During a group discussion on the draft Law on E-Commerce this afternoon, National Assembly deputies shared numerous opinions on the responsibilities of sellers and platform owners in the digital marketplace.
Delegate Be Minh Duc (Cao Bang) pointed out that the draft law currently requires sellers on e-commerce platforms to “provide electronic identification information to platform administrators if operating domestically, and legal business documentation if based abroad.”
To support new sellers entering the market, he proposed amending the regulation to only require identity verification once the seller reaches the taxable income threshold.
He also recommended that e-commerce platform operators be held responsible for protecting user data, preventing the sale, exchange, or transfer of consumer information.
Delegate Be Minh Duc. Photo: National Assembly
Notably, Duc suggested imposing penalties on suppliers of counterfeit, substandard, or fake goods that harm consumer rights.
If a consumer files a complaint involving such products, the supplier must be held accountable and issue refunds to affected consumers.
Delegate Ma Thi Thuy (Tuyen Quang) emphasized that the draft law must clearly define the legal obligations of e-commerce platform owners in organizing, managing, and monitoring electronic transactions. This would provide legal grounds for authorities to hold platforms accountable for violations or neglect of duty.
Vietnam currently has over 70,000 e-commerce websites and apps, many of which are cross-border platforms that fail to comply with domestic regulations. Thousands of consumer complaints related to e-commerce transactions remain unresolved due to platforms denying responsibility.
Thuy noted that countries like China and South Korea have already enacted policies requiring seller verification, removal of illegal listings, and consumer protection - models Vietnam should consider.
She recommended introducing mandatory tools on e-commerce platforms that allow users to submit complaints, and requiring platform owners to receive and address those complaints.
Delegate Ma Thi Thuy. Photo: National Assembly
Additionally, platform owners should bear joint responsibility if they are aware - or have grounds to believe - that a seller has violated the law but fail to take preventative or corrective measures.
She urged the government to detail regulations on seller verification, the procedure for removing illegal listings, and the timeframe for storing transaction data.
According to Thuy, such regulations would better protect consumers, reduce risks in online shopping, and offer a transparent complaint mechanism with clear points of contact. At the same time, they would compel sellers to comply with the law and foster a fairer market, reducing the impact of counterfeit or banned goods.
Delegate Nguyen Thi Lan (Hanoi) acknowledged that the current draft law includes clauses on the responsibilities of platform owners in protecting consumers.
Delegate Nguyen Thi Lan. Photo: National Assembly
However, she noted the draft still lacks specific rules on seller identity verification and the mechanism for automatic refunds.
Lan highlighted the persistent threat of counterfeit sales and fraud on e-commerce platforms, which continues to undermine consumer trust and the sustainable growth of the digital market.
She called for the inclusion of mandatory complaint and auto-refund mechanisms to protect consumers in cases of order cancellations, misrepresented products, or suspected fraud.
She also stressed the need for platform owners to verify seller identities using electronic authentication tools to ensure transparency and reinforce trust in Vietnam’s e-commerce sector.
Vietnamnet.vn
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