Share your needs with us, get contacted by law firms.
Free. Takes 2 min.
E-commerce and Internet Law in Vouliagmeni operates within the Greek legal system and the European Union framework. Businesses and individuals in Vouliagmeni must comply with national consumer protection rules, data protection obligations under the EU General Data Protection Regulation, and EU-wide digital market regulations that govern online sales, marketing, platform operations, and cross-border transactions. Because Vouliagmeni is part of the Athens metropolitan area, most administrative and court processes will be handled by authorities in Attica, while enforcement bodies are national regulators with jurisdiction across Greece.
If you sell online, provide digital services, run a marketplace, use cookies, process personal data, send marketing communications, or operate a platform with user content, you are subject to rules on transparency, pricing, returns, privacy, security, intellectual property, and competition. Greek authorities actively enforce these rules, and consumers in Greece are highly protected. A local lawyer can help tailor EU and Greek requirements to the way your website, app, or online store actually works.
You may need a lawyer if you plan to launch an online store or app and want compliant terms and policies. Legal counsel can draft terms of service, privacy and cookie notices, refund and warranty policies, and platform rules that fit your specific flows, including checkout, subscriptions, auto-renewals, and user-generated content. Proper drafting can reduce legal risk and customer complaints.
You may need help responding to a regulator inquiry, consumer complaint, or an investigation by the Hellenic Data Protection Authority about cookies, email marketing consent, cross-border data transfers, or a data breach. Counsel can manage deadlines, mitigate penalties, and interface with authorities.
You may be involved in disputes about chargebacks, unfair commercial practices, misleading pricing or reviews, counterfeit or copyright-infringing listings, domain name conflicts, or negative content published about your business. A lawyer can handle takedowns, DMCA-style notices adapted to Greek law, platform escalation, interim measures, and litigation strategy in Athens courts.
You may need guidance on cross-border VAT, the EU One-Stop Shop scheme, invoicing through Greek tax systems, or platform liabilities under the Digital Services Act. Counsel can align your operations with payment rules, strong customer authentication, and marketplace trader verification duties.
If you process personal data, a lawyer can help with GDPR data mapping, choosing lawful bases, drafting data processing agreements, handling international transfers, and setting up consent mechanisms for cookies and direct marketing that meet Greek guidance.
Consumer protection and distance selling. Greek consumer law implements EU directives on distance contracts. You must present clear pre-contract information, including your legal identity, contact details, total price inclusive of taxes, delivery costs, payment methods, delivery times, and the existence of a 14-day right of withdrawal for consumers, plus a model withdrawal form. There are exceptions to withdrawal such as custom-made goods, sealed hygiene products once unsealed, perishable goods, and digital content once the consumer has consented to immediate supply and acknowledged loss of withdrawal. Price reduction announcements must follow EU Omnibus rules, including using the lowest price in the past 30 days as the reference for discounts. Unfair commercial practices such as fake reviews, hidden advertising, and drip pricing are prohibited. Legal guarantees apply to consumer goods, and remedies such as repair, replacement, price reduction, or refund must be available.
E-commerce service provider duties. Under the EU E-commerce Directive as implemented in Greece, you must display key information on your site such as company name, geographic address, registration number, VAT number, and contact details. You should provide easy access to terms, ordering steps, technical means to correct input errors, and order confirmation. Liability limitations apply to mere conduit, caching, and hosting, but you must act expeditiously to remove or disable access to illegal content once you obtain knowledge, and you should operate notice-and-action mechanisms.
Digital Services Act. The EU Digital Services Act now applies to online intermediaries, marketplaces, and platforms. Obligations scale by size, but most providers must maintain a point of contact, publish clear terms and content rules, operate a notice system for illegal content, provide statements of reasons when moderating content, and verify marketplace traders and display trader details to consumers. Very large platforms face additional risk assessments and transparency obligations.
Data protection and cookies. GDPR applies to any processing of personal data related to offering goods or services in Greece. You must identify a lawful basis, honor rights of access and erasure, implement security measures, keep records where required, and appoint a Data Protection Officer if your core activities trigger it. International transfers must rely on an adequacy decision such as the EU-US Data Privacy Framework for certified recipients, or on standard contractual clauses with transfer impact assessments. Cookies and tracking are also governed by Greek e-privacy rules, which generally require prior consent for non-essential cookies. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority has issued guidance on cookie banners, consent granularity, and prohibitions on pre-ticked boxes.
Payments, PSD2, and SCA. If you accept cards or online banking, strong customer authentication applies in Greece. Work with payment service providers that support SCA, and design flows to manage exemptions and delegated authentication while minimizing cart abandonment. Refunds for withdrawals must be made within statutory deadlines, and chargeback disputes should be handled through clear policies consistent with consumer law.
VAT, pricing, and invoicing. Greek VAT generally applies to domestic sales at the standard rate, with reduced rates for certain categories. Cross-border sales within the EU may be reported through the One-Stop Shop. Prices offered to consumers must be shown inclusive of VAT and any mandatory fees. Greek businesses must comply with national invoicing and the myDATA electronic books regime through the Independent Authority for Public Revenue.
Intellectual property and domain names. Greek copyright law and EU regulations protect content, software, images, and databases. Trademarks can be national or EU-wide. .gr domain names are regulated by the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission, with policies for allocation, disputes, and transfers. Online sellers and marketplaces must address counterfeit goods and provide notice-and-takedown mechanisms that respect due process.
Marketing and advertising. Email and SMS marketing to individuals typically requires prior opt-in, subject to a limited soft opt-in for existing customers offering similar products if an easy opt-out is provided. Influencer marketing must be clearly identifiable as advertising. Special rules apply to sensitive sectors such as health, alcohol, and promotions aimed at minors. Price comparison, rankings, and reviews must be transparent, and fake or manipulated reviews are prohibited.
Cybersecurity and incident response. You must implement proportionate security measures to protect personal data and service continuity. If you process personal data, you must notify the Hellenic Data Protection Authority of a data breach within 72 hours when required and notify affected individuals if the risk is high. Certain sectors are subject to specific network and information security rules, and EU-wide requirements are tightening.
Local practicalities in Vouliagmeni. While the substantive rules are national and EU-based, contracts, disputes, and enforcement actions for businesses in Vouliagmeni typically proceed before Athens courts and authorities in Attica. If you maintain a physical pick-up point or showroom in Vouliagmeni, ensure compliant consumer disclosures at the location and coordinate with municipal requirements on signage and hours.
You must display your legal name, geographic address, contact email or phone, business registry number if applicable, VAT number, prices inclusive of VAT and any mandatory charges, delivery costs where applicable, key steps to place an order, accepted payment methods, terms and conditions, privacy notice, cookie notice, and details about the 14-day withdrawal right and how to exercise it. If you operate a marketplace, show trader identity to consumers before purchase.
Consent is generally required for non-essential cookies such as analytics, advertising, and social media trackers. Essential cookies that are strictly necessary for the service do not require consent. Consent must be freely given, informed, specific, and unambiguous, with a clear reject option at the same level as accept, and it should be as easy to withdraw as to give.
Consumers buying at a distance have 14 days from delivery to cancel without giving a reason. You must refund all payments including standard delivery costs within 14 days of being informed, although you may withhold the refund until you receive the goods or the consumer supplies proof of sending them back. The consumer pays return shipping unless you agree otherwise. Certain categories are exempt such as custom goods and unsealed hygiene items.
All online intermediaries must provide a contact point, publish clear terms including content moderation rules, and operate notice-and-action for illegal content. Marketplaces must verify traders, display trader details, and provide post-purchase traceability information. Additional transparency reports and risk mitigation apply as services grow in size and reach. Your lawyer can assess which tier you fall into and prepare compliant processes and documentation.
For new prospects you usually need prior opt-in. A soft opt-in is allowed for existing customers where you obtained their email during a sale of similar goods or services, provided you offer a clear opt-out at collection and in every message. Business-to-business marketing has different rules but must still respect privacy and opt-out rights. Maintain records of consent and preferences.
If you sell to consumers in other EU countries, you can use the One-Stop Shop to declare VAT due in those countries through a single quarterly return. Ensure your prices include the correct VAT rate by destination. For Greece-based businesses, domestic invoices and myDATA reporting still apply. Obtain tax advice coordinated with legal compliance to align your checkout, invoicing, and ERP.
Yes, properly presented clickwrap where users actively agree to clear and accessible terms is generally enforceable. Avoid browsewrap that relies on passive use. Keep version records, time stamps, and language options. For consumers, ensure that any potentially unfair term is highlighted and that mandatory consumer rights are not waived.
Activate your incident response plan, contain the breach, and assess risks. If the breach is likely to result in a risk to individuals, notify the Hellenic Data Protection Authority within 72 hours and document your assessment. If there is a high risk, notify affected individuals without undue delay. Coordinate with your processors, payment providers, insurers, and counsel. Use templates and evidence to meet regulatory expectations.
Set up clear notice-and-takedown procedures, verify traders, monitor for repeat infringers, and preserve evidence. When you receive a specific and credible notice, act expeditiously to remove or disable access. Provide statements of reasons to users and an internal complaint mechanism. For persistent infringement, escalate to law enforcement or civil action, and consider proactive measures consistent with EU rules.
Civil and commercial disputes are generally handled by courts in Athens for businesses located in Vouliagmeni, subject to jurisdiction rules and consumer forum protections. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority oversees privacy matters, the General Secretariat for Commerce and Consumer Protection and the Hellenic Consumer Ombudsman address consumer complaints, the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission oversees .gr domains and certain online service issues, and the Hellenic Police Cyber Crime Division investigates cyber offenses.
Hellenic Data Protection Authority for GDPR guidance, cookie enforcement, and breach notifications.
General Secretariat for Commerce and Consumer Protection at the Ministry of Development for consumer rules, price reduction guidance, and inspections.
Hellenic Consumer Ombudsman for mediation and alternative dispute resolution in consumer disputes.
European Consumer Centre Greece for cross-border consumer help within the EU.
Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission for .gr domain name policies and online intermediary oversight within its remit.
Independent Authority for Public Revenue for VAT registration, OSS information, and myDATA electronic books.
Hellenic Police Cyber Crime Division for reporting online fraud, cyberattacks, and related offenses.
Hellenic Copyright Organization and Industrial Property Organization for copyright and trademark information and procedures.
Hellenic Competition Commission for matters involving online market competition and unfair practices at scale.
Clarify your online business model, including what you sell, where you sell, how you market, which data you process, and whether you host user content or operate as a marketplace. Map your user journeys such as account creation, checkout, subscription renewal, returns, and complaints.
Gather key documents and data flows such as existing terms, privacy notices, cookie lists, marketing lists and consent records, agreements with processors and vendors, payment and VAT setup, and any prior regulator correspondence or incidents.
Consult a lawyer experienced in e-commerce and data protection in Greece. Ask for a gap assessment against Greek consumer law, GDPR and e-privacy, the E-commerce Directive, the Digital Services Act, PSD2 and SCA, VAT and invoicing rules, and intellectual property enforcement. Request practical deliverables such as updated terms, privacy and cookie notices, returns and warranty policy, marketplace trader verification and notice procedures, and internal playbooks for incidents and complaints.
Implement fixes with cross-functional teams. Update your website and app content, consent mechanisms, checkout and pricing displays, contract templates, and internal processes. Train staff who handle customer service, marketing, and data.
Plan ongoing compliance. Schedule regular audits of cookies and trackers, consent logs, marketing practices, price reductions, reviews transparency, and platform moderation. Monitor EU and Greek legal changes and enforcement trends, and adjust quickly.
If you face an urgent issue such as a data breach, takedown request, regulator inquiry, or media complaint, contact counsel immediately, preserve evidence, and follow an agreed escalation plan. Early action can significantly reduce risk and cost.
This guide provides general information and is not legal advice. For advice tailored to your situation in Vouliagmeni, consult a qualified Greek lawyer who focuses on e-commerce and internet law.
