An industry network tackling ethical challenges in ecommerce

We are connected by the drive to create respectful businesses and respectful technology

Welcome to the Ethical Commerce Alliance.

An industry network tackling ethical challenges in ecommerce

We are connected by the drive to create respectful businesses and respectful technology

Putting humans and their digital rights at the centre

The Ethical Commerce Alliance is the industry network exploring how ethical values make a difference in economic success and foster a thriving digital society. Together, we strive to enable businesses to act responsibly and ultimately end the damaging surveillance economy.

We aim to extend empathy.co’s core principles beyond company boundaries, as we evolve from its vision and values. The ECA sets a new tone for a more ethical use of personal data and a sustainable, human-centric approach to technology.

Guiding businesses towards a more respectful technology

The ECA provides an open space for education and knowledge sharing, including clear guidelines to avoid privacy violations and offer recommendations beyond the baseline of GDPR compliance. With industry leaders and experts, as humans, we are all connected by the drive to create respectful businesses and respectful technology.

We are developers, marketers, business owners, consumers, academics, writers, consultants, philosophers, speakers, ethicists, data scientists, retailers, thought leaders, and so much more. We set ethical values atop every business' agenda because we believe ethical values are not a luxury but a necessity to sustain a healthy, thriving economy and society.

Individuals must
hold the power

A role model for making privacy protection easier and more accessible for businesses and individuals

At the core of positive customer-brand relationships is reciprocal interest based on trust. A safe online shopping experience can only be secured with the customer holding the power over their personal data.

Customers have the opportunity to shape their own personalised shopping, giving active consent for brands to use specific data to customise their experience.

Building a network of industry stakeholders taking accountability

As an Alliance, we explore how to rebuild trust in ecommerce through adopting privacy-first measures in the digital world. While encouraging innovation and creative thinking, we build awareness and offer recommendations for implementing more ethical business practices.

Together we are a strong network of industry stakeholders who take accountability for our actions. Together we push for sustainable growth towards an overall responsibility for data ethics in our digital society.

Levelling the playing field for businesses and organisations by sharing insights and perspectives.

Guiding towards more responsible and ethical practices in data protection.

We support businesses on their path to implementing higher ethical standards

Our Alliance connects brands and industry experts in a collaborative space to gather knowledge, share best practices and rebuild our current systems.

Prioritising ethical values in work structures and roadmaps ensures long-term success, customer loyalty, brand recognition and a positive reputation.

Together, our core mission is to pave the way for ecommerce solutions that support a respectful consumer experience

We help businesses achieve this through ethical design creating a sustainable, responsible, human-centred culture.

ECA guidelines provide general guidance on fostering digital trust and pursuing ethical values

The core values of the ECA

Respect

Honour every customer’s right to privacy and to be forgotten. They can give or withdraw explicit consent for the use of their data.

Fairness

Treat customers as human beings and put their digital rights first. Exploiting personal data is ultimately more harmful than beneficial to businesses.

Transparency

Customers should be able to easily understand how, where and why their data is used, transferred and stored. The ECA works towards transparent handling of personal data.

Diversity

Foster a vibrant culture that unifies different perspectives and creates opportunities for better ideas and results.

Inclusion

Provide a welcoming culture that is open for everyone, indifferent of their situations, conditions or backgrounds.

Ownership

The entity requesting personal information needs to ensure the sole data owner is the person identified in the data. This person consents to data use in a simple, transparent, unambiguous process and always has the right to withdraw.

Reflection

As technology and research progresses, so must the regulations around data ethics. The ECA will keep up to date, being open and willing to explore new perspectives to pave the way for higher ethical standards and a safer digital world.

We are developers, marketers, business owners, consumers, academics, writers, consultants, philosophers, speakers, ethicists, data scientists, retailers, thought leaders, and so much more.

Rewatch our past events

Any questions?

Reach out to

Beatriz García

Events Specialist

Katrin Goethals

Enablement Manager

Nina Müller

ECA Director

Zaida Pardo

Membership Manager
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