Two Democratic members of Congress this week penned letters to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to examine in-app purchases from Google and Apple and whether or not consumers are being unfairly charged.
Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota cited a Tuesday article from the Washington Post that discussed parents who were shocked to find that their kids were racking up charges via in-app purchases.
In December, for example, Capcom Interactive, creator of the Farmville-inspired Smurfs' Village app for iOS, agreed to
"I am concerned about how these applications are being promoted and delivered to consumers with respect to children, who are unlikely to understand the ramifications of in-app purchases," Markey wrote to FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz.
Markey asked if the FTC has taken any action regarding in-app purchases, and requested that the agency provide the public with information about how apps work.
"I request that the commission assess current industry activities in this area to determine whether they constitute fair or deceptive acts or practices," Markey wrote.
Klobuchar had similar concerns.
"Consumers have the right to know the true cost of the products and services they are downloading on their smartphones, especially when it comes to applications and games that are geared towards children," she wrote. "As with any new billing practice, there is always the potential for consumer confusion and bill shock, and 'in-app sales' are no exception."
Klobuchar urged the FTC to "consider rules that would add transparency and clarity to the in-app market."