UK government investigating in-app purchase pressure on children

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The Office of Fair Trading (OFT), which handles consumer protection in the UK, announced it's reviewing if freemium web and app games are encouraging children unduly to make purchases. The OFT says it's contacted certain companies behind free-to-play games, and asked parents and consumer groups to reach out with info about "potentially misleading or commercially aggressive practices" within such games.

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.

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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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"UK government investigating in-app purchase pressure on children" :: Login/Create an Account :: 65 comments

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WhirlpoolPosted:

Brigand Children like to advantage of their parent's money.Shame.


This kind of thing happens on Xbox all the time. Parents link there credit card to there kids account for live but the kid uses it for other things

BrigandPosted:

-Fluttershy- 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.


I agree,the advertisements on app games does catch your attention when enhances your gameplay or you want extra stuff.

BrigandPosted:

Children like to advantage of their parent's money.Shame.

SuffolkPosted:

0.69+0.69+0.69+0.69+0.69+0.69+0.69+0.69+0.69+0.69=6.90 it all adds up... plus the ones that are 5.99 and 3.99

TTG_Storm132Posted:

Bloody kids need to go outside, burn off thier lard asses and read some books. I absoulutely hate this generation. You know what i had when i was little? The outdoors and windows Millenium Edition. Thats it, i played with my toys, but apart from that i didn't have anything else. The parents of these kids are too soft and are in-capable of looking after their children. I wish that thier children are taken off of them and the parents are forced to live in poverty eating tesco value ready meals for the rest of their life. The children will watch their iPods being given away to children older than them. That is the ultimate torture. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

AzarePosted:

You can't blame the companies for in-app purchases, they need funding to continue updating and making games.

yayPosted:

Lavish
Item It doesn't pressure you, its just kids spending money because its not theres.


Nearly all gaming Apps on the App store have advantages that are thrown in your face after every game on the free apps. "Buy this and never lose" blah blah blah


Exactly. Most games are dirt cheap or free, but if you want the best features you have to pay 5.99 or similar. It's a cheap shot.

TywinPosted:

Item It doesn't pressure you, its just kids spending money because its not theres.


Nearly all gaming Apps on the App store have advantages that are thrown in your face after every game on the free apps. "Buy this and never lose" blah blah blah

IlIuminatiPosted:

NV_Lobbys
SAAB
interest as mtv said . its the parents fault... if they don't want bills running up , put a password on there?

Apple accounts do have passwords... Which you have to enter if you havnt baught anything recently. The only probl
With putting a password on everything is the nuisance of having to enter it for every download. Sometimes kids play game and the see it, click it and by the time the parent realises its too late already paid for. Its good this is being looked into, everyone is trying to get on their high horse about how to parent, of which most are probably 15 year olds with no clue about parenting...


You know, you shouldn't ridicule people for being a certain age "most are probably 15 year olds", your grammar skills make you seem about the age of 9. Regardless, there is no nuisance in putting in your password everyone now and then. Unless you spend hours constantly buying things off the App Store, I think you can wait the extra 3 seconds to type in your password. You just don't seem to comprehend the bigger picture here, if you're stupid enough to give your child access to an account with your information linked to it, AND leave them unattended, you deserve everything coming to you. It's simple really, if your child doesn't know the account password, no charges will be made. It's people like you who think it's a good idea to waste money investigating things that don't need to be.

I know like really how many 3-6 year olds are using an ipad...

SakiPosted:

SAAB
interest as mtv said . its the parents fault... if they don't want bills running up , put a password on there?

Apple accounts do have passwords... Which you have to enter if you havnt baught anything recently. The only probl
With putting a password on everything is the nuisance of having to enter it for every download. Sometimes kids play game and the see it, click it and by the time the parent realises its too late already paid for. Its good this is being looked into, everyone is trying to get on their high horse about how to parent, of which most are probably 15 year olds with no clue about parenting...


You know, you shouldn't ridicule people for being a certain age "most are probably 15 year olds", your grammar skills make you seem about the age of 9. Regardless, there is no nuisance in putting in your password everyone now and then. Unless you spend hours constantly buying things off the App Store, I think you can wait the extra 3 seconds to type in your password. You just don't seem to comprehend the bigger picture here, if you're stupid enough to give your child access to an account with your information linked to it, AND leave them unattended, you deserve everything coming to you. It's simple really, if your child doesn't know the account password, no charges will be made. It's people like you who think it's a good idea to waste money investigating things that don't need to be.


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