What’s Going On
A federal trial is now underway in Seattle where the FTC accuses Amazon of using confusing signup flows and buried disclosures to push people into Prime memberships. On top of that, the cancellation process is under fire: it’s said to be complicated, hard to find, and loaded with barriers designed to make people stick with Prime even if they want out.
The judge in the case has already ruled in favor of the FTC on a few key points—Amazon had to collect billing information before fully revealing Prime’s terms, which the judge said violated consumer protection law. Also, some Amazon executives are named in the case and could be held personally responsible if the jury sides with regulators.
Why This Sets a Benchmark
This case isn't just about Prime—it could change how every subscription service handles transparency and cancellation. If consumers win, companies will need to rethink how easy it is to leave, not just how easy it is to sign up.
