Epic Games to pay $245M for tricking users into making unwanted charges (ftc.gov)

Article summary

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized an order requiring Epic Games to pay $245 million to consumers for using dark patterns to trick players into making unwanted purchases. The order also prohibits Epic from charging consumers without their affirmative consent and from blocking account access for disputing unauthorized charges. Epic's practices included instant purchases without confirmation screens and saving credit cards for later purchases. The FTC's action aims to protect consumers from deceptive business practices.

Main themes

• dark patterns
• consumer protection
• FTC regulation
• gaming industry
• chargebacks
• refund policies
• deceptive business practices

What commenters say

• The FTC's order is a step in the right direction, but it does not go far enough in addressing the issue of dark patterns and punitive damages are needed to deter companies from using such practices.
• Companies should not be allowed to block users from accessing their accounts for disputing unauthorized charges, and this practice should be prohibited by law.
• The use of intermediate currencies like V-bucks is a dark pattern that obscures costs and generates leftover amounts that cannot be changed back into real money, and it should be illegal.
• Chargebacks are a necessary protection for consumers, but they can be difficult to obtain and companies often make it hard for users to get refunds through their support systems.
• Some argue that chargebacks are not always a guarantee and that companies have the right to refuse refunds if the user has already consumed the product or service.
• Others believe that companies should be punished by credit card companies for undermining their features, such as chargebacks, and that this could be an effective way to prevent dark patterns.
• The distinction between owning a product and purchasing access to it is important, and companies should be transparent about what users are actually buying.
• The practice of blocking users from accessing their accounts for disputing unauthorized charges is common in many tech companies and should be addressed by the government to protect consumers.