The United Kingdom communications regulator, Ofcom (Office of Communications), has recently published a research report on the current situation as regards regulation of the internet at both a national and international level. It addresses the issue from a consumer protection perspective, focusing in particular on e-commerce, personal data protection (including unsolicited electronic communications - spam), the distribution of content and attacks on personal computers.
The intention behind the report was to make a contribution to the debate on how best to tackle online consumer protection. It finds that the successful protection has generally involved a much higher degree of co- and self-regulation than has been the case for other media. However the report cites a need for increased levels of international cooperation in order to ensure effective protection of the consumer.
Consult:
- Online protection: A Survey of Consumer, Industry and Regulatory Mechanisms and Systems, June 2006 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=378829
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Information society https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=118259
