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Google To Refund $19M In In-App Purchases Made By Kids

Posted by samzenpus on from the here's-your-money-kid dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google has agreed pay $19 million to refund customers unfairly charged for in-app purchases made by children without authorization from their parents. The company has agreed to change its billing practices to ensure that it obtains informed consent from customers before charging them for items sold within mobile apps, according to the FTC. "For millions of American families, smartphones and tablets have become a part of their daily lives," said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. "As more Americans embrace mobile technology, it's vital to remind companies that time-tested consumer protections still apply, including that consumers should not be charged for purchases they did not authorize.""

4 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Insane by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I have kids...I'm not a moron...I didn't save my password. It prompts me for each purchase.

    I have no idea how they lost this.

  2. Sounds good, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Mom downloads a "free" game for their kid. Mom hands phone to kid to play "free" game. The mom shouldn't wind up with thousands of dollars in a bill.

  3. Caveat Emptor by rmdingler · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I am inclined to agree with your general sentiment, but it's accurate to say some of the apps are predatory and targeted at those too young to make informed decisions.

    $19 million to Google.... simply good PR at a bargain.

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

  4. Its not okay for Google but its okay for carriers? by hilather · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously, monthly hidden cell phone fees that "children" incur without permission probably vastly surpasses 19 million every month. Why hasn't the FTC done ANYTHING about that.