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CHAPTER 11
Maintaining Compliance for E-Commerce Websites

COMPLIANCE MAY BE AN EVEN more important part of the design of an e-commerce website than its look and feel. Compliance means that a website’s design and function has considered, implemented, and abides by the regulations, industry requirements and guidelines, and societal norms that apply to its owning or operating organization, its message or content, and even the products or services it offers. For most websites, compliance is not an add-on but is designed into the site from the start.

In this chapter, we look at the various elements that websites must consider and possibly exhibit to comply with the various laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards and to avoid the possible repercussions of compliance-related mistakes in their design and operation. Failing to be compliant to the applicable requirements is serious and could find both the designer and the customer in legal trouble.