A Complaint To FTC: Facebook Allegedly Tricked Children Into Buy Online Games

The Federal Trade Commission (also known as FTC) has recently received some requests from child advocates, as well as a few of consumer groups, for the investigation of Facebook’s violation against the US law. These groups believed that the social network is cheating children to pour their parents’ money into online games.

A website named Reveal, which is under the leadership of the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) had conducted an investigation that was then sent to the Federal Trade Commission on February 21. According to the non-profit news organisation, it cited 135 pages from unsealed court records based on a class action lawsuit in 2012; of which, Facebook reportedly encouraged game developers to enable children to pay money from their parents’ wallet while they didn’t have any unawareness. Until 2016, the company succeeded in settling the lawsuit.

Also in 2016, Facebook stated its policies were updated as a move to avoid transactions conducted by children.

Over ten advocacy groups from the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) to Common Sense Media claim the lawsuit was not practical. They add that the FTC should make an investigation to check whether Facebook has taken advantage of kids and their parents or not, and ensure this won’t happen in the coming times.

As per the FTC, the agency just confirmed that it had received the complaint; however, it didn’t give any comment.

If the complaint is real, that means the social network has breached the FTC Act which bans “unfair or deceptive acts”. In addition, Facebook has allegedly violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (or COPPA) concerning the protection of children below 13.

That’s not all. These groups also required the FTC to investigate all kinds of data Facebook gathered from kids, as well as check whether the company removed the information or not.

Moreover, the privacy practices are also one of the FTC’s primary investigation contents towards Facebook. It is likely that Mark Zuckerberg’s company will have to bear the highest fine ever.

On February 21, lawmakers asked the agency to reconsider the complaint. They didn't hide their disappointment in how Facebook replied to the questions concerning that children can purchase games. According to the letter to Seniors D-Mass., D-Conn., Richard Blumenthal, and Edward J. Markey, the company claimed that it didn’t encourage “friendly fraud.”

It was clear that lawmakers didn’t satisfy with what Facebook said because its answer was allegedly “inadequate.”