Internet law or “cyber” law is an emerging legal field that is still in its infancy. The rapid growth of the internet and the complexities that it encompasses have presented challenges for the legal industry. Internet law is not a particular field of law as much as a specific melding of privacy law, contract law, copyrights, and, in some cases, litigation.
E-Commerce
Laws regarding e-commerce deal with transactions provided via electronic distribution and purchasing channels. Often the interdependent fields of mobile transactions, electronic funds transfers, and digital escrow systems. Often these systems serve as the foundation to digital storefronts which, while providing greater convenience as opposed to their brick-and-mortar counterparts, have a far greater degree of legal complexity to be observed by the proprietor.
Internet Defamation
The convenience of the internet along with its apparent anonymity gives many the illusion that the internet is a suitable place to air one’s gripes. While some cases can indeed be attributed real world grievances being appropriately expressed on a review site, there are many times when such acts could be considered base revenge and possibly defamation. There’s a thin line between the right to free speech and the use of speech to wound a businesses’ online reputation inappropriately.
Often an attorney with experience dealing with internet law must make the decision if the complaint has any basis in presentable facts and whether to pursue legal action. Such decisions can, and often do, take into account the legal jurisdictions of domestic and foreign territories.
Online Privacy
As a matter of daily operations most, if not nearly all, websites collect data regarding visitor behavior. It’s a necessity of the industry that must continually refine itself in order to provide the most seamless and intuitive experience possible. Internet marketers rely on the data collected to pinpoint sales opportunities and, at times, collect user information for the purposes of further marketing efforts such as contact by email.
All of this data collection can run into privacy concerns the laws of which change from country to country. It’s often best to consult an experienced attorney as the small matter of a consultation could prevent legal troubles down the line.