IIA to push ethical, responsible e-commerce

Increasing responsible and ethical conduct in online transactions and practice is the focus of the latest Internet Industry Association program.

The industry group has released a guide, ‘Responsible Australian Internet Business Practice,’ which aims to lift the standards of the Australian Internet industry.

The guide would provide a solid foundation of the key values and ideals that all IIA members and businesses who transact over the Internet should abide by, IIA chief executive Peter Coroneos said.

“This Guide will provide the industry with a useful resource which standardises ethical business practices in relation to online commercial activities,” he said in a statement.

The guidelines include: respecting the privacy of end users, informing customers of internet safety issues, ensuring current industry best practice regarding security for online transactions, and helping law enforcement authorities acting within their legal powers in investigating online fraud or crime.

The IIA has also created a new seal, or trustmark, which can be displayed on an e-commerce website to flag that the business has agreed to adhere to minimum ethical practices in their commercial dealings and their handling of personal information.

Both initiatives were launched to coincide with National eSecurity Awareness Week.