Australia, US to enforce Internet trading rules
CANBERRA, 21 July 2000 (Asia Pulse) - Two agreements were signed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) at a meeting in Bangkok on Thursday.
A joint statement from the agencies said new agreements are required to keep up with changes in the Internet age.
"With the emergence of the Internet, consumers are engaging in cross-border transactions more extensively than ever," they said.
"There is consequently a greater need for cross-border law enforcement cooperation as acknowledged in the OECD guidelines on consumer protection in electronic commerce.
"These two agreements will enable both parties to better combat fraudulent, misleading and unfair commercial conduct in each other's jurisdiction."
The first agreement increases law enforcement protection between the US and Australia.
The second allows the ACCC to tap into the FTC's database of consumer complaints which is used by more than 250 law enforcement agencies.
