FTC Eyes Apple In-App Purchases By Children

“We fully share your concern that consumers, particularly children, are unlikely to understand the ramifications of these types of purchases,” Leibowitz wrote in a letter to Markey obtained by the Washington Post. “Let me assure you we will look closely at the current industry practice with respect to the marketing and delivery of these types of applications.”

While much of the technology world has been focused on Apple’s in-app purchase rules and how they affect publishers and content owners who offer subscriptions, the company has also had to deal with questions about protections against inadvertent in-app purchases by children. Apple allows users to buy apps or virtual goods with one password key-in, which allows for unlimited successive purchases for 15 minutes. A few reports have bubbled up of children unknowingly using this loophole to charge hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars in purchases.