Welcome to the Ethical Commerce Alliance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
around digital trust and data ethics beyond legal compliance. Educate, inform and guide individuals, institutions and businesses to embrace practices safeguarding privacy.
for the way we interact with technology and act responsibly in the online world. Understand your actions and the impact they can have on others.
by acting honestly and responsibly as a business. Connect with your customers by displaying competency and reliability. Trust is earned by giving trust, built upon transparency and respect.
in your work structure and culture. Foster an environment open to discussions, knowledge sharing, and accountability.
Boost people’s confidence to speak out.
beyond legal compliance. Personal data needs an extra layer of protection. Privacy policies should contain clear language that is easily understood and context-related. This process gives people control while maintaining transparency.
in your workflows and algorithms. We’re all humans and we make mistakes. Monitoring, reflecting and adjusting is a process that helps stay up to date with measures needed to protect individuals’ basic human rights.