Cap In-App Purchases In Mobile Games — Protect Children, Respect Consumers

Petition richtet sich an

The European Commission and the European Parliament — especially the Committees on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).

23 Unterschriften

Sammlung beendet

23 Unterschriften

Sammlung beendet

Gestartet April 2025
Sammlung beendet
Einreichung vorbereiten
Dialog mit Empfänger
Entscheidung

Petition richtet sich an: The European Commission and the European Parliament — especially the Committees on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).

Mobile games are now the main digital entertainment for children in Europe, but the fun often turns into a debt trap.

The facts:
• 43% of 9-11-year-olds in the EU play online games daily — EU Kids Online 2020
• 59% of 12-15-year-olds in the UK play mostly on mobile — Ofcom 2024
• 69% of 9-22-year-olds in the EU spend over 3 hours/day in social media or mobile games — BEUC 2023
• The European Commission warns kids are exposed to misleading in-game purchase practices
• In September 2024, BEUC and 22 national associations filed a complaint against Epic Games, EA, Roblox, and others for techniques that push children to spend without understanding the cost

We call on the EU to:
1. Set a total cost cap per mobile game (e.g. 30–50€)
2. Enforce transparency about maximum possible charges and presence of loot boxes
3. Ban in-app purchases for minors without parental consent
4. Regulate aggressive and manipulative ads targeting children

Games should be creative entertainment — not financial traps.
Sign to demand limits, transparency, and safety for our children.

Begründung

As a parent from Greece, I see every day how children across Europe are being exposed to mobile games that are designed not for fun, but for spending.
Games filled with aggressive ads, pay-to-win mechanisms, and manipulative in-app purchases often target minors with no real oversight.
I believe this is not just a national issue — it’s a European one.
I am calling on the EU to take clear action: limit in-app purchases, enforce transparency, and protect children from digital exploitation.
Kids deserve games that entertain and inspire — not pressure them into spending.
Please support this petition — backed by solid facts, studies, and the voice of concerned parents across Europe.

Appendix: Supporting Data and Studies
1. Usage of Mobile Games by Children in Europe
- 43% of 9-11-year-olds in the EU play online games daily (EU Kids Online 2020)
- 59% of 12-15-year-olds in the UK predominantly use mobile phones for gaming (Ofcom 2024)
- 69% of 9-22-year-olds in the EU spend over 3 hours/day on mobile games or social media (BEUC 2023)
2. Exploitative Practices
- The European Commission warns children are exposed to misleading in-game purchases
- In September 2024, BEUC and 22 national associations filed a formal complaint against Epic Games, EA,
and Roblox for using manipulative techniques to push in-app spending
3. Economic Impact
- Children spend on average nearly EUR 40/month on in-app purchases (Consumentenbond, NL)
- BEUC emphasizes the use of premium currencies and pressure tactics in many mobile games
4. Legislative Developments
- The European Commission is considering enhanced rules for app store transparency
- Consumer protection bodies across the EU demand regulation of loot boxes and spending limits
Sources:
- EU Kids Online 2020 International Report
- Ofcom UK Children and Media Use Report 2024
- BEUC Complaint on Manipulative In-Game Purchases 2024
- Consumentenbond NL 2023: Child Spending in Games
- European Parliament Briefing 2022: Loot Boxes and Consumer Protection