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Public
Comment on Barriers to Electronic Commerce - Comment by Paul Fleck -
3/1/2000
This respondent's comments to the questions posed in this inquiry
are shown below, emphasized, following the text of
the questions. (Questions to which no response was given are not
reproduced.)
5. Are there federal laws or regulations that should be clarified
to facilitate electronic commerce by preserving important public
interests in the area of online commerce such as consumer
protection, civil rights or law enforcement?
Yes, federal laws must be created/modified to
protect consumers when conducting e-commerce via
the Internet.
First, the Internet has facilitated the sale and
distribution of a number of items which require
increased regulation by the federal government.
For example, something must be done about the sale
of over-the-counter drugs without a prescription;
as well as the sale of tobacco and alcohol to
minors via the Internet. The lack of regulation
in selling such items over the World Wide Web has
resulted in minors and/or unauthorized
individuals possessing these items. Federal laws
or regulations must be altered and/or developed to
address this issue. These laws are necessary to
protect consumers (unauthorized individuals) from
the consumption of such items.
Secondly, additional regulations must be in place
to protect consumer privacy. Email, chat room
conversations and e-commerce transactions are
constantly being recorded without the knowledge
of the consumer. There may be a valid reason to
record some information, but it is obvious that
the lack of federal authority in this field has
been abused and exploited. Federal laws must be
created to protect an individual?s right to
privacy. If laws are not created, Internet
powerhouses will be able to continue such
unethical behavior and possibly use the
information criminally, without the person?s
knowledge.
Sincerely,
Paul Fleck
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