Beijing Cracks Down on Online Consumer Rights Violations with New Guidelines

Beijing Market Watchdog Cracks Down on Online Consumer Rights Violations

The Beijing market watchdog has taken a firm stance against online platforms that manipulate consumer reviews and engage in deceptive marketing practices. New guidelines have been issued to protect consumers' rights and interests, ensuring transparency and fair treatment on e-commerce platforms.

Manipulation of Consumer Reviews: Fabricating, modifying, deleting, or blocking consumer comments is strictly prohibited. Platforms must display reviews in a neutral manner, avoiding the prioritization of positive reviews over negative ones.

Online businesses cannot coerce consumers into agreeing to the collection and use of information unrelated to their business activities. Explicit and separate consent must be obtained for collecting sensitive information like biometric data, medical records, financial accounts, and personal location data.

Sending commercial messages without prior consumer consent is forbidden. Senders must disclose their identities and contact information, and provide a clear and free opt-out mechanism. Refusal to receive messages must be respected, and messages cannot be resent under a different name.

Virtual avatars used in livestream marketing must be clearly labeled, informing consumers that they are not interacting with real individuals.

Consumers must be prominently reminded before automatic service extensions to prevent unintentional renewals and protect their rights.

These guidelines aim to create a fairer and more transparent online marketplace for both consumers and businesses. By addressing issues like manipulated reviews, data privacy concerns, and unsolicited marketing, the Beijing market watchdog is taking a significant step towards protecting consumer rights in the digital age.