[CAO] Publication of Report of the Working Group on Consumer Issues Associated with Digitalization

On 29 August 2022, the Cabinet Office published the "Report of the Working Group on Consumer Issues Associated with Digitalization."

The purpose of this working group, under the Consumer Committee of the Cabinet Office, is to study issues with a view to prevent and remedy damages based on increased consumer problems among young people following the lowering of the legal age of adulthood in April 2022 and the rise in consumer problems caused by Social Networking Service (SNS) postings and advertising with the advance of digitalization.

The table of contents of the report is as follows:

Introduction

A. Current Status of Usage of SNS and Related Consumer Affairs Consultations

  1. Definition and usage of SNS
  2. Trends in SNS-related consumer affairs consultation
  3. Characteristics of consumer affairs consultations
  4. Details of consultations on information products and resale business

B. Examples of SNS-related consumer affairs consultations concerning information products, side businesses, and other profit-making activities

C. Consideration of Issues

  1. Solicitation through SNS messages from sales agents, etc.
  2. Cases in which the sales agent disputes the applicability of telemarketing sales
  3. Unfair advertisement or solicitation by a third party
  4. Difficulties in contacting the seller, etc.
  5. Voluntary efforts by SNS operators

D. Issues to be considered in the future

  1. Settlement
  2. Request for disclosure of information
  3. Improvement of digital literacy

In the report, there is a statement in relation to persons with disabilities as an analysis of the current situation: "In addition to the vulnerabilities of not only the young, but also the elderly, persons with disabilities, and foreigners, due to the circumstances of each consumer, the vulnerabilities of consumers specific to the digital society have also been pointed out." This statement is in No. 3, Consideration of Issues, 1. Solicitation through SNS messages from sales agents, etc., (4) Measures considered necessary, b. Consideration of the Legal System.

For more information, visit the website below.
https://www.cao.go.jp/consumer/kabusoshiki/digital/index.html

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