Abstract
The study examines the positive and negative aspects of the spread of digital technologies on legal relations with the participation of consumers. The relevance of the research is due to the complexity of the online environment, in which consumers are vulnerable to risks and challenges that affect their ability to participate in digital transformation. The categories of persons most vulnerable in the digital age are considered; factors contributing to this process; possible counteraction measures by the competent authorities. The purpose of studying these issues is to determine the basis of legal regulation of relations arising in connection with the digitalization of the economy, as well as to justify the improvement of domestic legislation in this area. The main research method was a systematic analysis of the categories “digital environment” and “consumer rights”, as well as a general scientific dialectical method, specific scientific and empirical methods of cognition. The study confirmed the hypothesis that consumers of digital goods (services) are less protected than consumers of traditional goods (services), however, the authors conclude that it is necessary to equally protect the rights of consumers of all social groups, while establishing special protection measures for the most vulnerable of them.
Highlights
1.1 The digitalization process started with the most significant and extensive areas of society, including areas with weakness, such as consumer rights
The challenges of digitalization in this area may include: the lack of a realistic opportunity for consumers to inspect and test goods during an online sale; insufficient attention to consumer protection by sellers; inattention by consumers themselves when accepting the terms of a public offer, making it difficult to protect their rights later; an unauthorized collection of personal data about consumers, including by various smart devices; need to build consumer trust in online retailing; lack of legal regulation of online retailing relations in the near future
Our analysis of regulatory issues relating to the sale of goods and services using information technologies in Russia has shown that a likely deterrent to the development of electronic commerce is the lack of considering the specifics of this format in existing legislation and the pending draft of a Russian Federal Law "On electronic commerce" [7], designed to reduce uncertainty and guarantee the protection of stakeholders' rights when selling goods and services using information technology [9]
Summary
1.1 The digitalization process started with the most significant and extensive areas of society, including areas with weakness, such as consumer rights. Digitalization is having a profound impact on our society and economy, changing the way consumers interact with each other and with the online marketplace. In this context, consumer data became an important economic asset, enabling a wide range of innovative business models, technologies and transactions. 1.2 The digital transformation of society and the economy brought many new business opportunities to consumers, and contributed to a number of new risks It touched on long-standing consumer policy issues: inaccurate information about goods (works, services); misuse of consumer personal data; crossborder fraudulent and misleading commercial practices; unsafe products; international cooperation on consumer.
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