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Google Hit With FTC Complaint Over ‘Inappropriate’ Kids Apps

posted by Fnord666 on Wednesday December 26 2018, @03:19AM   Printer-friendly
from the apps-for-inappropriate-kids? dept.

upstart writes:

Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1984

Google hit with FTC complaint over 'inappropriate' kids apps

The Federal Trade Commission is being asked to investigate how apps that may violate federal privacy laws that dictate the data that can be collected on children ended up in the family section of the Google Play store.

A group of 22 consumer advocates, led by the Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown University Law School, filed a formal complaint against Google on Wednesday and asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether the company misled parents by promoting children's apps that may violate the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and Google's own policies.

"The business model for the Play Store's Family section benefits advertisers, developers and Google at the expense of children and parents," Josh Golin, executive director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, said in a statement. "Google puts its seal of approval on apps that break the law, manipulate kids into watching ads and making purchases."

Among the examples cited in the complaint are a "Preschool Education Center" app and a "Top 28 Nursery Rhymes and Song" app that access location, according to an analysis by privacy research collective AppCensus. Other apps, including "Baby Panda's Carnival" and "Design It Girl - Fashion Salon," were among those listed that sent device identification data to advertising technology companies, allowing them to build a profile of the user.

The complaint also spotlights several apps that may not be age appropriate, including "Dentist Game for Kids," which lets the player give the virtual patient shots in the back of their throat. Another game, "Doctor X & the Urban Heroes," requires players to cut clothing off of a patient.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 26 2018, @05:56AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 26 2018, @05:56AM (#778497)

    The complaint also spotlights several apps that may not be age appropriate, including "Dentist Game for Kids," which lets the player give the virtual patient shots in the back of their throat. Another game, "Doctor X & the Urban Heroes," requires players to cut clothing off of a patient.

    If you have seen any of the games like this, and they are a dime a dozen offering minutes of playtime, you will know how freakish and weird [boingboing.net] they can be.