Do anti discrimination provisions apply to online as well as brick and mortar retail vendors?
<p>Suppose a shop commits unlawful discrimination by selling products to only one race or only one sex, and a court rules that this constitutes direct unlawful discrimination. Now suppose that a website practises the same policy, with respect to the same product, only online, perhaps by requiring customers to tick a declaration that they belong to X or Y gender or race. Is there any reason why a court may rule differently with respect to the online vendor, simply because the discrimination is committed online? I can imagine that quantum may be less for damages, as one would suffer the discrimination in private without the aggravating factor of public humiliation likely in front of other members of the public. But apart from this, are there any otherlegal differences between discrimination committed online and in brick and mortar venues?</p>

<p>Do anti discrimination provisions apply to online as well as brick and mortar retail vendors?</p>
<p><strong>Yes</strong></p>
<p>There is nothing in the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Equality Act 2010</a> in general - nor in the definitions of <em>Prohibited Conduct</em> found within <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/part/2/chapter/2?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Part 2, Chapter 2</a> in particular - that excludes, exempts or otherwise makes allowances for unlawful discrimination according to what business model is being used.</p>
<p>This view is supported by <a href="https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services1/identifying-discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services-who-s-treating-you-unfairly/#:%7E:text=The%20Equality%20Act%20says%20you,by%20telephone%20or%20online" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Citizens Advice</a> who say that...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Equality Act says you mustn’t be discriminated against when you buy or receive goods, in many different places including:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>shops, supermarkets, market stalls or charity shops</p>
</li>
<li><p>at an auction</p>
</li>
<li><p>by telephone or <strong>online</strong></p>
</li>
<li><p>by catalogue or through doorstep sales.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

england-and-wales discrimination online retail