to drafting a Charter of Citizens and Consumers Rights in the Information Society. This issue will also be taken up in the series of Global Dialogues planned by the Information Society Forum. Action is needed urgently. Commercial interests are very well organised with international committees

What can you do?

1. Tell your members about the work being done by CECUA and direct them to our Website.

2. Get your members to participate in the debate. Identify the particular concerns of your citizens, communities and companies.

3. Find out what your government is doing to protect citizens' rights and commercial rights.

4. Tell us what you is happening in your area.

5. Tell us what you would like to happen and ACT NOW!

How can you contact us?

Please send e-mail to the President: Jon.Thorhallsson@CECUA.org or
Secretary General: Stuart.Goold@CECUA.org