Consumer Protection in Digital Transactions: An Evaluation of Regulation and the Effectiveness of Law Enforcement

Authors

  • Anwar Anwar Universitas Yapis, Jayapura Author
  • Samsudin Arifin Dabamona Universitas Yapis Papua Author
  • Harry A Tuhumury Universitas Yapis Papua Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62872/9x7nf695

Keywords:

consumer protection, digital transactions, law enforcement, regulatory evaluation

Abstract

This study examines the protection of consumers in digital transactions in Indonesia by evaluating existing regulations and the effectiveness of law enforcement. With the rapid expansion of Indonesia’s digital economy, consumer rights face increasing challenges due to gaps in legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms. Key laws analysed include the Consumer Protection Law, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, and the Personal Data Protection Law. While these regulations lay foundational protections, they often lack specificity and adaptability to the dynamic digital marketplace. The enforcement landscape is constrained by limited resources, fragmented institutional coordination, and insufficient judicial expertise, which hamper effective resolution of consumer disputes. A comparative analysis with jurisdictions such as the European Union and Singapore reveals best practices in regulatory clarity, empowered supervisory bodies, and consumer education that Indonesia could adopt. Empirical data highlights the urgency of reform as digital transactions and related consumer complaints grow rapidly. The study recommends legislative updates tailored to digital commerce, enhanced enforcement capacity through specialised authorities, and strengthened consumer awareness initiatives. These measures aim to establish a more robust and responsive consumer protection system, fostering trust and fairness in Indonesia’s digital economy. The findings contribute to ongoing discourse on balancing innovation and consumer rights in the digital age.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

AADE, L., Riefa, C., Coll, E., Hunter, J., Simpson, R., Law, S., ... & Goanta, C. (2022). Cross-Border Enforcement of Consumer Law: Looking to the Future. In United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Bank Indonesia. (2024). Statistik Sistem Pembayaran dan Infrastruktur Pasar Keuangan. Retrieved from https://www.bi.go.id/id/statistik/sistem-pembayaran/Default.aspx

Barkas, P. (2024). Consumer Protection and Financial Innovation: Microeconomic, Policy, and Behavioral Considerations for the Digital Era. In Finance, Growth and Democracy: Connections and Challenges in Europe and Latin America in the Era of Permacrisis: Democracy, Finance, and Growth (pp. 263-285). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Benöhr, I. (2020). The United Nations guidelines for consumer protection: Legal implications and new frontiers. Journal of consumer policy, 43(1), 105-124.

BPKN RI. (2023). Laporan Tahunan Perlindungan Konsumen. Retrieved from https://www.bpkn.go.id

Bradley, C. G. (2019). The consumer protection ecosystem: Law, Norms, and technology. DENv. L. REv., 97, 35.

Chawla, N., & Kumar, B. (2022). E-commerce and consumer protection in India: the emerging trend. Journal of Business Ethics, 180(2), 581-604.

Cho, M., & Park, S. (2021). Financial Consumer Protection in the Era of Digital Transformation: A critical survey of literature and policy practices. KDI School of Pub Policy & Management Paper No. DP21-04.

Erin Ann, O. H. (2005). Choice of law for internet transactions: The uneasy case for online consumer protection. University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1883-1950.

Faith, N. L., Naatu, F., & Nassè, T. B. (2025). Investigating Consumer Protection in E-Commerce Transactions: A Focus on Sale of Goods Act of Ghana. Advances in Consumer Research, 2(3).

Google, Temasek, & Bain & Company. (2024). e-Conomy SEA 2024: Southeast Asia's digital decade. Retrieved from https://economysea.withgoogle.com

Harahap, S. A., Hakim, N., & Fitrian, A. (2024). Consumer Legal Protection in E-Commerce Transactions: Consumer Protection Law Perspective. PKM-P, 8(2), 381-385.

Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika Republik Indonesia. (2022). Laporan Tahunan Perlindungan Data Pribadi. Retrieved from https://www.kominfo.go.id

Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika RI. (2023). Strategi Nasional Perlindungan Konsumen Digital. Retrieved from https://www.kominfo.go.id

Mehta, K. R. (2024). The Effectiveness of 2020 E-Commerce Rules in Protecting Consumer Rights. Law and Economy, 3(10), 14-20.

Noor, H., & Sultana, H. (2024). Consumer Protection in Digital Age: A Comprehensive Study of Laws in Pakistan. Indus Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 3(1), 31-48.

OECD. (2022). Consumer protection enforcement in a digital world. OECD Digital Economy Papers, No. 326. https://www.oecd.org/digital/consumer/consumer-protection-enforcement-in-a-digital-world.pdf

Pappalardo, J. K. (2014). Contributions by Federal Trade Commission economists to consumer protection: Research, policy, and law enforcement. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 33(2), 244-255.

Puspitasari, D., & Setjoatmadja, S. (2025). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Consumer Protection Laws in Indonesia: A Case Study of E-Commerce. Jurnal Mediasas: Media Ilmu Syari'ah dan Ahwal Al-Syakhsiyyah, 8(1), 65-75.

Quirk, P., & Rothchild, J. A. (2018). Consumer protection and the Internet. In Handbook of Research on International Consumer Law, Second Edition (pp. 308-339). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Rahardjo, T. M. S., Noerdjaja, H., Pambudi, G. E., & Prabowo, M. S. (2025). Consumer Protection Legal Frameworks in Indonesia: The Challenges of E-Commerce and Data Privacy. Research Horizon, 5(2), 119-128.

Riefa, C., & Grochowski, M. (2023). The enforcement of EU consumer law. In Research handbook on the enforcement of EU Law (pp. 350-364). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Romdoni, I. A. (2024). Legal Analysis of Consumer Protection in E-commerce Transactions. Justisia: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, 2(1), 11-21.

Salim, A., Susilowati, T., & Sejati, H. (2024). Consumer Data Protection In Electronic Transaction Practices In E-Commerce. Jurnal Ekonomi Teknologi dan Bisnis (JETBIS), 3(8), 1044-1053.

Subagyono, B. S. A., Satory, A., Suheryadi, B., Melissa, M., Yeri, H. N., & Indiaty, K. A. L. (2025). In the context of consumer protection law, e-commerce and its settlement: Lesson from Indonesia, Malaysia, and European Union. Journal of Posthumanism, 5(1), 379-397.

Sulastri, R., & Setiawan, D. (2021). Perlindungan hukum terhadap konsumen dalam transaksi e-commerce. Jurnal Hukum dan Pembangunan, 51(1), 151–170.

UNCTAD. (2021). Digital consumer protection. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/dtlstict2021d3_en.pdf

Widiarty, W. S., & Tehupeiory, A. (2024). The Role Of Business Law In Improving Consumer Protection In The Digital Age. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 12(2), 1-12.

Zulham, Z. (2023). A Critical Review Of Indonesian Online Consumer Protection Online Shopping, False Advertising, And Legal Protection For Indonesian E-Commerce Customers. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 11(5), 1-15.

Downloads

Published

2025-04-30

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Consumer Protection in Digital Transactions: An Evaluation of Regulation and the Effectiveness of Law Enforcement. (2025). Leges Privatae, 1(6), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.62872/9x7nf695

Similar Articles

11-20 of 43

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.