A Beijing court has recently ruled that an online gaming company must refund the majority of funds spent by a young boy on its platform, citing the firm's failure to properly enforce real-name registration policies which allowed minors to bypass supervision.
The case was brought before the Beijing Internet Court after the parents of the child discovered that their son had used his mother's identity to register on the gaming platform in September, enabling him to extend his playtime. Over the course of 30 days, the boy spent more than 130,000 yuan ($17,900) on virtual items within the games.
The parents requested a refund of the in-game purchases, arguing that their child, being under 10 years old, lacked the legal capacity to make such transactions under civil law. The defendant, however, declined to issue a refund, stating that the real-name registration was under the account of the child's mother, an adult capable of assuming civil liability.
Judge Zhao Ming, overseeing the case, explained that the boy initially registered using his own name but later discovered that user information could be altered. He changed his profile to his mother's details to prolong his gaming sessions. This indicated flaws in the platform's user verification process, allowing minors to circumvent online supervision, Judge Zhao noted.
While acknowledging the parents' oversight in monitoring their child's online activities, the court held the gaming platform primarily responsible for the situation. It ordered the company to reimburse 114,000 yuan to the family and instructed it to enhance its real-name authentication system promptly.
Judge Zhao recommended that the platform maintain records of underage users after initial registration or implement device locking mechanisms to verify identities upon subsequent logins. Under Chinese law, gaming companies are required to enforce real-name registration and impose restrictions on playing hours for those under 18 to prevent internet addiction. A 2021 regulation by the National Press and Publication Administration mandates that online gaming services offer only one hour of playtime to minors between 8 pm and 9 pm on Fridays, weekends, and holidays.
Acknowledging the common practice of minors accessing the internet or extending online time by using adults' devices or accounts, Judge Zhao encouraged gaming service providers to refine their measures or upgrade technology to ensure real-name registration policies are effectively enforced. She also advised guardians to safeguard their online accounts and payment passwords to prevent financial loss and guide their children towards healthier internet habits.
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