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diff --git a/articles/artificial-software-level-lockdowns.md b/articles/artificial-software-level-lockdowns.md index e776c2b..eff58f0 100644 --- a/articles/artificial-software-level-lockdowns.md +++ b/articles/artificial-software-level-lockdowns.md @@ -1,11 +1,17 @@ Artificial software-level lockdowns -While we are facing the problem of right to repair, we are also facing another problem. The software-level lockdowns are also enforced by the manufacturers artificially which also progresses the planned obsolesence of their devices. Such a serious issue is not heavily looked after by the consumers compared to planned obsolesence through irrepairable devices, which can also affect us in the similar manner. +While we are fighting for the right to repair, we are also facing another problem. The software-level lockdowns are also enforced by the manufacturers artificially which also progresses the planned obsolesence of their devices. Such a serious issue is not heavily looked after by the consumers compared to planned obsolesence through irrepairable devices, which can also affect us in the similar manner. ### Explanation of the term -The term basically signifies the practise endorced by the tech companies to artifically nerf the capabilities of the hardware of the devices by software. This means either not allowing the software such as [operating systems to not run on perfectly capable hardwares](https://www.tomsguide.com/news/what-is-a-tpm-and-heres-why-you-need-it-for-windows-11) which is not "approved" by the company who made the software, [providing updates which make the devices worse in terms of functionality](https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/apple-accused-of-deliberately-slowing-down-iphones-with-new-ios-updates-1830419-2021-07-20), [not allowing the consumers to do any sort of modification with their devices](https://9to5google.com/2021/08/24/galaxy-z-fold-3-disables-all-cameras-while-the-bootloader-is-unlocked/), [manufacturers not providing the source codes they use on their softwares which contains license that explicitly says to provide it to the public](https://www.xda-developers.com/mediatek-source-code-release-no-plans/) and much more. +The term basically signifies the practises endorced by the tech companies to artifically nerf the capabilities of the hardware of the devices by software. This means either not allowing the software such as [operating systems to not run on perfectly capable hardwares](https://www.tomsguide.com/news/what-is-a-tpm-and-heres-why-you-need-it-for-windows-11) which is not "approved" by the company who made the software, [providing updates which make the devices worse in terms of functionality](https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/apple-accused-of-deliberately-slowing-down-iphones-with-new-ios-updates-1830419-2021-07-20), [not allowing the consumers to do any sort of modification with their devices](https://9to5google.com/2021/08/24/galaxy-z-fold-3-disables-all-cameras-while-the-bootloader-is-unlocked/), [deliberately bricking the device](https://www.carscoops.com/2022/07/tesla-remotely-disabled-80-miles-of-range-from-customers-car-demanding-4500-backtracks-when-the-web-finds-out/) and much more. ### The seriousness of the issue -By these tactics, the tech companies ensure that you don't actually own the product that you paid for by not having full control over it, but instead they make you to be dependent on them for the lifespan of your devices. +By these tactics, the tech companies ensure that you don't actually own the product that you paid for by not having full control over it, but instead making you to be dependent on them for the lifespan of your devices. Hence even if you paid for a new phone, you don't have control for how long you want to use it as the manufacturers can even render it unusable way before its actual lifespan at their own will. And by disallowing any sort of modifications on the device, the consumer has no way to utilize it beyond its lifecycle given by the manufacturer even if it is still capable to get utilized beyond it. +The consequences of these is similar to irrepairable devices, such as generation of ewaste, forcing consumer to buy a product they don't want to, etc. + +### The solution + +While enforcing the laws to make these companies to be less anti-consumer may seem like a good idea at the first glance, it still won't fully fix the problems as they can either try to find the loophole of the laws, follow the laws in half-hearted way which does very doesn't actually benifit the consumers or outright being prepared to pay the fines for not following the laws without any real consequences being faced. +The real solution however, is to have a healthy competition in the market. For example, newer companies like [Framework](https://frame.work/) provide options to consumers to have an more open, repairable hardwares which doesn't suffer from the issues the typical counterpart from an anti-consumer company would face. Not only these companies prove that it is possible to deliver devices which are repairable and open in the modern age but also forcing other pre-existing companies to follow the similar suit in order to remain competitive in the market. |