subscriptions - CybAI news

28 Nov

The FTC is investigating Uber for its subscription policies

stp2y0 CommentsNewsclick to cancel, gear, news, subscriptions, transportation, uber, Uber one

The Federal Trade Commission has put Uber in its sights once again. Bloomberg reported that the regulator is investigating complaints about the Uber One subscription program. Customers alleged that the company signed users up for the service without their consent and made it difficult to cancel their subscriptions. According to documents seen by Bloomberg, the Commission opened this inquiry earlier this year."We will continue to answer any questions the FTC may have about our cancellation policies,” Uber representative Noah Edwardsen told the publication. "The Uber One cancellation process follows both the letter and the spirit of the law: Uber One…

18 Oct

YouTube is testing a new version of its Premium Lite subscription

stp2y0 CommentsNewsentertainment, news, subscriptions, youtube, YouTube Premium

YouTube is testing a revamp of its Premium Lite subscription tier. User made the rounds on social media this week, and today a Google rep later confirmed to multiple other outlets that the plan is being tested in Australia, Germany and Thailand. This new version would have "limited ads," which the fine print describes as most videos being ad-free, "but you may see video ads on music content and Shorts, and non-interruptive ads when you search and browse."The original Premium Lite subscription began in Europe in 2021, but it only lasted a few years, with the video platform the option…

25 Sep

California’s ‘click to cancel’ subscription bill is signed into law

stp2y0 CommentsNewsadobe, california, click to cancel, gear, news, subscriptions

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed California's "click to cancel" Assembly Bill 286 into law to make it easier for consumers to opt out of subscriptions. The bill, introduced in April 2024, forces companies that permit online or in-app sign-ups to allow for online or in-app unsubscribing as well."AB 2863 is the most comprehensive ‘Click to Cancel’ legislation in the nation, ensuring Californians can cancel unwanted automatic subscription renewals just as easily as they signed up — with just a click or two,” said California Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo.Like many, you may have signed up for a thing online and when you…

10 Jul

Report finds most subscription services manipulate customers with ‘dark patterns’

stp2y0 CommentsNewsdigital privacy, news, privacy, subscriptions, tomorrow

Most subscription sites use "dark patterns" to influence customer behavior around subscriptions and personal data, according to a pair of new reports from global consumer protection groups. Dark patterns are "practices commonly found in online user interfaces [that] steer, deceive, coerce or manipulate consumers into making choices that often are not in their best interests." The international research efforts were conducted by the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) and the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN).The ICPEN conducted the of 642 websites and mobile apps with a subscription component. The assessment revealed one dark pattern in use at almost…

04 Jun

Twitch is raising US subscription prices for the first time

stp2y0 CommentsNewsamazon, gaming, news, price increase, subscriptions, twitch

Twitch is joining Spotify, Max, Peacock, Crunchyroll, EA and other content services in everyone’s favorite corporate trend of raising subscription prices (almost as fun as the parallel trend of Big Tech layoffs). The Amazon-owned company said on Tuesday that Twitch Tier 1 subscriptions in the US will increase from $4.99 to $5.99 on July 11. This is the first time the monthly cost has gone up for American subscribers.“As part of our efforts to help creators build and grow their communities worldwide, the following countries received subscription price adjustments as a part of Local Subscription Pricing,” the company wrote in…