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
All the foldable iPhone Ultra hints in the iOS 27 beta
Apple unveiled a ton of new features and updates during this week’s WWDC keynote. From the brand new Siri AI to Spatial Reframing, the internet is still talking about what’s coming in the latest Apple operating systems like iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate.
However, the biggest announcement may be what Apple didn’t mention during the keynote. And while we didn’t get any direct mentions of the iPhone Fold Ultra, the company seems to have shared the news unintentionally in its new iOS 27 developer beta.
Code found within the new iOS 27 beta appears to confirm the long-awaited foldable iPhone.
The foldable iPhone, which has been called iPhone Fold but may end up officially going by the name iPhone Ultra, seems to be referenced in iOS 27 code, according to developer Sam Henri Gold.
iOS 27’s framework has new parameters that mention “foldState” and “angleDegrees.” These references were not in previous versions of iOS, and seem like pretty straightforward references to a foldable device.
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“foldState” directly references a foldable device and “angleDegrees” can refer to the angle at which the foldable iPhone is opened at.
Gold posted his findings on the social media platform X. The developer also found that the new iOS 27 beta checks the device to get the total number of built-in displays.
Every single iPhone that has ever been released up to this point has a grand total of one built-in display. If Apple is adding this to the latest iOS, that’s yet another sign pointing to a new foldable device with more than one display. Based on early leaks and dummy units, the foldable iPhone will feature a large foldable display as well as an outer display that can be used when the device is closed.
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After the iOS 27 developer beta went live, it didn’t take long for the tech world to find other indirect references to the foldable. Journalist Mark Gurman and tech creator Marques Brownlee both shared these hints with their followers on social media, with Gurman noting, “LOL could they be any more blatant?”
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Rumors and reports have strongly pointed to a September announcement and end-of-year release date for Apple’s foldable iPhone. However, Apple has not yet officially announced the device. These findings within the code of the iOS 27 beta are the strongest direct indication yet that it exists and that Apple is indeed planning to drop a foldable iPhone sometime in the very near future.
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.
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