Consumer report points out problems on the internet!

Over half of the people surveyed do not feel they are well protected enough on the Internet. This is what the current consumer report shows.

The Internet and digital topics are increasingly becoming a permanent construction site. That is the result of this year's consumer report from the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv), for which 1,500 people in Germany were surveyed for the sixth time on various consumer policy issues. 56 percent see their interests in the digital world as not being protected well enough, and the trend is rising. At the same time, a clear majority wants a committed state and supports rules or price signals that ensure greater product safety, consumer and climate protection with social balance.

“The consumer report shows where the problem is and how a new federal government could build trust. It is noteworthy that a clear majority is clearly in favor of rules that would ensure greater consumer and climate protection. “But social balance is very important to them and, given the current price crisis for fossil energies, it is urgently needed” – vzbv board member Klaus Müller

According to the 2021 Consumer Report, the largest current construction site is the Internet and digital sector. This finding is consistent with the experiences of consumer advice centers. A third of all complaints (33 percent) in the advice centers in the first half of the year can be attributed to products or services in the digital sector.

From the vzbv's perspective, the corona pandemic has exposed existing problems and gaps, particularly in comprehensive internet coverage. The vzbv calls on the new federal government to quickly work towards fast internet, the protection of user and consumer rights on the platform market and protection when using artificial intelligence.

Further results of the consumer report

Consumer protection is very relevant: 90 percent of those surveyed stated that consumer protection is very or somewhat important to them for their personal safety. This value has been stable for years. However, the following points emerge from the consumer report:

• Great responsibility, little trust: 86 percent see politicians as having a responsibility to protect their interests as consumers. But only 24 percent trust politicians strongly or rather strongly when it comes to consumer protection. Another 24 percent see their interests as consumers not well protected or not protected at all.
• Desire for a committed federal government: 83 percent see politicians as having a responsibility to promote climate protection and sustainable development in all areas through clear rules and standards. 79 percent are of the opinion that the next federal government should implement better consumer information about products and services. 77 percent support stricter consumer protection requirements for product manufacturers and service providers. 71 percent are in favor of more government controls for more product safety.
• Majority for consumer-friendly climate protection: 89 percent agree “completely” or “somewhat” with the statement that products need a binding and easy-to-understand sustainability label. 71 percent call for a social component to higher CO2 prices and agree that rising prices for low-income consumers must be cushioned. This is particularly important given the current development of energy prices.

“Consumer protection can be a unifying factor for a new federal government. The central challenges of our time, such as digitalization or climate protection, can only be achieved if politicians take consumers along with them.”

The vzbv calls on the new federal government to advance climate protection in all areas with clear and courageous guidelines, to support it socially and thus to make it easier for people to behave more sustainably.

Specifically, Germany must become more independent of fossil energy imports through energy savings and efficiency, and the income from the CO2 price must flow back in full to consumers. Higher housing subsidies, in turn, must take into account rising energy prices and higher rents through energy-efficient renovation.

Public transport and the charging infrastructure for electromobility should be massively expanded and an income-independent mobility allowance should replace the commuter allowance. At the same time, the energy-efficient renovation of buildings and the switch to climate-neutral heating systems must be significantly accelerated and the opportunities for consumers to participate in the expansion of renewable energies must be improved.

Key results of the 2021 consumer report download HERE

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