Emerging Information Technologies : Challenges for Consumers

A ‘third wave’ of computing is emerging, encompassing technologies that have been called many names, including ubiquitous and pervasive computing, ambient intelligence, the Internet of Things and eObjects. This third wave will bring about significant socio-technical change, especially in the lives of consumers. With this change comes the possibility of a disconnection between consumer protection law and the new things, activities and relationships enabled by the third wave. This article analyses the attributes of these technologies, and identifies where consumers may face challenges relating to acquisition and interaction. These challenges are appraised in the light of the new United Nations consumer protection guidelines, to identify whether likely detrimental outcomes for consumers may conflict with these principles. This paper provides a basis for consumer protection lawyers to examine whether or not their current consumer protection legislation can adequately provide appropriate consumer protection in the face of the third wave. (This is a pre-peer review version of a paper to be published in the Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal in 2017.)