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Legal issues in mobile banking

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Abstract

The use of mobile phones in order to effectuate banking transactions is bound to increase in a significant way in the near future. This growth in mobile financial services not only depends on technological advances, but also on consumer confidence in the provided services. Mobile financial services can be divided into mobile banking and mobile payment; therefore, legal certainty must be established as to what supervisory regime applies to the various activities involving banks and non-banks. Mobile banking activities fall within the scope of the banking business, and oversight is provided by the competent financial market authority for prudential supervision, if the definition of banking activities encompasses all relevant mobile banking activities. Furthermore, legal aspects also play a role in the evolution of mobile banking as far as the need to enhance customer trust in the offered services is concerned. Major issues arise in relation to data security and consumer protection. Moreover, the outsourcing of certain key activities to mobile operators deserves further attention, as mobile operators can, under specific circumstances, become deeply involved in mobile banking.

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  1. University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 74/38, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland

    Rolf H Weber & Aline Darbellay

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  1. Rolf H Weber
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  2. Aline Darbellay
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Correspondence to Rolf H Weber.

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Weber, R., Darbellay, A. Legal issues in mobile banking. J Bank Regul 11, 129–145 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1057/jbr.2009.16

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