10/20/2020

Report on account information and payment initiation services
New project for the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv) on the PSD2 in Germany

The last stage of the implementation of the PSD2 directive celebrates its 1st birthday. What is the current market for payment initiation and account information services? What advantages and disadvantages, or risks has the PSD2 created for consumers? Is there a need to improve the directive?

ConPolicy was commissioned by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv) to examine these and other questions in an expert report. To this end, ConPolicy creates an exemplary market analysis, conducts expert interviews and a digital expert workshop and derives recommendations for further action.

Further information on the project can be found here.  

10/29/2020

Accepting without reading is no solution – User-friendly web designs for online consent
ConPolicy presents at BMJV-Digital Conference

On October 29, 2020, the virtual BMJV-digital conference took place focusing on the topic "Accepting without reading is no solution – User-friendly web designs for online consent". After a welcome and introduction by the host, State Secretary Prof. Dr. Christian Kastrop, ConPolicy Managing Director Prof. Dr. Christian Thorun presented the results of the study "Innovative Privacy Consent Management".

The results were supported by contributions from corporate practice (Dr. Claus-Dieter Ulmer, Deutsche Telekom AG) and politics (MP Tabea Rößner, spokeswoman for network policy and consumer protection, Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen and MP Martin Rabanus, spokesperson for culture and media, SPD) who commented on results and gave an outlook. 

Subsequently, a panel discussion was held to discuss the potential of implementing a consent solution by companies. The panel discussion was attended by Marit Hansen (State Commissioner for Data Protection Schleswig-Holstein), Dr. Bernhard Rohleder (Managing Director of Bitkom e.V.), Lena-Sophie Müller (Managing Director of Initiative D21 e.V.) and Prof. Dr. Marian Margraf (Professor at the Free University of Berlin, Secure Systems Engineering Fraunhofer AISEC).

The results of the study may be found here (German).

More information on the project may be found here.

10/29/2020

European Union's Resource Efficiency Initiative for India
Panel discussion on the role of consumers in the circular economy

ConPolicy project manager Dr. Annette Cerulli-Harms was invited as an expert on consumer behavior to join a panel discussion in India. Annette Cerulli-Harms discussed consumer engagement in the circular economy with other experts from behavioral research, the sharing economy and recycling.

Reliable product information on the expected durability and reparability of products are key, since consumers otherwise lack the basis for well-informed decisions. The discussion also underlined the importance of preserving existing know-how and infrastructure for repair. These are still widespread across India, but keep falling victim of innovation cycles and the desire for new products.

Politicians, manufacturers but also trendsetters such as influencers have a role in setting the right incentives for sustainable behaviors, to design products in the spirit of the circular economy and to keep them in the focus of new trends.

More information is available here.

10/28/2020

Event for the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Virtual stakeholder dialogue "Sustainable consumption in a digitalized retail world"

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), ConPolicy has organized and conducted a stakeholder dialogue involving companies, science and civil society. The background to the stakeholder dialogue was the environmental digital agenda of the Ministry with its objective of orienting online trade more towards the goal of sustainable consumption.

The event took place on October 28, 2020, and was well received by around 70 participants. The institutes IÖW, ConPolicy and Ökopol presented current research projects in the field of sustainable consumption and online trade. Subsequently, a panel discussion explored ways to more sustainability in online trade. Participants in the panel discussion were Dr. Albrecht von Sonntag, founder and managing director of idealo, Benjamin Köhler, head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Otto, Christoph Wenk-Fischer, managing director of bevh, Prof. Dr. Tilman Santarius, Professor for Social-Ecological Transformation and Sustainable Digitization at the TU Berlin, and Dr. Ulf Jaeckel, head of division at BMU. The event was moderated by Prof. Dr. Christian Thorun, Managing Director of ConPolicy.

10/27/2020

Presentation in the European Parliament
ConPolicy study on loot boxes in online games

On October 27, 2020, project manager Dr. Annette Cerulli-Harms presented the ConPolicy study on loot boxes in online games in the European Parliament. The study was carried out on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO).

Loot boxes are surprise mechanisms in online games, which are usually obtained through gameplay or waiting, but which may be optionally accessed by paying real-work money. They contain game-relevant or cosmetic items.

Loot boxes have been discussed controversially in the past: some psychologists see them as a gateway to gambling, while other voices refer to them as digital surprise eggs.

The study defined and classified different types of loot boxes to determine which aspects of loot boxes could be potentially harmful. Additionally, it summarized the state of the art in research and possibilities to deal with lootboxes.

The focus of the presentation and question time in parliament was on the available policy options. The study recommends that the EU tackles loot boxes and other potentially harmful gaming practices with consumer policy instruments. For example, information on loot boxes could be improved, and transparency increased. The study advises against regulating loot boxes through gambling regulation, as the EU has only limited competences in this policy area. Isolated national decisions in this regard would compromise the internal market. The study also recommends verifying the effectiveness of new measures through further research.

Following the meeting, the parliament set up a working group on the subject. This group will consist of committee members from all political groupings with the aim of further discussing options for action to improve consumer protection in online games, especially for children and young people.

A summary of the study can be found here, the entire study can be downloaded here.

The recording of the presentation as well as the question time with the parliamentarians can be seen here(from minute 10:33). If you have any questions, please contact project manager Dr. Annette Cerulli-Harms.