“Fortnite” inspires children and young people all over the world. But the company did not handle the data of the young users carefully. A large fine is now due.
Video game developer Epic Games (“Fortnite”) is paying a hefty fine for violating children’s and privacy laws in the United States. The company today confirmed a $520 million (EUR 490 million) settlement with US authorities.
The consumer protection authority FTC accuses Epic of illegally collecting data from “Fortnite” users under the age of 13 and enticing them – without notifying the parents – to unintentional transactions in the online video game. The company also exposed children to online dangers by allowing strangers to send voice and text messages. The settlement is intended to settle two FTC cases. The agreement still has to be approved by the court.
