Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Roblox

2026-05-14T21:29:28Z

Derpus: Add forced arbitration section based on Roblox Terms of Use

{{Incomplete}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American gaming platform featuring user-generated games with microtransactions, primarily targeted towards children.
|Founded=2004
|Industry=Gaming
|Logo=Roblox.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://roblox.com/
}}
[[wikipedia:Roblox|'''Roblox''']] is an online platform which lets users create their own games, as well as all sorts of virtual items for their personal avatars. The platform is owned by the Roblox Corporation.

Users create games through Roblox Studio, an application separate from the Roblox Player. Roblox Studio can be used by a user to create digital backups of the games they create. These backups are stored on their hard drive and can not be altered by the Roblox Corporation.

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User freedom:''' Documented in section 11 of the Roblox Terms of Use,<ref name="disputeResolution">{{Cite web |title=Roblox Terms of Use - Dispute Resolution (Between User and Roblox); |url=https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use#dispute-resolution-user-roblox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260201050040/https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use#dispute-resolution-user-roblox |archive-date=1 Feb 2026 |website=Roblox Support}}</ref> the user agrees to resolve disputes through Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution (MIDR).<ref name="disputeResolution"></ref> If MIDR does not resolve a dispute, users within the United States are forced to proceed under [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]]. In order to initiate MIDR, users are required to send a physically-written notice by certified mail or through Federal Express.
*'''User privacy:''' All operations related to Roblox must, to some extent, occur on servers that Roblox owns. For example, it is nearly impossible to play a Roblox game without interacting with the Roblox servers. Roblox servers are not end to end encrypted, allowing possible vulnerabilities. Roblox explicitly states that they monitor all user activity to see if it complies with their rules.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restricted Content Policy |url=https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004630823-Roblox-Privacy-and-Cookie-Policy#posting-content |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260217144058/https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004630823-Roblox-Privacy-and-Cookie-Policy#posting-content |archive-date=17 Feb 2026 |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=Roblox |at=Posting content}}</ref>
*'''Business model:''' Roblox profits off of an exclusive currency purchased with real-world currency called ''Robux'', and it is often used an an intermediary for microtransactions on the platform for user-generated content (UGC) such as cosmetics. Roblox is known to also make money off of collaborations that function as advertisements, such as with IKEA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jun 3, 2024 |title=IKEA is opening a new store on Roblox… and you could be paid to work there! |url=https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/newsroom/corporate-news/ikea-is-opening-a-new-store-on-roblox-pub8a9272d0/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222140347/https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/newsroom/corporate-news/ikea-is-opening-a-new-store-on-roblox-pub8a9272d0/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026 |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=Ikea}}</ref>
*'''Market competition:''' Various platforms such as [[Epic Games]]' [https://www.fortnite.com/ Fortnite] and the lesser known Brick Hill<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Brick Hill |url=https://brickhill.fandom.com/wiki/History_of_Brick_Hill |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222142455/https://brickhill.fandom.com/wiki/History_of_Brick_Hill |archive-date=2026-02-22}}</ref> by Mooshimity<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brick Hill United Kingdom Trademark Information |url=https://www.trademarkelite.com/uk/trademark/trademark-detail/UK00003523863/Brick-Hill |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/d18PI |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mooshimity |url=https://brickhill.fandom.com/wiki/Mooshimity |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222144025/https://brickhill.fandom.com/wiki/Mooshimity |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> have been known to emulate how Roblox works. Very few however, are successful in competing against them.
*'''Other information:''' The Roblox Corporation can terminate (delete) a user's account as long as they believe they are violating the Terms of Use.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date= |title=Roblox Terms of Use |url=https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use |url-status=deviated |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260120135232/https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use |archive-date=20 Jan 2026|access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=Roblox |page=Section 2}}</ref> Termination can not be revoked.<ref name=":1" /> A terminated user will lose all content they own on Roblox along with their account, including what they purchased with Robux.<ref name=":1" />

==Monetization==
Roblox is a free service which features microtransactions made with Robux, e.g. new accessories, clothing, exclusive content in certain games E.g gamepasses, and the ability to access certain games. All items purchased on Roblox are stored on Roblox servers alone, so Roblox has the ability to modify or delete the items you own. Deleted or moderated items do not guarantee a refund, even if user is not at fault. <ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date= |title=Will I Get My Robux Back If I Delete/Do Not Like an Item? |url=https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/203313290-Will-I-Get-My-Robux-Back-If-I-Delete-Do-Not-Like-an-Item |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260202060541/https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/203313290-Will-I-Get-My-Robux-Back-If-I-Delete-Do-Not-Like-an-Item |archive-date=2 Feb 2026 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |website=Roblox Support}}</ref>

On September 9, 2021, Roblox launched an automated process for users to receive Robux back for items they had bought which had been deleted or otherwise moderated<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roblox Moderated Item Robux Policy |url=https://www.roblox.com/modcreditagreement/974158ba-99f0-4915-8fde-5b07b3cbbe09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/aEZB0 |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>. The Roblox company implemented this change after they got sued for first allowing items to be sold and then deleting them without compensating users that purchased said items<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doe v. Roblox Corporation |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59935306/doe-v-roblox-corporation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222145446/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59935306/doe-v-roblox-corporation/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>. Until then, there was no refund method in place, meaning that if an item was deleted, Roblox would keep all of the profit they made of said item and sometimes all of the money made from selling said item if the creators account got terminated and the creator hadn't spent their Robux yet.

== Forced arbitration ==
Roblox's Terms of Use states that the only way to opt out of forced arbitration is to send written notice to Roblox with 30 days of signing up for the first time. Future changes to their Arbitration Agreement may only be opted out if an additional written opt-out notice is sent within 30 days after Roblox provides notice of such changes. The written notice must be sent by certified U.S. Mail or by Federal Express (or international equivalent), as stated in section 13.b.ix of their Terms of Use.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Apr 2026 |title=Roblox Terms of Use |url=https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use |url-status=live |access-date=14 May 2026 |website=Roblox}}</ref>

==Incidents==
===Inappropriate content===
Throughout the 2020s, Roblox has faced several controversies regarding child safety, including a lawsuit in 2020 over how the platform had allowed two adults to harass a 10-year-old girl, causing her mental health to deteriorate so badly that she resorted to suicide, according to her parents' testimony.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dorsey |first=Edwin |date=2025-08-15 |title=This list is the tip of the iceberg. So many cases go unreported, undetected, or contribute to the deaths of children. Below is one lawsuit in which a 10-year-old girl claimed abuse through Roblox. |url=https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/StockJabber/status/1956415609345851567 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260321175820/https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/StockJabber/status/1956415609345851567 |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Twitter}}</ref>

On 14th August 2025, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit against Roblox<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murrill |first=Elizabeth |date=2025-08-14 |title=Attorney General Liz Murrill on X |url=https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/AGLizMurrill/status/1956081394083409932 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260321175820/https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/StockJabber/status/1956415609345851567 |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |website=X}}</ref>, alleging child exploitation and the platforming of sexual predators on the platform. Roblox themselves released an official response to the lawsuit on 15th August 2025.

On 6 November 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Roblox, over child safety concerns, accusing the company of "deceiving parents about the dangers of its platform".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Iyer |first=Ram |date=2025-11-07 |title=Texas AG sues Roblox, accusing it of prioritizing ‘pixel pedophiles’ over child safety |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/07/texas-ag-sues-roblox-accusing-it-of-prioritizing-pixel-pedophiles-over-child-safety/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=TechCrunch |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260206204009/https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/07/texas-ag-sues-roblox-accusing-it-of-prioritizing-pixel-pedophiles-over-child-safety/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Accusations of child labor===
In January 2022, ''The Guardian'' published a story accusing Roblox of profiting off child labor with detailed stories of teenagers being scammed and becoming victims of sexual grooming in communities conveniently off the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parkin |first=Simon |date=9 Jan 2022 |title=The trouble with Roblox, the video game empire built on child labour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/jan/09/the-trouble-with-roblox-the-video-game-empire-built-on-child-labour |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260210010556/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/jan/09/the-trouble-with-roblox-the-video-game-empire-built-on-child-labour |archive-date=10 Feb 2026 |website=theguardian.com}}</ref> In October 2022, the first of many lawsuits alleging Roblox enabled a girl's sexual exploitation was filed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierson |first=Brendon |date=5 Oct 2022 |title=Game company Roblox enabled girl's sexual exploitation, lawsuit claims |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/game-company-roblox-enabled-girls-sexual-exploitation-lawsuit-claims-2022-10-05/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318185209/https://www.reuters.com/legal/game-company-roblox-enabled-girls-sexual-exploitation-lawsuit-claims-2022-10-05/ |archive-date=18 Mar 2023 |website=reuters.com}}</ref>

On the 24th of August 2025 the YouTube channel People Make Games published a video about Roblox's treatment of children. One of the points in the video is about how Roblox developers own a currency called "Robux" that resembles a new form of [[wikipedia:Company_scrip|Company Scrip]], a currency that is exclusively earned and exchanged in the company. Exchanging it back into a real currency will result in less payment overall, encouraging the use of it inside the company. The currency was made illegal in 1938.

===Blocking Linux users===
In April 2023, Roblox intentionally blocked Linux users playing the game via Wine, a tool used for running Windows apps on POSIX-compliant operating systems, they cite "security and compatibility concerns."<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=21 Apr 2023 |title=Devforum Post by MrEaker of Roblox |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/the-new-roblox-64-bit-byfron-client-forbids-wine-users-from-using-it-most-likely-unintentional/2305528/2 |website=Roblox Devforum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251221184705/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/the-new-roblox-64-bit-byfron-client-forbids-wine-users-from-using-it-most-likely-unintentional/2305528/2 |archive-date=21 Dec 2025}}</ref> This announcement followed Roblox's acquisition of Byfron, as well as their developments towards a 64-bit Roblox client.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roblox |date=11 Oct 2022 |title=Welcoming Byfron to Roblox |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/welcoming-byfron-to-roblox/2018233 |website=Roblox Devforum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216174353/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/welcoming-byfron-to-roblox/2018233 |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> Despite this change to the client, users were still able to access Roblox Studio, the development application, utilizing Wine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Apr 2023 |title=Devforum Post by Bitdancer regarding Studio |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/the-new-roblox-64-bit-byfron-client-forbids-wine-users-from-using-it-most-likely-unintentional/2305528/34 |website=Roblox Devforum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250725105111/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/the-new-roblox-64-bit-byfron-client-forbids-wine-users-from-using-it-most-likely-unintentional/2305528/34 |archive-date=25 Jul 2025}}</ref> In August 2023, an update to Roblox once again allowed users to run Roblox via Wine, and many users opted to use a fork of Wine titled Vinegar made specifically for Roblox.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Aug 2023 |title=Devforum Post by Thelolguy1337 Discussing Roblox on Linux |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/vinegar-the-better-way-to-run-roblox-on-linux/2224394/24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260321175853/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/vinegar-the-better-way-to-run-roblox-on-linux/2224394/24 |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |website=Roblox Devforum}}</ref> In February of 2024, Roblox would go back on their decision and ban the use of Wine for the Roblox Client, citing extended use of Wine-based exploits, Roblox Studio remains available under wine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VinegarHQ 2024 Roblox on Linux Block FAQ |url=https://vinegarhq.org/Home/rol_faq.html |website=vinegarhq.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221101707/https://vinegarhq.org/Home/rol_faq.html |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref> In August 2024, the Vinegar team would release Sober, a closed-source application utilizing a translation layer to access the Roblox client via a mobile Android package kit (APK).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sober - Roblox on Linux |url=https://sober.vinegarhq.org/ |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128050139/https://sober.vinegarhq.org/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> In April 2025, Roblox engineer Bitdancer would state on the Roblox Devforums that they see no reason to block Sober, but that they may disable it as a side effect of changes in security. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bitdancer |title=Roblox Security Changes Break Nvidia Ansel & Vulkan Layer Support for Sober|url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/roblox-security-changes-break-nvidia-ansel-vulkan-layer-support/3601172/40 |website=Roblox DevForum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250507192309/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/roblox-security-changes-break-nvidia-ansel-vulkan-layer-support/3601172/40 |archive-date=7 May 2025}}</ref>

===Problematic moderation===
{{Main|Roblox's problematic moderation}}
Roblox as a platform has been known by consumers to moderate content in ways that are inconsistent. The platform's chat moderation feature censors inoffensive speech,<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Gregheffley95 |first= |date=Feb 26, 2021 |title=Roblox censors almost everything |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/lsxpex/roblox_censors_almost_everything/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619214011/https://old.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/lsxpex/roblox_censors_almost_everything/ |archive-date=Jun 19, 2023 |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> including numbers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Mar 7, 2017 |title=Why the hell are numbers censored! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/5y0w3z/why_the_hell_are_numbers_censored/ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] - r/Roblox |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230617231601/https://old.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/5y0w3z/why_the_hell_are_numbers_censored/ |archive-date=17 Jun 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=JParty |date=Feb 24, 2017 |title=Updates to Chat Privacy API + New Account Indicators + Changes to Text Filtering APIs |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/updates-to-chat-privacy-api-new-account-indicators-changes-to-text-filtering-apis/33867 |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=Roblox Dev Forum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260201024759/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/updates-to-chat-privacy-api-new-account-indicators-changes-to-text-filtering-apis/33867 |archive-date=1 Feb 2026}}</ref>

In recent years, moderation has been documented to neglect handling child predators, only handling the most egregious of actors after massive consumer backlash<ref>{{Cite news |last=Olivia |first=Carville |last2=D’Anastasio |first2=Cecilia |date=Jul 22, 2024 |title=Roblox’s Pedophile Problem |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-roblox-pedophile-problem/ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |work=Bloomberg |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221075424/https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-roblox-pedophile-problem/ |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref> or lawsuits,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tanenbaum |first=Michael |date=Feb 25, 2025 |title=Family from N.J. sues Roblox and Discord, claiming platforms are 'hunting ground' for child predators |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/new-jersey-familys-suit-alleges-roblox-discord-are-hunting-ground-child-predators/ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |work=Philly Voice |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251231190731/https://www.phillyvoice.com/new-jersey-familys-suit-alleges-roblox-discord-are-hunting-ground-child-predators/ |archive-date=31 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=Aug 8, 2025 |title=‘Breeding ground for predators’: Roblox sued by DeKalb 10-year-old’s family |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/breeding-ground-predators-roblox-sued-150622871.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260306023157/https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/breeding-ground-predators-roblox-sued-150622871.html |archive-date=6 Mar 2026 |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |work=WSBTV 2 Atlanta}}</ref> and in many cases, these individuals tend to have their bans reversed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Aug 9, 2025 |title=Roblox Is Threatening to Sue Me For Protecting Kids |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMqAw_NjHK8&t |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=hMqAw_NjHK8 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Additionally, the platform has been documented to host various mature experiences,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Jan 9, 2024 |title=this simulator should NOT be on roblox... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMdacOJxmjU |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=IMdacOJxmjU |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Apr 14, 2024 |title=Roblox Needs to BAN These Games... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE3FeYfJOhw |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=EE3FeYfJOhw |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> which have been recorded to be used as breeding grounds for predatory behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Feb 7, 2024 |title=I Caught a Roblox PREDATOR in this game... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQMSc-9jGMQ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=qQMSc-9jGMQ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> This neglect has gone so far as to the platform threatening litigation against individuals attempting to get child predators reported to authorities.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date= |title=Roblox-Sclep controversy |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roblox%E2%80%93Schlep_controversy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260321141928/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roblox%E2%80%93Schlep_controversy |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |access-date=21 Mar 2026 |work=Wikipedia}}</ref>

According to Ruben Sim, the Roblox report system (which allows users to 'report' rule-violating behavior to Roblox moderators) often had a success rate of 20%<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=22 Dec 2023 |title=Do Roblox Reports Really Work? |url=https://youtu.be/Q-s0sLZ4oJA?t=52 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Q-s0sLZ4oJA |archive-date=26 Dec 2023}}</ref>, With the Roblox community theorizing a very low chance "Near ZERO" said in one forum<ref>{{Cite web |last=sparkling_cola |date=1 May 2024 |title=The chance of a successful appeal - NEAR ZERO |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/the-chance-of-a-successful-appeal-near-zero/2985866 |website=Roblox Devforum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250903192622/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/the-chance-of-a-successful-appeal-near-zero/2985866 |archive-date=3 Sep 2025}}</ref>. even when obviously rule-violating accounts possessing usernames which were distorted versions of minor-sexualizing phrases such as "14 year old slut".<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Ruben |last2=Trav |last3=Clan |last4=DukDolan |last5=Hipsterjelly |last6=Hulkatron |last7=Victor |date=20 Dec 2023 |title=Determining the Effectiveness of Roblox Reports |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zqJJSNm2utDjFDwtIkQGo6jh3OtyYZhzpyRI-UnxQbA/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.uk35gocf0zmv |website=Google Docs |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250322154652/https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zqJJSNm2utDjFDwtIkQGo6jh3OtyYZhzpyRI-UnxQbA/edit?tab=t.0 |archive-date=22 Mar 2025}}</ref>
===Condo games===
"Condo" games on Roblox are a type of game which simulates sex between Roblox avatars. According to the policies on Romantic and Sexual Content, "Any content which explicitly [depicts] sexual content or nudity is against the rules of Roblox<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restricted Content Policy |url=https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/15869919570708-Restricted-Content-Policy |url-status= |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=Roblox |at=Romantic and Sexual Content |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217013725/https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/15869919570708-Restricted-Content-Policy |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref>". Due to the rule-violating nature of these games and how they can harm the fanbase of Roblox (Which is overwhelmingly composed of young children<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Jul 2025 |title=What percent of Roblox users are kids? |url=https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/wiki/what-percent-of-roblox-users-are-kids/ |website=Games Learning Society |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224121406/https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/wiki/what-percent-of-roblox-users-are-kids/ |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Distribution of Roblox audiences worldwide as of December 2024, by age group |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1190869/roblox-games-users-global-distribution-age/ |access-date=30 Jan 2026 |website=statista.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260121193151/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1190869/roblox-games-users-global-distribution-age/ |archive-date=21 Jan 2026}}</ref>'')'', they are often removed by Roblox moderation.

However, due to the potentially backup-creating nature of Roblox Studio, creators of these Condo games can endlessly republish these offending games under alternate accounts as long as they keep the backup file. Roblox has added an 18+ experiences, Although Roblox still announces sexual themes are still highly prohibited<ref>{{Cite web |last=RbxRocketMan |date=28 Aug 2025 |title=Updating Age Requirements for Experiences with ‘Restricted’ Content Maturity Label |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/updating-age-requirements-for-experiences-with-%E2%80%98restricted%E2%80%99-content-maturity-label/3905863 |website=Roblox Devforum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124002839/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/updating-age-requirements-for-experiences-with-%E2%80%98restricted%E2%80%99-content-maturity-label/3905863 |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>. Still, condo games almost never mark themselves as 18+<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charts - Roblox - r35 |url=https://www.roblox.com/discover/?Keyword=r35 |access-date=30 Jan 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224121444/https://www.roblox.com/discover/?Keyword=r35 |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>, allowing underage users to potentially be harmed.

===Predator-hunting groups===
In 9th August, 2025, Roblox issued a Cease and Desist to Roblox predator hunting channel RealSchlep<ref>{{Cite web |author=RealSchlep |date=9 Aug 2025 |title=Schlep on X posting about his Cease and Desist |url=https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/RealSchlep/status/1954255952997478537 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260321180741/https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/RealSchlep/status/1954255952997478537 |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>. "Schlep used the method of acting like an underage person (decoy) to catch bad actors on Roblox. Using this method he got 6 arrests according to his team using Roblox until they issued a Cease and Desist. Roblox added a rule to their Terms of Use<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Matt |date=13 Aug 2025 |title=Roblox on vigilante groups |url=https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/08/more-on-removal-of-vigilantes-from-roblox |url-status= |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=Roblox |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260102194729/https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/08/more-on-removal-of-vigilantes-from-roblox |archive-date=2 Jan 2026}}</ref>. Roblox is reassuring their playerbase that the groups do not use the proper channels that Roblox provides to report potential criminals. This sparked even more backlash for the already problematic moderation system, leaving players and parents in doubt if Roblox is even a safe environment for children.

===ID & face scan age verification===
In 3rd September, 2025, Matt Kaufman (Roblox's Chief Safety Officer) issues an post on their blog announcing their plans to implement facial estimation in order to "provide an accurate measure of a user's age rather than relying on what they type in when creating an account"<ref>''Matt Kaufman (2025-09-03).'' [https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/09/roblox-to-expand-age-estimation-to-all-users "Roblox Announces Ambitious Plan to Expand Age Estimation to All Users"]. ''Roblox's Newsroom. Retrieved 2026-01-22.'' ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260115005623/https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/09/roblox-to-expand-age-estimation-to-all-users Archived])</ref>. Later on October, Roblox announces on their developer forum a post titled "Encouraging users to complete an age check to chat", citing a partnership with [[Persona]], which as of early 2026, is currently being sued over biometric data handling<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Aug 2024 |title=Washington v. Persona Identities |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/illinois/court-of-appeals-third-appellate-district/2024/3-24-0210.html |website=Justia Law |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260202081813/https://law.justia.com/cases/illinois/court-of-appeals-third-appellate-district/2024/3-24-0210.html |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}</ref>. In that same post, they cite that "early next year, users will be required to be age checked to chat on Roblox".<ref>{{Cite web |last=rbitia_rbx |date=4 Oct 2025 |title=[Test] Encouraging users to complete an age check to chat |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/test-encouraging-users-to-complete-an-age-check-to-chat/4035155 |website=Roblox Devforum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212134643/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/test-encouraging-users-to-complete-an-age-check-to-chat/4035155 |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref>

On November, 2025, Roblox released an update that required users on Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand to be age verified in order to use chat by either facial estimation or ID verification, which caused outrage amongst users. On January 7th, 2026, they seemingly ignored the outrage and released the update globally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RbxRocketMan |date=10 Jan 2026 |title=Age Check Requirement to Chat Now Live Globally |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/age-check-requirement-to-chat-now-live-globally/4226101 |website=Roblox Devforum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260115161245/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/age-check-requirement-to-chat-now-live-globally/4226101/ |archive-date=15 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>''Matt Kaufman and Rajiv Bhatia (2026-01-07).'' [https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2026/01/roblox-age-checks-required-to-chat "A New Era of Safety: Facial Age Checks Now Required to Chat on Roblox"] ''Roblox's Newsroom. Retrieved 2026-01-22.'' ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260118060352/https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2026/01/roblox-age-checks-required-to-chat Archived])</ref> Said facial estimation is also required to use some features other than the chat, such as Roblox Studio's team create.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roblox |first= |date=26 Mar 2026 |title=Age Requirements for Team Create in Studio |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/age-requirements-for-team-create-in-studio/4539725 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Roblox Devforum}}</ref>

On April 2026 that Roblox will be Introducing Roblox Kids and Roblox Select: age-based accounts that use age-check technology to deliver tailored content, safer chat, and expanded parental controls for users under 16 and required to age verify to be able to play Moderate games <ref>{{Cite web |last=Baszucki |first=David |date=Apr 13, 2026 |title=Roblox Introduces New Age-Based Accounts and Expanded Parental Controls for Users Under 16 |url=https://about.roblox.com/newsroom/2026/04/introducing-roblox-kids-and-select-accounts |url-status=live |website=Roblox}}</ref>

===Switching away from 2D/Classic Faces===
On 27th January, 2026, Roblox announced via a DevForum post that they would be fully migrating all 2D faces to Dynamic Heads and removing 2D face and Classic Head support entirely. <ref>{{Cite web |last=GeneralRelish |first= |date=2026-01-27 |title=Completing the Dynamic Head Migration |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/completing-the-dynamic-head-migration/4301387 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260307020815/https://devforum.roblox.com/t/completing-the-dynamic-head-migration/4301387 |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=Roblox Developer Forum}}</ref> Roblox claimed that all Dynamic Heads would have 1:1 parity with the original 2D faces, which was quickly pointed out as untrue across comments on the DevForum, with some users guessing that the majority of the new Dynamic Heads were AI generated. Roblox previously supported Classic Heads with 2D faces, the majority of these heads were paid cosmetics sold under the pretense that support for them would continue. With this update, Roblox has discontinued support for this paid product, changing the terms of the sale after consumers purchased it.

On 5th March, 2026, Roblox amended the DevForum post claiming that they would work with Kestrel, a well known UGC brand on the Roblox platform, to review the 1:1 migration of 2D faces. On 23rd March, 2026, Roblox fully rolled out the update, releasing sub-standard 3D heads and removing 2D faces and Classic Heads. Kestrel's Creative Director Ana went on X (Formerly Twitter) to state that Roblox had released the update without consulting Kestrel in any way, and that Roblox had released the update early. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Ana |first= |date=2026-03-23 |title=Ana on X: |url=https://x.com/Anareloux/status/2036175481624486264 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=X}}</ref> This led to several users on the DevForum to believe that Kestrel had approved of the update, damaging Kestrel's reputation.

====Removal Of Faces====
This switch of 2D/Classic faces to the Dynamic Head ones also lead to some 2D faces being straight up removed, with no refunds being given to affected users. One of these deleted faces is the 'Koala' face that was released in 2009 with the price of 28 Robux.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Koala {{!}} Roblox Wiki {{!}} Fandom |url=https://roblox.fandom.com/wiki/Catalog:Koala |url-status=live |website=Fandom}}</ref>

===Requiring a Roblox+ subscription in order to publish games===
On the 13th of April, 2026, Roblox had announced an update taking effect on May 19th that would '''require''' game publishers to "have an active Roblox+ subscription" in order to publish games and '''keep them up''' for others to experience, along with other restrictions if the game is intended to be played by an audience of all age groups.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tornow |first=Nick |date=12 Apr 2026 |title=New standards to publish games on Roblox are coming soon |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=033GBcpcmxc |access-date=14 Apr 2026 |website=Youtube |publisher=[[Roblox]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NikT |date=13 Apr 2026 |title=New Publishing Requirements & Evaluation Process for Games |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/new-publishing-requirements-evaluation-process-for-games/4573166 |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=Roblox Devforum}}</ref> It was initially announced in the unlisted video that "people with more than 100 hours of playtime on their projects" would receive up to 6 months of a free Roblox+ subscription. Hours later, however, people began to report incidents of their eligibility being revoked from them, despite having met the presented requirements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=pe9h |date=13 Apr 2026 |title=Comment #2597 on the initial announcement page for new publishing requirements |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/new-publishing-requirements-evaluation-process-for-games/4573166/2597 |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=Roblox Devforum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=nukesplash |date=13 Apr 2026 |title=Comment #2618 on the initial announcement page for new publishing requirements |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/new-publishing-requirements-evaluation-process-for-games/4573166/2618 |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=Roblox Devforum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Illinois_Roadbuff |date=14 Apr 2026 |title=Comment #2739 on the initial announcement page for new publishing requirements |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/new-publishing-requirements-evaluation-process-for-games/4573166/2739 |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=Roblox Devforum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Iepurasul_unic |date=14 Apr 2026 |title=Eligibility for 6-month free Plus grant disappeared despite meeting 100h requirement |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/eligibility-for-6-month-free-plus-grant-disappeared-despite-meeting-100h-requirement/4576708 |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=Roblox Devforum}}</ref>

====List of all current publishing restrictions:====
*Having to be ID-verified
*Having 2-Factor-Authentification(2FA) on
*Having an active Roblox Plus subscription
*Having your game complete a new evaluation process involving "player reports & signals".

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Video games]]

Meta

2026-03-26T08:05:36Z

Derpus: /* Los Angeles Superior Court, JCCP 5255 (2026) - Link mentions of Google to consumerrights.wiki page */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Meta is an American technology company known for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Llama.
|Founded=2004
|Industry=Social media, Advertising, Artificial intelligence
|Logo=Meta logo.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://meta.com/
}}

[[wikipedia:Meta_Platforms|'''Meta Platforms, Inc.''']], formerly known as Facebook, is a multinational technology conglomerate primarily known for its social media platforms, including Facebook, [[Instagram]], [[WhatsApp]], and Messenger. Founded in 2004 by [[Mark Zuckerberg]], Facebook quickly grew into one of the largest social networks in the world. Over the years, the company has expanded its business model, incorporating advertising, data collection, and virtual reality products, with a focus on connecting users globally.

In 2021, Facebook rebranded itself as Meta, signaling its shift toward a broader vision focused on the "metaverse" – a virtual-reality, interconnected digital world. Meta has faced ongoing scrutiny over issues related to consumer privacy, data security, content moderation, and its role in spreading misinformation. The company has been involved in several high-profile regulatory and legal challenges, particularly regarding its handling of user data and its impact on user well-being.

==Anti-consumer practices==

===Facebook===

====Upload of private user photos on phones to the cloud for AI training (June 2025)====
According to reports, some users have reported popups asking them to opt in to "cloud processing" of their photos when using the Story feature. This would give the app unrestricted access to all photos stored on the user's phone and upload all of them to the cloud on a regular basis, as opposed to just uploading those images explicitly chosen by the user to be posted on the platform. Users are incentivized to agree through the promise of custom collages and recaps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Tina |date=June 28, 2025 |title=Facebook is starting to feed its AI with private, unpublished photos |url=https://www.theverge.com/meta/694685/meta-ai-camera-roll |access-date=June 29, 2025 |website=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127051520/https://www.theverge.com/meta/694685/meta-ai-camera-roll |archive-date=27 Jan 2026}}</ref>

This would allow Meta to perform face recognition, track the past location of the user and their social circle based on the GPS metadata from all photos, train AI models with the photos, and much more. This also has security implications since the data on Meta's servers could be leaked or hacked at any time.

It should be noted that on-device analysis of all photos and their metadata was already possible on older mobile operating systems until Apple and Google added more granular permissions than "access camera roll or not". Whether this was actively exploited by apps like Facebook is unknown.

Users can reduce the amount of data these services can harvest by using the browser version in an incognito tab instead of using dedicated apps. Installing an adblocker is also advisable. However, not all features may be accessible this way.

===='''Forced changes in terms of service.'''====
[[File:Email sent to Meta users.png|thumb|No options given, you accept.]]
14 Aug 25 Meta sent another of their notorious emails with the text "By continuing to use a Meta account to access our products after '''12 September 2025''', you agree to the revised '''Supplemental Meta Platform Technologies Terms of Service''' and acknowledge that these updates will apply to you."

In other words: the user is bombed with long legalese texts, no information about what is changed for the worse. If the user does not want to accept whatever new stuff they wrote, then throw away/stop using Meta Quest, Meta Ray-Bans and so on. The only option given, is not to use their products and services anymore, or - keep using what you paid for, accept anything.

====Local Mess (June 2025)====
A study by Dutch researchers revealed that Meta used a local connection from the user's browser to their apps using WebRTC to communicate from the Facebook tracking pixel (a script website providers integrate into their websites) with Meta apps installed on the device to track the user and circumvent measures to prevent the user's data from leaking. This even works when the user is using the browser's incognito mode. Meta used this technique since at least 2024, Yandex used it as far back as 2017. The day the study was published, the corresponding code disappeared from the Facebook tracking pixel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Girish |first=Aniketh |date=3 Jun 2025 |title=Disclosure: Covert Web-to-App Tracking via Localhost on Android |url=https://localmess.github.io/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116094503/https://localmess.github.io/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026 |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=Local Mess (Github)}}</ref>

====The Linux Ban====
On January 19th 2025, Meta updated their internal policies to recognize the {{Wplink|free and open-source software}} and operating system Linux as a "cybersecurity threat".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=19 Jan 2025 |title=Facebook ban |url=https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20250127#sitenews |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=distrowatch.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220124234/https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20250127 |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyson |first=Mark |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Facebook flags Linux topics as 'cybersecurity threats' — posts and users being blocked |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/facebook-flags-linux-topics-as-cybersecurity-threats-posts-and-users-being-blocked |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=Tom's Hardware |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212074620/https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/facebook-flags-linux-topics-as-cybersecurity-threats-posts-and-users-being-blocked |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref> As part of this, many Facebook users had their accounts either locked or muted for merely mentioning Linux, most notably the Linux distribution tracking site, DistroWatch. DistroWatch claims they appealed the decision the next day and had it affirmed to them that "Linux-related material is staying on the cybersecurity filter" alongside the personal account the appeal was sent from being locked.<ref name=":1" /> This quickly gained media attention with many calling this out as irony given Meta's infrastructure mostly runs on Linux.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Proven |first=Liam |date=28 Jan 2025 |title=Meta blocked Distrowatch links on Facebook while running Linux servers |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/28/facebook_blocks_distrowatch/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=The Register |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211053417/https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/28/facebook_blocks_distrowatch/ |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref>
9 days later on 28 January, PCMAG posted a comment provided to them by Meta directly confirming this was an error following Distrowatch's account being reinstated and the blocking of any Linux related content being lifted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |date=28 Jan 2025 |title=Facebook Accidentally Blocks Users From Posting About Linux |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/facebook-accidentally-blocks-users-from-posting-about-linux |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=PCMag |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251122144657/https://www.pcmag.com/news/facebook-accidentally-blocks-users-from-posting-about-linux |archive-date=22 Nov 2025}}</ref>

====Tracking pixel====
The Meta tracking pixel can be added to websites to track user behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meta Pixel |url=https://www.facebook.com/business/tools/meta-pixel/ |website=Meta |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213215943/https://www.facebook.com/business/tools/meta-pixel/ |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref> The tracking tool has faced several lawsuits for violations of privacy laws. The lawsuits range from websites failing to disclose the use of the tracking tool Meta pixel to outright declaring the tool illegal. In 2023, the Austrian DSB decided the technology is illegal, as it cannot guarantee data is not shared back to data centers located in US from the EU.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Mar 2023 |title=Austrian DSB: Meta Tracking Tools Illegal |url=https://noyb.eu/en/austrian-dsb-meta-tracking-tools-illegal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316064216/https://noyb.eu/en/austrian-dsb-meta-tracking-tools-illegal |archive-date=16 Mar 2023 |access-date=8 Mar 2025 |website=NOYB – European Center for Digital Rights}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brunoli |first=Joseph |date=17 Mar 2023 |title=Austrian regulators declare Meta tracking tools are illegal |url=https://www.techzine.eu/news/privacy-compliance/103329/austrian-regulators-declare-meta-tracking-tools-are-illegal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320095247/https://www.techzine.eu/news/privacy-compliance/103329/austrian-regulators-declare-meta-tracking-tools-are-illegal/ |archive-date=20 Mar 2023 |access-date=8 Mar 2025 |website=Techzine Europe}}</ref> At that time there was legal uncertainty regarding these data transfers, as the privacy framework for EU-US data transfers was annulled in 2020. This legal grey area was entered again in 2025, as [[The US undermines the Transatlantic Data Privacy Framework with the EU by firing PCLOB staff|the current privacy framework with the US faces uncertainty]].

====Artificial permission requirements in Android App====
The Facebook Android App summarily requests a lot of permissions. Most of those can be denied if unwanted. However, when the unlimited permission to access all media files on the user's phone is not granted, it is not possible to share images from the app. This is a bogus requirement, as this permission is not needed to share images ''out'' of an app. The app will guide the user into enabling that permission when they [first] try to share an image out of Facebook to a different app, e.g. a messenger. Notably, even granting limited access will trigger the "more permissions required" guidance.

As a crude workaround, one can take screenshots of images in the app instead of using its sharing functionality. Since that yields images in screen resolution, this workaround may not be suitable in all cases.

====Useless notifications to boost engagement and facilitate tracking====

Initially, notifications on the site were used to inform the user of events that warranted their attention, such as a new post to their wall, a direct message or interactions with their posts. Clicking the notification icon would clear its state. However, at some point Facebook started to trigger notifications when the user was inactive for too long in order to get them to engage with the platform more, which would then in turn indirectly increase their ad exposure. It was also no longer possible to fully clear the notifications because new ones would appear instantly. E-Mail notifications with the clear intent of getting the user to go to the platform rather than informing the user of something relevant are also sent on a regular basis.

This creates a constant sense of the user having unfinished business and missing out on something potentially important on the platform even though this is clearly not the case.

This was exacerbated when mobile platforms became more relevant because they allow app vendors to display notifications on the home screen of the device as well as red badges with notification counts or exclamation marks overlaid over the app icon. Incoming notifications also allow mobile apps to be woken from suspended energy saving state and do active processing in the foreground, which makes it easier for Facebook to do background tracking and transmit information back more often. This practice was also adopted by Instagram when Meta (then called Facebook) took over the platform.

====Funds "anti-bigtech" groups====
The [[Digital Childhood Alliance]] has received funding from Meta, according to reporting by multiple sources.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=25 Jul 2025 |title=Meta Clashes With Apple, Google Over Child Age Check Legislation |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/07/25/833246.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Meta Oculus VR===

====Oculus VR Facebook account requirement====
In 2014, Meta acquired Oculus VR for approximately $2 billion, which was known for developing the Oculus Rift and other virtual-reality (VR) products. Before the acquisition, users could create and use Oculus accounts to access their VR content. This allowed users more control over their privacy and data without needing to use Facebook.

After Oculus VR was purchased by Meta in October 2020, Oculus Quest and Rift S users were [[Forced account|required to sign in]] with a Facebook account in order to continue to use their purchased VR headsets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=20 Aug 2020 |title=Facebook is making Oculus’ worst feature unavoidable |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/19/21375118/oculus-facebook-account-login-data-privacy-controversy-developers-competition |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217195431/https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/19/21375118/oculus-facebook-account-login-data-privacy-controversy-developers-competition |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> This forced integration of Facebook accounts with Oculus devices created several issues for users, particularly those who preferred to keep their VR experience separate from social media.

Because Oculus headsets were now tied to Facebook accounts, users who had their Facebook profiles suspended for any reason found themselves unable to access their purchased content, including games and apps, and unable to use their devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=15 Oct 2020 |title=Facebook is accidentally locking some users out of their new Oculus headsets |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/15/21518194/oculus-quest-2-headset-facebook-account-suspension-problems |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260129053001/https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/15/21518194/oculus-quest-2-headset-facebook-account-suspension-problems |archive-date=29 Jan 2026}}</ref> Meta offered no options for Oculus VR users aside from going through Facebook's moderation process to attempt to regain access to their accounts.

Additionally, Oculus account holders who did not want to link to Facebook risked losing access to their purchases entirely.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Dec 2022 |title=Facebook is purging Oculus accounts in January and any data you might have on it, including access to the headset |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/zr0rl8/facebook_is_purging_oculus_accounts_in_january/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221221000800/https://old.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/zr0rl8/facebook_is_purging_oculus_accounts_in_january/ |archive-date=21 Dec 2022}}</ref> If they did not migrate to a Facebook account, they would no longer be able to use their Oculus headsets or access any content they had purchased from the Oculus Store.

In August 2022, following public backlash, Meta reversed the policy, allowing users to sign in with a new "Meta account" instead of a Facebook account.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ridley |first=Jacob |date=24 Aug 2022 |title=Finally, the Quest 2 no longer requires a Facebook login |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/finally-the-quest-2-no-longer-requires-a-facebook-login/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=PCGamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118234348/https://www.pcgamer.com/finally-the-quest-2-no-longer-requires-a-facebook-login/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}}</ref> This, however, did not prevent several original Oculus accounts from being deleted or suspended, with Facebook users being locked out of their headsets for two years.

Furthermore, the headsets are not usable at all without connecting them to the Internet and logging them into a Meta/Facebook account when the owner wants to use it for the first time after purchase. This creates the risk that the headsets will be indefinitely unusable, or at least not to be able to be set up after a reset of the software, if Meta theoretically decides to shutdown the authentication or login servers.

====Echo VR shutdown and Ready At Dawn====
''Echo VR'' was a VR e-sports title centered around zero-gravity physics, developed by Ready At Dawn Studios.<ref>[https://www.meta.com/experiences/echo-vr/2215004568539258/ "Echo VR - About Page"] - meta.com ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251209205428/https://www.meta.com/experiences/echo-vr/2215004568539258/ Archived])</ref> The game released on July 20, 2017, on the Oculus Rift store, before being ported over to the Meta Quest platform (formerly the Oculus Quest platform) on May 5, 2020.

Ready At Dawn Studios was a game developer most notably known for creating the original ''God of War'' series and ''Daxter''. They were acquired by Oculus Studios, an umbrella organization of Meta, in June 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verdu |first=Mike |date=22 Jun 2020 |title=Welcoming Ready At Dawn to Facebook |url=https://www.meta.com/en-gb/blog/welcoming-ready-at-dawn-to-facebook/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=[[Meta]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250709090400/https://www.meta.com/en-gb/blog/welcoming-ready-at-dawn-to-facebook/ |archive-date=9 Jul 2025}}</ref>

On January 31, 2023, Ready At Dawn announced that ''Echo VR'' would shut down on August 1 of that year. They claimed in a blog post that the reason was them "consolidating studio support" to work on their next project, as well as confirming that players who had spent money on in-game currency would not be able to receive a refund.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@EchoGames |date=31 Jan 2023 |title=An Update on the Future of Echo VR |url=https://medium.com/@EchoGames/an-update-on-the-future-of-echo-vr-7f074dca1ed1 |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250907061436/https://medium.com/@EchoGames/an-update-on-the-future-of-echo-vr-7f074dca1ed1 |archive-date=7 Sep 2025}}</ref> Meta's CTO, Andrew Bosworth, answered questions regarding the shutdown in an Instagram AMA, explaining that it would be "even less cost effective" to open-source or sell the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Harry |date=2 Feb 2023 |title=Meta CTO: John Carmack Would Not Have Shut Down Echo VR |url=https://www.uploadvr.com/meta-cto-john-carmack-echo-vr/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=www.uploadvr.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207215520/https://www.uploadvr.com/meta-cto-john-carmack-echo-vr/ |archive-date=7 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Fans of ''Echo VR'' protested against the game's shutdown, going so far as to fly a banner over Meta's headquarters asking to reverse the decision.<ref>[https://vrscout.com/news/the-vr-esports-community-rallies-to-save-echo-vr/ "The VR Esports Community Rallies To Save Echo VR"] - vrscout.com - 2 Mar 2023 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20230922160105/https://vrscout.com/news/the-vr-esports-community-rallies-to-save-echo-vr/ Archived])</ref> Despite this, the game's servers did shut down on the given date. ''Echo VR'' itself was still able to be downloaded and opened, meaning the contents of the game were still available, but a player would not be able to progress after a shutdown notice pop-up.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Aug 2023 |title=Echo VR Has Shut Down |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/15fisnk/echo_vr_has_shut_down/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230801172248/https://old.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/15fisnk/echo_vr_has_shut_down/ |archive-date=1 Aug 2023}}</ref>

Despite Ready At Dawn's claims, there have been no other project released following the shutdown. The studio proceeded to suffer major layoffs and, in August 2024, Meta shut down Ready At Dawn Studios itself, blaming Oculus Studios' budgetary constraints.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sutrich |first=Nicholas |date=7 Aug 2024 |title=Exclusive: Meta is closing a beloved first-party Quest studio |url=https://www.androidcentral.com/gaming/virtual-reality/ready-at-dawn-studios-closing |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=www.androidcentral.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118212545/https://www.androidcentral.com/gaming/virtual-reality/ready-at-dawn-studios-closing |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}} </ref>

====Attempts to block other OpenXR runtimes (third party or other brands) from working with games<ref name=":2">"[https://mbucchia.github.io/OpenXR-Toolkit/ovrplugin.html Meta’s OVRPlugin]" - mbucchia.github.io ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251230175724/https://mbucchia.github.io/OpenXR-Toolkit/ovrplugin.html Archived])</ref>====
Both Unity and Unreal Engine allow various OpenXR vendor plugins to be used, one of which is Meta's Oculus XR Plugin internally called the OVRPlugin. The OVRPlugin is a unified plugin that allows developers a single unified implementation for their Quest devices and OpenXR compatible devices for the PC. This sounds like an easy solution to target all current popular high-end VR headsets in one implementation.

Under the hood Meta has taken steps to lock down this plugin to only work with their own devices. This is done by checking the name of the runtime, the presence of the nonstandard XR_META_headset_id, and the lack of legacy OVR support.<ref name=":2" />

It would be understandable that Meta locks down their own vendor plugin if it were incompatible with other OpenXR devices, in which case the engine could fall back to another implementation. However this is not the case as Meta makes it deliberately difficult to implement such fallbacks. For example in Unity if the generic OpenXR support is enabled while the OVRPlugin is enabled it will claim incompatibility and revert this selection to just OVRPlugin.<ref name=":2" />

Workarounds have been applied that trick the OVRPlugin into thinking it is interacting with a compliant runtime after which both third party runtimes and other headset brands are known to work without issues. This demonstrates that the vendor gated checks are to broadly implemented and unnecessary for OpenXR functionality.<ref name=":2" />

Meta if willing could have resolved the issue by removing the checks for functions present in the OpenXR spec, or allowing automatic fallbacks to the generic implementation if their implementation is incompatible with the used runtime.

As the result of their actions Meta's users are now locked in Meta's own runtime and remote streaming solution if no workarounds are applied either in the game or in the runtimes of third party's. This makes it seem like only Meta's runtime is stable and compatible with the latest games. Likewise, this forces all other headset vendors to implement similar workarounds for their devices.

Game developers are advised to avoid the OVRPlugin where possible and rely on generic OpenXR implementations that support the standard correctly. Affected users can try the Meta Plugin Compatibility option in their SteamVR settings. The latest version of Virtual Desktop should also have the workarounds implemented. Players of Unreal Engine games report that launching the game with -hmd=openxr can bypass the plugin.

====Update on the Oculus Quest 2 /Pro removed a key feature on keyboard tracking'''[https://communityforums.atmeta.com/t5/Talk-VR/Removing-Keyboard-Tracking-on-Quest-2-Pro-What-s-next-on-the/td-p/1284678] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708191406/https://communityforums.atmeta.com/t5/Talk-VR/Removing-Keyboard-Tracking-on-Quest-2-Pro-What-s-next-on-the/td-p/1284678 Archived])'''====
Meta’s recent decision to discontinue support for physical keyboard tracking on the Quest 2 and Pro, as stated in the V72 release notes, in just two years of lifecycle this showcase an enshittification on their products. Early adopters beware.

====Update on the Oculus Quest 1====
{{Main|Oculus (Meta) Quest 1 Deprecation}}
The original Quest 1 from 2019 has been deprecated, after entering extended support in 2023.

==Lawsuits==

===''United States of America v. Facebook''===
In July 2019, Facebook agreed to pay $5 billion USD and implement corrective measures after it was sued by the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for "misleading users about the extent to which third-party application developers could access users' personal information."<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Jul 2019 |title=Facebook Agrees to Pay $5 Billion and Implement Robust New Protections of User Information in Settlement of Data-Privacy Claims |url=https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/facebook-agrees-pay-5-billion-and-implement-robust-new-protections-user-information |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=www.justice.gov |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212073643/https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/facebook-agrees-pay-5-billion-and-implement-robust-new-protections-user-information |archive-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref>

====Controversy over default privacy settings (2010–2018)====
Facebook's default settings allowed third-party app developers to access not only the data of users who installed their apps, but also the data of those users' friends. While users could opt out of this data sharing, the setting was located separately from the main privacy settings page, making it difficult to find and adjust.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=24 Jul 2019 |title=United States of America v. Facebook, Inc., Case No. 19-cv-2184, Complaint for civil penalities, injunction, and other relief |url=https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/press-release/file/1186506/dl |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=www.justice.gov |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018092002/https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/press-release/file/1186506/dl |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref>

After settling with the FTC in 2012 over deceptive privacy practices, Facebook initially added a privacy disclaimer about friend data sharing but removed it four months later. This occurred while continuing the same data-sharing practices that prompted the original FTC investigation, violating the order's prohibition against misrepresenting users' privacy control.<ref name=":0" />

While Facebook publicly announced in 2014 that it would stop allowing third-party developers to collect data about users' friends, it privately maintained agreements with dozens of "whitelisted developers" who continued to have this access until June 2018.<ref name=":0" />

====Deceptive two-factor authentication (2015–2018)====
Facebook requested users' phone numbers for security purposes, including two-factor authentication, without effectively disclosing that this information would also be used for advertising purposes.<ref name=":0" />

====Misleading implementation of facial recognition====
In 2018, Facebook's updated data policy implied that facial recognition technology was opt-in, while tens of millions of users with older versions of the technology actually had to opt out to disable it.<ref name=":0" />

===GDPR violations===
In July 2020, the Irish Data Protection Authority submitted an inquiry into Meta's Facebook service for transferring its users' personal data to the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2023 |title=1.2 billion euro fine for Facebook as a result of EDPB binding decision |url=https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2023/12-billion-euro-fine-facebook-result-edpb-binding-decision_en |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=European Data Protection Board |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221033658/https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2023/12-billion-euro-fine-facebook-result-edpb-binding-decision_en |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}} </ref> which failed to comply with a 2020 decision<ref>{{Cite web |last=Satariano |first=Adam |date=16 Jul 2020 |title=E.U. Court Strikes Down Trans-Atlantic Data Transfer Pact |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/business/eu-data-transfer-pact-rejected.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405092125/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/business/eu-data-transfer-pact-rejected.html |archive-date=5 Apr 2025 |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> that the company's data was not secure enough. In May 2023, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) enforced the $1.2 billion euro fine on Meta and an order to cease the "unlawful processing, including storage, in the U.S. of personal data of European users transferred in violation of the GDPR."

In September 2022, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined Meta 405 million euros and imposed several "corrective measures" on Meta for its illegal handling of children's Instagram profile data.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Sep 2022 |title=Binding Decision 2/2022 on the dispute arisen on the draft decision of the Irish Supervisory Authority regarding Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (Instagram) under Article 65(1)(a) GDPR |url=https://www.edpb.europa.eu/our-work-tools/our-documents/binding-decision-board-art-65/binding-decision-22022-dispute-arisen_en |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=European Data Protection Board |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118080026/https://www.edpb.europa.eu/our-work-tools/our-documents/binding-decision-board-art-65/binding-decision-22022-dispute-arisen_en |archive-date=18 Nov 2025}}</ref> Before corrective measures were imposed upon Meta, their Instagram platform publicly disclosed email address and phone numbers of children who used the business account feature.

===''The State of Texas Court v. Meta Platforms''===
In February 2022, Attorney General Paxton sued Meta for the illegal collection of Texas citizens' biometric data, such as retina scans, fingerprints, voiceprints, and face geometry, without their informed consent from 2010 to 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paxton |first=Ken |date=14 Feb 2022 |title=Paxton Sues Facebook for Using Unauthorized Biometric Data |url=https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/paxton-sues-facebook-using-unauthorized-biometric-data |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=texasattorneygeneral.gov |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219061811/https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/paxton-sues-facebook-using-unauthorized-biometric-data |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}} </ref> Meta would share it with third parties and would not delete this data despite promising to do so, which violated Texas' Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier (CUBI) Act and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).

In July 2024, Meta agreed to pay Texas $1.4 Billion in a settlement with the attorney general<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Jul 2024 |title=The State of Texas v Meta Order 2020 |url=https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Final%20State%20of%20Texas%20v%20Meta%20Order%202024.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=www.texasattorneygeneral.gov |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251025114101/https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Final%20State%20of%20Texas%20v%20Meta%20Order%202024.pdf |archive-date=25 Oct 2025}} </ref> which consisted of a $25,000 USD fine for each CUBI violation and $10,000 USD for each DTPA violation.

==="Pay or consent" model===
As of early 2024, Meta is being investigated for violating the EU's [[Digital Markets Act]] (DMA) by using a "pay or consent" model to its Facebook and Instagram platforms, forcing users to pay a monthly subscription for an ad-free version or to accept versions with personalized advertisements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Jul 2024 |title=Commission sends preliminary findings to Meta over its “Pay or Consent” model for breach of the Digital Markets Act |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_3582 |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=European Commission |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251217051549/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_3582 |archive-date=17 Dec 2025}} </ref> Launched in late 2023, Meta's model offered European users two options: pay approximately €13 monthly for ad-free access to Facebook and Instagram, or continue using free accounts with personalized advertising.

The Commission determined that this binary choice violates DMA regulations, which require "gatekeeper" platforms to offer equivalent alternatives for users who decline personal data collection. The DMA mandates that large tech companies must obtain explicit consent before combining users' personal data across services, and cannot make service access conditional upon such consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=Robert |date=1 Jul 2024 |title=Meta’s Ad-Free Subscriptions For Instagram And Facebook Break Europe’s Tech Rules—Possibly Drawing Billions In Fines, EU Says |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/07/01/metas-ad-free-subscriptions-for-instagram-and-facebook-break-europes-tech-rules-possibly-drawing-billions-in-fines-eu-says/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=Forbes |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017110205/https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/07/01/metas-ad-free-subscriptions-for-instagram-and-facebook-break-europes-tech-rules-possibly-drawing-billions-in-fines-eu-says/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref>

===Social Media Addiction Bellwether Trials===
====Los Angeles Superior Court, JCCP 5255 (2026)====
Starting in January of 2026, Meta (Facebook and [[Instagram]]) and [[Google]] ([[YouTube]]) faced legal claims of their platforms being intentionally addictive and harmful to children. [[ByteDance]] ([[TikTok]]) and Snap ([[Snapchat]]) were named initially, but settled for undisclosed terms before the trial began. A 19-year-old girl, referred to by the initials "KGM" or Kaley, and two other plaintiffs were selected for bellwether trials—test cases tried as part of an MDL. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Huamani |first=Kaitlyn |last2=Ortutay |first2=Barbara |date=9 Feb 2026 |title=Landmark trial accusing tech giants of harming children with addictive social media begins |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/landmark-trial-accusing-tech-giants-of-harming-children-with-addictive-social-media-begins |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2026 |website=PBS News}}</ref> On March 25, 2026, the California jury concluded in KGM's case that Meta and [[Google]] were guilty of negligent for their apps—[[Instagram]], Facebook, and [[YouTube]]—being deliberately built to be addictive, which the companies' executives knew this and failed to protect their youngest users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allyn |first=Bobby |date=25 Mar 2026 |title=Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=npr}}</ref> Meta was charged to pay $4.2 million for compensatory and punitive damages, and charged [[Google]] $1.8 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Cecilia |last2=Mac |first2=Ryan |last3=Tan |first3=Eli |date=25 Mar 2026 |title=Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

==External links==
*[https://salimvirani.com/facebook "Get your loved ones off Facebook"], by Salim Virani, published 2015, updated 2017
*[https://stallman.org/facebook.html "Reasons not to be used by Facebook"], by Richard M. Stallman

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Meta]]

Google

2026-03-26T08:04:29Z

Derpus: /* Los Angeles Superior Court, JCCP 5255 (2026) - Link mentions of Meta to consumerrights.wiki page */

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1998
|Industry=Technology
|Logo=Google.webp
|ParentCompany=Alphabet Inc.
|Type=Subsidiary
|Description=Google is one of the most influential technology companies in the world originally known for developing the most widely used search engine.
|Website=https://www.google.com/
}}

'''[[wikipedia:Google|Google LLC]]''', founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is one of the most influential technology companies in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Largest tech companies by market cap |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/tech/largest-tech-companies-by-market-cap/ |url-status=live |website=companiesmarketcap.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222070659/https://companiesmarketcap.com/tech/largest-tech-companies-by-market-cap/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> Originally developed as a search engine to organize and index the growing amount of information on the internet, Google has since expanded into a wide range of services and products, becoming a central player in digital advertising, software, hardware, and cloud computing.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Google Products |url=https://about.google/products/ |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128182647/https://about.google/products/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Google's search engine remains its most well-known service, but the company has significantly diversified its offerings. Key products include the [[Android]] operating system, the [[Google Chrome]] web browser, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Drive Google Drive] for cloud storage, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps Google Maps], [[YouTube]], and [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Google Play]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helpful products, built with you in mind |url=https://about.google/intl/ALL_us/products/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205114442/https://about.google/intl/ALL_us/products/ |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref>{{Citation needed}} Additionally, the company provides digital advertising services through Google Ads, generating the majority of its revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Feb 2025 |title=Alphabet Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Results |url=https://abc.xyz/assets/a3/91/6d1950c148fa84c7d699abe05284/2024q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251002181452/https://abc.xyz/assets/a3/91/6d1950c148fa84c7d699abe05284/2024q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf |archive-date=2 Oct 2025}}</ref> In recent years, Google has also developed hardware products such as the Pixel smartphone and Nest smart home devices.

Google has faced ongoing scrutiny related to data privacy, competition, and its dominant position in the market, such concerns have stretched as far back as 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Adam |date=5 Mar 2012 |title=Will We Ever Get Strong Internet Privacy Rules? |url=https://ideas.time.com/2012/03/05/will-we-ever-get-strong-internet-privacy-rules/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Time |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205121437/https://ideas.time.com/2012/03/05/will-we-ever-get-strong-internet-privacy-rules/ |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 Sep 2023 |title=REPORT: Google at 25: From “Don’t Be Evil” To ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |url=https://techoversight.org/2023/09/06/google-at-25/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Tech Oversight Project |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004223929/https://techoversight.org/2023/09/06/google-at-25/ |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref> The company has been the subject of various legal and regulatory challenges, particularly concerning antitrust issues, the use of personal data, and its impact on consumer choice.{{Citation needed}} The US government is currently engaged in an antitrust lawsuit against Google, with a decision expected early 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Nov 2024 |title=Closing Arguments, November 25: Once, Twice, Three Times a Monopolist |url=https://www.usvgoogleads.com/trial-updates/closing-arguments-november-25-once-twice-three-times-a-monopolist |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=US v Google |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250906103632/https://www.usvgoogleads.com/trial-updates/closing-arguments-november-25-once-twice-three-times-a-monopolist |archive-date=6 Sep 2025}}</ref> {{UpdateNeeded|date={{subst:August}} {{subst:2025}}|reason=We need updates on this situation.}}

In December 2024, Google announced to organisations that use its advertising products, that from 16 February 2025, it will no longer prohibit them from employing [[wikipedia:Fingerprint_(computing)|fingerprinting]] techniques.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Almond |first=Stephen |date=19 Dec 2024 |title=Our response to Google’s policy change on fingerprinting |url=https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/12/our-response-to-google-s-policy-change-on-fingerprinting/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ico. |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128163957/https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/12/our-response-to-google-s-policy-change-on-fingerprinting/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Anti-consumer incidents==

===Service shutdowns===

====Google Play Music shutdown====
[[wikipedia:Google_Play_Music|Google Play Music]] was a service that allowed users to purchase music, listen via streaming, and download to the local device; alternatively users could pay for a subscription to listen to all music available through streaming. It was publicly launched on the 16th November 2011 and later shutdown in December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=Google Play Music, Music Play Store & Music Manager are going away – everything you need to know |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/62843644/google-play-music-music-play-store-music-manager-are-going-away-%E2%80%93-everything-you-need-to-know?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004223929/https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/62843644/google-play-music-music-play-store-music-manager-are-going-away-%E2%80%93-everything-you-need-to-know?hl=en |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=28 Oct 2020 |title=RIP Google Play Music, 2011 – 2020 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/10/rip-google-play-music-2011-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ArsTechnica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251214224205/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/10/rip-google-play-music-2011-2020/ |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref> Google Play Music further allowed users to upload their own songs to listen on all their devices, with a limit of up to 50,000 files.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=11 Jan 2017 |title=How to Upload Your Music Library to Google Play Music |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/288231/how-to-upload-your-music-library-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=How-To-Geek |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004223929/https://www.howtogeek.com/288231/how-to-upload-your-music-library-to-google-play-music/ |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref> Users were able to purchase songs individually or buy whole albums that they could then download and listen to, or stream through the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Jan 2020 |title=How To Buy Music From Google Play (Now YouTube Music) |url=https://www.technobezz.com/buy-music-google-play |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Technobezz |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250805235415/https://www.technobezz.com/buy-music-google-play |archive-date=5 Aug 2025}}</ref>

In October 2020, Google announced that they would be shutting down Google Play Music, with it being fully shut down by December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=3 Dec 2020 |title=Google fully shuts down Play Music around the world |url=https://9to5google.com/2020/12/03/google-play-music-dead/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=9To5Google |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708163846/https://9to5google.com/2020/12/03/google-play-music-dead/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> This went ahead with a warning to their users to begin migrating to [[wikipedia:YouTube_Music|YouTube Music]], and that they would be losing access to their purchased songs. Google recommended users should download their purchased songs before the service would shut down.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=YouTube Music will replace Google Play Music by end of 2020 |url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-music-will-replace-google-play-music-end-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=YouTube Official Blog |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260201140126/https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-music-will-replace-google-play-music-end-2020/ |archive-date=1 Feb 2026}}</ref>

After the shut down, users lost access to the music they paid for, with no way to download them. Google justified this by transferring all playlists and purchase history to YouTube Music, and only refunding songs that were not directly available,<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Oct 2023 |title=What happened to my songs on Google Music? |url=https://darwinsdata.com/what-happened-to-my-songs-on-google-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Darwin's Data |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004223930/https://darwinsdata.com/what-happened-to-my-songs-on-google-music/ |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chaney |first=Sarah |date=5 Feb 2022 |title=What Happened to Google Play Music? |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/what-happened-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=MUO |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205111318/https://www.makeuseof.com/what-happened-to-google-play-music/ |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref> with no guarantee that the songs will remain available through the new service. Users found that their purchased songs were no longer able to stream at 320kbps on YouTube Music compared to Google Play Music unless they paid for the monthly subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cutlack |first=Gary |date=23 Dec 2012 |title=Google Music UK: everything you need to know |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/software/google-music-uk-everything-you-need-to-know-1120176 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=TechRadar |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251221115733/https://www.techradar.com/news/software/google-music-uk-everything-you-need-to-know-1120176 |archive-date=21 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=L. Hald |first=Nicole |date=24 Mar 2025 |title=How Is YouTube Music Sound Quality in 2025? Is It Any Good? |url=https://www.noteburner.com/youtube-music-tips/youtube-music-audio-quality.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=NoteBurner |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217143252/https://www.noteburner.com/youtube-music-tips/youtube-music-audio-quality.html |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> If a user failed to initiate the transfer of their music library or locally download their songs by 24th February 2021, then they lost all access and all data associated with Google Play Music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sodhi |first=Tanishka |date=8 Feb 2021 |title=Google Play Music Data Will Be Deleted on February 24: Here’s How to Transfer to YouTube Music |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/how-to/news/google-play-music-data-deleted-february-24-youtube-how-to-transfer-files-playlists-billing-information-2365609 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Gadgets 360 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205112610/https://www.gadgets360.com/how-to/news/google-play-music-data-deleted-february-24-youtube-how-to-transfer-files-playlists-billing-information-2365609 |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref> YouTube Music does not provide the option to download songs as MP3s, with local downloads requiring an internet connection every 30 days to continue working offline.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download music and podcasts to listen to offline |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/6313535?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004223930/https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/6313535?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>

====Google Stadia shutdown====
In January 2023, Google announced the shutdown of its cloud gaming service, Stadia, which was launched in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RIP Google Stadia: the latest news on the discontinued cloud gaming service |url=https://www.theverge.com/23380140/google-stadia-ending-shutdown-latest-news-gaming-tech |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260101185119/https://www.theverge.com/23380140/google-stadia-ending-shutdown-latest-news-gaming-tech |archive-date=1 Jan 2026}}</ref> Stadia required users to purchase games individually, unlike other gaming platforms that offer subscription-based access. Upon the service's closure, Google promised to refund consumers for their purchases, including both games and hardware. The refunds for games and software were issued automatically.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravenscraft |first=Erin |date=10 Nov 2022 |title=Stadia Is Dying. Here’s What’s in Your Refund and How to Get It |url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-your-google-stadia-refund/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Wired |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205115111/https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-your-google-stadia-refund/ |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Stadia users were effectively renting access to games, as the platform did not allow for traditional ownership or offline play. With the service discontinued, consumers were left without access to the content they had purchased. Stadia users who had bought controllers and other peripherals for the service were also impacted by the shutdown. While Google offered refunds to customers, many Stadia consumers were left with equipment that no longer performs the advertised functions and limited recourse for repurposing or reselling their devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashworth |first=Mack |date=5 Oct 2022 |title=Stadia Shut Down: How To Use Your Hardware Now Google’s Shutting It Down |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/852697-stadia-shut-down-how-to-use-controller-chromecast-without-app |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Game Revolution |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004224131/https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/852697-stadia-shut-down-how-to-use-controller-chromecast-without-app |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>

Google Stadia controllers were limited to Wi-Fi connectivity, however upon shut down they started offering an update to allow them to connect through Bluetooth, the update service website was scheduled to shut down on the 31st December 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devine |first=Richard |date=17 Jan 2023 |title=Bluetooth support for Google Stadia Controller arrives — Here's how to enable it and play PC games |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/bluetooth-support-for-google-stadia-controller-arrives-heres-how-to-enable-it-and-play-pc-games |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Windows Central |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251109164004/https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/bluetooth-support-for-google-stadia-controller-arrives-heres-how-to-enable-it-and-play-pc-games |archive-date=9 Nov 2025}}</ref>

===='''Manifest V2 shutdown'''====
On July 24, 2025, Google permanently disabled all Manifest V2 extensions for Chrome 138 users as well as making Chromium (a browser that many other browsers use as their base) switch to Manifest V3, and disabled the ability to turn them back on.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-23 |title=Manifest V2 support timeline |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250808191702/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline |archive-date=2025-08-08 |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref>

Manifest V3 disabled the <code>webRequestBlocking</code> permission in the <code>webRequest</code> API<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Replace blocking web request listeners {{!}} Chrome Extensions {{!}} Chrome for Developers |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614074559/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |archive-date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Chrome for Developers}}</ref>, preventing many ad content blockers (such as uBlock Origin) from working.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-26 |title=Understanding Manifest V3 and the Future of uBlock Origin |url=https://ublockorigin.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812114916/https://ublockorigin.com/ |archive-date=2025-08-12 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=uBlock Origin - Free, open-source ad content blocker}}</ref> Google cites performance reasons <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Replace blocking web request listeners {{!}} Chrome Extensions {{!}} Chrome for Developers |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614074559/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |archive-date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Chrome for Developers |quote="In Manifest V2, blocking web requests could significantly degrade both the performance of extensions and the performance of pages they work with."}}</ref>, but this is dubious; restricting content blockers prevents users from impeding their tracking and surveillance, meaning they can create a larger profit from the data gained. This is likely the ulterior motive, although unproven.

===='''Google Jamboard shutdown'''====
{{Main|Google Jamboard}}
In September 2023, Google revealed plans to retire its Jamboard service, as the product would be transitioned to a view-only format by October 1, 2024, and completely shut down by December 31, 2024. As a result, users had little time to transfer their data before the final transition and no refunds were ever issued to hardware buyers.

The Jamboard product was a $5,000 device that Google pitched as a collaborative tool through its Google Workspace service. After the service no longer existed, however, the device became a brick and the users as well as the buyers were left unsupported and uncompensated.

Situations like this highlight the vulnerability of the consumer market since proprietary products are completely at the hands of developers who can cut services on a whim. Thus, consumer protection must be taken to another level to ensure that no matter what companies get rid of, support and compensatory avenues exist.

===Google Assistant 3rd Party List Support===
On June 20th, 2023, Google disabled 3rd party list support for Google Assistant<ref>{{Cite web |access-date=2025-09-16 |title=Where are my old lists? |url=https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/9415862#zippy=%2Cwhere-are-my-old-lists |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427212604/https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/9415862#zippy=%2Cwhere-are-my-old-lists |archive-date=2025-04-27}}</ref>. This feature allowed lists through 3rd party services such as AnyList or Todoist to be managed via Google Assistant. The only list provider available through Google Assistant after this change was Google Keep<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Chandraveer |website=Android Police |date=2023-05-31 |title=Google Assistant is killing support for notes and lists integration with third-party apps |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-assistant-ending-support-third-party-notes-lists/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251218051543/https://www.androidpolice.com/google-assistant-ending-support-third-party-notes-lists/ |archive-date=18 Dec 2025}}</ref>.

==='''Pixel 4a battery reduction update'''===
{{Main|Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program}}
On January 6, 2025, Google issued a software update to the Pixel 4a that significantly decreased battery capacity on "Impacted Devices". Not all units were affected. It's speculated that the affected units have defective batteries and may pose a safety risk if the update is not applied, but Google never disclosed the reason(s) that the update was deemed necessary. Google removed all factory images for previous versions of the system software from their website, making it difficult to revert the update.

As compensation, Google offered a free battery replacement only in select countries. In other countries, you could choose between a $50 USD payment or $100 USD worth of Google Store credits. However, some users reported difficulty obtaining their compensation.

===Blocking sideloading of unverified Android apps===
{{Main|Google blocking sideloading of unverified Android apps}}
On 25 August 2025, '''[[Google]]''' announced that starting in 2026 it will block the installation of Android apps from outside the Play Store unless the developer has verified their identity with Google. The policy will first roll out in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand in September 2026, with global enforcement targeted for 2027.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Frey |first=Suzanne |date=25 Aug 2025 |title=A new layer of security for certified Android devices |url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-android-security.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 Aug 2025 |website=Android Developers Blog |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128013331/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-android-security.html |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=25 Aug 2025 |title=Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/25/google-will-require-developer-verification-for-android-apps-outside-the-play-store/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Aug 2025 |website=TechCrunch |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260119211509/https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/25/google-will-require-developer-verification-for-android-apps-outside-the-play-store/ |archive-date=19 Jan 2026}}</ref> This marks a significant change to Android's long-standing support for sideloading apps.

Devices without [[Google Mobile Services]] or running custom ROMs are exempt.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Tim |date=2025-08-26 |title=Google kneecaps indie Android devs, forces them to register |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/android_developer_verification_sideloading |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250829170329/https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/android_developer_verification_sideloading |archive-date=2025-08-29 |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=The Register}}</ref> Critics argue this restricts user freedom, impacts independent developers, and may enable Google to block apps it disapproves of, such as ad-blockers, raising concerns about privacy and control over personal devices.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Tim |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Google kneecaps indie Android devs, forces them to register |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/android_developer_verification_sideloading |url-status=live |access-date=26 Aug 2025 |website=The Register |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260119211440/https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/android_developer_verification_sideloading/ |archive-date=19 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |first= |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/810335/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-starting-next-year |url-status=live |access-date=26 Aug 2025 |website=BleepingComputer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250829215120/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/810335/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-starting-next-year/ |archive-date=29 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Banning domain-blockers from Play Store===
Since 2013, Google has taken down all apps on G-Play that can block connections to arbitrary [[wikipedia:Domain_Name_System|domain-names]] via [https://developer.android.com/develop/connectivity/vpn the official VPN API], most of those apps being marketed as ad-blockers.<ref>https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-kicks-ad-blocker-apps-off-play-store/</ref> This forced apps such as AdGuard and NetGuard to distribute their ad-blocking features elsewhere.<ref>https://adguard.com/en/blog/adguard-google-play-removal.html</ref><ref>https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/7308869411ff87649bf3a46a9c7c08f1e5353801/ADBLOCKING.md?plain=1#L6</ref><ref>https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/7308869411ff87649bf3a46a9c7c08f1e5353801/ADBLOCKING.md?plain=1#L106</ref>

Google cites their own Developer Distribution Agreement (terms of service for devs), claiming that those apps are "disruptive", as if to imply hacking or cracking. Many people claim that's an invalid excuse, and that the ulterior motive was to increase ad-revenue.

===Not providing a solution for Pixel devices bricked due to switching slots, flashing certain ROMs, downgrading the OS, or installing the June 2025 update===
Numerous Google Pixel phones have gotten bricked as a result of different use cases, such as accidentally switched slots, flashing custom ROMs or downgrading the bootloader version of the device after an Anti-Rollback (ARB) increment, accidentally or otherwise<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simons |first=Hadlee |date=2025-08-26 |title=Some Pixels are bricked and Google apparently won't help revive them |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-phones-bricked-3591218/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Android Authority |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260108045933/https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-phones-bricked-3591218/ |archive-date=8 Jan 2026}}</ref>. The device enters an emergency download state called Pixel ROM Recovery, which is a Google modification of Samsung's EUB mode on Exynos chipsets. In this mode, it refuses to enter Android recovery or Fastboot, making it near impossible to restore the operating system on the device. The only way to fix it is to use Pixel ROM Recovery to boot a special, Google-signed recovery bootloader into RAM and flash a working version of Android from there.

This recovery bootloader is just a regular bootloader as it appears in Google factory images, but with a special "USB boot" bit flag set to 1. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-11 |title=Pixel devices getting bricked / stuck in Pixel ROM Recovery after flashing AOSP-based builds with Android 15 QPR2 (BP1A.250305.019) |url=https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/402455330#comment19 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205112358/https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/402455330 |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref>

However, this recovery bootloader is inaccessible to the public, and is not possible to recreate it without Google's private keys. This makes it impossible to repair a device in this state, other than to do a technically challenging repair involving desoldering the UFS chip to repopulate its contents or by replacing the motherboard altogether. Google stores and service centers outside of the US do not offer support for the device if it is out of warranty, even though the issue is completely fixable by software.

Numerous developers have worked on trying to find a solution to this issue, and have succeeded to varying extents. However, devices bricked due to the ARB trigger remain impossible to fix. Google has not provided any recovery images to resolve this issue, despite there being a sizable post on their bug tracker.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-10 |title=Pixel recovery bootloaders lack security reasoning for guarding |url=https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/437705274 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Google IssueTracker |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004223929/https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/437705274 |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Pixel devices getting bricked / stuck in Pixel ROM Recovery after flashing AOSP-based builds with Android 15 QPR2 (BP1A.250305.019) |url=https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/402455330 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Google IssueTracker |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205112358/https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/402455330 |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref> despite the fact that Google providing the recovery images for the repair will not compromise security, as explained by one of the developers in their report.<ref name=":4" />

==Controversies==

===Account lockouts===
Google has been reported to have randomly locked people out of their accounts due to ostensible security reasons, which are not lifted even if the user had provided the correct credentials and/or even if the user have correctly followed all the verification prompts such as SMS verification. These have caused anguishes for many affected users who are unable to access their contents, emails and services as a result. Furthermore, some had reported that they are forced to undergo SMS verification even when recovery email addresses are already configured to their accounts, thereby likely constituting instances of [[Forced identification|forced verification]] in broad senses.<ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/n5card/mike_rose_no_more_robots_publisher_locked_out_of/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20210505101632/https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/n5card/mike_rose_no_more_robots_publisher_locked_out_of/ Archived])</ref><ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/oy8qb8/fyi_google_can_lock_you_out_of_your_account_for/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20210805030048/https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/oy8qb8/fyi_google_can_lock_you_out_of_your_account_for/ Archived])</ref><ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/154yht0/dae_noticed_that_google_had_taken_security/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20230720181226/https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/154yht0/dae_noticed_that_google_had_taken_security/ Archived])</ref>

===Deletion of inactive accounts===
In May 2023, Google announced that [[Inactive account deletion|deletion of inactive user accounts]] would occur starting in December 2023, citing security reasons, noting that old and unused accounts are more likely to be compromised. Google claimed that "Forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, have not had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user," while saying that Google "has no plans to delete [[YouTube]] videos".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawler |first1=Richard |title=Google might delete your Gmail account if you haven't logged in for two years |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/16/23725438/google-gmail-deleting-inactive-accounts |website=The Verge |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=en |date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205121216/https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/16/23725438/google-gmail-deleting-inactive-accounts |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Jon |title=Reminder: Google is about to start purging inactive accounts |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/28/23979178/google-inactive-accounts-deletion-december-2023-psa-reminder |website=The Verge |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=en |date=28 November 2023 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212230239/https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/28/23979178/google-inactive-accounts-deletion-december-2023-psa-reminder |archive-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Amadeo |first1=Ron |title=Google's new "inactive account" policy won't delete years of YouTube videos |url=https://arstechnica.com/google/2023/05/googles-new-inactive-account-policy-wont-delete-years-of-youtube-videos/ |website=Ars Technica |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=en-us |date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212092014/https://arstechnica.com/google/2023/05/googles-new-inactive-account-policy-wont-delete-years-of-youtube-videos/ |archive-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref> The decision to delete inactive accounts has sparked some criticism and backlash. The cited security rationale behind such decision was ridiculed and was compared to a hypothetical scenario where a bank should be burned down if it is not secure against robbers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Novet |first1=Jordan |title=Google's plan to purge inactive accounts isn't sitting well with some users |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/19/google-faces-criticism-of-plan-to-purge-inactive-accounts.html |website=CNBC |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=en |date
=19 August 2023 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250831223936/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/19/google-faces-criticism-of-plan-to-purge-inactive-accounts.html |archive-date=31 Aug 2025}}</ref> Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries which have prolonged internet shutdowns. Moreover, the Anonymous hacktivist collective has protested against the decision to delete inactive accounts multiple times, describing them as "harsh" and saying that the decision will "destroy history".<ref>{{cite web |date=18 July 2023 |title=Anonymous puts Taiwan flag, national anthem on 2 UN websites {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} 2023-07-18 09:56:00 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4946597 |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Taiwan News}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20231014070719/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4946597 Archived])</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=18 October 2023 |title='Anonymous' hacks Chinese government site to protest Israel–Hamas war {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} 2023-10-18 19:03:00 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5022840 |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Taiwan News}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20240221120716/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5022840 Archived])</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=8 December 2023 |title=Anonymous posts Taiwan flag on UN site {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} 2023-12-08 17:26:00 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5055454 |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Taiwan News}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20240228035811/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5055454 Archived])</ref>

===Google device repair program restrictions===
{{Main|Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair}}
Google's Service & Repair Program terms explicitly state that any device containing non-Google-authorized parts "will not be returned" to the customer.

===Target API level requirements for Google Play apps===
Google's policy of requiring apps for Android to target recent API levels to appear in the Play Store<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Aug 2024 |title=Policy Center |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11926878?hl=en |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Play Console Help |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215054419/https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11926878?hl=en |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> creates a continuous cycle of maintenance and redevelopment that can be especially burdensome for smaller developers, indie creators, and consumers.

The requirement for apps to target newer APIs each year serves some legitimate security and feature purposes. However, it also effectively functions as a form of forced obsolescence. Even perfectly functional apps that don't need technical updates must be regularly reworked just to remain visible on the Play Store.

This creates several issues:

*Development resources must be allocated to updating apps rather than creating new features
*Smaller teams and individual developers are placed at a disadvantage attempting to keep up with the constant update cycle
*Legacy apps that are no longer actively maintained disappear, even if they're still useful
*The cost of maintaining apps increases, potentially making some projects financially nonviable
*Losing access to previously purchased apps when upgrading devices
*Users being unable to reinstall older apps that worked perfectly well for their needs
*Facing unexpected costs to replace functionality they've already paid for
*Dealing with the frustration of discovering favorite apps have disappeared

While Google argues this approach improves the Android ecosystem's security and functionality, it does place a significant burden on developers and can lead to the premature "death" of otherwise functional applications.

This creates a troubling disconnect in digital ownership. Consumers reasonably expect that when they purchase an app, they should maintain access to it across their devices over time. Instead, they discover their digital purchases can effectively vanish due to policy decisions beyond their control.

===Ban on third-party tech support ads===
Google prohibits tech support ads on their platform if they are not authorised by the manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graff |first=David |date=31 Aug 2018 |title=Restricting ads in third-party tech support services |url=https://blog.google/products/ads/restricting-ads-third-party-tech-support-services/ |website=Google |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112170608/https://blog.google/products/ads/restricting-ads-third-party-tech-support-services/ |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>

===The chargeback incident===
In November 2022, a Google customer accidentally purchased two Google Pixel smartphones instead of one, directly from Google (no third-party reseller), and tried to return one package to Google for a refund, but the shipping was unsuccessful.

A Google customer support person suggested the customer to perform a chargeback. The customer acted accordingly without understanding the implications, resulting in the termination of their Google account shortly after. The account was 15 years old at that time.<ref>[https://www.virtualcuriosities.com/articles/3393/danger-chargeback-equals-account-permanently-banned DANGER!!!: Chargeback = ACCOUNT PERMANENTLY BANNED. - Virtual curiosities] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260205120523/https://www.virtualcuriosities.com/articles/3393/danger-chargeback-equals-account-permanently-banned Archived])</ref><ref>[https://old.reddit.com/r/tifu/comments/zndbku/tifu_by_accidentally_buying_two_google_pixels_and/ TIFU by accidentally buying two Google Pixels and ended up getting my 15 year old Google Account permanently banned. - Reddit] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260113140546/https://old.reddit.com/r/tifu/comments/zndbku/tifu_by_accidentally_buying_two_google_pixels_and/ Archived])</ref>

==Anti-consumer legal cases==

===Privacy Violations===

====Rodriguez v. Google LLC (21 May 2021 - 3 Sep 2025)====
Google's "Web & App Activity" (WAA) setting had the ability to be paused. Reportedly, despite this setting being paused by consumers, Google would continue to collect consumer data regardless of consent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rodriguez v. Google LLC |url=https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/FAQ#faq1 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251011171640/https://googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/FAQ |archive-date=11 Oct 2025}}</ref> This case is currently ongoing and has yet to receive a judgment.<ref>[https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/Documents Important Documents] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250911091039/https://googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/Documents Archived])</ref> Google collected mobile device data for eight years from users who opted out of tracking under the WAA.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Staab |first=Theresa |date=18 Sep 2025 |title=Someone is Always Watching: Implications of Google's WAA Privacy Case |url=https://lawreview.syr.edu/someone-is-always-watching-implications-of-googles-waa-privacy-case/ |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=Syracuse Law Review}}</ref> The dates of use/activity in question were between July 1, 2016 and September 23, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Oct 2024 |title=FAQs: Google Web App Activity lawsuit |url=https://help.wfu.edu/support/solutions/articles/13000825158-faqs-google-web-app-activity-lawsuit |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=Wake Forest University}}</ref> On September 3, 2025, the San Francisco Federal Court jury held Google liable two of three claims of privacy invasion. Google was charged $425 million for invasion of privacy, but not for punitive damages since the jury found that Google did not act with malicious intent.<ref name=":5" />

===Anti-competitive Behavior===

====Epic Games, Inc. v. Google Inc. (13 Aug 2020 - 31 May 2025)====
Google takes a 30% share of all revenue made through all sales made on the Play Store, which is a comparable figure to other digital storefronts such as the [[Apple App Store]] and [[Steam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Tom |date=7 Oct 2019 |title=Report: Steam's 30% Cut Is Actually the Industry Standard |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/07/report-steams-30-cut-is-actually-the-industry-standard |url-status=live |website=ign.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211034837/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/07/report-steams-30-cut-is-actually-the-industry-standard |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref> On 13th August 2020, [[Epic Games]] CEO Tim Sweeney updated both iOS and Android versions of ''Fortnite'' to redirect users to Epic Games' storefront to purchase in-game currency ("V-Bucks") alongside the respective first-party storefront, with incentives including cheaper prices if buying from Epic Games directly. This violated the Terms of Service of both Apple and Google's storefronts, and ''Fortnite'' was removed from both app stores the same day.

Epic Games would use this motion to file federal lawsuits against both Google and Apple, citing that these practices meant that the companies were engaging in anti-competitive behavior. Google lost in the lawsuit, but attempted to appeal the decision, in which they lost again.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=31 July 2025 |title=Epic just won its Google lawsuit again, and Android may never be the same |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/716856/epic-v-google-win-in-appeals-court |access-date=21 August 2025 |work=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111151936/https://www.theverge.com/news/716856/epic-v-google-win-in-appeals-court |archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Social Media Addiction Bellwether Trials===

====Los Angeles Superior Court, JCCP 5255 (2026)====
Starting in January of 2026, [[Meta]] (Facebook and [[Instagram]]) and [[Google]] ([[YouTube]]) faced legal claims of their platforms being intentionally addictive and harmful to children. [[ByteDance]] ([[TikTok]]) and Snap ([[Snapchat]]) were named initially, but settled for undisclosed terms before the trial began. A 19-year-old girl, referred to by the initials "KGM" or Kaley, and two other plaintiffs were selected for bellwether trials—test cases tried as part of an MDL.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huamani |first=Kaitlyn |last2=Ortutay |first2=Barbara |date=9 Feb 2026 |title=Landmark trial accusing tech giants of harming children with addictive social media begins |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/landmark-trial-accusing-tech-giants-of-harming-children-with-addictive-social-media-begins |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2026 |website=PBS News}}</ref> On March 25, 2026, the California jury concluded in KGM's case that [[Meta]] and Google were guilty of negligent for their apps—[[Instagram]], Facebook, and [[YouTube]]—being deliberately built to be addictive, which the companies' executives knew this and failed to protect their youngest users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allyn |first=Bobby |date=25 Mar 2026 |title=Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=npr}}</ref> [[Meta]] was charged to pay $4.2 million for compensatory and punitive damages, and charged Google $1.8 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Cecilia |last2=Mac |first2=Ryan |last3=Tan |first3=Eli |date=25 Mar 2026 |title=Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

==See also==

===Products and Services===

[[List of Google products]]
===Controversies===

*[[Advertising overload]]
*[[Google follows Samsung, asserts the right to steal your phone during a repair]]
*[[Google Nest Protect forced to use Google app]]
*[[Google Nest thermostat smart features disabled]]
*[[Google Pixel Watches do not come with repair options]]

==External links==

*"[https://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/google.html XScreenSaver: Google Store Privacy Policy]". Google pretending to care about privacy by forcing a fully-local (no internet) minimal-permission screen-saver app to specify a privacy-policy. That blog-post contains many sources on Google's anti-consumer practices

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Google]]