Andre Yoskowitz
9 Jul 2014 21:12
Earlier this year, following Federal Trade Commission (FTC) efforts, Apple was forced to look deeper into apps that would have allowed kids to make purchases without their parent's consent during a brief period.
With all new app purchases, including in-app for existing apps, iOS users now have to type in their password again no matter what, every time, an easy deterrent for children who do not know them.
Less than a week after the FTC went after Apple, the company had already turned on its biggest competitor, Google, pointing out articles that also criticized the Google Play Store of the same issue of potential unauthorized purchases.
Google had previously had a 30 minute window in which the password did not have to be re-entered, allowing kids to rack up hundreds of dollars in charges in a short period without express consent from their parents. Apple had a 15-minute window, and at the time the FTC said they received tens of thousands of complaints from parents who were reporting millions in unauthorized charges.
Apple refunded $32.5 million in total and closed the password window.
It is quite likely we will be seeing similar FTC rulings against Google and Amazon in the near future.
Source:
Politico