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The Digital Childhood Institute asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google in October 2025, following a similar complaint about Apple in August. The filings allege problems with app age ratings, parental controls, children’s data and in-app purchases. They are advocacy-group complaints—not FTC findings or proof that either company violated the law.
What the complaints allege
The Institute’s filings argue that parents cannot reliably use app-store controls to assess what children can access or how their information and purchases are handled. The claims below are allegations made by the Institute, not conclusions independently established by the sources cited here.
App ratings and age-based restrictions
The Institute challenges the accuracy of app age ratings on both platforms, arguing that misleading ratings can weaken parents’ ability to use age-based download restrictions. In its Google complaint, the group says Google initially relies on an automated International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) questionnaire completed by developers. It alleges that apps may be presented as suitable for children even when their own terms restrict use to adults. Google complaint Apple complaint
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The Apple complaint raises concerns about parental controls and purchase approvals. The Google filing specifically challenges the ability of a child to end supervision upon turning 13, or the applicable age in their country, according to the Institute. Google complaint Apple complaint
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Children’s data, app contracts and billing
Both complaints raise concerns about children’s data and in-app purchases. The Google filing also alleges problems involving app contracts and billing; the Apple filing questions how developer data practices and parental purchase approvals work. The filings do not by themselves establish that either company broke a privacy law or other rule. CyberScoop’s report Google complaint Apple complaint
How the Apple and Google complaints differ
| Issue | Google complaint | Apple complaint |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | The Institute says the initial rating process uses an automated IARC questionnaire completed by developers, and alleges that ratings can mislead families. Google complaint | The Institute alleges inaccurate ratings can undermine age-based download restrictions. Apple complaint |
| Parental controls | The Institute challenges the ability to stop supervision at age 13 or the applicable age in a child’s country. Google complaint | The complaint raises concerns about parental controls and purchase approvals. Apple complaint |
| Other concerns | Children’s data, app contracts and in-app billing. Google complaint | Children’s data practices and in-app purchases. Apple complaint |
What the FTC’s 2014 Google order does—and does not—show
The Google complaint invokes an earlier FTC case concerning children’s in-app charges without parental consent. In December 2014, the FTC announced that it had approved a final order in that case. That is documented regulatory history; it does not prove that Google’s later conduct violated the order. The 2025 filing’s claim about a possible violation remains an allegation unless and until supported by a regulatory or court finding. FTC announcement of the 2014 final order Google complaint
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The coalition’s proposed policy direction
The Digital Childhood Alliance supports the App Store Accountability Act. The Alliance describes its approach as app-store-level age verification, accurate content ratings and parental consent for minors’ downloads. That describes the coalition’s position, not an independent evaluation of whether the proposal would be effective or how it might affect privacy. Digital Childhood Alliance mission and updates
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What is known about the FTC’s response
The available sources establish that the Institute submitted its Google complaint on October 14, 2025, after filing its Apple complaint on August 19, 2025. CyberScoop reported on the challenge on October 21, 2025. Those sources do not establish that the FTC opened an investigation, reached a conclusion or ordered a remedy in response. CyberScoop’s report Google complaint Apple complaint
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