Consumer Protection and Ethical Issues in Marketing: Rights, Misleading Ads, Privacy and Sustainability (Overview) Questions

Question 1

Define consumer protection.

Accepted Answer

Consumer protection refers to measures and laws that safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices and exploitation.

Question 2

State the right to safety.

Accepted Answer

The right to safety is the consumer’s right to be protected against goods and services that are hazardous to life and health.

Question 3

What is a misleading advertisement?

Accepted Answer

A misleading advertisement is an ad that creates a false or incorrect impression by making false claims or hiding important conditions.

Question 4

What is greenwashing?

Accepted Answer

Greenwashing is making false or exaggerated eco-friendly claims to appear environmentally responsible without real evidence.

Question 5

State any one consumer responsibility.

Accepted Answer

Keeping bills/receipts and warranty cards is one consumer responsibility.

Question 6

What is the right to seek redressal?

Accepted Answer

The right to seek redressal is the consumer’s right to receive remedy such as refund, replacement or compensation for defective goods and unfair practices.

Question 7

List any three consumer rights.

Accepted Answer

Any three consumer rights are:

- **Right to safety**
- **Right to be informed**
- **Right to choose**
- Right to be heard / redressal / education (any other valid rights acceptable).

Question 8

Differentiate between consumer rights and consumer responsibilities (any three points).

Accepted Answer

Difference:

| Basis | **Consumer rights** | **Consumer responsibilities** |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | protections given to consumers | duties expected from consumers |
| Nature | claimable entitlements | proper conduct for safe/fair buying |
| Example | **right to be informed** | read labels and keep bills |

Both together improve fairness and reduce disputes.

Question 9

Explain unethical marketing practices (any three) with examples.

Accepted Answer

Unethical marketing practices (any three) include:

- **Misleading ads**: false claims about benefits.
- **Hidden charges**: extra fees revealed at checkout.
- **Short weights/measures**: giving less quantity than stated.

Example: Showing “₹999” but adding mandatory fees later is deceptive pricing.

Question 10

Explain misleading advertisements: types and impact on consumers (short).

Accepted Answer

Misleading ads can be:

- **False claims** (exaggerated benefits)
- **Incomplete information** (hiding conditions)
- **Bait advertising** (lure then switch)

Impact:
- wrong purchase decisions and **financial loss**
- safety/health risks
- loss of **trust** in brands

Question 11

Explain the right to be informed and mention any three types of information a consumer should receive.

Accepted Answer

The **right to be informed** means consumers must get complete and truthful information to make a correct purchase decision.

Information that should be provided (any three):
- **Price** (including taxes/hidden charges)
- **Quality/quantity** (weight, size, ingredients)
- **Expiry date/warranty** and terms
- Usage instructions/side effects (where relevant)

| Information | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Price + terms | avoids deception |
| Warranty/expiry | reduces risk |

Question 12

Explain consumer redressal (complaint handling) steps with a neat flow (any three steps).

Accepted Answer

Consumer redressal is the process of seeking remedy for defective goods or unfair practices.

Steps (any three):
- Collect **proof** (bill, warranty, screenshots).
- Complain to seller/company (customer care/portal).
- Escalate to consumer forum/regulator if unresolved.

Flow (write): Proof → Complaint → Escalation → Remedy (refund/replace/compensation)

Question 13

Explain privacy and data ethics in digital marketing. Suggest measures for ethical practice (use a table).

Accepted Answer

Digital marketing uses consumer data for targeting and personalization, which raises privacy and ethical issues.

### Key issues
- Tracking without **consent**
- Misuse/sharing of **personal data**
- Data breaches and identity risks
- Spam/over-targeting

### Ethical measures
- Provide clear **privacy policy** and obtain informed consent.
- Collect minimum necessary data (data minimisation).
- Secure storage and access controls.
- Offer opt-out and respect user choices.

| Issue | **Keyword** | Ethical practice |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking | **consent** | permission-based cookies/app tracking |
| Data misuse | **security** | encryption + access control |

### Conclusion
Ethical data use builds trust and reduces legal/reputational risk.

Question 14

Explain consumer rights and how they protect consumers in the marketplace (include a small table).

Accepted Answer

Consumer rights are protections that ensure fair treatment and informed choices.

### How rights protect consumers
- **Safety**: reduces harm from unsafe goods.
- **Informed**: prevents deception by requiring truthful information.
- **Choose**: prevents forced selling/tying.
- **Heard + Redressal**: provides complaint and remedy mechanism.

| Right | Protection outcome |
|---|---|
| **Informed** | reduces misleading purchases |
| **Redressal** | enables refund/compensation |

### Conclusion
Awareness and enforcement of rights improve market fairness and consumer confidence.

Question 15

Discuss sustainability and ethical issues in marketing, including greenwashing. Suggest responsible practices (flow/table).

Accepted Answer

Sustainability in marketing means promoting and delivering products responsibly (reduced waste, ethical sourcing, fair communication).

### Greenwashing
**Greenwashing** is making vague or false “eco-friendly” claims without evidence.

### Responsible practices
- Use verifiable **evidence/certifications** for green claims.
- Provide transparent lifecycle info (materials, recycling).
- Avoid vague terms like “100% green” without proof.
- Use ethical pricing and fair terms.

| Risk | **Keyword** | Responsible action |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwashing | **proof** | certification + measurable claims |
| Waste | **reduce** | recyclable packaging |

Flow (write): Responsible sourcing → Honest communication → Sustainable packaging → Trust + loyalty

### Conclusion
Ethical sustainability builds long-term trust; greenwashing destroys credibility and may invite legal action.

Consumer Protection and Ethical Issues in Marketing: Rights, Misleading Ads, Privacy and Sustainability (Overview)

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