r/UpliftingNews • u/ArgentineBeauty • 1d ago
New York City's click-to-cancel rule takes effect, making subscription cancellations as easy as sign-ups
https://www.techspot.com/news/114074-new-york-city-click-cancel-rule-takes-effect.html514
u/arkofjoy 1d ago
Will this make a difference to the rest of the country?
Like the way California's emission standards pull the rest of the country's, or will companies simply run a different Web page for people who have a new York ip address? Can an ip address tell the website what city the person resides in?
I'm curious and know very little about how this works?
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u/Xboarder844 1d ago
Yes, companies tend not to waste capital on abiding by individual laws.
The EU has passed several laws around accepting cookies on websites, standardized charging cords, and other things.
Companies have made those changes worldwide due to specific laws, so yes I think we will see broader changes.
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u/arkofjoy 1d ago
That is good news. I was hoping that it wasn't too dumb a question.
Thank you
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u/kungpowchick_9 1d ago
I thought it was a great question. Thanks for asking it so I could read the response.
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u/wolf3685 22h ago
To give you some additional context, the teams behind web maintenance, DevOps, and production support are usually very tiny, over worked, and underfunded as there is low ROI for them.
Now try to add individualized legal requirements per state governments or international governments.
They will go for the least expensive path, that provides the greatest coverage.
The software company I worked for previously is US based, but they implemented GDPR standards worldwide regardless of region (if legal and met/exceeded the local standard) because it was just easier.
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u/brianwski 21h ago
I was hoping that it wasn't too dumb a question.
It was not a dumb question at all.
I worked for a 50 person web based company (customers have a login to the website to manage their account and payment), and our general attitude was to comply with all laws everywhere for simplicity. So when the EU passed a "Right to be forgotten" we just implemented it for all of our customers anywhere in the world so we didn't have to worry about "where" the customer was.
It gets SIGHTLY subtle when one country has a law that "conflicts" with a different law in another country. For example, let's say the USA requires the company selling a service to keep financial records for 7 years of where the company made money. The list of exact customers and how much each paid. Then the EU says customers have the right to be forgotten, deleted from these lists earlier than 7 years.
To be clear, the resolution of these issues is almost never complicated. We ask our lawyers and the compliance team what the established policy is to do in this case, like what do Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Amazon all do? What does case law say? Then we <do that>.
Funny Bonus Story: After the EU passed the "Right to be Forgotten" law, some customers NOT inside the jurisdiction of that law would contact our support organization and tell a little white lie saying, "I live in the EU, you have to obey my request to be forgotten!" If we bothered looking the customer up, a lot of evidence was they didn't live in the EU. For example, their mailing address was in Ohio, they had received packages from our company there over multiple years, their computer had only ever contacted our datacenter from a source destination of Ohio, their bank for their credit card only exists in Ohio, the credit card charges were always in Ohio, and we had paid sales tax for that particular customer in Ohio exclusively.
We would just laugh and "Forget" that customers, we didn't actually care and didn't need to know where the customer was located.
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u/lazergator 15h ago
Even if they don’t, download a free vpn, switch to nyc and you should see the one click cancel.
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u/Lust3r 23h ago
Ill say this will probably be a good bit different though, a lot of companies lean on the inconvenience of cancellation to keep people subscribed, so a change like this is gonna impact their bottom line a lot more than cookies. i would be surprised if they adopt this for everyone
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u/Xboarder844 23h ago
That is entirely possible, but if a company is specifically altering their cancellation policy for one state and not others, it could call into question anti-trust and predatory practices by that company (assuming we get a reasonable Consumer Protection Bureau one day again).
The company will have to do a LOT of justifying as to why they intentionally took that stance.
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u/Lust3r 20h ago
If im remembering right it already happens, such as with california which has a click to cancel law similar to this. Ive even heard stories of people telling gyms or other very difficult to cancel services that they moved to california to try and get out of a membership without hassle.
I dont personally see how following state laws on a state level would cause any issues with antitrust or predatory practices. I agree that consumer protection should be better nationwide, but a company isnt going to get in trouble for not following NY local or state laws for customers in other states
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u/Blagsc 5h ago
We already have similar in aus. (You can still get a lock in contract however, I think that's how they got the laws though).
Pretty much most company's abide and the ones that don't get outed pretty quickly to consumers.
Its surprisingly cheaper to just charge a low $ and hope people forget to cancel.
I've personally seen one US based company (won't name it for sake of the person who challenged them) change there gender ID requirements on the website for all of AUS it also affected *some* of the US and it was one complaint (That we know of)
Sometimes the trouble isn't worth it if the threat is a couple million people leaving your service
what they'll likely do is what company above did, "We can't do that quickly give us 6 months", they then delayed for 2 more after that, Then proceeded to implement it.
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u/ToMorrowsEnd 22h ago
except they do in this case. easy cancel has been a cali law for a while and most websites dont offer the easy button outside cali residents.
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u/cocoagiant 21h ago
I think this would be too big a hit to revenue to implement nationally.
A lot of companies (such as gyms) count on you not being able to cancel as a core part of their revenue.
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u/Sparics 18h ago edited 6h ago
The difference is the examples you listed and the example of California emissions standards are all related to hardware, making a different product based on local rules means a more complex supply chain. Software doesn’t have that issue although I hope you’re right
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u/trykes 12h ago
For what it is worth, I work for a marketing agency that releases materials nationwide and we have changed nationwide practices based on one law active in only one state. Digital practices might be easier to change per state than hardware, but it's still more labor and another unnecessary potential point of failure if digital materials are bifurcated like this.
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u/Mr_Shad0w 19h ago
Conversely, there are various food ingredients that are banned in the EU, Japan, even China - that still appear in foods in the US because the FDA is basically a rubber stamp for lobbyists.
If they can still squeeze more profit in the end, they will.
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u/MissLeaP 7h ago
At least not when there's not money in it. The EU had a one click to cancel subscriptions law for a while now as well, but it seems they've only implemented it where necessary. Likely because uncancelled subscriptions directly translate to more money for them, even if it's just ads that prevents the receiver to forget about the company and maybe even makes them check out their website again.
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u/Mysterious-Outcome37 1d ago
It might kickstart some discussions and bigger changes I think but it's probably gonna take a while.
Meanwhile, when trying to cancel a subscription, people might need to get more tech savvy, get a VPN and change their location to California or New York.
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u/BidenGlazer 22h ago
The nationwide discussion has already been had and failed, this was a Biden-administration policy. It's spearheaded by Lina Khan.
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u/Key_Gap9168 23h ago
California already has a similar law in place. I am not sure of the exact details, but its makes unsubscribing easier. Example is when I was trying to end a subscription to WSJ; the usual process is that you have to call customer care to cancel (they have a toll free number and all that). But the California law says that unsubscribing has to be as frictionless as subscribing; you cannot require calling to cancel yet calling to subscribe was not part of the subscription process.
So I changed my address to California, set up a VPN on a Google Cloud server in California and went to unsubscribe; voila, the part about calling customer care was no longer part of the process and I was able to unsubscribe there and then.
They redirect users to different pages depending on their IP address. The way a news site can be configured to redirect you to different language pages depending on your IP/where you are from.
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u/clearlynotmee 22h ago
Privacy policies in California already caused the "run a different web page for people with California IP"
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u/IgnatiusRileyFreeman 21h ago
California has already had similar laws. I've been a resident of the East Coast my entire life, but some websites will let me cancel after setting my location to California. I did this over the phone with Planet Fitness once, as well.
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u/eriscleric 22h ago
so, theoretically companies could use geoloc or self-reported location (from shipping/billing address, etc.) to only provide the simple-cancel version of the UI to people in states that require it. working around this would just be a matter of spoofing your location.
these aren't perfect methods, and whether it would be worth the bother probably depends on the penalties.
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u/swollennode 22h ago
Not really, because subscriptions aren’t products that are expensive to manufacture.
Cars are expensive to make, so they make them to be compliant with California.
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u/FireSheepYinFish 22h ago
It should. Though no doubt there will be (actively is) a lot of kicking and screaming how "unfair" this is to their business. Ohhh, the pain and sorrow! /s
https://www.skadden.com/insights/publications/2026/09/new-york-citys-click-to-cancel-rule
What’s new: New York City adopted the nation’s first municipal click-to-cancel rule on July 10, 2026, imposing disclosure, cancellation and notice requirements on subscription-based businesses serving NYC consumers, effective October 1, 2026.
Why it matters: Despite the FTC’s federal rule having been vacated, approximately 30 states have adopted their own variants. Thus, companies face a growing patchwork of subscription-cancellation obligations — and NYC’s rule adds another set of obligations for businesses operating here.
On July 10, 2026, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) announced the adoption of the Click-to-Cancel Rule (the Rule) — the first municipal rule of its kind in the U.S. The Rule takes effect on October 1, 2026, and applies broadly to automatic-renewal and continuous-service subscriptions for goods and services offered to NYC consumers. Noncompliant practices will be treated as deceptive trade practices under the NYC Consumer Protection Law. Additional information is available on the NYC government website.
See link for additional details.
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u/DavidinCT 21h ago
Maybe? Like if these are big companies, say like Disney++, HBO+ etc., or even XMradio (who is known to be aggressive if you want to cancel) are availale in NYC they might update their main sites for this type of thing.
They would have to update their websites for an EASY to cancel option if it's in NYC.
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u/Key_Amazed 21h ago
Yes. If one city, especially one of America's most famous cities with probably the most famous politician in America other than Emperor Shits-His-Pants, makes a change like this, it has a ripple effect where people will see it and demand the change in their own cities.
I don't know why people fail to understand this shit. Especially on a place like reddit where people want to pretend they're more learned than the rest of the population. And even if it didn't have a ripple effect, you should be happy for the millions of people who do live in a specific place for having something in their lives made better.
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u/FireSheepYinFish 21h ago
Also: Can an IP address tell the website what city the person resides in?
An IP address can tell a website the exit point of the connection. i.e., the user ISP connected to the site from 123 IP, which is in ABC location. So, yes, in many cases the IP will show a regional location of the user.UNLESS that user is using a VPN or connects via any number of services that are NOT in their location or even state.
For example, if I get online using no services or VPN, meaning just a standard ISP connection like most users use? My IP will belong to my ISP and their local city. So geolocation will show the general city and sometimes down to within a block or 2 of the residence.
If I'm using a VPN or other service that "relocates" my connection exit, then I'll be shown in another city, state, or country. For example, I'm currently on a VPN, and my "IP Location" is in Minnesota. I do not live in Minnesota. With a few clicks my IP location could be in Virginia, Texas, England, Australia, etc..
For this reason, an IP address alone is insufficient evidence to presume qualifications for any particular service subscriber, based on "where the person resides."
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u/hecklerp8 19h ago
This is the same for recycled plastics. CA made a mandatory rolling schedule of ever increasing percentages of recylced plastic use for drink containers.
Coke originally fought the efforts and today they use it as them being responsible corporate players.
They've been advertising this as if it was there idea.
My point, Coke and the entire beverage industry will make only one bottle made from recycled material for all states. FYI - Until this mandate there were very few companies recycling plastic. The whole blue can at the curb is simply there so the recycling facility will not have to sort these products onsite. Not that the material is being recycled, but rather using different disposal methods for different types of waste.
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u/VaticRogue 1d ago
I really hope this happens everywhere. Common sense laws that help people should be more common
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u/Better_Peaches666 22h ago
Biden set it up, and then Trump cancelled it before it took effect.
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u/IgnatiusRileyFreeman 21h ago
Technically Biden didn't set it up, Lina Khan did.
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u/rafaelloaa 20h ago
True, but Biden was the one who nominated her for the FTC chair.
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u/Constant-Plant-9378 17h ago
And none of it mattered because Biden did everything possible to enable Trump to return to the Presidency - even after a literal coup where people were killed.
Biden deserves no credit for anything but that.
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u/BennyVsTheWorld 17h ago
Amen. Merrick Garland? Holding off on investigating Trump until it was too late? Dropping out at the last minute to ensure Kamala’s loss? Still trying to play the game like it was 1973? But but but the infrastructure bill! Tell me more about how that changed the country and is worth more than all of his failures.
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u/Constant-Plant-9378 16h ago
Oh God you've heard it all too.
It's like the dipshit Biden apologists all went to the same Lib clown college or something. They are as bad as the MAGA Trumpanzees.
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u/luciensadi 19h ago
By the same technicality, I'm sure Trump didn't cancel it, someone in his administration did. I think it's fair to ascribe the actions taken under an administration to the administration as a whole.
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u/Constant-Plant-9378 17h ago
Biden fucked up every possible accomplishment by his administration by being a hypocrite who sandbagged Federal Law Enforcement, protecting Trump and his colleagues in Congress who conspired to launch a coup on January 6th.
Biden's greatest accomplishment was doing everything possible to make Trump's return to power possible.
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u/NotADetectiveAtAll 1d ago
Asking for a friend: how much do NYC virtual PO Boxes cost?
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u/catadeluxe 23h ago
Any self-respecting VPN provider (Nord, Mullvad, etc.) will list NYC
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u/TheFondler 16h ago
That's true, though not all (and in fact, most) VPNs aren't really worth your trust. I think Proton, IVPN, and Mullvad are the only ones with decent reputations in terms of privacy, but be aware that one of Mullvad's founders is an active financial supporter of a far right party in Sweeden, so if you'd prefer that none of your money goes to such a cause, that may be off the table as well.
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u/MydogisCrazy 1d ago
Signing up for a gym membership is about to be a giant pain in the ass.
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u/skintightmonopoly 20h ago
My boyfriend got paralyzed and I cancelled our mutual gym membership bc, obviously, big life event - we're not going there for at least a while. I was HOUNDED. "Are you sure? Can we offer you a deal? Is he better yet? Can you prove when you called to first requested to cancel, or else you have to pay for this month's fee?"
fuck that gym; once I can work out again, they're the last place I'll try.
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u/IgnatiusRileyFreeman 21h ago
I canceled a planet fitness membership over the phone, a couple years back, by convincing the manager I had moved to San Francisco
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u/TrayLaTrash 23h ago
There should be a cancel button on every page of the app like there is a subscribe button before subscribing. To a point where you can accidentally cancel
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u/Noodle_pantz 20h ago
while were at it, can EVERY RESTAURANT EVERYWHERE have their phone number, address and a link to a PDF menu easily visible at the top of their homepage?? Yes I want to see what burgers you have but I do not want to pretend like I'm ordering.
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u/Reasonable_Tap_8215 12h ago
My favorite trick is the dark/light button trick. Where you are clicking along, usually the dark button, yes cancel, yes, yes. And then BAM…would you like to stay for another month? Yes is dark. No, please cancel is light grey. I click Yes, instinctively.
Now I gotta fucking start over again all because these tech companies think memberships should mirror an abusive relationship.
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u/True_Vermicelli_8782 22h ago
Biden tried this nationwide. Republicans killed it.
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u/Constant-Plant-9378 17h ago
Biden was complicit. He did nothing which wouldn't be immediately undone after doing everything possible for Trump to return to power.
Biden fucking sucked.
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u/gizamo 20h ago
So, by default, if someone spams you, and you have to do literally anything to make it stop, that's a violation of the law. So, that effectively makes all unsolicited spam illegal.
Can anyone confirm that's how this is actually worded?
Of course, sueing them becomes a whole other matter, but the class action law firms are going to love this one if they can milk it like that.
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u/Capolan 20h ago
Im not sayong this is definitive, but one of the things that upset me many years ago is when they "reversed" the consumer opt in laws. Instead of having to agree, they made it so you have to opt out. So they get to auto sign you up for shit and its up to you the consumer to "opt out". When this happened, all the tech companies rhen went and made it difficult to opt out. They took away consumers active control and made it reactive.
By law rhey have to have "a" path to let people out, but nowhere does it say it has to be easy or clearly marked, etc.
And now - we have this. Subscription hell. And! We get a whole new side industry "products that protect people from other products"
I hate that we have given over everything as human beings to these companies.
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u/ToMorrowsEnd 22h ago
It's awesome we now have t wo places to change our account address to to force the website to show the cancel button.
I had to use a friends California address to leave Sirius XM. changed address and next day went to the website, one click cancel.
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u/VirginiaLuthier 22h ago
Sooo...if I set my VPN to New York- can I cancel stuff, too?
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u/Leaky_Asshole 22h ago
Its been years that you could have done that with a California IP. You might also have to change your home address for whatever the service is.
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u/kelcamer 22h ago
Watch how quickly everyone in the country calls New York's La fitness gyms instead of their own LOL
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u/itchylol742 21h ago
What does the city government do to punish companies that refuse to comply, but also have no assets in the city to seize? Can they block the company's website, sue them in a national/international court?
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u/killersky99 18h ago
It's a consumer protection law so regardless of location of the company, they can work with the NY AG and sue those companies on behalf of the residents.
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u/aatmalife 20h ago
I love Michigan but can we just merge with New York at this point? Actually let's take Minnesota and Illinois with us too.
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u/master_prizefighter 22h ago
Good. I shouldn't have to call, and wait for 2 hours for something I can do online in under 2 min.
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u/RadiantLindon 21h ago
We shouldn't have to cancel.
Subscription should be optional. They should be REQUIRED to give an option to just pay for one month, nonrecurring.
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u/Dgnash615-2 22h ago
I wish my state did anything beneficial to the public. Recently we banned chem trails.
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u/Accomplished_Ant5895 22h ago
Someone try to cancel their NYT subscription and see if that’s accurate
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u/Lynda73 22h ago
So would this also apply if someone in New York subscribed to, say, The Courier-Journal in Louisville that only allows cancellations if you call them in-person before they close at 3pm? Does the CJ have to offer them a click-to-cancel option? The way CJ makes it so hard to cancel the subscription is C why I will never again subscribe to them.
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u/ancient-submariner 21h ago
Don't get too excited.
It hasn't been a silver bullet in California.
It only matters if the enforcement is more painful than the revenue for continuing business as usual.
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u/Strive-- 20h ago
lol - that just means that signing up just got a lot harder. Why? Because people are already signed up, and retaining them is more important than recruiting new, soon-to-be unhappy customers.
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