Consumer Protection

U.S. state lawmakers have introduced more than 40 bills across at least 24 states to regulate personalized algorithmic pricing in 2026 thus far, already outpacing the number of personalized algorithmic pricing bills introduced in all of 2025.  While their definitions and scope vary, the 2026 bills broadly refer to “personalized…

Continue Reading State Lawmakers Introduce New Wave of Personalized Algorithmic Pricing Bills

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is poised to re-start a rulemaking process regarding disclosures and requirements for subscription and auto-renewing products and services.  On January 30, 2026, the FTC submitted a draft Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on the Rule Concerning the Use of Prenotification Negative Option Plans (the Rule), commonly known as the Negative Option Rule, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. Continue Reading FTC Restarts Negative Option Rulemaking Process

On December 2, Greystar agreed to a $24 million settlement over allegations it misled renters by omitting mandatory fees from advertised monthly rents.  This settlement underscores the FTC’s continuing scrutiny of “junk fees” and signals that the FTC may pursue rulemaking requiring greater transparency in rental fee advertising. Continue Reading Greystar’s $24 Million Settlement Signals FTC Crackdown on Hidden Rental Fee

On November 12, 2025, the European Commission launched two public consultations that could significantly reshape EU product compliance rules. To participate, stakeholders – including businesses, consumer groups, and industry associations – are invited to complete the Commission’s online questionnaires, available until February 4, 2026.Continue Reading Help Shape the Future of EU Product Compliance: Participate in the Public Consultations

On November 19, 2025, the European Commission unveiled its 2030 Consumer Agenda, setting out priorities for EU consumer policy over the next five years. Below is an overview of the six key measures most relevant to industry.Continue Reading European Commission Announces 2030 Consumer Policy Strategy

On September 17, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and seven states – Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia – sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster for violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (“BOTS Act”). Additionally, each state Attorney General alleges violation of various state consumer protection laws, including the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Nebraska Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, and Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act.   Continue Reading FTC Sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster for Deceptive Pricing Tactics

On August 20, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) sued Fitness International, LLC and Fitness & Sports Club LLC – the parent companies of LA Fitness and other gym chains – for  violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (“ROSCA”) in connection with alleged practices that make it difficult for their customers to cancel their gym memberships and other add-on services. The FTC seeks a court order prohibiting the allegedly unfair and unlawful conduct and restitution to consumers harmed by the difficulty in cancelling memberships.Continue Reading FTC Sues LA Fitness Operators for Unfair Gym Cancellation Policies

In August, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced a $14 million settlement with Match Group, Inc. and Match Group, LLC (collectively, “Match”), the parent companies of online dating platforms Match.com, OkCupid, PlentyOfFish, and other dating sites. In addition to monetary relief, the settlement includes significant injunctive provisions aimed at addressing alleged deceptive marketing and unfair billing practices. This resolution marks a significant development in the FTC’s ongoing efforts to monitor and regulate subscription-based services in the digital space.Continue Reading FTC Secures $14 Million Settlement with Match Group Over Deceptive Subscription Practices

Autorenewal regulation has been a recent focus of both federal and state regulators. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently vacated the FTC’s Negative Option Rule on procedural grounds, but businesses need to remain vigilant of state regulatory requirements, including new ones that will take effect starting in September. Some of these regulations impose requirements similar to those in the FTC’s now-vacated rule. However, they also impose additional requirements, including regular subscription reminders and price increase notices. Below is a brief update on forthcoming requirements in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York that will impact subscription providers.Continue Reading States Press Forward with Automatic Renewal Laws Amidst Vacating of the FTC’s Negative Option Rule

Digital contracts and subscriptions have significantly increased, with the subscription economy tripling since 2017, according to the European Commission’s Digital Fairness Act Fitness Check. However, the Fitness Check points out that the number of issues with digital subscriptions, such as difficult cancellations, automatic renewals without reminders, and unclear subscription terms, have also increased. The Commission proposes to tackle these issues in its proposed Digital Fairness Act (“DFA”), which recently entered its consultation phase (see our blog post here).

This post briefly highlights certain issues with digital subscriptions identified in the Fitness Check, outlines how these issues are currently regulated in the EU, and considers the Fitness Check’s proposals to address these issues. It is the fourth post in our series on the upcoming DFA – previous posts covered influencer marketing, AI chatbots in consumer interactions, and personalised advertising and pricing.Continue Reading Digital Fairness Act Series — Topic 4: Digital Subscriptions