The publisher of the star game “Fortnite” was notably accused of not having sufficiently protected the personal data of minors, some of which would have been harassed and threatened.
MO12345LEMONDE with AFP
The American publisher of video games Epic Games will pay $ 520 million as part of an agreement with the American Consumer Protection Agency (FTC), which accused him of not having sufficiently protected players Minors of his star game, Fortnite, according to a press release published Monday, December 19.
Part of the sum, or $ 275 million, relates to grievances relating to data collection relating to minor players as well as their exposure to adults. The rest, or 245 million, concerns purchases made in the game by minor players, who were not aware of making a payment. This sum will be returned to the players.
“We have accepted this agreement because we want Epic to be at the forefront in terms of consumer protection and offers the best experience to our players,” said the publisher, in a press release. The Cary Society (North Carolina) has said that it had proceeded, in recent years, to “changes to [ensure that our ecosystem is in accordance with what our players and regulators expect”.
Threatened and harassed children
The FTC had brought two distinct actions against Epic Games. The first, before a federal civil court of North Carolina, reproached the publisher for not warning the parents of minor players that he collected personal data on their children.
The agency also denounced the fact that the communication interface, vocal or in writing, between players was activated by default for all Fortnite users. As a result, adults could freely come into contact with children via the platform. “Through Fortnite, children were threatened and harassed, including sexually,” said FTC in the document submitted to a federal judge.
The second action concerned the fact that the methods of purchasing virtual objects in the game had been so simplified that young players could not realize that they were making purchases.
The FTC had notably collected testimonies from parents explaining that they had discovered that their children had spent tens, even hundreds of dollars without their knowledge by playing Fortnite. Since then, Epic Games has notably added an additional validation level for a purchase and established a expenditure limit on the platform for players under 13 years old.