Governor Gavin Newsom has signed California’s “click to cancel” Assembly Bill 286 into law to make it easier for consumers to opt out of subscriptions. The bill, introduced in April 2024, forces companies that permit online or in-app sign-ups to allow for online or in-app unsubscribing as well.

"AB 2863 is the most comprehensive ‘Click to Cancel’ legislation in the nation, ensuring Californians can cancel unwanted automatic subscription renewals just as easily as they signed up — with just a click or two,” said California Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    As good as this is, it’s just another example of Republicans shrinking the federal government to unsustainable levels. Click-to-cancel will be implemented in California while showing your ID to access porn sites is happening in Texas, but have fun canceling any subscriptions.

    • NineMileTower@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      So a Democrat win in California shouldn’t be celebrated, because there’s an unrelated pointless Republican law in Texas? What are you on about?

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I’m on about the fact that the federal government is so weak that this is the sort of state-to-state bullshit people have to put up with.

        • NineMileTower@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          That’s literally how the government was designed though. Do you believe that there should be a Constitutional amendment to protect porn and ease of subscription cancellation? I agree that the system is flawed, but a win here deserves to be celebrated even though there was a loss somewhere else.

          • The Pantser@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Is the company in question national or local to CA only? This is the defining line for laws like this. If a company cannot be distinguished from the services it provides in CA vs any other state then the laws of one state should influence all others since the company is not different between states. Unless they create a different website for each state then they will have a hard time verifying if a user really is from CA and be able to apply the law.

            I could be visiting CA and sign up for something while there. My address is not CA, my billing address is not CA, I could be using a VPN connected to my home. But I am physically in CA and signed up for Planet fitness online. Now whose laws protect me? CA or my home state?

          • pory@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            There is a constitutional amendment that protects porn though. The first. What’s changed in Texas isn’t porn’s legality, but restrictions on distribution (though yes, Texas’s law is useless and completely misunderstands the internet’s dynamics)

            • NineMileTower@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              Sarcasm is not lended to text very well. Can you understand that a state that makes a good law is a good thing and that nuance exists.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                2 months ago

                Please give me the nuance where a click to cancel law makes sense in California and not in all 49 other states.

                  • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
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                    2 months ago

                    Flying squid is a Russian troll. Only EVER criticizes Democrats. I won’t say block him, because that amplifies his reach, but interact with him on this basis. He is not discussing and never has discussed in good faith.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                    2 months ago

                    Because there is no such nuance. This should be a federal law. It isn’t because the federal government has been too weakened by Republicans over decades. Which was my point.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                    2 months ago

                    You didn’t provide any context. You’ve just named a federal program that has nothing to do with this law, which is about automatic subscription renewals. You certainly haven’t explained why being able to click to cancel such a program is a good thing in California and a bad thing in all 49 other states.

            • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.ee
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              2 months ago

              Don’t know why you’re being downvoted because it’s true. California signing this into law is great, I do hope this can reach the federal level though.

              • cheddar
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                2 months ago

                I’d guess they are being downvoted because they started an absolutely meaningless argument, and now keep dragging it on.

                • nomous@lemmy.world
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                  2 months ago

                  100% par for the course with that commenter too. It’s an absolute waste of time engaging with them.

        • ravhall@discuss.online
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          2 months ago

          Sign up in Texas, drive to California and fail to cancel with one click, sue.

          But I agree with you, we need something like the GDPR on a federal level.

    • Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      Imo that’s great. The best display of what policies make people’s life better is a stark contrast between two groups implementing opposing systems.