Technologies

FTC Sues Over Uber One, Saying It ‘Deceived Consumers’

The agency accuses the ridesharing company of charging customers without consent and of making it difficult to cancel the service.

The Federal Trade Commission is suing the rideshare company Uber for what it’s calling deceptive business practices involving its Uber One subscription service. In a complaint filed in a San Francisco district court, the FTC cites instances where customers say they were charged for the service when they believed their subscriptions were canceled, or were not allowed to cancel their accounts easily.

Uber One costs $10 a month and allows users to get discounts, free delivery on Uber Eats and cash back, in addition to other perks.

However, the FTC says that customers who sign up for free trials have had difficulty canceling and have ended up with unexpected charges.

«Today, we’re alleging that Uber not only deceived consumers about their subscriptions, but also made it unreasonably difficult for customers to cancel,» FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said in a press release.

The complaint cites instances where it would take 23 screens and 32 actions to cancel an Uber One subscription.

An Uber spokesperson said that the company doesn’t sign up or charge consumers without their consent and that «cancellations can now be done anytime in-app and take most people 20 seconds or less.»

«We are disappointed that the FTC chose to move forward with this action,» the spokesperson told CNET, «but are confident that the courts will agree with what we already know: Uber One’s sign-up and cancellation processes are clear, simple, and follow the letter and spirit of the law.»

In an email, Uber contested points in the FTC’s complaint, saying that it discloses information about what customers will be charged. «Consumers who canceled were never charged additional fees,» it said.

Subscription services in the crosshairs

Subscription services have been a target for the FTC recently, as it has implemented rules requiring companies to make them simpler and easier to cancel. Last year, California passed a law requiring it to be as easy as a single click for consumers. The changes were, in large part, enacted to combat increasingly sophisticated ways that companies were keeping customers on the hook for paid services.

Expect to see more FTC action against companies that fail to follow the rules on subscriptions, says Syracuse University law professor Shubha Ghosh, who focuses on business, antitrust and intellectual property law.

«Very likely there will be more suits as the FTC, across administrations, seeks to address anticompetitive practices that harm consumers, especially practices that raise prices and limit consumer choices,» Ghosh told CNET. «Ticketmaster is one example. We may see actions against crypto and payday loans online.»

But don’t expect rewards from these FTC lawsuits if you feel you were taken advantage of by a subscription-based service. For customers, it’s not the same as a class action suit in which plaintiffs may get money from court-designated damages, Ghosh said.

«The FTC cannot recover restitution for consumers after the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in [a 2021 case involving] AMG Management,» he said. «The FTC can change business practices, however, through injunctive relief under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The FTC can also obtain refunds for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the (Better Online Ticket Sales) Act.»

Technologies

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Teaser: Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway Are Back in Vogue

The much-anticipated fashion-forward sequel is set to hit theaters on May 1.

Fashion never truly goes out of style. Twenty years after the 2026 release of The Devil Wears Prada, set in the cutthroat world of fashion magazines, a sequel is coming May 1. A teaser for The Devil Wears Prada 2 was released on Wednesday, reuniting Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly and Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs.

Based on the book by Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada follows Andy’s journey into the world of fashion editorial and her dramatic relationship with Miranda, the powerful editor of Runway magazine. The sequel takes viewers back to this cutthroat world, where the duo struggles with the decline of print media as they compete for readers and revenue against rival Emily Charlton (played by Emily Blunt), Miranda’s former assistant.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Streep received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Miranda, a character loosely inspired by Vogue’s former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Stanley Tucci returns alongside Blunt to reprise his role as Nigel, Miranda’s close friend and fashion expert. David Frankel, who directed the first movie, is back to direct the sequel.

Technologies

‘Toy Story 5’ Trailer Teases Terrifying Toy Battle: Woody and Buzz vs. a Tablet

The movie is set to premiere on June 19, 2026.

Pixar has released the first teaser trailer for Toy Story 5, which is set to premiere in theaters on June 19, 2026. Woody and Buzz Lightyear have come a long way since that first movie, which premiered 30 years ago, in November 1995. They’ve been through a lot, but now, there’s a new threat in town. It may be the toughest foe they’ve ever met: a kid’s tablet. How will screen time impact this group of lovable toys?

The clip gives us the first glimpse of the tech toy. Named Lilypad, the tablet is voiced by Tron: Ares star Greta Lee. While the plot of the movie has mostly been kept under wraps, it’s clear that these classic toys will now be competing against electronics to win Bonnie’s attention. Something tells me this will be no easy feat.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprise their roles as Woody and Buzz, respectively. Joan Cusack is back as Jessie, along with Tony Hale’s return as Forky. Conan O’Brien also appears in the movie as Smarty Pants, a tech-based toilet training toy.

«It’s been a hilarious and poignant journey exploring how our favourite team of legacy toys might respond to today’s world of technology, and we’re thrilled to share this first glimpse with audiences,» director Andrew Stanton and co-director Kenna Harris said in a statement, «Having the remarkably talented Greta Lee bring Lilypad to life — balancing a playfully antagonistic tone with humour and heart — has been incredible.»

You can watch the teaser below and stream the other four Toy Story films on Disney Plus.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Nov. 13

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Nov. 13.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I thought it was a little tougher than normal. Read on for the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.