An industry group representing major telecom providers such as Comcast and Charter has filed a lawsuit against the FTC’s “click-to-cancel” rule. The NCTA, along with the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Electronic Security Association, claims that the rule exceeds the authority of the FTC. They argue that making it too easy to cancel subscriptions is not in the best interest of consumers and that having processes in place is actually beneficial. The lawsuit, filed with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, has raised eyebrows due to the court’s reputation for favoring large corporations and political entities. Critics accuse the industry group of “venue shopping” by selecting a court likely to side with them. The FTC’s ruling was ratified along party lines and requires providers to make canceling a subscription as easy as signing up. Chair Lina Khan emphasized that the rule aims to prevent deceptive subscription practices and save consumers time and money. President Biden has shown support for the ruling, emphasizing that no American should be tricked into unwanted subscriptions.
