John Oliver Criticizes Deceptive Subscription Business Models

Comedian and host John Oliver criticized the proliferation of subscription-based business models across the software, automobile, and household appliance industries during a recent episode of his HBO show. He specifically targeted the use of dark patterns, which are deceptive design choices companies employ to manipulate users into signing up for services or to make the cancellation process intentionally difficult.

Oliver cited several corporate examples to illustrate these trends, including General Motors' projection to earn $25 billion annually from subscriptions by 2030 and HP's practice of disabling ink cartridges for users who fail to pay monthly fees. He also highlighted how General Electric uses smart appliances to collect data on customer habits.

Regarding regulation, Oliver noted that while the Federal Trade Commission has scrutinized Amazon and LA Fitness for deceptive practices, a U.S. appeals court recently struck down a proposed click to cancel rule. He concluded by advising viewers to audit their bank accounts and phone subscription settings to identify and remove forgotten recurring charges.