How do we keep users safe? What role should the government play as regulator? Can marketplaces really police themselves?
These were just some of the questions in a free-flowing discussion of the challenges and opportunities facing the sharing economy in the months and years ahead. On 17th October, the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills brought together a motley crew of savvy start-up entrepreneurs, passionate activists and keen government staff from a number of departments to talk about one thing: Trust in the sharing economy.
As engaged members of the sharing economy, the British government wanted to know how we envisioned this space in 2025. We dreamed of a perfect world where there were clear laws and regulations from the government; where working systems of redress kicked in when trust breaks down; where the sharing economy is the “new normal”, and where millions of users behaved according to an agreed code of conduct. One cheeky participant asked: Why wait until 2025?
We love lists in the 21st century and, as it turns out, so does the British government. They asked us to list what we thought were the biggest challenges facing the sharing economy. In no particular order, we listed safety, transparency, privacy, verification, insurance and digital inclusion. Can we ever be certain of a person’s identity online? How do we engage pensioners and those from less advantageous economic backgrounds in collaborative consumption? Is it time to rethink consumer rights legislation for the sharing economy?
As a reputation aggregator in the sharing economy, eRated was especially interested in how we can bring together the history and reputation of sharers online to make their lives easier in every marketplace. I was of course delighted to hear one participant ask: Why can’t there be a universal reputation score for every user? Well, that’s what keeps us at eRated up at night!
There was a pretty clear consensus that, for all its risks, collaborative consumers are making the sharing economy a safe place. One insightful comment from a Blablacar staff member noted that drivers are working harder to drive safe in their marketplace because it’s not just the police watching anymore, but thousands of fellow marketplace motorists. Daniel from BIS said his place is never cleaner then when he’s about to AirBnB it! There’s no doubt that intervention from the government can be a positive force, but the people who share are a pretty responsible bunch. We care about our sharing communities.
Turning strangers into friends is something we can all get behind. By strengthening our sharing communities with clearer regulations and codes of conduct, opening new roles for insurance companies, bringing together our various online reputations and protecting our data, we can help make sharing easier, safer and more transparent.
We are delighted to see the sharing economy at the top of the British government’s agenda. This is one sure sign that the sharing economy is far from being a fad and, at least for this small group, is undoubtedly the future.