TL; DR
- Senators came up with the Unsubscribe Act to help you cancel dodgy subscriptions.
- The law would require transparency and make it easier to quit after a probationary period.
- The would-be law has bipartisan support.
Have you ever been tricked into paying for a subscription? You may find it easier to withdraw in the future. A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced the Unsubscribe Act, a bill designed to make it easier or even to avoid the cancellation of a subscription.
The proposed law would require internet services and other subscription providers to provide a clear understanding of the terms and conditions you are agreeing to and obtain your “informed consent” before signing up. You would also need to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up. Businesses would need to give clear warnings when their free or low-cost trial is nearing its end so that you have time to go before you have to pay.
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Providers would be prohibited from automatically switching you to subscriptions that last longer than a month. They also need to regularly remind you of your contact’s terms and conditions, including canceling your subscription if you are dissatisfied.
Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), John Thune (R-SD), Raphael Warnock (R-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) are the key donors. An alternative proposal by the House of Representatives also comes from a group of seven representatives led by the Democrats.
How Engadget Note, the Senators wrote the bill in response to an “exploding” subscription market with some companies tricking you into paying you through opaque practices. You shouldn’t have to “jump through the hoops just to break off” [a] Subscription, ”said Senator Schatz.
There is no guarantee that you can cancel a subscription as easily as your Netflix or Amazon account. The bill must survive both the Senate and the House of Representatives before President Biden can sign it. However, the broader support in the Senate gives the Unsubscribe Act a greater chance of success than some bills. When it does become law, you may find that cloud or streaming services clarify their business models – reminding you that there should always be an easy way out.
