The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER), alleging deceptive practices related to its Uber One subscription service. The suit, filed Monday in San Francisco, accuses the ride-hailing giant of automatically enrolling users without consent, exaggerating savings, and making cancellation intentionally difficult.
What’s Uber One?
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Price: $9.99/month
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Perks:
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Reduced service fees
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Exclusive discounts on Uber Rides and Uber Eats
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The FTC alleges Uber falsely claimed users could save up to $25 per month, a figure it says misrepresents typical savings.
FTC’s Allegations
“Americans are tired of getting signed up for unwanted subscriptions that seem impossible to cancel,”
— FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson
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Dark Patterns: The FTC accuses Uber of using manipulative interface designs to trick users into subscriptions.
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Cancellation Hurdles: Allegedly made unsubscribing “confusing and burdensome.”
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Unauthorized Charges: Some customers were enrolled and billed without their knowledge.
Uber’s Response
Uber spokesperson Noah Edwardsen rejected the claims:
“Uber One’s sign-up and cancellation processes are clear, simple, and follow the letter and spirit of the law.”
He added that the company is “disappointed” but confident the court will side with Uber.
FTC vs. Uber: A History
| Year | Allegation | Outcome |
| 2017 | Misleading data security practices | Settlement |
| 2018 | Inflated driver earnings | $20M settlement |
| 2022 | Failure to disclose 2016 data breach | Criminal charges dropped in settlement |
