“Fortnite Addiction” Lawsuit Filed by Parents in Canada
Three parents filed a lawsuit against a Canadian Superior Court judge. They claim their children were too addicted to Fortnite and would not sleep, eat or shower. They claim that the game is addictive and has had a long-lasting effect on them. A lawsuit was filed against Fortnite and its Canadian subsidiary. Epic Games responded to the lawsuit by claiming it had "industry leading parental controls that empower parents and children to monitor their digital experiences." We are convinced that the evidence will prove this case to be unfounded.
One parent claimed that their son played 6,923 games while another child played more 7,700 times over two years. According to CBC reports, one of the children played at least three hours per day while the original court filing stated that one of the children had been diagnosed with addiction.
Justice Sylvain Lussier ruled that the action did not "appear frivolous" or "apparently ill-founded." He concluded that there was a serious issue to be debated, supported by enough and specific allegations about the dangers or even risks arising out of Fortnite.
Global News reports that the plaintiffs' lawyers compared the suit with a landmark motion that claimed Quebec tobacco had the intention to create an addictive product, without sufficient warning.
Global News also reports that any potential compensation will be decided by the court. Moreover, Complex reports that Fortnite players who reside in Quebec, Canada since September 1, 2017 and have been addicted to the game, are authorized to seek any compensation approved for them by the court. Complex reports that anyone under 18 who has purchased any items from the online game store could also be eligible for refunds.
In its 2018 ruling, the Superior Court pointed out that videogame addiction was declared a disease by the World Health Organization. After significant lobbying from Snap, Meta and Twitter, California legislators killed a bill making it illegal for major social media platforms "knowingly to addict children."
