How Can Government and other Mechanisms Work In The Same Economy

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How Can Government and other Mechanisms Work In
The Same Economy?
APEC Technical Assistance Seminar, Vancouver, BC
22 23 Sep 2007

• Dr TOH See Kiat
• Chairman, CommerceNet Singapore
• Chairman, Goodwins Law Corporation

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AGENDA

• About CommerceNet Singapore
• How It Works
• Self Assessment
• Compliance Review
• Recognition
• Dispute Resolution/ Enforcement
• Cross Border Developments
• Results

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ABOUT COMMERCENET SINGAPORE
MISSION
to promote trusted cross border commerce and the
integration of technology in the knowledge-based
economy

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Global Reliability Programme

• Backed by full complement of Codes of Practices
• Compliance audit

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How We Build Online Trust
CommerceNet Singapore
B2C
B2B
B2C/B2B/G2C/B2G
ConsumerTrust
BusinessTrust
PrivacyTrust
Standards
Compliance Audit
Dispute Resolution
Enforcement
Merchants/Trading Parties
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B2C Web sites of Our Merchants
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B2B Web sites of Our Merchants
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How It Works

• Self Assessment
• 2 sets of rules privacy and Internet best
  practice (includes complaints handling
  obligations)
• contractual arrangement to comply or face
  consequences
• reprimand, delisting, blacklisting for breach
  consumer private action under consumer law
  possible for false privacy claim

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ConsumerTrust Code of Practice covers 7 Areas
Disclosure
Communications
Privacy
Child Protection
Fulfilment
Security
Dispute Resolution
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BusinessTrust Code of Practice covers 12 Areas
Legitimate Transactions
Identification
Communications
Company Profile and Business Information
Quality of Products/Services
Capacity For Fulfillment
Intellectual Property Practices
Payment
Timeliness of Delivery
Privacy
Dispute Resolution
Information Security
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How It Works

• Compliance Review
• Desk top evaluation no external intrusion into
  company, unless warranted due to nature of
  business or complaints
• Approval within one month
• Random spot checks
• Annual review and renewal
• S3000 entry (half paid by IDA) S800 renewal

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How It Works

• Recognition
• by CommerceNet Asia Singapore, Korea, Japan,
  China- Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei,
• NTC accredits Authorised Code Owners (ACO)
• 2 in B2C 1 in B2B
• ATA mutual recognition Singapore, Chinese
  Taipei, Korea, (originally included Japan)

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Official TrustSg Web sitewww.trustsg.com.sg
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How It Works

• Dispute Resolution/ Enforcement
• First level at company
• Escalate to ACO
• Escalate to NTC (acountability agent for APEC
  purposes)
• Parallel track through e_at_DR (courts-based)
  Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC)
• Simultaneous action through Small Claims Tribunal
  (SCT, consumer law fair trading provisions)

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How It Works

• Dispute Resolution/ Enforcement
• Enforcement of ACO/ NTC/ SMC decisions by
  contract
• Civil action under consumer law for false claims
• Own costs model consumer/ business pay small
  fees for mediation business pays for
  accreditation government pays for operating
  accountability agent and to jump-start project
  with subsidy to businesses
• Cost at SCT, SMC less than S50 for consumers
  not much more than that for businesses

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Cross Border Developments

• The rules govern cross border transfers and
  disputes
• ATA membership open (Malaysia, Thailand, GBDe,
  GTA, Mexico, Sri Lanka invited to observe)
• APEC pathfinder project!

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Results

• 600 accredited businesses and government
  agencies and growing.
• Government buy in B2C, B2B, C2G, B2G, G2G!!
• No law change based on existing contract,
  consumer and confidential information laws and
  court procedures
• Relatively low cost to business, consumer and
  government!

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Any Questions? asktoh_at_gmail.com
THE END
The views herein are personal and do not reflect
views of ATA, IDA, CNSG or Goodwins Law
Corporation