FTC says anonymous messaging app failed to stop “rampant cyberbullying”
Why will NGL no longer be available to under 18s?
NGL will no longer be available to under 18s due to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. The app was accused of tricking young users into signing up for the paid version by sending fake messages and falsely promising to reveal senders' identities. Additionally, NGL failed to moderate cyberbullying content and violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule.
What specific allegations were made against NGL by the FTC?
The FTC alleged that NGL unfairly marketed its anonymous messaging app to children and teens, misled users into purchasing premium accounts, and made false claims about the effectiveness of their AI moderation tool to deter cyberbullying1. The app sent fake messages to users, encouraging them to pay for a premium service that would reveal the sender's identity, which the FTC claims was not actually provided after purchase.
How much did NGL agree to pay to settle the charges?
NGL agreed to pay $5 million to settle the charges brought against them by the Federal Trade Commission and Los Angeles District Attorney's Office4. The company was accused of marketing their app to children and teens despite being aware of the potential harms, using false claims about AI content moderation, and violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule4.