Apple’s general counsel reportedly informed the FTC of Google’s app store and in-app purchases by kids

In early 2014, Apple was forced to make some changes to the way that in-app purchases are made through the App Store, so that it wasn’t so easy for kids to just wander into an app and rack up a high bill for parents. A new report suggests that Apple’s general counsel may have been the one to report Google to the FTC for the same issue.

In January, 2014, Apple reached a settlement with the FTC over in-app purchases, with the ultimate goal to make them a bit harder, and clearer. It led to Apple scrambling to make those changes by March, when the FTC had enacted the deadline. It more than likely had something to do with the changes to Family Sharing, which now lets a family share a credit card, but always gives the owner of the card the ability to confirm or deny any purchases made through it.
A new report from Politico suggests that after the settlement, Apple’s general counsel, Bruce Sewell, reached out to the FTC and pointed out an article that showcased Google as also being guilty of the same thing the FTC had settled with Apple over.
From the report:

“I thought this article might be of some interest, particularly if you have not already seen it,” Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell wrote to FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Democratic Commissioner Julie Brill, pointing to a report that criticized Google’s app store over the same issue of unauthorized purchases…“

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