Consumer extremism (terrorism): Is it an independent legal phenomenon or a type of abuse of rights?

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the search for an answer to the question whether consumer extremism (terrorism) is an independent legal phenomenon or a specific type of abuse of rights. The etymology is defined and a brief description of the essence of the concepts of “extremism” and “terrorism” is given. It is analyzed how these concepts relate to the protection of consumer rights. It is noted that in journalism and scientific research, the concepts of “consumer extremism” and “consumer terrorism” are used not in mutual connection, but as synonymous terms. The concept of “abuse of rights” is analyzed in relation to the principles of good faith, reasonableness and fairness. Two approaches to understanding the content of the concept of “consumer extremism (terrorism)” have been identified: in a narrow sense, it coincides with the concept of “abuse of rights”, in a broad sense it combines cases of abuse of rights and cases of illegal behavior. Based on a narrow approach, consumer extremism (terrorism) is a type of abuse of rights, and from a broad one it is an independent legal phenomenon. The author concludes that in journalism, in order to draw attention to the problem of excessive and unjustified exercise of subjective rights by consumers, the term “consumer extremism (terrorism)” has the right to exist, but as a legal concept it is overly politicized and not specified.