Maker of Fortnite , Agrees to Pay Record-Breaking , $520 Settlement .
'The Guardian' reports that video game developer
Epic Games will pay out $520 million in penalties and
refunds to settle complaints about privacy and deception.
'The Guardian' reports that video game developer
Epic Games will pay out $520 million in penalties and
refunds to settle complaints about privacy and deception.
According to federal regulators on December 19,
the record-breaking settlements will end two cases
against the maker of the popular game Fortnite.
According to federal regulators on December 19,
the record-breaking settlements will end two cases
against the maker of the popular game Fortnite.
Epic used privacy-invasive default
settings and deceptive interfaces that
tricked Fortnite users, including
teenagers and children, Lina Khan, FTC chair, via NBC.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), , Epic Games collected personal information
from players under 13 without informing
parents or receiving their consent.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), , Epic Games collected personal information
from players under 13 without informing
parents or receiving their consent.
The $275 million fine the company agreed
to pay to settle this charge was the biggest
penalty ever issued for violating an FTC rule.
The $275 million fine the company agreed
to pay to settle this charge was the biggest
penalty ever issued for violating an FTC rule.
In addition to this fine, Epic Games will also
refund $254 million to customers who fell
victim to "dark patterns" and billing practices.
According to 'The Guardian,' , dark patterns , are deceptive online techniques
used to manipulate users.
Fortnite’s counterintuitive, inconsistent,
and confusing button configuration led
players to incur unwanted charges
based on the press of a single button, FTC statement, via NBC.
Fortnite’s counterintuitive, inconsistent,
and confusing button configuration led
players to incur unwanted charges
based on the press of a single button, FTC statement, via NBC.
These tactics led to
hundreds of millions of dollars
in unauthorized charges
for consumers, FTC statement, via NBC.
According to Epic Games, the refunds were
being issued to resolve concerns over, “past designs of the Fortnite
item shop and refund systems.”