Judges Strike Down “Click-to-Cancel” Rule - 1

Image by Terrillo Walls, from Unspalsh

Judges Strike Down “Click-to-Cancel” Rule

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

A federal appeals court has struck down the FTC’s “click-to-cancel” rule, saying the agency didn’t follow required legal procedures.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Judges say FTC skipped legally required economic review.
  • Rule aimed to simplify canceling subscriptions.
  • Businesses weren’t given enough time to comment.

The court said the FTC, under Chair Lina Khan at the time, didn’t follow the legal rulemaking process. “While we certainly do not endorse the use of unfair and deceptive practices […] the procedural deficiencies of the Commission’s rulemaking process are fatal here,” the judges wrote .

The FTC had updated a decades-old rule which aimed to stop companies from deceptive practices by establishing clear terms and straightforward cancellation procedures. But Ars reports that it skipped a key step: doing a full economic analysis before finalizing the rule. The law says this is required when a rule is expected to have over $100 million in economic impact.

The internal judge issued a warning about excessive compliance costs, but the FTC chose not to release the analysis for public review before finalization. Ars reports that the judges determined that this procedural decision prevented businesses and industry organizations from providing timely feedback.

The ruling said allowing this shortcut could “open the door to future manipulation of the rulemaking process.”

Republicans on the FTC had opposed the rule from the start. One, Melissa Holyoak, warned it was rushed before the 2024 election and “may not survive legal challenge.” She referred to it as “nothing more than a back-door effort at obtaining civil penalties in any industry where negative option is a method to secure payment.”

In contrast, Ars reports that Lina Khan had said at the time, “Businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription […] Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want.”

OpenAI, Microsoft, And Anthropic To Launch National Academy for AI Instruction In The U.S. - 2

Photo by Jeffrey Hamilton on Unsplash

OpenAI, Microsoft, And Anthropic To Launch National Academy for AI Instruction In The U.S.

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the United Federation of Teachers announced a new $23 billion partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic on Tuesday. The initiative aims to support educators across the United States with AI training, starting with a facility in New York.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • The United Federation of Teachers and the AFT announced a new $23 billion partnership with OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic.
  • The main hub will be located in Manhattan and will include specially designed technology.
  • The goal is to train 400,000 educators and reach more than 7.2 million students.

According to the press release , around 1.8 million teachers, members of the AFT, would benefit from the initiative. The first group to receive the training will be K-12 educators. The main hub, located in Manhattan, will be especially designed to serve as the launchpad for a transformative approach to AI learning nationwide.

“To best serve students, we must ensure teachers have a strong voice in the development and use of AI,” said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft. “This partnership will not only help teachers learn how to better use AI, it will give them the opportunity to tell tech companies how we can create AI that better serves kids.”

The initiative is intended to help overwhelmed educators navigate the fast-evolving AI landscape and develop new skills to support their students. Over the next five years, the goal is to train 400,000 educators—around 10% of the U.S. teaching workforce—and reach more than 7.2 million students.

The National Academy for AI Instruction building will be equipped with advanced technology to provide training. OpenAI added that it will offer online courses, workshops, and hands-on training sessions.

“Our shared goal is simple: to support teachers in shaping, using, and guiding the development of AI in K-12 education,” wrote OpenAI in a recent statement . “The Academy will serve as a national hub for free training and curriculum, combining real classroom expertise with cutting-edge technology.”

AI has been transforming education worldwide, and the United States has been developing strategies to implement AI training in schools. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to bring AI technology to the classrooms in April.