Rip-off game apps: now consumer advocates step in

Mobile games on cell phones or tablets can quickly turn out to be a cost trap. Since children and young people are particularly at risk, Hamburg’s Senator for Consumer Protection, Anna Gallina, calls for more protection. She also brings a “pocket money limit” into play.

Game apps: Consumer advocate wants to set limits

Games on mobile can get really expensive if you’re not careful. Manufacturers secure additional income through in-app purchases – regardless of whether the games are aimed at children, young people or adults. Around Better protect younger players from spendingHamburg’s consumer protection senator Anna Gallina calls for a rethink.

If the Greens politician has her way, the purchase of items and other additional functions within game apps should be made more difficult in the future. A simple tap on the display should no longer be enough to confirm a purchase. Instead should entered a password or a fingerprint may be required (source: heise online).

In addition, Gallina is in favor of reducing the financial risks of children and young people at the Age rating of games to consider. A “pocket money limit” could form the basis here. The consumer protection senator did not explain how high this could be.

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Consumer advocate: Upper limit as in gambling

Regardless of the age of the players, Gallina wants the league to have a Cap on in-app purchases to consider. This could be regulated in a similar way to the State Treaty on Gambling. Here, players may bet a maximum of 1,000 euros per month.

Another requirement affects the debiting itself. By default, amounts should no longer be able to be collected via the mobile phone bill, as is often the case with subscription cases. Instead, this function should initially be deactivated for new cell phones and tablets.