It is expected that the much anticipated Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) will have a significant effect on business for consumers and corporations alike. There are a number of practical steps that should be taken to protect both consumers and businesses, specifically regarding social media platforms.
Applicable Laws
There are three important laws and codes that marketers should familiarise themselves with when dealing with consumers on the Internet:
- The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Code of Advertising Practice
- The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA)
- The CPA
All online advertising will now be subject to the ASA code, as well as the two acts. Both acts also apply to any website, whether hosted overseas or owned by a non-South African resident, which performs a transaction with South African consumers. A transaction includes the supply, or potential supply of goods and services as well as the giving of information or advice for some form of consideration. Even if the transaction is free the CPA may still apply, depending on the nature of the services, advertisements or advice dispensed. The Act therefore applies to a wide range of products and providers, whether they operate from South Africa or not.
For example, if an advertisement or Facebook page recommended a specific product to a consumer, the CPA applies. While this is a debatable topic, every piece of advice given on the web needs to be treated as though the CPA applies to it. Marketers using social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter must err on the side of caution and take all steps to ensure they are compliant with the CPA.
Understanding the risks
The Act presents real risks to any business marketing their products through the Internet, with lawsuits, class actions and even criminal prosecution a potential and costly reality for a company.
Section 61 of the CPA imposes product liability on suppliers. In other words, if a consumer uses a product or service which would include advice dispensed, and by using the product or service correctly dies, becomes ill or has property damaged, then the supplier of those goods is liable for all the damages suffered by the consumer.
This means that if a customer follows the advice posted on a website or social networking site, and consequently suffers damages, whether by economic loss or illness etc, they can sue the website or social network or the member of the social networking site to compensate them. This also includes, among others, any medical costs.
This form of liability cannot be limited by the supplier in terms of section 61 and the website. Social networks and members of the social networking site must be extremely careful about what information they make available online and how the consumer must follow it. The same applies to online advertisements.
Privacy
Confidentiality has become critical and is taken seriously by the CPA. If you give away confidential information about your communities you could be at risk of up to ten years in jail. If you find yourself in contravention of any other section of the Act you may be fined up to 10% of your annual turnover for the preceding year, or R1 million.
Accountability
The CPA does not prohibit advertisements and dispensing of advice over the Internet; however, all website owners and social networking forums must be aware of the rights the consumers will have when dealing with them, as well as the obligations they will have to fulfill under the CPA regarding the quality and source of the information they provide.
If these standards are not met it will not make the activity illegal, but it will open the website to lawsuits, including class actions.
Consumer Rights
The following are selected fundamental rights available to consumers in terms of Chapter 2 of the CPA and broadly speaking are most likely to affect websites and social networks:
- The right to fair and responsible marketing
- The right to fair and honest dealing
- The right to fair value, good quality and safety
Again, it is important for website owners, social networks and members of social networks to familiarise themselves with the requirements for marketing and advertising as contained in the CPA.
Defining Direct Marketing
Direct marketing, according to the CPA, entails approaching someone, in person or electronically (for example, email marketing or approaching a LinkedIn business connection), for the direct or indirect purpose of promoting or selling goods or services, or even requesting a donation.
The use of the verbal approach in the definition is crucial. A related form of marketing is catalogue marketing (governed by section 33 of the CPA). Unlike direct marketing, this is a form of interaction between business and the consumer where a product or service is sold, but not in person, for example online shopping or retailing.
It includes an agreement concluded telephonically (if the customer initiates the contact), by postal order or fax, in fact, any instance where the consumer is not able to inspect the goods before making payment.
The supplier of the goods or services is required to disclose specific information such as license or registration number (if any), physical address and contact details, sales record information required by section 26 of ECTA, currency in which the goods are payable, delivery arrangement and their cancellation, return, exchange and refund policies.
Cooling-off period
A consumer may, within five business days after any goods were delivered as a result of direct marketing, send the product back to the supplier without reason or penalty, as long as the supplier is notified in writing or some other recorded manner. The supplier has to return any payment received from the consumer within 15 days of receiving the notification. Moreover, the consumer must be informed of this cooling-off period.
Restrictions on Direct Marketing
According to section 11(1) of the CPA, every person as part of their right to privacy has the right to:
- Refuse to accept
- Require another person to discontinue
- Or (in the case of an approach other than in person) pre-emptively block any approach or communication from those who are engaging in direct marketing.
Using direct marketing
In light of the above, there are several conclusions that can be drawn in response to websites and social networks.
- If a business actively approaches a consumer, even using an email address provided to it by the consumer, this is likely to constitute direct marketing and selling. This is something to keep in mind for any email or SMS marketing.
- However, this will nonetheless always remain a question of fact. If the consumer approached the business and left his email address with the business, actively requesting it to contact him, it is unlikely to qualify as direct marketing and selling.
- Therefore, any marketing which includes approaching a consumer should in all probability fall within the ambit of direct marketing or selling.
- Websites, online advertisers, social networks and members of social networks should therefore be cautious about their marketing strategies involving emails and SMSes sent to consumers.
- All websites (including blogs), online advertisers, social networks and members of social networks would be well-advised to set in place a procedure to facilitate any consumer requests to opt out of receiving any company communication, whether via email, a blog subscription, a Facebook page wall or Tweet stream.
Registration as a Direct Marketer
While this provision is not yet enforced, in the near future every direct marketer must register with the administrator of the registry, supplying all business contact details and the name and contact details of a person responsible for any applications lodged under this regulation. These details will need to be confirmed or updated in writing annually. Consumers who do not wish to receive any form of direct marketing will also be able to register with the body.
Three Steps to Limit Liability
Given the fact that under the CPA you must provide information of a certain standard, it is strongly advised that all websites and social networking sites and members comply with the CPA. There are three general steps that can be applied to each online platform to help limit company liability:
- It is important that all websites and social network members providing information clearly state and display who is dispensing the information and their qualifications, or authority to provide the content. This makes it a lot harder to hide behind a company brand or logo, particularly on sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Any email newsletters or marketing should also include such detail.
- Include terms and conditions on your website or social networking page.
- Develop internal policy and processes within your company to help employees involved with company websites or social networks to advise consumers on how to opt out of communications, with simple step-by-step instructions that they can easily follow.
Today marks an interesting turnaround for online marketing agencies, companies and even individuals marketing products and services.
Online marketers have often thought of social media marketing as ‘permission-based’ marketing. According to the CPA, nothing is permission-based unless explicitly received in writing. Ensure that your online marketing efforts comply with the CPA by applying the above tips in conjunction with the details specified by the Act and regulations, as there are many other parts of the Act that may be relevant to your business. Download a copy of the CPA at www.polity.org.za and scroll down to legislation downloads. Use the report as a starting point to protect your customers and business.
Applying the CPA on Social Networks
Facebook marketing
- State clearly on the page ‘who’ is speaking. Facebook has now made this possible as an option to page administrators. Make use of this new functionality to show whom the administrators are behind the brand or page name. Click on ‘Edit Page’ in top right hand corner, click on the ‘Featured’ tab on the left hand side and finally click on the button ‘Add Featured Page Owners’. The Page Owners will be featured on the left hand side of the page under the number of people who ‘Like’ the page.
- In the page information (Info) make clear the qualifications or authority of those people posting on the page.
- Private messages in Facebook may constitute direct marketing, depending on the content of the message, if they were not prompted first by the member. Do not send private messages for marketing or direct marketing, unless prompted, or unless you follow steps 4 and 5.
- Set up Terms & Conditions in accordance with the Act on your page. A good place to put this would be a link under ‘Info’ or all the information under ‘Notes’. It is specified in the Act that these need to be in simple and very clear language, for the ordinary consumer to understand. In the Terms ensure that it is explained that joining the page amounts to explicit permission to receive posts on their personal wall and other forms of communication, for example an event invitation.
- Set up internal systems and processes to allow consumers to ‘opt out’ of your communications if and when they want to. Describe these in your Terms & Conditions.
- Make sure that your page advertising follows the requirements of the Advertising Standards Authority Code of Advertising Practice, the CPA and the ECTA.
Twitter marketing
- State clearly on the page ‘who’ is speaking. Ensure the person tweeting is listed underneath your company name or ‘handle’ to show who the administrator is behind the brand or ‘handle’.
- Make the qualifications or authority of the administrator clear on the page, either within the profile information visible on your Twitter page or embedded within the design elements of the page.
- Do not send direct messages for marketing purposes, unless prompted, or unless you follow steps 4 and 5.
- Set up Terms & Conditions in accordance with the Act on your Twitter page. Shorten the URL link to the Terms and include in your profile blurb.
- Set up internal systems and processes to allow consumers to ‘opt out’ of your communications if and when they want to. Describe these in your Terms & Conditions.
LinkedIn, YouTube & Forums
- Do not use the messaging feature within LinkedIn to send direct marketing messages promoting your goods or services.
- When offering business, product or service advice remember that if a contact follows the advice and consequently suffers damages, whether by economic loss or illness etc, they can sue LinkedIn, YouTube or the community forum and you as a member. This is applicable across all networks.
Gareth Cremen is an attorney at Goldman Judin Inc. Attorneys. He has extensive knowledge in litigation in the High Court and Magistrates Court, contracts, debtor recoveries, liquidations, sequestrations, advertising law, competition law and consumer protection law. Candice De Carvalho and Sarann Buckby are co-directors of Phatic Communications, a Johannesburg-based digital PR and social media agency that combines a strategic, creative and opportunistic approach with the setting of measurable objectives that assess, refine and improve on communication results that directly support business outcomes.
By Gareth Cremen, Candice de Carvalho & Sarann Buckby