Unsubscribe Act of 2025

The Unsubscribe Act of 2025 would increase consumer protections for subscription services and negative option agreements across all media, including online platforms. The bill would require that cancellation of subscriptions be as simple and straightforward as the initial sign-up process. It would establish requirements for express informed consent before charging consumers, prohibiting consent obtained through pre-checked boxes, inactivity, or manipulative user interfaces. The bill would also impose requirements for periodic notifications to consumers about their subscriptions and charges.

The legislation would apply to free-to-pay conversion contracts, which include introductory periods or free trials that convert to paid subscriptions. Companies would need to obtain clear affirmative consent from consumers before charging them after a trial period ends. The bill would empower the Federal Trade Commission to establish rules enforcing these protections and would allow state attorneys general to bring civil actions against companies violating the law. This represents a bipartisan effort to address what supporters describe as deceptive subscription practices that trap consumers into unwanted charges.