Apple Reportedly 'Scrambling' to Make Required Changes to In-App Purchase Policies

MacRumors · Mar 6, 2014

Apple may be rushing to make changes to its App Store in order to comply with an earlier FTC agreement that requires it to modify its in-app billing system, reports ZDNet. Apple has until March 31 to make the changes required by the FTC and may be trying to roll them out in the company's forthcoming iOS 7.1 update.

As part of this FTC settlement, Apple must modify its billing practices to obtain consumers' express consent before billing them for an in-app purchase. Apple also must provide customers with a way to easily withdraw this consent for future purchases.

While it might sound trivial, changing the App Store to obtain "consumers' express, informed consent" before billing them is a significant change. It involves fundamental changes to the App Store order flow and there are a lot of dependencies involved.

One source I spoke to says that it's taking Apple longer than expected to make the required changes. In order to meet the government's second criteria (the option to withdraw their consent at any time) Apple must require a password for all IAPs by default, and perhaps make a no-password window an option via settings.

These requirements likely necessitate some changes to Apple's iTunes payment processing system, which now needs to verify that consent was given before processing a payment. It may also require some modifications to iOS 7, including its Restrictions feature that already provides limits on in-app purchases by children, although some aspects of the update may be able to be deployed remotely.

These new in-app purchasing requirements have not been spotted in any iOS 7.1 beta releases, suggesting Apple is still implementing any necessary changes on the operating system side. ZDNet's source says the company would like to roll out the changes as part of iOS 7.1, but given word that iOS 7.1 is due "any day now" in order to support streaming of next week's SXSW iTunes Festival, it is possible that the in-app purchase changes could be pushed back to another minor iOS update before the end of the month if required.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly 'Scrambling' to Make Required Changes to In-App Purchase Policies

Elbon · Mar 6, 2014

In-app purchases are annoying anyways. I try to avoid apps that employ them (or worse, require them).

sniffies · Mar 6, 2014

Does it mean that 7.1 is delayed until May??

Jsameds · Mar 6, 2014

All this fuss because of a few stupid kids and their irresponsible parents.

Skika · Mar 6, 2014

7.1 is kill

no

iapplelove · Mar 6, 2014

damn the large 7 icon got me!

Freida · Mar 6, 2014

Jsameds said:
All this fuss because of a few stupid kids and their irresponsible parents.

you've never had a 2 year old, have you?
there are silly games for little kids and there is no way you can explain to them not to click outside

So, you let them play so you can either cook them a meal or do any necessity you have to do so its simply impossible to supervise your child all the time. (and by supervising I mean staring over their should and watching them play the game and making sure they don't click outside of their territory)

Reason077 · Mar 6, 2014

MacRumors said:
iOS 7.1 is due "any day now" in order to support streaming of next week's SXSW iTunes Festival

I'm not sure why SXSW iTunes Festival streaming would require iOS 7.1.

The iTunes festival app has supported live streaming of the London iTunes Festival for at least the last couple of years, using iOS 6 (and maybe 5, IIRC?).

singhjeet29 · Mar 6, 2014

Reason077 said:
I'm not sure why SXSW iTunes Festival streaming would require iOS 7.1.

The iTunes festival app has supported live streaming of the London iTunes Festival for at least the last couple of years, using iOS 6 (and maybe 5, IIRC?).

Having an application that requires a new updated OS is a way to get people to update their OS sooner.

Jsameds · Mar 6, 2014

Freida said:
you've never had a 2 year old, have you?
there are silly games for little kids and there is no way you can explain to them not to click outside So, you let them play so you can either cook them a meal or do any necessity you have to do so its simply impossible to supervise your child all the time. (and by supervising I mean staring over their should and watching them play the game and making sure they don't click outside of their territory)

I'm just saying that if you give them a device that you know fully well has your credit card details and one click purchasing turned on with no password protection on then it's your own fault if they rack up thousands of $$$ on there.

MasterMac · Mar 6, 2014

Freida said:
you've never had a 2 year old, have you?
there are silly games for little kids and there is no way you can explain to them not to click outside So, you let them play so you can either cook them a meal or do any necessity you have to do so its simply impossible to supervise your child all the time. (and by supervising I mean staring over their should and watching them play the game and making sure they don't click outside of their territory)

You don't need to stand over their shoulder if you disable in-app purchases or even the iTunes store all together, or even just remove the 15-minute buffer and require a password for every single purchase you make.

C DM · Mar 6, 2014

Jsameds said:
All this fuss because of a few stupid kids and their irresponsible parents.

Yup, that's clearly where the issue is, nor crappy in-app purchases that even adults hate plenty.

moonman239 · Mar 6, 2014

There ought to be an option on everyone's iTunes accounts that allows them to choose between being asked for a password before every purchase and only being asked after a certain period of time.

Scott90 · Mar 6, 2014

Sounds like a tough situation to be in for Apple. Three options:

1. Make the iTunes festival app compatible with 7.0, release 7.1 with the new IAP change
2. Release 7.1 as scheduled, release IAP changes in 7.1.1
3. Work 25 hours a day to get this in-app stuff implemented before the festival, release 7.1 with IAP changes

\-V-/ · Mar 6, 2014

MasterMac said:
You don't need to stand over their shoulder if you disable in-app purchases or even the iTunes store all together, or even just remove the 15-minute buffer and require a password for every single purchase you make.

Since many people aren't aware of their ability to personalize settings, making these options on by default would make a lot more sense. People really do need to do more research though if this is causing a significant issue.

Reason077 · Mar 6, 2014

Jsameds said:
I'm just saying that if you give them a device that you know fully well has your credit card details and one click purchasing turned on with no password protection on then it's your own fault if they rack up thousands of $$$ on there.

That's the point, though: there's no way to turn off one-click purchasing currently. Once you authorize a purchase once, it will allow any subsequent purchases without a password - at least until a time limit expires.

sbailey4 · Mar 6, 2014

Freida said:
you've never had a 2 year old, have you?
there are silly games for little kids and there is no way you can explain to them not to click outside So, you let them play so you can either cook them a meal or do any necessity you have to do so its simply impossible to supervise your child all the time. (and by supervising I mean staring over their should and watching them play the game and making sure they don't click outside of their territory)

I have had a 2yr old but my 2yr old never had an iPhone. Or any device with credit card info available with the push of a button.

Maybe a device MADE for a 2 yr old would be more appropriate? Just sayin.

BvizioN · Mar 6, 2014

Jsameds said:
All this fuss because of a few stupid parents and their spoiled kids.

Fixed for you

iChrist · Mar 6, 2014

Freida said:
you've never had a 2 year old, have you?
there are silly games for little kids and there is no way you can explain to them not to click outside So, you let them play so you can either cook them a meal or do any necessity you have to do so its simply impossible to supervise your child all the time. (and by supervising I mean staring over their should and watching them play the game and making sure they don't click outside of their territory)

People use cell phones as a babysitting device, maybe that's the problem.

H2SO4 · Mar 6, 2014

\-V-/ said:
Since many people aren't aware of their ability to personalize settings, making these options on by default would make a lot more sense. People really do need to do more research though if this is causing a significant issue.

That's because many people can't be bothered to find out. That's the price you pay for ignorance in some cases.

nzalog · Mar 6, 2014

Great so after all these beta and all this assurance to make it stable. We get a last minute scramble to change code. Damn spoiled kids and their dumb parents...

mainstreetmark · Mar 6, 2014

Freida said:
you've never had a 2 year old, have you?
there are silly games for little kids and there is no way you can explain to them not to click outside So, you let them play so you can either cook them a meal or do any necessity you have to do so its simply impossible to supervise your child all the time. (and by supervising I mean staring over their should and watching them play the game and making sure they don't click outside of their territory)

My two year old is seemingly unable to make purchases, without typing in the password (which, you know, he cannot)

While I agree with you, all these kids games with ads all over them is despicable and annoying, their presence isn't causing me to spend a bunch of money when the boy clicks on the ad. I honestly had no idea that the iPad could be making purchases without typing in passwords. Are you saying yours does?

kemal · Mar 6, 2014

If the in app purchase changes have to wait for 7.1 and its App Store app, what does this mean for iOS 5, 6 and 7.06 devices? Will they no longer be able to use the App Store?

H2SO4 · Mar 6, 2014

Reason077 said:
That's the point, though: there's no way to turn off one-click purchasing currently. Once you authorize a purchase once, it will allow any subsequent purchases without a password - at least until a time limit expires.

Not sure which version of iOS you are using but if it's iOS7 then navigate thus;

Settings> General> Restrictions> In App Purchases> OFF, and/or.........

Settings> General> Restrictions> Allowed Content> Require Password> IMMEDIATELY.

There is a manual available which most choose not to download let alone read.

Curun · Mar 6, 2014

Freida said:
you've never had a 2 year old, have you?
there are silly games for little kids and there is no way you can explain to them not to click outside So, you let them play so you can either cook them a meal or do any necessity you have to do so its simply impossible to supervise your child all the time. (and by supervising I mean staring over their should and watching them play the game and making sure they don't click outside of their territory)

I know enough to know a 2 year old shouldn't be allowed to hold, and especially not left unattended, with a device made of glass and thin metal. Sounds like a family and children services, shattered glass and lacerations, neglect case waiting to happen.

What happened to hotwheels, GIjoe, TV, Nintendo, etc.

Apple Reportedly 'Scrambling' to Make Required Changes to In-App Purchase Policies

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