“Of course, they are deceiving and manipulating you. Otherwise, they would not be asking for the payment information up front. “
It’s a trick! they asked for my payment info, and then charged me!
To quote our dear leader, Come On Man! If it was free, there is no payment info required. If it is a trial subscription, with payment info collected, then it is your job to cancel, or not give the payment info.
Feel free not to participate in these free trials, i get it. But don’t blame ‘dark patterns’ and cry for government regulation to protect you from your own choice to hand out your credit card.
I don't hand out a credit card for a "free trial period" because of experience with that 'dark pattern' of the vendor making it difficult or impossible to cancel those subscriptions.
No government intervention required.
But deception, manipulation, and fraud are ever-present tendencies in business activity. I can accept the need for laws and government intervention when things go too far.
If I am billed for something I never received or never ordered, then I expect the company to stop doing that. If they don't, it is time for laws and government to come into play.