Fair Digital Finance is the focus of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day, celebrated March 15 each year.

Digital finance has become a much more significant force in commerce worldwide. It brings new opportunities and new risks that can lead to unfair outcomes for consumers. This year’s event will spark the first-ever global conversation on the consumer vision for fair digital finance.

The event is also part of week-long forum on the same topic, also sponsored by Consumers International, an organization representing 200 consumer groups – including the Consumers Council of Canada – in 100 countries.

The online forum will bring together academics, FinTech experts, representatives from government, business/industry, civil society and the consumer movement to highlight the most pressing challenges in the digital finance environment. It includes multiple sessions each day, most of which are available to the public.

The origins of World Consumer Rights Day trace back to 1962 when President John F. Kennedy addressed the issue of consumer rights in a special message to the U.S. Congress. The consumer movement first marked the date in 1983 and now uses it every year to mobilize action on important issues.