Keywords
internet platforms, data, information obligations, consumer protection law, data protection law, competition law
Abstract
Global internet platforms, such as Google, Facebook, Amazon or Linkedin, increasingly offer consumers free of charge services. Such services, however, are only seemingly free – consumers pay for their use with their own data. The problem with such seemingly free services lies, inter alia, in the lack of reliable and complete information about all elements of the agreement. Hence, consumers are being misled as to the actual remuneration for such services, as well as further use of their data by the internet platforms and other entities. This article analyzes possible ways of a legal classification of such practices of internet platforms, and legal methods of consumer protection against such practices. It indicates possible legal solutions available under Polish law, including consumer protection law, data protection law and competition law. It also proposes a change to the current approach to the practices of internet platforms and presents an alternative solution based on the cooperation of national and EU agencies and institutions.
Recommended Citation
Małobęcka, I. (2017). Consumer protection in the internet – the case of free services offered by internet platforms. internetowy Kwartalnik Antymonopolowy i Regulacyjny (internet Quarterly on Antitrust and Regulation), 6(3), 32-47. https://doi.org/10.7172/2299-5749.IKAR.3.6.3
First Page
32
Last Page
47
Page Count
15
DOI
10.7172/2299-5749.IKAR.3.6.3
Publisher
University of Warsaw
