JAKARTA, 17 March 2020 – ASEAN launched its first ever Regional Information Campaign on Online Shopping on 16 March 2020, with a view to reminding consumers on the importance of being a safe and secure shopper. This includes knowing that as consumers, people have the right to seek information on the products they purchase, and to seek compensation upon experiencing unfair trade practices.
The campaign encourages consumer awareness, which, among others, requires consumers to check for the company registry, reading credible product and services reviews, and studying the terms and conditions prior to making online purchases.
The campaign also seeks to ensure that online businesses respect consumer rights by providing accurate information, addressing consumer complaints, and putting in place appropriate warranty and guarantee schemes that would replace faulty products or provide refunds for unsatisfactory services. The campaign in particular calls for businesses to ensure price transparency of the products they sell, establish secure payment channels, and provide customer care online.
E-commerce markets have grown significantly within ASEAN. According to the ASEAN Integration Report 2019, there are more than 350 million internet users across Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam as of mid-2018. In addition, ASEAN’s internet economy in 2018 was estimated to be USD 72 billion and that the internet economy would grow to USD 240 billion by 2025. Thus with this growth, it is important to take steps to protect the growing number of consumers who are shopping online.
The campaign, which consists of a set of video and infographics, is launched in all ten ASEAN Member States simultaneously on 16 March 2020. For more information on ASEAN consumer protection efforts, please visit www.aseanconsumer.org.
