Consumer groups accuse Facebook of duping children

Game purchases often done without parent permission.

More than WASHINGTON — a dozen children’s advo- cacy groups on Thursday accused Facebook of knowingly deceiving children into racking up fees from games on its social network, the latest in a string of complaints against the company sent to federal regulators.

The groups called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Face- book violated consumer protection and child privacy laws by duping children into making in-app purchases in games like Angry Birds, PetVille and Ninja Saga, and then making it nearly impossible for children or their parents to seek refunds. The accu- sation stems from a 2012 lawsuit.

The complaint, filed by 17 groups including Common Sense Media, Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood and the Center for Digital Democracy, says the purchases were often done without a parent’s permission. In some cases, they amounted to hundreds or thousands of dollars.

In Washington’s greater focus on the power of Big Tech, Facebook has taken center stage. The social network’s role in state-spon- sored election interference, harmful content and privacy violations has set off a push for new privacy laws and multiple investigations of the company. Next week, Congress will debate propos- als for a federal privacy law.

The F T C started investigating Facebook in March after The New York Times reported the data of tens of millions of Facebook users was unknowingly shared with the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. The agency is in the final stages of that investigation, with staff members and Facebook negotiating over a potential settlement that could include a multibillion-dollar fine and new restraints on the company’s business practices, according to people familiar with talks.

The consumer groups do not believe the complaint will be included in the FTC’s privacy investigation of Facebook because that case appears to be nearing its completion. But the children’s advocacy groups said they hoped their complaint would continue a drumbeat of pressure for Facebook to take more forceful steps to change its business practices oriented toward children.

“This is a pattern of behavior,” said James Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media. “Facebook has a moral obligation to change its culture towards practices that foster the well-being of kids and families, and the FTC should ensure Facebook is acting responsibly.”

Facebook did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Details about the in-app purchases came from court documents that were unsealed at the request of the Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit journalism organization. The documents were part of a class-action lawsuit brought in 2012 and settled in 2016 for an undisclosed sum.