In recent news, the Dutch authorities have fined Epic Games, the creator of popular online game Fortnite, a total of 1.1 million euros for exploiting vulnerable children and pushing them to make purchases in the game. The fines were issued after it was found that expressions like “Buy now” and deceptive countdown timers pressured children into making purchases.
The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets stated that children’s vulnerabilities were being exploited, and they should be able to play online games without feeling pressured to make purchases. Epic Games was ordered to comply with the authority’s instructions by June 10, which included removing countdowns from the item shop worldwide and offering only items available for 48 hours or more for minors in the Netherlands. However, the company contested the decision, claiming factual errors and stating that changes could lead to a poor experience for players.
This is not the first time Epic Games has faced criticism regarding practices harmful to young players. In 2022, the American trade regulator ordered the company to pay $520 million for encouraging children to make unwanted purchases without parental authorization. The authority criticized the confusing button configuration in Fortnite and the accumulation of unwanted costs, leading to the refund of millions of dollars to consumers. American authorities also raised concerns about data collection on minor players and their exposure to adult content.