Cable companies sue to block click-to-cancel rule
It is not always easy to cancel your subscriptions. The Federal Trade Commission is trying to change that, but it's not going over without a fight.
As Reuters reported, a group representing companies like Comcast and Charter, sued the FTC on Wednesday over a rule it recently made called the "click-to-cancel" rule. The rule, which was announced earlier this month and ratified on Oct. 16, would ensure that customers know what they're actually signing up for before paying and that they'll be able to cancel a subscription just as easily as they made it.
"Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription. The FTC’s rule will end these tricks and traps, saving Americans time and money. Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want," commission chair Lina M. Khan wrote at the time of the rule's announcement.
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It took the NCTA, formerly known as the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, less than a month to go to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans and file a suit against the FTC, saying the click-to-cancel rule oversteps the Commission's authority.
What happens next is up to the court, but for now, you might want to read the fine print.
Christianna Silva is a senior culture reporter covering social platforms and the creator economy, with a focus on the intersection of social media, politics, and the economic systems that govern us. Since joining Mashable in 2021, they have reported extensively on meme creators, content moderation, and the nature of online creation under capitalism.
Before joining Mashable, they worked as an editor at NPR and MTV News, a reporter at Teen Vogue and VICE News, and as a stablehand at a mini-horse farm. You can follow her on Bluesky @christiannaj.bsky.social and Instagram @christianna_j.
