NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] For Apple, Pressure Builds Over App Store Fraud
For Apple, Pressure Builds Over App Store Fraud
http://j.mp/w6rUjj (New York Times)
"In a little over an hour, Ryan Matthew Pierson racked up $437.71 in
iTunes charges for virtual currency that he could use to buy guns,
nightclubs and cars in iMobster, a popular iPhone game. One problem:
Mr. Pierson, a technology writer in Texas, has never played iMobster."
- - -
In general, in-app purchase systems can be problematic for a number of
reasons unless carefully designed controls and continuously evolving
anti-fraud mechanisms are in place. My personal feeling is that many,
perhaps most, in-app purchases are actually a waste of money even when
conducted as designed, by users who voluntarily choose to invoke them.
Much of the in-app purchase paradigm (especially for games) seems to
be sucker-bait at the bleeding edge of ethical boundaries, if not
beyond.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Data Wisdom Explorers League: http://www.dwel.org
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren / Twitter: http://vortex.com/t-lauren
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
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