NEWS: European Commission warn on in-app purchases in children's games

Consumers and children need ‘better protection’ from costly spending in ‘free’ games which include in-app purchases, warn commissioners as they start investigation

The European Commission is to hold talks with Apple, Google, and app writers, saying consumers need better protection against “unexpected costs” from in-app purchases on tablets and smartphones which can rack up bills of thousands of pounds.

The EC’s justice minister Viviane Reding and consumer policy commissioner Neven Mimica will lead meetings in which they will look at whether it is misleading to classify games as “free” if in-app purchases are needed to make progress.

“Consumers and in particular children need better protection against unexpected costs from in-app purchases,” Mimica said.

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