Canada Assumes Presidency Of The International Consumer Protection & Enforcement Network

Canada’s Competition Bureau will begin its one-year term as President of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN). From July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, the Bureau will lead the network of consumer protection and law enforcement authorities from over 65 countries, representing approximately 5 billion consumers worldwide.

With the rapid rise of the digital economy, the accelerated pace of technological change, the global pandemic, and an international push for environmentalism, consumers face many novel risks of deceptive marketing. Building consumer trust in a changing marketplace will drive Canada’s program of work during its presidency. 

The Bureau will work alongside ICPEN member nations to explore new ways to deter deceptive practices that affect consumers’ worldwide. This work will include a focus on the following themes:

• COVID-19: examining global best practices around remote investigative and consumer protection work to better adapt to misleading and fraudulent marketing activities related to the pandemic;
• Artificial intelligence (AI): exploring the benefits of AI as an investigative tool, as well as potential ways businesses may use it to mislead consumers; 
• Digital platforms: looking at enforcement challenges, data privacy concerns and third-party responsibility associated with digital platforms;
• Misleading environmental claims: examining ways to address misleading activities that attempt to exploit consumer concern about the environment.

Full Content: Canada

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