FTC Files Lawsuit Against Uber over Alleged Subscription Deceptions

Mon Oct 20 2025 23:59:29 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The US Federal Trade Commission accuses Uber of deceptive billing and complexities surrounding its Uber One subscription service.

The FTC’s legal action claims Uber's practices misled consumers regarding subscription fees and cancellation processes, igniting a significant confrontation in the tech industry.

In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a lawsuit against Uber, asserting that the ride-hailing and delivery giant has engaged in deceptive practices regarding its subscription service, Uber One. The consumer protection agency claims that Uber charged customers for its subscription without obtaining proper consent and made the cancellation process exceedingly complicated.

"The Trump-Vance FTC is fighting back on behalf of the American people," stated FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, a Trump appointee. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, emphasizes that consumers have encountered obstacles when attempting to unsubscribe, with claims of navigating as many as 23 screens and potentially needing to take up to 32 actions to complete the process.

Uber has firmly rejected the FTC's claims, expressing disappointment over the decision to move forward with the lawsuit. In a public statement, an Uber spokesperson argued that users can now cancel their subscriptions directly through the app, a process that typically takes around 20 seconds. Previously, they noted, users had to reach out to customer support within 48 hours of their next billing cycle to unsubscribe.

Furthermore, the FTC's complaint indicates that a significant number of consumers reported being automatically enrolled in the Uber One subscription service without explicit consent. One example cited in the complaint mentioned a consumer who reported charges despite lacking an Uber account altogether. In response, Uber asserted it never enrolls or charges consumers without their agreement.

This legal move against Uber marks the FTC's first lawsuit targeting a notable U.S. tech firm under President Trump's administration during his second term, which began in January. The agency's ongoing antitrust case against Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is now in its second week in court. The FTC alleges that Meta established a social media monopoly through its acquisitions of the photo-sharing app Instagram in 2012 and messaging service WhatsApp in 2014, a situation Meta has labeled as "misguided."

As the case unfolds, it reflects the larger regulatory scrutiny facing the tech industry amid growing concerns over consumer protection and fair business practices.