 |
Readings in this section address some
of the requirements and challenges of legalizing
e-business. Issues introduced include how to
maintain confidentiality on the Web, the
authenticity and acceptance of digital signatures,
and the technology to support those systems. A
pending question for consideration is: Where does
“offer-acceptance” occur in legal contracts
(i.e., how does it depend on where the buyer is,
where the seller is, where the server resides, where
the business is registered, and where the goods are
received)? Further, suggestions are offered
throughout the readings for how to reduce legal
indemnity in a world where legal precedent is
lacking for the resolution of technological issues.
Another
important issue to consider is how culture impacts
the legalities of e-business. What is acceptable in
one country is a legal violation in another. For
example, 411.com, an Internet telephone directory
absorbed by Yahoo, places “cookies”—digital
markers that can trace Internet usage—on the PCs
of Web surfers who use their service. However, under
French privacy laws cookies are illegal; further,
the French are concerned about invasion of privacy.
Therefore, when 411.com expanded into France, the
company decided to eliminate the use of cookies on
its French-language site. In the future, the legal
development of e-business will need to be addressed
at the international level—the degree to which
international laws can be harmonized is unknown.
Reading 1: Garcia-Tobar
(2001)
Reading 2: Meder
(2000) |