Present real-life cases illustrating how consumer rights were protected or violated.

Sure, here are a few examples:

1. Case of Apple Inc. (Violation): In 2020, Apple Inc. was fined €25 million by France's competition and fraud watchdog DGCCRF for deliberately slowing down older iPhone models without making it clear to consumers. This is a violation of consumer rights as the company failed to provide full information about the performance of its products.

2. Case of Volkswagen (Violation): The Volkswagen emissions scandal, also known as Dieselgate, is another example of consumer rights violation. In 2015, the company admitted to cheating on emissions tests for 11 million vehicles worldwide. This misled consumers about the environmental impact and performance of their vehicles.

3. Case of Wells Fargo (Violation): Wells Fargo, a major US bank, created millions of unauthorized savings and checking accounts on behalf of its clients without their consent. This scandal, uncovered in 2016, is a clear violation of consumer rights.

4. Case of British Airways (Protection): In 2019, British Airways faced a record £183m fine for a data breach that affected half a million of its customers. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said the airline had "poor security arrangements" to protect customer data. This fine shows the enforcement of consumer rights to data protection.

5. Case of Equifax (Protection): In 2017, Equifax, one of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies in the US, suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of 147 million people. The company agreed to a global settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and 50 U.S. states and territories. The settlement included up to $425 million to help people affected by the data breach, demonstrating the protection of consumer rights.