World Consumer Rights Day is marked every year on March 15. The day is observed in order to raise awareness about consumer rights and promote consumer protection. It is an opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting consumers, promoting their rights, and ensuring that they have access to safe and affordable products and services.
History: World Consumer Rights Day was first observed on March 15, 1983, by Consumers International, a federation for consumer groups. The date was chosen to commemorate the historic speech given by US President John F. Kennedy in 1962 to the US Congress to uphold consumer rights.
In his speech, he outlined four basic consumer rights:
- The right to safety.
- The right to be informed.
- The right to choose.
- The right to be heard.
These were later adopted and expanded by the United Nations to create the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP).
Resources:
Commodity Futures Trading Commission - CFTC Customer Advisory Cautions the Public to Beware of Artificial Intelligence Scams, https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8854-24
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Consumers Are Voicing Concerns About AI, https://www.ftc.gov/policy/advocacy-research/tech-at-ftc/2023/10/consumers-are-voicing-concerns-about-ai
Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes, https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/03/scammers-use-ai-enhance-their-family-emergency-schemes
New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection - Tips on Artificial Intelligence Scams, https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/artificial-intelligence-scam-tips.page