Google will refund $19 million of in-app purchases as part of a settlement over a Federal Trade Commission complaint regarding in-app purchases made by children.
Google will also change its billing practices, ensuring that it gets "express, informed consent" before charging an account.
[seealso slug=http://sale-online.click/2013/03/29/guide-to-setting-parental-controls/%5D%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe settlement marks the second successful effort by the FTC to attain reimbursement for mobile purchases made by people other than the authorized account holder -- usually children playing games and unaware that they are spending money.
“For millions of American families, smartphones and tablets have become a part of their daily lives,” FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said in a press release announcing the agreement. “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.”
In January, Apple agreed to refund $32.5 million of purchases. Apple also changed the security on in-app purchases and now requires a password for every purchase. Amazon is also the subject of an ongoing FTC lawsuit concerning in-app purchases.