Online Worlds > VFK - Virtual Family Kingdom

VFK under investigation?

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TikiTina:
Hi.  I'm usually a lurker, but I came across something really worrying, and I figured this forum was a good place to bring it up, since there seem to be a lot of parents here. 

CARU is a watchdog group affiliated with the BBB which covers media that's directed at kids.  Apparently some time over the summer, they conducted a review of VFK and didn't like what they saw.  I guess the powers that be at VFK didn't cooperate with CARU, and now they're being referred to the FTC.

CARU REFERS VIRTUAL FAMILY KINGDOM TO FTC AFTER COMPANY DECLINES TO SUBMIT RESPONSE TO INQUIRY

Basically, CARU found that VFK was not COPPA compliant and that it didn't follow through on promises that were on its web pages at the time of review.  The press release is pretty sparse, but this is not a good sign for this game.  Anyway, I was pretty shocked even though VFK isn't all that big at my house - we're more build-a-bearville people these days, lol.  But I thought that anyone with kids in the game at least deserved to know.

KingQuackATac:

--- Quote from: TikiTina on November 16, 2008, 06:37 AM ---Hi.  I'm usually a lurker, but I came across something really worrying, and I figured this forum was a good place to bring it up, since there seem to be a lot of parents here. 

CARU is a watchdog group affiliated with the BBB which covers media that's directed at kids.  Apparently some time over the summer, they conducted a review of VFK and didn't like what they saw.  I guess the powers that be at VFK didn't cooperate with CARU, and now they're being referred to the FTC.
CARU REFERS VIRTUAL FAMILY KINGDOM TO FTC AFTER COMPANY DECLINES TO SUBMIT RESPONSE TO INQUIRY

Basically, CARU found that VFK was not COPPA compliant and that it didn't follow through on promises that were on its web pages at the time of review.  The press release is pretty sparse, but this is not a good sign for this game.  Anyway, I was pretty shocked even though VFK isn't all that big at my house - we're more build-a-bearville people these days, lol.  But I thought that anyone with kids in the game at least deserved to know.

--- End quote ---

As I Highlighted in your post, what is your source regarding the VFK review made during the "summer"?  I didn't find any reference to this timeline in the CARU press release, or on the CARU website?

Do you happen to be Christina "Tina" Poturica-O'Neill that is listed on the CARU website?

PrincessWendyBird:
I notice this press release was dated Oct.16,2008, one month ago. I don't know exactly when CARU looked into things, as it is not stated anywhere on their web site, but I do know that when a child registers for VFK, an E-Mail is sent to the parents E-Mail for verification and approval before the child is allowed to enter the game.

TikiTina:
No, KingQuackAttack, that's not me.  If I worked there, I wouldn't just be finding out about the report this weekend!  I'm a former VMK player who's been lurking here since early 2007.  I'm more active on other forums (or was back when VMK was running), but like I said I picked this one to post on because this seems to be where most of the grownups hang out.

Heh, as for the time frame; the actual case report (which I didn't bother linking to because you need a subscription to view it) was published at the beginning of October.  I guess it depends on where you are, but around here Summer lasts right through the exinox near the end of September (and later sometimes, durn global warming).  We didn't start having jacket weather until a few weeks ago.  I guess 'some time in the last few months' would have been less confusing?  But I'm not sure why that's all that important.  When I saw the press release this morning, I thought that the people whose families play this game deserved to know about it, so I posted it. 

And Wendy, parental notification was not the only issue raised in the report.  While they seem to be doing it now, the registration form was not always set up like that.  A google search for 'vfk coppa' turns up a post from this forum in July saying that at that point they were still collecting email addresses of under-13s.  So while they may have fixed that problem now, they could still be looking at a heafty fine.  Just look at Lil' Romeo.  Who knows how many kids emails VFK collected in the first few months they were online?

PrincessWendyBird:
Well, thanks for the information TikiTina and a belated  :welcomef: to posting here and becoming a lurker no more.  :)

I suppose VFK will have to deal with those situations as they arise. Until then, I will keep enjoying the game with our family and playing as we have all learned to play online since the close of VMK - enjoying the time we have in game knowing they can leave in a flash. I certainly hope VFK succeeds as we have three generations who play together in game and know many families who feel they have found a new online home.

Thanks again for your information and we hope to see you posting around the other areas on NoBS in the future. Lots of fun over here with us "big kids".  :dance2:

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