Australia Sues Microsoft Over AI-linked Subscription Price Hikes (reuters.com)
(Monday October 27, 2025 @12:52PM (msmash)
from the global-embarrassment dept.)
- Reference: 0179884156
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/10/27/1540239/australia-sues-microsoft-over-ai-linked-subscription-price-hikes
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-takes-microsoft-court-says-it-misled-27-million-customers-2025-10-26/
Australia's competition regulator sued Microsoft today, accusing it of misleading millions of customers into [1]paying higher prices for its Microsoft 365 software after bundling it with AI tool Copilot. From a report:
> The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged that from October 2024, the technology giant misled about 2.7 million customers by suggesting they had to move to higher-priced Microsoft 365 personal and family plans that included Copilot.
>
> After the integration of Copilot, the annual subscription price of the Microsoft 365 personal plan increased by 45% to A$159 ($103.32) and the price of the family plan increased by 29% to A$179, the ACCC said. The regulator said Microsoft failed to clearly tell users that a cheaper "classic" plan without Copilot was still available.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-takes-microsoft-court-says-it-misled-27-million-customers-2025-10-26/
> The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged that from October 2024, the technology giant misled about 2.7 million customers by suggesting they had to move to higher-priced Microsoft 365 personal and family plans that included Copilot.
>
> After the integration of Copilot, the annual subscription price of the Microsoft 365 personal plan increased by 45% to A$159 ($103.32) and the price of the family plan increased by 29% to A$179, the ACCC said. The regulator said Microsoft failed to clearly tell users that a cheaper "classic" plan without Copilot was still available.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-takes-microsoft-court-says-it-misled-27-million-customers-2025-10-26/
What a bunch of dirty rotten scoundrels (Score:2)
by FudRucker ( 866063 )
Microsoft has achieved maximum enshitification, I think Microsoft should pay full refunds, the US Gov should get involved but under the current admin all bets are off considering the state of the state.
Why? (Score:1)
It's not clear to me why a business should be required to tell customers that it has cheaper products available.
I mean, when I go buy potato chips and I'm checking out at the register, nobody tells me that a cheaper version than what I picked out is available.
Where is the customer's responsibility to do some due diligence and educate themselves about company's offerings?
In the U.S. (I know story is about Australia), it is very common for cell phone and cable tv companies to offer lower prices on shit withou
Re: (Score:2)
Maybe because its 2025 and I shouldn't have to play third world marketplace bargain tactics with every company I do business with?
Stop The Fuckening. (Score:2)
> It's not clear to me why a business should be required to tell customers that it has cheaper products available.
> I mean, when I go buy potato chips and I'm checking out at the register, nobody tells me that a cheaper version than what I picked out is available.
> Where is the customer's responsibility to do some due diligence and educate themselves about company's offerings?
> In the U.S. (I know story is about Australia), it is very common for cell phone and cable tv companies to offer lower prices on shit without telling existing customers about it. It is up to customers to check prices every once in a while and discover it for themselves. More than once I've gotten a lower price simply by checking, seeing there is a lower price available for whatever I signed for, and then requesting that lower price.
Remember you said that when you have 179 subscriptions to manage in your life. You act as if Greed isn't looking to fuck you in every hole it can. All day, every day.
You already admitted how more than once you've been fucked. And had to un-fuck yourself. See how easy that initial fucking was? See how you're already wondering how you're getting fucked elsewhere right now?
Stop defending Greed and start championing consumer honesty and business ethics instead. Your monthly task list shouldn't have to sta