The CCTL Obligations Lab Asia organised a hybrid conference on the theme of “Protecting the Digital Consumer in Asia” on 15 and 16 May 2025. Almost 100 delegates registered to joined online or in person and hear about cutting edge research from academic speakers working in Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Macau SAR, Singapore, Thailand, the UK, the USA and Vietnam.

The presentations explored how existing legal frameworks, particularly in private law, need to be reformed to address new challenges in safeguarding consumer rights and interests in the digital environment. Ms. Gilly Wong Fung-han, former Chief Executive of the Consumer Council, Hong Kong SAR, delivered a keynote address to reflect on her tenure under the title of: “Navigating a 12-Year Digital Shift in Hong Kong: Are Consumers Well Protected?”.

The conference provided opportunities for speakers and audiences to engage in mutually beneficial dialogue on issues of consumer protection in the digital environment, including its comparative dimensions. The first day was devoted to a PhD roundtable, in which emerging researchers provided insights into a range of innovative research projects, whereas on the second day established researchers shared their insights on novel consumer protection issues. A particular focus of the conference was the extent to which artificial intelligence created new legal and regulatory challenges in fields as diverse as crypto currencies, telemedicine, mental health chatbots, contract automation, consumer data, dating services, and more.

Selected papers from the conference will be published in a special issue of the Asian Journal of Law and Society (CUP).

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