UK government investigating in-app purchase pressure on children
The investigation is focusing on games that directly target children, the OFT says, via excessive pressure to make a purchase or to do something that requires a purchase. The OFT states this is illegal under the country's Consumer Protection Regulations Act of 2008.
"We are concerned that children and their parents could be subject to unfair pressure to purchase when they are playing games they thought were free, but which can actually run up substantial costs," said OFT Senior Director for Goods and Consumer Cavendish Elithorn. "The OFT is not seeking to ban in-game purchases, but the games industry must ensure it is complying with the relevant regulations so that children are protected. We are speaking to the industry and will take enforcement action if necessary."
According to OFT, 80 of the country's highest grossing Android apps on April 9 were freemium ones. Earlier this year, Apple paid upwards of $100 million in gift certificates to account holders whose children spent money without holder permission on Capcom's Smurfs Village iOS game, this after a settlement on a lawsuit which stated Apple "failed to adequately" disclose the presence of in-app purchases aimed at children.
Posted:
Related Forum: PC General Forum
Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/uk-government-investigating-in-app-purchase-pressure-for-childre/
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Comments
SorceryPosted:
Item It doesn't pressure you, its just kids spending money because its not theres.
Don't be ridiculous, we're talking kids of ages in the single figures here, who don't have any concept of money being valuable and don't understand that it will be taken from their parents, when the option is flashing on your screen what do you expect an 8 year old to do?
KatsumiChanPosted:
The In-App purchases are not "pressuring" but they show them off like "get the best item in the game for only 99c" then when they buy them, they do it again and again to make money and kids don't understand it.
IlIuminatiPosted:
Woobie I think with most mobile games it's not fair because most of them make you pay to have stuff which isnt fair
I know that is wrong. Why should we have to pay for extra stuff when we already bought the game. It's kinda like dlc for a game like CoD.
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I apologize for the comment below my finger slipped :(
IlIuminatiPosted:
Conspiracies I hate this, they force children to pay.
I know that's a really greedy way to get $
WoobiePosted:
I think with most mobile games it's not fair because most of them make you pay to have stuff which isnt fair
gamer649Posted:
You aren't forced to make the purchases at all, you can still play the games as you normally would but it takes you slightly longer to get everything. You don't need to purchase these items and you are told when you need to make a purchase. Both Apple and android have ways to prevent unauthorised purchases, if you don't turn them on it is your fault.
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