Electronic commerce is already now reshaping business practices worldwide. New technologies also offer tremendous range of opportunities for education. In developing information networks and electronic commerce we should not lose sight of our main objective. The information society cannot live in isolation. It has to serve the ordinary user, not just engineers.
Consumers are ready to use the new way of doing business only if the system gains their confidence.
This requires relibale and secure global networks. Consumer protection, privacy and authentication form the very essence in building trust for users of global networks. To this end we need clear and unambigious international rules. Consumers have to be protected from possible fraudulent and misleading commercial conduct. Electronic commerce should guarantee the same level of protection as traditional forms of commerce.