Obama Signs Measure Targeting ‘Aggressive’ Online Sales Tactics

President Obama Dec. 29 signed a bill outlawing a set of online sales practices that were examined in a Senate investigation and deemed to be aggressive and harmful to consumers.

The legislation (S. 3386), dubbed the “Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act,” requires certain internet sellers to clearly disclose the terms of their offers and to obtain billing information directly from consumers, rather than through online partners.

In addition, the measure sets limits on the use of “negative option marketing,” where a consumer’s failure to take an affirmative action, such as canceling an agreement, is treated as consent to be charged ...