(Feb. 24, 2021) The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a report on February 2, 2021, about the burgeoning use of interest-free “buy now, pay later” agreements and set out 26 recommendations to the U.K. government, including an urgent call to introduce legislation to regulate the unsecured credit market. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in […]
(Feb. 23, 2021) On January 19, 2021, the Act to Amend the Competition Act to Achieve a Focused, Proactive, and Digital Competition Law 4.0 and Other Provisions (Digital Competition Act) entered into force in Germany. The Digital Competition Act amends the Competition Act (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen, GWB) and other laws to implement the requirements of […]
Topic: Competition, antitrust, and monopolies, Consumer protection, Internet, Social media
(Feb. 4, 2021) On December 15, 2020, the European Commission published two legislative proposals to regulate digital platforms: a proposal for a Regulation on a Single Market for Digital Services (Digital Services Act, DSA) and a proposal for a Regulation on Contestable and Fair Markets in the Digital Sector (Digital Markets Act, DMA). If adopted, […]
Topic: Competition, antitrust, and monopolies, Consumer protection, Internet, Licensing and registration, Social media
(Dec. 21, 2020) On November 11, 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) held that the near-field communication (NFC) functionality of a bank card, also known as contactless payment, in itself is a “payment instrument” as defined in the EU Payment Services Directive 2015/2366 (PSD 2). The CJEU also clarified the meaning […]
Topic: Banks and financial institutions, Consumer protection, Contracts, Financial services
(Oct. 27, 2020) On September 23, 2020, the government of the United Kingdom (UK) issued a public consultation notice calling for “information on the use and impact of loot boxes in video games in the UK.” The government aims to determine public opinion regarding the regulation of loot boxes in video games under existing gambling […]
Topic: Children, Consumer protection, Gambling, Games, Social media
(Sept. 22, 2020) On August 31, 2020, a report by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) titled Corporate Criminal Responsibility (Report) was submitted for consideration in the Australian Parliament. The Report contains a series of 20 recommendations aimed at improving Australia’s law regarding corporate criminal responsibility, including with respect to the types of offenses in the law, corporate […]
Topic: Bribery, Business ethics, Commerce, Consumer protection, Corporations and associations, Corruption, Criminal procedure, Fraud and financial crimes, Human trafficking, Money laundering, Sentencing, White-collar crime
(Sept. 14, 2020) On August 29, 2020, the Congress of Peru promulgated Law No. 31040 of August 28, 2020, which amends the Penal Code and the Code of Protection and Defense of the Consumer. The new law introduces the concept of essential goods and services for the life and health of people in order to […]
Topic: Consumer protection, Crime and law enforcement, Criminal code, Emergency management
(Sept. 10, 2020) On June 29, 2020, China’s State Council (cabinet) published an overarching regulation governing the production of cosmetics and the operation of cosmetic companies in the country, the Regulation on Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics. Taking effect on January 1, 2021, the long-awaited new Regulation will repeal the 1989 Regulation Concerning the Hygiene […]
Topic: Administrative law and regulatory procedures, Consumer protection, Industrial facilities, Licensing and registration, Manufacturing, Marketing and advertising
(July 20, 2020) On July 13, 2020, the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) adopted a temporary amendment that affects the consumer rights of air travelers whose flights were cancelled or changed during the period of March 1, 2020, to August 31, 2020, in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Aviation Services (Compensation and Assistance for Cancellation or Changing […]
Topic: Aviation and airports, Commerce, Consumer protection, Emergency management, Epidemics, Infectious and parasitic diseases, Public health, Transportation and public works
(June 17, 2020) On June 12, 2020, the governments of Chile, New Zealand, and Singapore signed the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) in an online ceremony, with e-signature tools utilized. Negotiations for the agreement were launched in May 2019 when the trade ministers of the three countries met and “discussed ways to maximize the contributions that […]
Topic: Commerce, Consumer protection, Foreign trade and international finance, Free trade, Internet, Science and technology, Technical innovation, Trade agreements and negotiations
