A group of activists has filed an appeal with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requesting a ban on manufacturers using software to limit product functionality, disable devices after support termination, or add hidden payments post-purchase.
In the letter sent to the FTC, activists provided examples of these practices. One example involved Google and Levi’s collaboration on a denim jacket with sensors that could control Android devices through a dedicated app. After the app support was discontinued in 2023, the jacket lost its functionality.
The letter also cited Spotify’s Car Thing device, an entertainment system for cars that became inoperable less than two years after release without any refunds for users.
Another case mentioned in the letter was the Happiest Baby’s smart cot called Snoo, priced at $1695. When a child outgrows the crib, it is typically resold or passed on to others. However, in 2023, the company informed customers that the new owner would have to pay a $19.99 monthly subscription to access essential features, significantly reducing the device’s resale value.
The letter was endorsed by organizations like Consumer Reports, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), iFixit, and Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC), along with environmentalists and computer repair shops. The letter urged the FTC to establish clear guidelines prohibiting manufacturers from disabling functions on devices owned by users, a practice termed “software tethering” by activists.
The letter stressed the need for a unified standard for consumers to understand what to expect when purchasing a connected device. Consumers often face devices that stop working because companies cease support without warning, creating a growing issue as manufacturers alter support and update policies, leaving users with non-functional devices.
Consumers are also frequently inconvenienced by connected devices losing support or features, rendering the products unusable. These software limitations also hinder device resale, with some functions unavailable to new owners or manufacturers remotely deactivating devices, impacting secondary buyers.
This marks the first petition by public organizations to the FTC seeking assistance in addressing this issue. Notably, the practice of discontinuing old devices is not exclusive to household appliance manufacturers, as seen with Cisco advising customers to discard unsupported equipment that could compromise security.