About the conference
'In a dematerialised world, where unfair practices are hard to spot and even harder to evidence, consumers struggle to claim their right and obtain adequate redress and/or the cessation of harmful conduct. Consumers cannot influence the way the market works for lack of meaningful alternative. Reflecting on vulnerability in digital markets, it is necessary to transform the way we see consumer law and its enforcement, notably the role of public enforcement.'
Source: C. Riefa, Protecting vulnerable consumers in the digital single market (European Business Law Review, 2022)
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This event is part of our project of the same name. It forms an integral part of our research process, hearing from policy makers, enforcers and stakeholders grappling with cross-border enforcement on a regular basis.
The event will:
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explore the global issues facing consumers
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highlight the difficulties of global and cross-border enforcement
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reflect on the value of international co-operation in enforcement
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investigate the design of international networks and co-operation frameworks
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draw from other disciplines to explore system designs that are more advanced
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open the discussion on the use of tech in consumer law enforcement
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Scroll down for speakers and programme.
The event features speakers from a range of organisations, including:
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Our speakers
Teresa Moreira
UNCTAD
Head, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch
Angelo Grieco
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Deputy Head of Unit
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David Dorrell
CMA (UK)
Director of Data Science
Kati Cseres
UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM
Associate Professor
Hans - W Micklitz
Professor of Law
Andrew Hadley
CMA (UK)
Assistant Director, Policy and International
Boniface Kamiti
CAK (Kenya)
Manager, Consumer Protection
Jason Freeman
CMA (UK)
Director, Consumer Law
Or Brook
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
Lecturer
Hugh Stevenson
FTC (USA)
Deputy Director, Office of International Affairs
Patricia Vance
President of the ESRB, Founder and Chairman of IARC
Christine Riefa
UNIVERSITY OF READING
Professor of Law, Project Lead
Liz Coll
CONNECTED CONSUMERS
Founder
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Brigitte Acoca
OECD
Head of unit, Digital consumers and product safety
Neville Matthew
ACCC (Australia)
General Manager, Risk Management and Policy
Geneviève Saumier
MC GILL UNIVERSITY
Professor of Law
Catalina Goanta
UNIVERSITY OF UTRECHT
Associate Professor
Conference Programme
Watch our event on Youtube!
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10:00 – 10:30 GMT – UNCTAD’s work on cross-border enforcement cooperation
Welcome by Prof. Christine Riefa, University of Reading
Andrew Hadley, CMA, Assistant Director, Policy and International
Conference opening by Teresa Moreira, UNCTAD, Head of Competition and Consumer Policies Branch
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10:30 – 11:30 GMT - Global issues facing consumers and difficulties of global enforcement
Prof. Genevieve Saumier, Mc Gill University
Prof. Hans-W Micklitz, EUI
Jason Freeman, CMA, Director, Consumer Law
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11:35 – 12:50 GMT - Value and Design of international networks and co-operation
Brigitte Acoca OECD, Head of unit, Digital consumers and product safety
Hugh Stevenson, FTC, Deputy Director, Office of International Affairs
Boniface Kamiti CAK, Manager Consumer Protection
Angelo Grieco European Commission, Deputy Head of Unit
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Lunch Break 12:50 to 13:15
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13:15 – 14:15 GMT - Designing systems that work: Learning from other disciplines
Neville Matthew, ACCC and Chair, OECD working party on product safety
Prof. Kati Cseres, University of Amsterdam/ Or Brooks, Lecturer, University of Leeds
Patricia Vance, Entertainment Software Rating Board, Founder and Chair of IARC
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14:20 – 15:20 GMT Use of data and other technology in consumer protection
Liz Coll, Connected consumers
Catalina Goanta, Associate Professor, Utrecht University
David Dorrell, Director of Data Science, CMA
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15:20 - 15:30 Closing remarks
Andrew Hadley, CMA
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Conference organised with generous technical support from Catalina Goanta and Laura Aade.
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'The Digital transformation has changed how businesses operate and how consumers purchase goods and services at domestic and global levels. Online businesses today enable consumer transactions in multiple jurisdictions'