Swiss government wants to regulate cost of streamers

Price rises by streaming platforms such as Netflix need to be better regulated, according to the Swiss government, which on Thursday accepted, without comment, a motion to this effect. The motion, tabled by parliamentarian Alex Farinelli, aims to provide better protection for consumers. In recent years, several providers of subscription-based digital services have repeatedly increased their prices, relying on terms and conditions that give them considerable scope to act unilaterally, Farinelli said. However, a market economy can only function if contractual rules are predictable, understandable and applied in good faith. Netflix plans in Switzerland range from CHF14.90 ($18.50) to CHF29.90 a month. While Italy and Germany have taken measures in this regard, Switzerland must do the same. Farinelli calls for unilateral price increases to be permitted only if they are based on objective, transparent criteria that are specified in advance in the contract. Thus, terms and conditions ...