The survey was carried out by the IWD Market Research Institute for lawyers association World IT Lawyers, reviewing compliance - or rather the lack of it - with laws such as the E-commerce, Distance Selling and Data Protection Directives.
The German market research company found that web sites throughout Europe lack basic information, basic safeguards, and policies that are required under EU law.
Information about the company name and contact details had a high inclusion rate in the web sites surveyed, but matters such as place of business and details of any trade registration were not included so often – 12.8% and 24.7% respectively of sites surveyed.
Only 51.2% of sites include a privacy policy or detail the technical means in which a user’s personal data is protected. The UK fared best, with 71.7% of sites complying. France, at 31.7% of sites complying, was worst, the possible result of it failing to implement the 1995 Data Protection Directive until this year.
Protective measures to ensure no unauthorised use, and to protect against incorrect use or publication on the site showed very poor results throughout the EU, with no such measures on just over 60% of sites. Portugal was far and away the most successful in dealing with these issues, with 62.8% and 49% respectively of its sites complying.
Sixty percent of EU sites do not allow users to object to the use of their data for marketing purposes, contrary to EU law. In Switzerland, according to the survey, no sites comply with this requirement, albeit Switzerland is outside the EU.
While 88.3% of sites manage to clearly indicate the purchase price of their goods or services, 39.2% do not say whether VAT is included and only 53.9% indicate the delivery costs. These are all obligatory under the E-commerce Directive.
Information on the right of a consumer to withdraw from a contract is included in only 29.7% of sites, an obligation of the Distance Selling Directive, and details of the contract procedure is available on only 39.6%.
All in all, EU web sites could do much better, but don’t bother trying to complain if you're a consumer – only 55% of sites will allow you to do this.