Peer-to-peer transactions have long played a role in commerce, but today's online platforms enable them on a much greater scale. Early examples include platforms for the sale of goods (e.g. online auction sites). Newer models include the rental of short-term accommodation and transport or mobility services. Sometimes described as the "sharing" economy or "collaborative consumption, " this report refers to these innovative businesses as "peer platform markets." In addition to bringing benefits, peer platform markets raise new policy challenges, including consumer protection issues. As a general principle, consumer laws should be considered to apply to the basic offer of services to peers by peer platforms. It can be difficult, however, to apply existing laws to business models that blur the boundaries between consumers and businesses. What is the best approach to provide effective consumer protection while encouraging innovation? This report provides context for considering this and related questions.

Peer-to-peer transactions have long played a role in commerce, but today's online platforms enable them on a much greater scale. Early examples include platforms for the sale of goods (e.g. online auction sites). Newer models include the rental of short-term accommodation and transport or mobility services. Sometimes described as the "sharing" economy or "collaborative consumption," this report refers to these innovative businesses as "peer platform markets." In addition to bringing benefits, peer platform markets raise new policy challenges, including consumer protection issues. As a general principle, consumer laws should be considered to apply to the basic offer of services to peers by peer platforms. It can be difficult, however, to apply existing laws to business models that blur the boundaries between consumers and businesses. What is the best approach to provide effective consumer protection while encouraging innovation? This report provides context for considering this and related questions.

Abstract: Trust is a key component in peer platform markets (PPMs). In 2016, the OECD's Committee on Consumer Policy (CCP) produced a report on Protecting consumers in peer platform markets: Exploring the issues. The 2016 report examined a number of the mechanisms that peer platforms have themselves developed to help engender trust in and use of their services (e.g. initiatives such as ratings and reviews) and raised a set of questions for further research and reflection. In order to understand better the role and drivers of consumer trust in PPMs, the CCP conducted an online survey of 10 000 consumers across ten OECD member countries. This report discusses the findings of that survey

The sharing economy and online P2P markets are rapidly growing phenomena that could empower consumers by allowing peer suppliers/providers to monetise under-utilised resources, on the one hand, and by making goods and services more afforda-ble for peer consumers, on the other hand. The emergence and development of these new markets, however, also raises consumer protection concerns due to regulatory uncertainty. Against this background, the ‘Exploratory study of consumer issues in the sharing economy’ (the Study), included in its objectives an analysis of the 28 EU Member States’ legislation applicable to C2C transactions and to online platforms facil-itating P2P transactions (Task 5 – Legal Analysis). A focal point of this analysis is the identification of the key national-level indicators used to distinguish between individuals acting in a private capacity and individuals acting in a commercial/professional capacity; a distinction that has gained particular importance in the sharing economy context. Furthermore, the Legal Analysis investi-gates the extent to which the EU consumer acquis and other relevant EU legislation might apply to C2C transactions and online platforms facilitating these transactions. It also identifies the main enforcement issues of the applicable legal frameworks, the application problems experienced by national authorities, and relevant legal and policy initiatives adopted, or being discussed, by Member States or at EU level.

The objective of Task 1 is to provide an indication of the economic importance of the five P2P markets analysed in the study, as well as the different P2P business models used. These objectives are met by analysing the services and characteristics of 485 P2P platforms based in the EU and Norway, operationalising the Task 2 survey results and through a review of secondary data and publications. Consumer protection issues are particularly important considering that P2P platforms have developed considerably in recent years: 52% of the platforms in the sample (252) were created in or after 2010. According to the academic literature, the recent increase in P2P transactions is due to P2P market advantages such as lower prices, increased access to goods or environmental concerns. 81% of the platforms in the sample are small or medium-sized (below 10,000 daily visitors), and the literature suggests that P2P markets will continue to grow in the near future.

This study explores consumer issues in five online peer to peer platform markets: (Re)sale of Goods; Sharing/renting of goods, Sharing/renting accommodation; Sharing/hiring rides; and Odd jobs. The study estimates that 191m citizens across the EU-28 spend EUR 27.9 billion per year on online P2P platforms. Of this total, an estimated EUR 10.61 billion consists of platform revenues and revenues of third parties. The study defines three main peer-to-peer platform business models: (a) hosting of listings where platforms do not get involved in the peer to peer transaction (b) active management of transactions where platforms foster trust among peers to facilitate a larger number of transactions and (c) platform governed peer transactions where the platform sets one or more contractual terms for the peer-to-peer transaction and exercises control over the performance of the transaction. The study identifies five key consumer issues that emerge from this new kind of economy: (1) transparency and clarity regarding the nature of transactions concluded through online P2P platforms, applicable consumer rights and obligations, the applicable legal framework and its enforcement; (2) reliability of peer review and rating systems and accuracy of identity information provided on the platform; (3) discrepancy between exclusion of platform responsibility and liability for the performance of online P2P transactions and platform practices; (4) access to redress for peer consumers and peer providers; and (5) data use and data protection issues.

This study explores consumer issues in five online peer to peer platform markets: (Re)sale of Goods; Sharing/renting of goods, Sharing/renting accommodation; Sharing/hiring rides; and Odd jobs. The study estimates that 191m citizens across the EU-28 spend EUR 27.9 billion per year on online P2P platforms. Of this total, an estimated EUR 10.61 billion consists of platform revenues and revenues of third parties. The study defines three main peer-to-peer platform business models: (a) hosting of listings where platforms do not get involved in the peer to peer transaction (b) active management of transactions where platforms foster trust among peers to facilitate a larger number of transactions and (c) platform governed peer transactions where the platform sets one or more contractual terms for the peer-to-peer transaction and exercises control over the performance of the transaction. The study identifies five key consumer issues that emerge from this new kind of economy: (1) transparency and clarity regarding the nature of transactions concluded through online P2P platforms, applicable consumer rights and obligations, the applicable legal framework and its enforcement; (2) reliability of peer review and rating systems and accuracy of identity information provided on the platform; (3) discrepancy between exclusion of platform responsibility and liability for the performance of online P2P transactions and platform practices; (4) access to redress for peer consumers and peer providers; and (5) data use and data protection issues.

To date, there have been few theoretical inquiries into the relationship between the technological innovation and basic objectives of consumer protection laws. This book addresses this need by considering the impact of technological innovation on the foundations of consumer advocacy, contracting behaviour, control over intellectual capital and information privacy. The collection presents a unique and timely perspective on these issues. The authors, internationally renowned experts, from diverse areas such as consumer issues in technology markets, contract, and intellectual property provide a fresh perspective on these topics. Contributions provide novel approaches to the question of what consumer protection might consist of in the context of technological innovation. The book will be a valuable resource to academics and researchers in law and public policy and is easily accessible to graduate and undergraduate students working in these areas.

The most important book on antitrust ever written. It shows how antitrust suits adversely affect the consumer by encouraging a costly form of protection for inefficient and uncompetitive small businesses.

This book looks at two technological advancements in the area of e-commerce, which dramatically seem to change the way consumers shop online. In particular, they automate certain crucial tasks inherent in the ‘shopping’ activity, thereby relieving consumers of having to perform them. These are shopping agents (or comparison tools) and automated marketplaces. It scrutinizes their underlying processes and the way they serve the consumer, thereby highlighting risks and issues associated with their use. The ultimate aim is to ascertain whether the current EU regulatory framework relating to consumer protection, e-commerce, data protection and security adequately addresses the relevant risks and issues, thus affording a ‘safe’ shopping environment to the e-consumer.