Court Ruling: Unauthorized IAP by a Child
📱 Court Ruling on Unauthorized In-Game Purchases by a Minor: A Balance of Responsibilities ⚖️
As someone who’s always been concerned about how easily children can make in-game purchases, this recent case in Guangdong really hit home. In today’s world, most phones require linking a payment method, making it easy for kids to make unauthorized purchases — even by accident.
A recent court case in Guangdong has sparked a critical conversation about parental responsibility and the role of gaming companies in regulating minor’s in-game spending. The case involved a 10-year-old child who made over 50 unauthorized transactions using their parent’s phone, accumulating more than 50,000 RMB ($7,000 USD) in gaming charges.
The court ruled that the gaming company must refund 30% of the total amount. While the child’s actions were deemed invalid due to their age, the court highlighted shared responsibility. The parent was found at fault for not securing the phone or changing the payment password after discovering the initial misuse. At the same time, the gaming company was criticized for not implementing adequate measures to prevent minors from using adult accounts for repeated transactions.
This case raises important questions about how much responsibility lies with parents and gaming platforms in managing online activities and preventing unauthorized payments by minors.
I’m curious about your thoughts on how we can better manage online transactions and protect children from unauthorized spending. How can we balance personal responsibility with the need for stricter controls by gaming companies?
