[effingwewt]

I posted this on another article- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11850870 -but it went unanswered, I'm hoping maybe this time someone will see this. It was in regards to google being brought a CA by advertisers who'd felt cheated (and rightly so if I understand correctly).

"Serious question- Would this(a class action suit for screwing customers) have been possible if Google had put in their contract that all parties waive their right to a class action? Many companies do this now- Microsoft's xbox live, for example not only forces you to forfeit any class action lawsuits, but at the time I stopped using their services, I believe they also required meditation with a mediator to be chosen by Microsoft. I sold my xbox 360 and never looked back.

edit- I also remember specifically Microsoft releasing a TOU update just days after, if not the day of, the ruling allowing companies to do this came down."

[whamlastxmas]

The mediation part is a moot point from what I've heard. Mediators don't really do anything other than facilitate discussion. If they got to choose an arbitrator that would be a different story.