CNN —New rules from the US government could soon let Americans more easily cancel free trials and subscriptions they no longer want, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The proposed rule change announced Thursday would apply to vast swaths of the US economy, covering both digital and physical subscriptions. Americans should not have to jump through hoops or be hounded by unwanted retention offers just to cancel their subscriptions, FTC Chair Lina Khan told reporters on a conference call Wednesday. The FTC in 2021 warned companies against deploying illegal dark patterns that trick or trap consumers into subscription services. Gyms, newspapers, phone companies and other businesses have faced lawsuits for imposing obstacles on consumers who try to cancel their services.

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