Epic Games will pay $540 million over alleged privacy breaches and unwanted charges

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Image: Epic Games

Epic Games, the developer behind massive online shooter Fortnite, has agreed to pay a total of $540 million to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) allegations.

In a post on the FTC’s official website, the agency confirmed that the developer will pay a $275 million fine for violating the Children’s Privacy Act, along with $245 million in refunds. for tricking users into making unwanted purchases.

Epic Games, maker of the Fortnite video game, is to pay a total of $520 million over the FTC allegations. Epic violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and deployed dark schemes to trick millions of gamers into making unwitting purchases: https://t.co/yHaQx8VXlu – FTC (@FTC ) December 19, 2022

The FTC alleges that Epic Games “deployed design tricks, known as dark patterns (which Wikipedia defines as “a user interface that was carefully crafted to trick users into doing things, like buying out-of-the-box insurance). prizes with their purchase or sign up for recurring bills”), to dupe millions of players into making unwitting purchases”. The penalty imposed on the developer is the largest ever for violating an FTC rule, and Epic Games will have to “enact strong default privacy settings for children and adolescents, ensuring that voice and text communications are disabled by default”.

As for refunds, “Epic will pay $245 million to reimburse consumers for its dark schemes and billing practices, representing the FTC’s highest refund amount in a gaming case and its largest. administrative order of history.”

FTC Chairman Lina M. Khan said the following regarding the settlement:

“As our complaints note, Epic used privacy-invasive default settings and deceptive interfaces that misled Fortnite users, including teenagers and children. The protection of the public, and especially children, from Online Privacy Breaches and Dark Patterns is a top priority for the Commission. These enforcement actions make it clear to businesses that the FTC is cracking down on these illegal practices.

What do you think of the FTC’s decision against Epic Games? Do you agree that the developer has implemented “dark patterns” in the game? Let us know.

[source ftc.gov]

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A resident horror fanatic of Nintendo Lifes, when he’s not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie enjoys diving into a good horror book while drinking a nice cup of tea. He also loves long walks and listens to everything from Motorhead to BB King.

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