FTC urged to make smart devices say how long they will be supported

ronjor · Sep 5, 2024

Scharon Harding - 9/5/2024

In a letter sent today to Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, and Serena Viswanathan, associate director of the FTC's Division of Advertising Practices, representatives from 17 groups, including Consumer Reports, the US PIRG, and iFixit, urged the FTC for "clear guidance" around software tethering. Software tethering, per the letter, is "making functions of a device reliant on embedded software that ties the device back to a manufacturer’s servers.”
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As it stands, the practice is hurting customers with "unfair and deceptive practices," such as suddenly locking features behind a subscription—like the Snoo smart bassinet recently did—or bricking already-purchased devices, which Spotify did with its Car Thing.
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FTC urged to make smart devices say how long they will be supported

ronjor Global Moderator

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FTC urged to make smart devices say how long they will be supported

ronjor Global Moderator

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