APPLE, GOOGLE EXPOSED – Kids Access ADULT Apps

Tech giants claim commitment to protection, yet allow minors access to adult content, urging the need for legislative action.

At a Glance

• Apple and Google allow minors access to adult dating apps.
• Match Group requests categorization of their apps as 18+ ignored.
• The FTC action leads to app removal due to COPPA violations.
• Google proposes shared responsibility for protecting children’s privacy online.

Tech Giants and Child Safety: The Current Landscape

Apple and Google face criticism for allowing children access to adult dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge, Match, and OK Cupid, intended for users 18 and older. Match Group, the owner of these apps, has petitioned Apple and Google to implement an age restriction of 18+, but these requests remain unheeded. Despite charging a 30% fee for listing these apps, the tech companies fail to take appropriate measures for age categorization.

Critics question the sincerity of Apple and Google’s efforts in safeguarding their youngest users. The need for legislative intervention to ensure these digital platforms are truly safe for children becomes apparent. Despite removing three dating apps from their stores following FTC allegations, the question remains whether tech companies are taking their responsibility for child safety seriously.

Enforcement Actions and Corporate Responsibilities

Three dating apps, Meet24, FastMeet, and Meet4U, were removed from the respective app stores following FTC warnings to Ukraine-based Wildec LLC for potential violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the FTC Act. The FTC highlighted that these apps collected sensitive user data, including birthdates and location, without effectively blocking users under 13.

The letter urged the company to immediately remove personal information from children on the three apps, to seek parental consent before allowing minors to access the apps, and to ensure that all versions of the apps comply with COPPA as well as the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair practices that are likely to cause substantial consumer injury. – Federal Trade Commission.

Wildec LLC responded promptly, addressing the issues and removing data from underage accounts, resulting in the apps’ reintroduction to Google Play. Apple’s App Store still reviews the apps. These actions underscore the complexity of maintaining child safety in digital environments without definitive age verification measures.

Legislative Proposals and Future Directions

Google’s recent proposals emphasize shared responsibility between app developers and platform providers in safeguarding children’s privacy. Their framework supports banning personalized ads for users under 18. It also suggests sharing age data only with developers who genuinely require it, contingent upon user or parental consent. These steps aim to strengthen protection frameworks without infringing on privacy rights.

GOOGLE’S LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FOR KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE – Kareem Ghanem.

A centralized parental control dashboard could become a crucial tool in managing children’s online activities efficiently. The challenge remains in balancing the tech companies’ commercial interests with their societal responsibility to ensure a safe digital landscape for younger generations. Continued dialogues and legislative actions are imperative to address these ongoing issues effectively.