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Smart gadgets’ failure to commit to software support could be illegal, FTC warns
“When we don’t own what we buy, everything becomes disposable…”…
Makers of smart devices that fail to disclose how long they will support their products with software updates may be breaking the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned this week. Speaking to Ars Technica in September, Lucas Gutterman, the Designed to Last campaign director with the US PIRG Education Fund and one of the letter's signatories, expressed optimism that the FTC would get involved, like when it acted against Harley-Davidson in 2022, saying that it was using warranty policies to limit customers right' to repair illegally, or when it investigated the 2016 shutdown of Nest Labs' Revolv Smart Home Hub. As more devices join the Internet of Things, the risk of consumers falling victim to flashy marketing that promises convenient features that could be ripped away through lack of software support becomes more concerning.
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