Subject

Ofcom's approach to consumer information

Consumers must play an active and informed role in markets if competition is to be effective. For this to happen, they need information on the products they wish to purchase. If consumers cannot switch easily or buy new services because they do not have the right information, competition does not deliver the intended benefits. In addition, where vulnerable groups of consumers cannot engage in the market, they may fail to benefit from competition or new services that others take for granted.

We recognise that in some cases the market may not deliver to consumers the information they want or need, or may fail to deliver information to certain groups of consumers. Where the market does not deliver the information consumers want or need, Ofcom will consider appropriate intervention where this is deemed to be effective in improving the situation. In such cases, Ofcom will choose the most effective and proportionate option. This could be a self/co-regulatory initiative, an initiative that would involve the provision of information by an independent third party or Ofcom providing the information itself.

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