Entertainment
Netflix Price Hikes Are So Outrageous That They're Actually Illegal
By TeeJay Small
| Published
Netflix subscribers have been subject to numerous price hikes in recent years, as the streaming giant continues squeezing every possible droplet of profitability out of their audience. If you feel that these price hikes are so outrageous that they should be outlawed, you’re not alone. Apparently, the government of Italy is taking action against Netflix, with Variety reporting that Italian customers may be entitled to millions in refunds. While this bears little immediate relevance to U.S. audiences, the ongoing legal case could set an important precedent for streaming practices in the future.
Per Variety, a Rome court has sided with a consumer advocacy group against Netflix. The filing argues that exponential price hikes, which took place from 2017 through 2024, are in direct violation of Italy’s national consumer code. Specifically, the Movimento Consumatori claims that corporations cannot unilaterally raise their rates on subscription-based services without offering advanced notice and a valid reason for the change. Since Netflix has made no major sweeping changes to its service and offered no such notice, they are alleged to be in violation of Italy’s consumer protection laws.
Netflix Fights Back
Reps from Netflix have already announced an intention to appeal this ruling, though it’s unclear what grounds they have to argue. The streamer has 90 days from the initial April 1 ruling to make their case, or they’ll be subject to daily $800 penalties. Meanwhile, lawyers Paolo Fiorio and Riccardo Pinna have demanded Netflix offer refunds of hundreds of dollars to individual subscribers.
Specifically, the legal team articulated “A Premium subscriber who has paid for Netflix continuously from 2017 to the present day is entitled to a refund of about €500 ($577), while a standard subscriber is due a refund of about €250 ($288).” Netflix boasted a subscriber base of over 8 million monthly users in Italy back in 2024, so these payouts could range into the hundreds of millions if they come to fruition.
Will Netflix Actually Have To Pay Up?
For now, it’s hard to say with any certainty that Netflix will pay up, or that this legal case will have sweeping ramifications for the streaming industry. Individual cases have been brought against streamers in European nations such as Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands, though they have yet to cause any major ripple effect. But, if Netflix does seek to continue raising its rates, it bears asking, what exactly are we paying extra for?
To paraphrase one proud Italian-American from the small screen, Netflix subscribers may soon be informing the streamer, “You’ve got 90 days to give me my money.” If Netflix wants to respond with a Tony Soprano quote of their own, I’d suggest “with all due respect, you got no f-ing idea what it’s like to be number one.”
Entertainment
Apple WWDC 2026 event: Live updates on iOS 27 and Siri AI
Every year, Apple hosts the Worldwide Developers Conference to reveal the latest updates to its operating systems (and occasionally drops some hardware surprises, too). And this year, Apple had a lot to cover.
WWDC 2026 is Tim Cook’s last big event as CEO, and the tech world has been waiting for a torch-passing moment to CEO-in-waiting John Ternus. We also learned all about iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, and a ton more Apple products, including the revamped AI version of Siri, during the opening keynote.
WWDC 2026 kicked off with a live “special event” at Apple Park at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, June 8. That keynote has now ended, but you can still watch the livestream and catch up on all the biggest announcements.
Keep checking back, as we’ll be updating this page repeatedly throughout WWDC 2026, which officially runs through Friday, June 12.
Entertainment
Get 1 year of VPN, antivirus, breach alerts, and Incogni for just $75
TL;DR: Surfshark One+ with Incogni combines VPN protection, antivirus, breach alerts, and automated personal-data removal for $74.99 (reg. $250.20).
$74.99
$250.20
Save $175.21
Most people understand the idea of protecting their devices online. Fewer people realize how much of their personal information is already floating around the internet long before a hacker or scammer ever gets involved.
That’s what Surfshark One+ with Incogni is trying to address. And one year is on sale for just for $74.99 (reg. $250.20).
Mashable Deals
Instead of focusing only on VPN protection, the bundle tackles both sides of online privacy: protecting your devices in real time and reducing how much personal information is already circulating through data brokers and people-search databases.
The Surfshark side covers the familiar tools. You get a VPN for encrypted browsing across up to five devices, antivirus protection, private search, alternative identity tools for signups, and breach alerts that notify you if your email, passwords, IDs, or payment information show up somewhere sketchy.
Then there’s Incogni — the feature that makes this bundle feel more proactive than reactive.
Incogni automatically contacts more than 420 data brokers on your behalf and requests the removal of personal information like your name, address, phone number, and other identifying details. It also continues to monitor and re-request removals as your information reappears online.
On its own, Incogni normally costs about $95 per year, which makes its inclusion here especially notable.
This is an ideal opportunity for anyone increasingly uncomfortable with how exposed personal data has become online.
Mashable Deals
Get a 1-year subscription to Surfshark One+ with Incogni for a one-time payment of $74.99 (reg. $250.20).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to today’s Connections.
Entertainment
I track TV prices year-round, so I know that these 15+ TV deals ahead of Prime Day are actually worth it
Table of Contents
Best TV deals ahead of Prime Day
Prime Day season is one of the best times of year to buy a TV on sale. That’s been etched into our mental calendars in July for the past decade, but this year, hype for one of the year’s biggest shopping events starts in June: Prime Day 2026 will run from June 23 to 26. As always, worthwhile TV deals are already popping up in the weeks preceding the event.
The good pre-Prime Day TV deals aren’t just at Amazon. Half the time, the reason that TV deals during Prime Day go so hard is that competing retailers like Best Buy refuse to let Amazon get all the attention — and it has already started this year. If you don’t want to wait until the end of the month to grab your new TV, here are 15+ of the best TV deals I’ve found at Amazon and Best Buy ahead of Prime Day. Most models in this list match or beat their all-time record-low price, according to Amazon price tracker camelcamelcamel.
Best TV deal ahead of Prime Day overall
$1,197.99
at Amazon
$1,999.99
Save $802
Why we like it
Hisense finally launched its highly-awaited RGB TVs on June 2. While both the UR8 and UR9 RGB TVs are on sale at Best Buy, there’s another 2026 Hisense TV with a much wilder discount: The 75-inch Hisense U7 Mini LED TV is just $1,197.99 after a massive 40% price drop from its usual $1,999.99.
Mashable Deals
Just released in March, the Hisense U7 series has a pretty incredible lighting system for its price range. Its backlight benefits from full-array local dimming, which uses clusters of tiny LED bulbs that can fully turn themselves on or off for more precise contrast during any scene or livestream. Other impressive numbers include a peak brightness of 3,000 nits (great news for FIFA fans trying to watch a game during the daytime) and a native 165Hz refresh rate (great news for gamers on a budget).
Deals on 43-inch TVs and under
Deals on 50-inch to 55-inch TVs
Deals on 65-inch TVs
Deals on 75-inch to 77-inch TVs
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Toshiba 75-inch C350 4K Fire TV — $379.99
$729.99(save $350) -
Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $549.99
$799(save $249.01) -
LG 75-inch 75B QNED 4K TV — $729.99
$999.99(save $270) -
Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $848.99
$1,399.99(save $249.01) -
TCL 75-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,497.99
$1,999.99(save $502) -
Hisense 75-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K Art TV — $1,597.99
$2,499.99(save $902) -
Hisense 75-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $2,199.99
$2,499.99(save $300) -
LG 77-inch C5 OLED 4K TV — $2,199.99
$3,699.99(save $1,500)
Deals on 85-inch TVs
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