Amazon and Fnac face legal action in France for failing buyers over connected objects

French consumer association UFC-Que Choisir has decided to take Amazon and Fnac to court over their failings to give buyers essential information about the connected objects sold on their e-commerce platforms. According to the association, these objects belong to complex ecosystems and potential buyers should have access to their essential features (interoperability, communication protocol and manufacturer, among others), before making a purchase.

The move follows a campaign initiated in mid-2017, when UFC-Que Choisir contacted ten e-commerce platforms, urging them to improve the information provided on connected objects. Quoting a previous legal case against Darty, the association said that the obligation to provide the necessary information to consumers always falls on the retailer dealing directly with potential buyers.