Nameless messaging apps like NGL: Ask Me Something are engaging to curious teenagers desirous to share unfiltered opinions or hear candid confessions from their friends.
However a brand new order from the Federal Commerce Fee highlights how such apps goal teenage customers by bullying, harassment and deception. These apps are sometimes marketed as free however may very well cost various charges, harming customers’ psychological well being.
NGL, which stands for the phrase “Do not Lie,” understands these and different hazards, in response to the FTC. On Tuesday, July 9, the company introduced that it will ban NGL Labs from offering or advertising nameless messaging apps to these underneath the age of 18.
FTC Chairman Lina M. Khan mentioned in an announcement: “NGL marketed its app to kids and youths though it knew the app would expose them to on-line bullying and harassment. Given NGL’s reckless disregard for the security of youngsters, the FTC The command will disable use of the appliance.
Teenagers speaking about psychological well being on this app may very well be taking an enormous threat
In line with the FTC, NGL as soon as turned essentially the most downloaded app in Apple’s App Retailer in 2022, with thousands and thousands of downloads.
In an in depth criticism, the FTC alleges that NGL and its co-founders continuously charged customers with out acquiring correct consent; falsely claimed that the app’s AI content material moderation may block bullying and harassment; and Messages deceived customers to extend paid subscriptions; the app was actively marketed to kids regardless of data that comparable providers harmed customers. The criticism was filed by the Federal Commerce Fee and the Los Angeles District Legal professional’s Workplace.
The defendants, together with NGL co-founders Raj Vir and Joao Figueiredo, agreed to pay $5 million to settle the case.
Figueiredo mentioned in an announcement to Mashable that the corporate believes lots of the allegations associated to the age of its person base are “factually incorrect,” however added that the age restrict and different necessities of the settlement “will now present steerage to others.” in our subject and hopefully enhance coverage on the whole. “
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The corporate shared extra modifications to the app in a weblog submit, which embody the power to filter incoming messages for sure phrases and extra management over blocking customers.
Figueiredo mentioned in an announcement shared with Mashable: “After practically two years of working with the FTC investigation, we view this decision as a chance for NGL to serve our customers higher than ever earlier than, and we consider this settlement is according to our greatest intentions. good pursuits.
Throughout its investigation, the FTC found that NGL would ship computer-generated faux messages to customers as a way to enhance downloads and engagement. These embody questions comparable to “Are you heterosexual?”, “Do you’re taking medication?”, “Have you ever ever cheated?” and “Have you ever ever had surgical procedure?” One message merely learn: “I do know what you probably did.”
Customers consider their associates or contacts despatched these messages. Some individuals, lured by the corporate’s promise to make builders public, subscribed to a premium model of the app for $9.99 every week.
As a substitute of getting the sender’s title, customers are given “hints” comparable to when the message was despatched, whether or not the sender is utilizing an Android or iPhone, and the sender’s location. When prospects complained, NGL executives privately laughed at them, in response to the FTC criticism.
In a textual content message in regards to the complaints towards Vir and Figueiredo, the corporate’s head of product wrote “lol fools,” referring to prospects who felt they’d been cheated.
NGL additionally violated Youngsters’s On-line Privateness Safety Act guidelines. This federal regulation requires kids underneath 13 to knowingly inform their mother and father of non-public data collected from kids and procure verifiable parental consent when utilizing apps and on-line providers.
Fairplay, a nonprofit that filed a criticism towards NGL with the FTC final fall, applauded the FTC’s order in an announcement.
“Massive tech corporations would not have full authority to supply merchandise and options to kids which might be clearly dangerous and misleading,” mentioned Haley Hinkle, coverage advisor at Fairplay.
Up to date: July 10, 2024 at 5:09 pm ET This report has been up to date to incorporate further particulars relating to NGL’s announcement of the settlement with the FTC.
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