What kind of monster doesn't want the federal government to make it easier for consumers to cancel unwanted subscriptions? That's the unspoken premise behind basically every headline covering last week's Federal Trade Communication (FTC) notice of proposed rulemaking to mandate "click to cancel" functionality on companies that use "negative option marketing" tactics such as free trials and automatic renewals.
"Still trying to quit that gym membership? The FTC is proposing a rule that could help," reported NPR. "Frustrated over canceling a subscription? Relief may be coming," offered The Washington Post. CNN added, in the most common headline formulation: "FTC wants to make it easier for consumers to cancel free trials and subscriptions."
