Consultation response: Sharing economy on users' terms (SOU 2017:26)

IT&Telecom companies have been given the opportunity to respond to the consultation.

The sharing economy is when, for example, short-term rentals of homes, cars or objects, carpooling or services are mediated between private individuals via a platform. Around 10% of the population have made such transactions, but usually only once or twice. The inquiry proposes that the Swedish Consumer Agency be given the task of informing and guiding private individuals about what sharing economy transactions involve.

IT&Telekomföretagen has responded to the consultation and welcomes the report's proposal to strengthen consumer security and confidence in the sharing economy through various forms of information and guidance initiatives. Promoting increased security and trust when using digital services is an important prerequisite for being able to fully utilize the opportunities of digitization. IT&Telecom companies therefore support the inquiry's proposal to task the Swedish Consumer Agency with informing consumers about what the sharing economy means, its opportunities and possible risks, and providing guidance.

IT&Telecom companies also support the inquiry's proposal to investigate the possibilities for self-measures, for example through quality certification, for platform providers in the sharing economy.

See the full consultation response here