研究有助于我们更好地了解和解决影响俄勒冈人的消费者问题。

促成 OCJ Law 成立的同一法院命令还概述了与俄勒冈大学的合作关系，该合作关系促成了俄勒冈消费者保护基金的成立。该研究成果旨在加强全州的消费者保护、加强消费者教育资源，促进学术界与消费者倡导者之间的合作。每年，由 UO 教职员工、OCJ 工作人员和社区领袖组成的委员会都会对申请进行评估，并向教职员工和研究生（可包括校友）发放高达 30 万美元的研究补助金。今年，共有12个项目获得了资助，涉及与消费者保护相关的广泛主题。

看看这些项目的简短介绍：

教师奖

1. 土地使用法、气候灾害和俄勒冈州黑人、土著和有色人种（BIPOC）及低收入社区的财产投资风险
   该项目将研究当地土地使用法和气候灾害的分布如何影响俄勒冈州黑人、土著和有色人种（BIPOC）及低收入社区的财产投资。该项目将确定推动对位于灾害易发地区的房产进行投资的法律属性，并探索州法律改革以应对这些风险。该项目旨在确保受影响社区不会过多地受到与气候相关的财产风险的影响，并让公众和政策制定者参与潜在的法律改革。
2. 黑暗中的交易
   该项目将调查正常交易时间以外的股票市场活动，重点是保护散户投资者。它旨在记录收盘后交易的规模，并分析其对市场流动性和投资者结果的影响。该研究将强调散户投资者在没有监管保护的情况下进行交易时所面临的潜在风险，并提出可能的改进措施，以确保市场行为更加公平：
   本项目将探讨俄勒冈州消费者保护措施对无住房者的影响，重点是根据 HB 3115 和 Measure 110 进行的地方监管改革。研究将对无房人士进行访谈，以了解他们的经历和服务需求。研究结果将与政策分析和现有数据一起考虑，以评估这些保护措施如何影响住房领域最弱势的人群。
3. 在金融服务中保护消费者的面部生物识别数据
   本项目旨在开发强大的面部识别技术，在金融服务中保护消费者的面部生物识别数据。它将提出一种新方法，即 FBD 政策，防止金融服务提供商滥用或泄漏生物识别数据，同时让消费者从面部识别技术中受益。研究将包括开发反欺骗检测模型和安全的生物识别系统，以抵御高级计算威胁。
4. 在线药品和假药：
   本研究将探讨与假药和使用网上药店有关的公共健康问题。它将制定和测试宣传策略，以提高人们对假药的认识并阻止购买假药。该项目将重点关注俄勒冈州的不同消费者群体，旨在提高公众对网上购药的认识和决策水平，从而增强安全性和信任度。
5. 政治两极化对消费者决策的影响。
   该项目将研究政治两极化如何影响消费者决策，尤其是在使用消费者保护措施和易受欺诈方面。研究将探讨政治信仰如何影响与气候相关的风险决策和其他消费者行为。这项研究将有助于确定改进消费者教育和沟通的方法，以减少政治两极化对决策的负面影响。
6. 高风险：
   本项目将调查综合体育博彩平台对消费者行为的影响。它将研究消费者如何感知和回应来自不同媒体来源的体育博彩信息，包括那些拥有自己体育博彩公司的媒体。该研究旨在了解媒体整合投注平台对赌博行为的影响，并评估媒体影响导致问题赌博增加的可能性：
   本研究将考察联邦抵押贷款延期偿还政策对俄勒冈州房主的影响，重点关注低收入和少数民族群体。其目的是确定暂停政策对弱势群体的财富积累和住房稳定性的影响。该项目将利用各种来源的数据分析经济冲击期间暂缓执行政策的结果，为未来的消费者保护措施提供启示。
7. 促进俄勒冈州 H-2 临时工的健康相关信息和服务
   该项目旨在解决俄勒冈州 H-2 签证临时工的医疗保健获取和信息缺口问题。它将记录这些工人的健康和疾病经历，并评估他们对美国医疗保健系统的了解。该研究将侧重于消费者教育，并与当地组织一起建立意识，以改善临时移徙工人的医疗保健机会和结果。
8. Airbnb 供应对旅游需求激增的响应程度如何？
   该项目将分析 Airbnb 供应如何响应旅游需求的变化，尤其是在住房紧张的市场。它将研究短期租赁对长期租赁可用性和可负担性的影响。该研究将利用各州 COVID-19 限制的数据来估算房产所有者对需求激增的反应能力，从而为政策制定者管理短期租赁对当地住房市场的影响提供见解。研究将分析对经纪人施加信托责任是否会减少利益冲突并提高财务咨询质量。研究将使用有关顾问不当行为和金融产品推荐的数据来评估信托责任法规在保护消费者和促进金融顾问道德行为方面的有效性。

Faculty Awards

1. Trading in the Dark

   Oregon has seen an increase in overnight trading, a practice that poses consumer risk due to its lack of regulation, misleading industry promotion, and disproportionately high costs to retail investors. Preliminary findings show negative consequences of overnight trading for market participants who trade during regular market hours, highlighting the importance of understanding its full impact and opportunities for intervention.

2. Race, Gender, and Consumer Credibility

   This research explores how race and gender-based stereotypes influence perceptions of consumer credibility when individuals share negative experiences with products or services. Prior studies suggest that socioeconomic status, race, and gender shape how consumers are judged, affecting outcomes such as warranty claims and online reviews. By identifying these biases, the study seeks to highlight systemic disparities in consumer experiences.

3. Documenting Oregon's Home Insurance Crisis Amid Rising Wildfire Risk

   Wildfires have intensified across the western U.S., leading to rising home insurance premiums and reduced coverage, particularly in Oregon. This has created an "insurance crisis," disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including low-income and manufactured home owners. Researchers will use a mixed-methods study using geospatial data, regulatory filings, and case studies in high-risk counties to assess consumer experiences and advocate for stronger protections.

4. Protecting Consumers' Privacy in Accessing Wi-Fi Services

   Public Wi-Fi networks pose significant privacy and security risks for consumers, including exposure to cyber threats like identity theft and fraud. This research seeks to explore a new Privacy-Enhanced-Access (PEA) policy, which mandates mutual authentication between users and Wi-Fi providers. The long-term goal is to develop and implement privacy-enhanced Wi-Fi standards that better protect consumers from tracking, profiling, and unauthorized data collection.

5. Children and Chatbots: Regulating Generative AI and Synthetic Media in Oregon

   This research investigates how generative AI chatbots and digital companions impact children and young adults, raising concerns about data privacy, misinformation, consumer manipulation, and mental health risks. While laws such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and Oregon's Consumer Privacy Act (OCPA) offer some safeguards, they may not fully address the risks posed by AI-driven platforms designed for children. The project will conduct comparative legal research, focus groups, interviews, and surveys to examine how young people interact with these technologies, the risks they face, and potential regulatory solutions.

Graduate Student Awards

6. TikTok Refugees Find a Home in Xiaohongshu (RedNote): Implications for Oregon Consumers

   This study investigates consumer protection concerns for Oregon consumers migrating from TikTok to RedNote following the U.S. government's “TikTok ban.” Through interviews and surveys, the research explores how digital literacy influences users' understanding of platform risks, terms of service, and their rights under Oregon law—with a focus on those who relied on TikTok for income and now face economic vulnerability. The study aims to inform policies and educational efforts that better support consumers in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

7. Outsized Impacts: Medical Sexual Assault Protections and Prevention for Patient-Consumers

   Medical sexual assault (MSA)—which includes inappropriate sexual behavior by healthcare providers—is a widespread but underreported issue across our state and nation. Survivors often suffer long-term mental and physical health consequences and may avoid future medical care, worsening health outcomes, and increasing costs. While Oregon has strong legal frameworks to address MSA, gaps remain in public education about this issue. Leveraging interview-based research on patient experiences, this project aims to develop effective educational tools and improve patient safety.

8. Wildfires and Property Insurance Premiums in Oregon

   This project aims to inform Oregonians about the relationship between the Oregon State Wildfire Hazard Map and property insurance costs in the state. It will analyze extensive documentation from state government and national groups to determine a timeline of legislative decisions, the map's implementation, and rising property insurance costs across the state. This analysis aims to inform policy recommendations that include interventions in the insurance industry, subsidies for low- and moderate-income households, and possible amendments to the Oregon FAIR Plan.