Establishing Global Norms to Protect Online Shoppers from Dangerous Counterfeits

Counterfeit products continue to pose a significant threat to the health and safety of individuals. Counterfeit drugs and cosmetics often contain harmful ingredients that threaten public health. Counterfeit personal protective equipment, such as masks, sanitizers, and disinfectants, along with counterfeit COVID-19 tests, have exacerbated the global pandemic and endangered people’s lives. And counterfeit electronics, like phone chargers and power adapters, can overheat and cause fire hazards. Counterfeiters exploit online marketplaces, social media, and other online tools to get these products in the hands of unsuspecting consumers, while causing economic harm to legitimate businesses and their workers. Successfully disrupting counterfeit networks will require cooperation from authorities at all levels of government as well as partnerships across the private sector.

Watch Center for Data Innovation's panel discussion about how the public and private sector can work together to establish global norms and best practice to better protect consumers from counterfeits and ensure respect for intellectual property in e-commerce.

• Watch here, or on datainnovation.org.
• Read the report.