Joint responsibility means e-commerce platforms will better protect consumers

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE E-COMMERCE LAW on Friday, which is due to come into effect from Sept 1 next year. Beijing News comments:

It is noteworthy the 38th clause of the law stipulates the e-commerce platform operators assume joint liabilities if the commodities and services retailers provide through them encroaches on consumers' legal rights and interests. This is obviously conducive to ensuring that the e-commerce companies shoulder their overdue responsibilities for the shoddy and substandard goods and services their contracted retailers sell on their platforms.

The lack of an e-commerce law has made it quite easy for the e-commerce giants to evade their liabilities by passing the buck to their sellers.