GAO Suggests CBP Data-Sharing to Combat Illicit E-Commerce

Customs and Border Protection should consider sharing IP data with the private sector to combat the market for counterfeit goods, the availability of which has grown with the emergence of e-commerce, GAO said Tuesday. After recently buying 47 items through third-party sellers on popular consumer websites, GAO found that 20 of the items were counterfeit. It recommended CBP consult with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine what, if any, information could be beneficial to the private sector. CBP should analyze whether there's a need for regulatory revisions or additional legal authority granted by Congress, GAO said.