Amazon makes it too hard to cancel Prime, groups tell FTC

The report by Forbrukerrådet documents how Amazon riddles the process with ‘dark patterns’, or manipulative techniques, including steps that nestle the choice to leave in between other options to abort the whole process or maintain their membership. — AP

A coalition of public interest advocates is asking US regulators to investigate whether Amazon.com Inc violates consumer protection laws with its process for canceling Prime subscriptions.

In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday, a group led by Public Citizen said the steps required to cancel Prime “are designed to unfairly and deceptively undermine the will of the consumer”, and may violate FTC rules as well as other consumer protection laws. The letter draws on a complaint by Norway’s consumer protection agency, which on Thursday asked Norwegian regulators to determine whether Amazon violated local law.