FTC sues Uber over deceptive subscriptions after Trump ousts Democratic commissioners

The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging the ride-hailing company signed customers up for its Uber One subscription without consent, then made it hard for them to cancel. The move marks the U.S. government’s latest broadside against big tech companies, and the first major action from the FTC after two Democratic commissioners were dismissed by President Donald Trump in March. 

In a complaint filed Monday, the FTC described how Uber had signed customers up for its $9.99 monthly Uber One subscription, which the company marketed with promised savings on orders, deliveries, and rides. But the company then charged customers for the service during a free trial period, the FTC said, and those who tried to cancel were forced to read through as many as 30 screens in order to cancel. The agency said these practices hurt consumers and violate the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA).

“Americans are tired of getting signed up for unwanted subscriptions that seem impossible to cancel,” said FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson in a press release. “The Trump-Vance FTC is fighting back on behalf of the American people. Today, we’re alleging that Uber not only deceived consumers about their subscriptions, but also made it unreasonably difficult for customers to cancel.”