The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined Epic Games $520 million. The company violated two laws: personal data and unintentional purchases.
The company will pay $ 275 million for collecting the personal data of players under the age of 13 without their parents’ permission. Aggravating was the fact that Fortnite included voice and text chats by default, in which children and teenagers faced threats, bullying, and harassment.
Epic Games will pay another $245 million for tricks and a non-intuitive interface that encourages players to donate. In addition, the game has a confusing refund option, and players who disputed payments through the bank were generally blocked.
In addition to the fine, Epic Games must correct all its shortcomings. The developer has confirmed that accounts with limited functionality and a button to confirm the purchase will appear in the game.