46 votes

Industry groups are suing the US Federal Trade Commission to stop its click to cancel rule

8 comments

  1. [2]
    raze2012
    Link
    Not surprised. And by this point of enshittification, not even surprised at the gall to consider it being this blatant. So what's their oh so sympathetic argument here I wonder... so, "I can keep...

    Not surprised. And by this point of enshittification, not even surprised at the gall to consider it being this blatant. So what's their oh so sympathetic argument here I wonder...

    That’s “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion,”

    so, "I can keep whoever I want hostage". okay...

    argue that the FTC is trying to “regulate consumer contracts for all companies in all industries and across all sectors of the economy.”

    Yes, that's how most regulations work. It's in the name. "all industries" by this point employ this tactic on software, so it's going to be wide reaching (or they all go back to in-person subscrtions).

    I can't think of any reasonable exception to make for the bold idea of... making it harder to cut off a contract.

    So yeah, no real argument. Just any lashing out to try and delay the inevitable.


    This section from USAToday worries me, though (since this reporting was very light):

    Consumer advocates on Wednesday accused the industry groups of “venue shopping” by filing the lawsuit in a conservative-leaning federal appeals court.

    Twelve of the active judges were appointed by a Republican president, six of them by former President Donald Trump.

    Annoying tactic, so this might not be the slam dunk it should be. Even for the FTC this passed 3-2 with the detractors being R, so it'll be important to keep an eye on

    24 votes
    1. nacho
      Link Parent
      I hope we'll avoid some nonsense ruling about some contrived First Amendment concern, or similar judicial nonsense with drawing back to backwards constitutionalism on some principle or other....

      I hope we'll avoid some nonsense ruling about some contrived First Amendment concern, or similar judicial nonsense with drawing back to backwards constitutionalism on some principle or other.

      You're entirely right: The whole point of consumer regulations is that they protect individual consumers against the power of company behemoths we can't be expected to be able to stand up to alone.

      9 votes
  2. CptBluebear
    Link
    They really don't like Lina Khan, who surprisingly actually does what the FTC should do. And unsurprisingly, corpos do not like being held accountable.

    They really don't like Lina Khan, who surprisingly actually does what the FTC should do. And unsurprisingly, corpos do not like being held accountable.

    15 votes
  3. [2]
    goryramsy
    Link
    Can we click something to make the corporate lobbying arm stop?

    Can we click something to make the corporate lobbying arm stop?

    12 votes
    1. DiggWasCool
      Link Parent
      You can try but you'll be sued as this article proves.

      You can try but you'll be sued as this article proves.

  4. [3]
    oliak
    (edited )
    Link
    To the surprise of no one. Business interests and greed have ruined this world. If anyone wants to read a bit about how it used to be:...

    To the surprise of no one. Business interests and greed have ruined this world.

    If anyone wants to read a bit about how it used to be:
    https://reclaimdemocracy.org/corporate-accountability-history-corporations-us/

    32 votes
    1. Drewbahr
      Link Parent
      And the SCOTUS, too, for enabling this.

      And the SCOTUS, too, for enabling this.

      24 votes
    2. tanglisha
      Link Parent
      If companies were single purpose, the world would be so different.

      Corporations could engage only in activities necessary to fulfill their chartered purpose.

      If companies were single purpose, the world would be so different.

      10 votes