Stronger Regulations Needed To Protect Consumers From Dangerous Online Products

Dangerous products are widely available online from foreign retailers, including electric blankets, phone charges and other items that pose serious risks.

A recent report highlights an alarming gap in product safety enforcement across major online marketplaces, indicating that while the growth of e-commerce has improved product accessibility, it has also allowed unsafe products to slip through national regulatory systems.

The data was released in a report from the international organization Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), which was published earlier this year, showing that unlike traditional retail, online platforms often escape clear liability, allowing dangerous and illegal products, particularly from international sellers, to reach consumers with limited regulation.

TACD is a coalition of leading consumer organizations from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the U.S. that develops joint policy recommendations and works to promote and protect consumer interests.

The organization has found that counterfeit and fraudulent products can be identified as a serious risk to consumers worldwide, with the National Crime Prevention Council estimating that these kinds of products cause more than 70 deaths and 350,000 serious injuries in the United States alone each year.

According to the TACD study, dangerous products being sold online range from electronics like electric blankets, heaters and phone chargers with serious fire and shock risks, to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that fail to work, as well as children’s items containing high levels of lead and phthalates.

A major issue that TACD encountered was online counterfeit products, highlighting a 2023 incident in New York when a counterfeit e-scooter charger may have caused a fire that claimed the lives of two siblings.

Helmets and pool drain covers were also singled out as being particularly dangerous when purchased online, as they may not adhere to necessary U.S. safety standards when imported from foreign suppliers.

The organization’s findings suggest that stronger, coordinated enforcement is essential, calling for enhanced consumer protections, including:

• Cross-border regulatory cooperation
• Greater accountability for online platforms
• A more robust regulatory framework

TACD is also emphasizing that the world needs enforcement tools capable of keeping pace with the rapid digitalization and globalization of trade.

“This report sends a clear message: unsafe products are slipping through the cracks of our digital marketplaces. Consumers in the EU, UK, and US deserve stronger protections no matter where or how they shop.”

— Press release, Léa Auffret, Director, TACD

As a potential solution, the organization suggests more formal data sharing, joint investigations and coordinated international recalls, along with increased resources and authority for regulators. It also advocates for third-party seller verification and the active involvement of consumer organizations in shaping safety policies.

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