Apple and Google do not currently face liability in a products lawsuit that involves a child’s gaming addiction, a federal ruling in Illinois has determined. According to U.S. District Judge April M. Perry of the Northern District of Illinois, the tech giants’ platforms, such as the Google Play and Apple app stores, are not shown to contribute to such habits without clear evidence of negligence. The complaint, raised by Jaclyn Angelilli, suggested that Apple and Google facilitated her minor son D.G.’s gaming addiction. However, it was dismissed due to a lack of detailed allegations on the use of these app stores.
The judge stated, “The court is cognizant of its obligation to view all of the facts in the light most favorable to plaintiffs and draw all reasonable inferences in their favor, but here plaintiffs have not alleged any facts about their use of the Google or Apple app stores.” The ruling highlights the significance of substantiated claims in securing a viable case against large corporations for alleged product liabilities.