Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Article suggestions

2026-01-09T02:20:20Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

This page is dedicated towards providing a communal list for users to submit potential articles to feature on the wiki, and to give editors inspiration on what pages they might want to add to the wiki. If you create an article based on an entry from this list, or see that someone else has done so, please make sure to delete the row from this page in order to prevent confusion.

Sources should be inserted within the 'refs' section of the table. If using the visual editor, take advantage of '<nowiki/>'''insert reference'''<nowiki/>' via ''''ctrl + shift + k'''<nowiki/>' so that the sources are quick to add to future articles. If you are using the source editor, feel free to copy and paste the formatting from other correctly formatted references on the page. The more sources you include with an article idea, the more likely it is that others will pick the article idea up and run with it, so please attempt to include a good variety of descriptive sources!

Please take note of the wiki's [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Inclusion guidelines|Inclusion criteria]] when submitting article suggestions. If you see article suggestions here which do not fit the Wiki, feel free to remove them, leaving your reasoning in an edit note.

If you are an editor looking for further inspiration to write an article, you can also check out the [[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory|Louis Rossmann video directory]] for a good collection of potential articles.

==Example==
Below is an example of what an entry should appear as:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|[[Nintendo]]
|In 2025, the company Nintendo stripped Switch 2 consoles that used the MIG switch cartridge of all online functionality
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3q0mg |archive-date=29 Jun 2025 |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game “backups” |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mjErE |archive-date=18 Jun 2025 |access-date=Jun 19, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|}

==List of incidents not yet covered==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|[[ABC Financial Services]]
|Manages memberships and recurring service subscriptions for other companies. Prevents customers from being able to cancel a service by locking them into a never-ending cycle of auto renewals, and not allowing the customer to opt out of auto renewal.
|-
|Affinity / Canva
|Canva purchases Serif; the owner of perpetual license design software Affinity Publisher, Designer, and Photo on March 26th 2024. Provides a pledge to assure users that Canva will not "ruin" the suite. In October 2025, Affinity users are locked out of the community forum for a new "Creative Freedom" announcement on October 30th 2025. Complete radio silence for a whole month while they tease long term users on Twitter and Discord. Finally on October 30th 2025, the new Affinity software is announced as "free". Instead, all creative professionals that used the original software are forced to create a new Canva account to access the new Affinity and thus agree to Canva's ToS<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-30 |title=Canva Terms of Use |url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/dMkbz |archive-date=28 Dec 2025 |website=Canva Legal Trust Center}}</ref>. Affinity redirects the pledge page to an announcement for the new software, effectively burying the original pledge<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge |url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ |archive-date=2025-10-02 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref>. Questions about Canva now being able to monetize the work of professionals to train their own AI models sold to Canva users are left unanswered. Free, but at what cost?
EDIT: Initial article has been written but needs more work, citation, and verification. [[Canva adds arbitration clause for future Affinity Studio users|See this article here]].
|<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />
|-
|[[Apple]]
|$17 000 Apple Watch 18 karat gold edition out of support only 8 years after its introduction (not end of sale!). This means no software support, and, crucially, no repair or replacement parts. If the battery dies, the watch is but a paperweight.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple will no longer fix the $17,000 gold Apple Watch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/2/23900158/apple-watch-edition-gold-2015-obsolete-unsupported-beyonce |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/n5uiO |archive-date=2 Oct 2023 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
|-
|Apple, Beats
|No support for Powerbeats (4th generation) despite the headphones being under 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale. The product is not listed as discontinued or vintage, and by Apple's own guidelines, should be eligible for replacement parts and repair. OEM replacement eartips cannot be purchased for any Beats earphones.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/daPkU |archive-date=20 Sep 2025 |access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Beats Repair and Service |url=https://support.apple.com/beats/repair |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BRUpE |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple store search for eartips |url=https://www.apple.com/us/search/eartips?src=alp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/k04XP |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref>
|-
|Atlassian
|Users forced from on-premise to cloud only subscriptions
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ascend to the cloud: The next chapter for Atlassian and our customers |url=https://www.atlassian.com/blog/announcements/atlassian-ascend |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/1aKhy |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Axon]]
|Tazers sold with lease agreement that makes purchase effectively a subscription.
|[https://norwoodrecord.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/4/8/114832579/norwood_record_pages_1_to_12__4sep2025.pdf <nowiki>[69]</nowiki>]
|-
|[[Chat control]]
|[[wikipedia:Regulation_to_Prevent_and_Combat_Child_Sexual_Abuse|Wikipedia]]. Notice how the "official" name just specifies the "purpose" but not the what or the how
|
|-
|[[Cloudary Holdings Limited / Webnovel]]
|Terms of service with binding Arbitration.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Webnovel ToS |url=https://www.webnovel.com/terms_of_service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0eNBo |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|-
|Devolo
|Devolo switches off servers and removes their app from stores for their "Home Control" system, thus severely reducing the functionality of their devices (apparently Z-Wave-based).
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=IT-News für Profis |url=https://www.golem.de/news/weiterbetrieb-verursacht-weitere-kosten-devolo-macht-smart-home-system-zum-grossteil-unbrauchbar-2508-199409.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/hclnK |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=Golem |language=de}}</ref>
|-
|Dell and HP
|HP and Dell have disabled HEVC hardware encoding and ecoding support built into their laptops’ CPUs using both Intel and AMD processors.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2025-11-21 |title=HP and Dell disable HEVC support built into their laptops’ CPUs |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/hp-and-dell-disable-hevc-support-built-into-their-laptops-cpus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251121083438/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/hp-and-dell-disable-hevc-support-built-into-their-laptops-cpus/ |archive-date=2025-11-21 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|-
|E621
|Terms of service that require agreement to forced arbitration to use the website.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-02 |title=E621 |url=https://e621.net/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/aumS8 |archive-date=26 Dec 2025 |website=E621}}</ref>
|-
|EcoVac
|Vacuum cleaner robots produced by company 'EcoVac' were found vulnerable to hacking over bluetooth allowing for remote control and access to camera feed. Security researcher Dennis Giese notified the company in December of 2023. In August of 2024, the issue was described by the company as "extremely rare in typical user environments and require specialized hacking tools and physical access to the device."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fell |first=Julian |date=2024-10-04 |title=We hacked a robot vacuum — and could watch live through its camera - ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-04/robot-vacuum-hacked-photos-camera-audio/104414020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/M7dfg |archive-date=4 Oct 2024 |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-09 |title=Ecovacs home robots can be hacked to spy on their owners, researchers say {{!}} TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/09/ecovacs-home-robots-can-be-hacked-to-spy-on-their-owners-researchers-say/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/tFdoZ |archive-date=10 Aug 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-15 |title=Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai on X: "Finally, Ecovacs responds to the researchers' findings, saying it won't fix the bugs. |url=https://x.com/lorenzofb/status/1823774980460388675 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/v02cw |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Elegoo Centauri Carbon|Elegoo]]
|The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3d printer has been proven to use open source Klipper software which requires them to publish their changes to the code.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-28 |title=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance |url=https://freethecode.lol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/q13z3 |archive-date=31 Aug 2025 |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance}}</ref>
|-
|Foxit Reader
|Updater uses dark pattern to trick unsuspecting users into installing a trial version of their paid product. The checkbox is enabled again by default with each update in the hope that the user misses it by accident at some point.
|
|-
|[[Google]]
|The shutdown of game streaming service Google Stadia on Jan 19th 2023 happened relatively gracefully, with remaining subscriptions refunded and further purchases made impossible. Controllers bought by consumers were offered a conversion process that repurposed them for use as generic Bluetooth game controllers, although the official conversion method at this time is actively provided by Google in form of a webpage and cannot be archived from that state, and on top of that only works in Chrome; at the time of writing the conversion page is expected to remain until December 31st 2025, and this is the date set by a second deadline extension. No official archivable means of conversion are offered at this time.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thank you for playing with us. Stadia was shut down on January 18, 2023. |url=https://stadia.google.com/gg/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/PJTbh |archive-date=22 Oct 2025 |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=Stadia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-08 |title=Stadia Announcement FAQ |url=https://support.google.com/stadia/answer/12790109 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Ze8R4 |archive-date=13 Feb 2025 |website=Stadia Help}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mustafa |first=Mahmoud |date=2024-12-10 |title=You now have one extra year to update your Stadia Controller’s firmware |url=https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mustafa-mahmoud/you-now-have-one-extra-year-to-update-your-stadia-controllers-firmware/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WDuGn |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=KitGuru.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stadia Bluetooth mode |url=https://stadia.google.com/controller/index_en_GB.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/URgwp |archive-date=25 May 2024 |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=Stadia}}</ref>
|-
|[[Google Chromecast]]
|Chromecast has transitioned from a standalone product to one that requires the Google Home app for setup and control. This change prevents customers who either don't own a smartphone or prefer not to use the app from accessing their Chromecast devices. As a result, certain televisions—such as the Caixon EC43S1UA, which relied on built-in Chromecast functionality—can no longer be used as intended. This effectively removes a key feature from a product that was already purchased, diminishing its value or rendering it unusable altogether.
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|-
|Google TLS Changes
|Google's new requirements to certificate authorities require separate authority/signing chains to be used to issue Server Authentication and Client Authentication certificates. Therefore, starting 11 February 2026, Let's Encrypt will no longer include the Client Authentication EKU on default certificates
|
|-
|Google
|Google apparently plans to reduce the interval of publishing source code of security patches they consider non-critical. This is another blow to the custom ROM community.
Right now we don't have these incidents organised chronologically, maybe we should have a table with a timeline of measures Google takes to enshittify and close down Android (more APIs moved to Play Services, Developer verification, withholding AOSP device trees for Pixel devices to mess with Graphene OS, now delayed source code disclosure). What's worst, they always cite safety as a reason.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Google wants to make Android phones safer by switching to ‘risk-based’ security updates |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-url=https://archive.ph/XOCvC |archive-date=13 Oct 2025}}</ref>
|-
|Google, Mozilla, Apple, Microsoft, but largely Google-led
|Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari are removing XSLT 1.0 support, which could break critical parts of government's websites worldwide<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dimant |first=Dimitrii "Mamut" |date=2025-08-10 |title=XSLT removal will break multiple government and regulatory sites across the world #11582 |url=https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11582 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wGSr6 |archive-date=21 Aug 2025 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=Github (specifically the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group's HTML standards repo, controlled by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft and Apple)}}</ref>. There are valid security reasons for them to want to stop supporting this 1999-era standard, however they have had 26+ years to update to a newer standard (such as the 2017-era 3.1 standard, which is backwards compatible and would allow these sites to continue to work<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-21 |title="XML Path Language (XPath) 3.1: W3C Recommendation 21 March 2017" |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath-31/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/LhLaf |archive-date=1 Nov 2014 |website=W3C}}</ref>). The single unpaid developer maintaining these libraries has more or less retired after getting flooded with impossible to satisfy security requests from these companies<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wellnhoffer |first=Nick |date=2025-05-08 |title=Triaging security issues reported by third parties |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/issues/913 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/xDHrA |archive-date=19 Nov 2025 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>. There is an existing project called XRUST to implement the 3.1 standard<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-09 |title=XRust: XPath, XQuery, and XSLT for Rust |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Rust/markup-rs/xrust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Ta06Q |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>, which is 2/3rds of the way through supporting all the features of 1.0 - the XSLT part fully supports all the 1.0 features at this point. XSLT is part of the W3C Consortium's open web standards for formatting and presenting XML, and is also how RSS works, so RSS feeds would stop working as well, disrupting the livelihoods of podcasters<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rijo |first=Luis |date=2025-08-20 |title=Google targets RSS feeds in new XSLT removal proposal |url=https://ppc.land/google-targets-rss-feeds-in-new-xslt-removal-proposal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DFzJ4 |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=PPC-Land}}</ref>. This has led to questions of who owns the web - the public (including the government) who paid for and laid down the highways / web infrastructure - or a handful of large corporations? <ref>{{Cite web |last=Branscombe |first=Mary |date=2025-09-01 |title=XSLT Debate Leads to Bigger Questions of Web Governance |url=https://thenewstack.io/xslt-debate-leads-to-bigger-questions-of-web-governance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/K86A2 |archive-date=2 Sep 2025 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=The New Stack}}</ref>
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|-
|[[GoPro]] Hero 12
|GoPro Hero 12 requires the GoPro app to be installed before you can use the camera. Many currently used devices are not compatible with the app, therefore making use of the camera difficult to impossible for new owners or upon camera factory reset. There's also the question of what data the app collects and whether it requires login and or camera activation.
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|[[H&R Block]]
|Marketing paid products as free, deleting users' tax data upon downgrading to free versions, and forcing users to contact support to get access to the free version of the tax filing software. FTC alleges coercive and obstructive techniques are used to make users pay for services they don't need as well.
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|-
|[[Hikvision]]
|Chinese surveillance camera manufacturer complicit in Uighur genocide which used to advertise recognition of praying and ramadan fasting among its selling points. Similarly to [[Flock license plate readers|Flock]], they are in use world wide and likely feed directly into the Chinese government's surveillance infrastructure and could conceivably be used to find dissidents world-wide. Recently, [https://netzpolitik.org/2025/hikvision-hersteller-der-hamburger-ki-ueberwachungskameras-ist-fuer-menschenrechtsverletzungen-bekannt/ the city of Hamburg has installed them] ([https://netzpolitik-org.translate.goog/2025/hikvision-hersteller-der-hamburger-ki-ueberwachungskameras-ist-fuer-menschenrechtsverletzungen-bekannt/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp Google Translate Version in English]).
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|[[Internet radios]]
|I'd like a page where I can share information about internet radios "openness." Few allow you to enter a radio station's URL (which I would consider the least intrusive option). Most depend on third-party websites or apps; [https://www.sangean.com/uk/blog/149 some of which have already bricked devices].
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|[[IPVideo Corporation]] (owned by [[Motorola]])
|Manufacturer of surveillance hardware. The notable example that brought them to my attention is the Halo 3C/3C-PC Smart Sensor, which is deployed in places such as school bathrooms and subsidized/social housing. This system has a variety of sensors on it, from air quality ones (for detecting smoking/vape usage) all the way to microphones (ostensibly for audio analysis to identify aggression and gunshots, without the capability to stream the audio elsewhere, but this not a limitation built into the hardware and could be changed by a firmware update).
|<ref>{{Cite_web |last=Reynaldo |last2=nyx |name-list-style=amp |date=2025-10-10 |title=DEF CON 33 - Unmasking the Snitch Puck: IoT surveillance tech in the school bathroom |url=https://youtu.be/WCnojaEpF2I |publisher=DEF CON}}</ref><ref>{{Cite_web |access-date=2025-10-26 |url=https://www.pelco.com/sensors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250922000017/https://www.pelco.com/sensors |archive-date=2025-09-22 |title=HALO Smart Sensor Suite |website=PELCO}}</ref>
|-
|[[itch.io]], [[Night School Studios]], [[Netflix]]
|In September 2024, users who purchased Oxenfree on itch.io were warned that the game was going to be pulled from the platform on October 1st. Consumers would not be able to download the installers after this date, so they would lose access unless they had them backed up. Users speculated that Netflix, the parent company of the development studio, had ordered the move; however, no response from Netflix or the developers was ever published. This is particularly notable because it is against itch.io's terms of service: "Users shall retain a license to this content even after the content is removed from the Service."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=itch corp |date=15 Apr 2023 |title=itch.io Terms of Service |url=https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907004719/https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |archive-date=7 Sep 2024 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=itch.io}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=ShawnS |date=31 Jan 2025 |title=OXENFREE |url=https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321070400/https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=9 Sep 2024 |title=Another reminder that your digital library isn't forever: Oxenfree will be completely removed from Itch.io next month |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523111125/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |archive-date=23 May 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>
|-
|[[The Japan Times|Japan Times, The]]
|The Japan Times uses DMCA to take down an open source study resource for Genki and Quartet workbooks.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clydesdale |first=Seth |date=2025-09-11 |title=Important Information Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Important-Information-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-D1D21L4B1S |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/C7iZH |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Update Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources DMCA Situation |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Update-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-Study-Resources-Y8Y21M1F5E |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AqwPB |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=All Exercises for Genki/Quartet Study Resources Have Been Removed |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/All-Exercises-for-GenkiQuartet-Study-Resources-Wi-R6R81M8LLN |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Xm44R |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref>
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|LBRY Foundation, Odysee
|Community first decentralization & Odysseys plan to enable censorship by switching away from the opensource LBRY network.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The LBRY Foundation |url=https://lbry.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/SUzBN |archive-date=4 Sep 2019 |access-date=2025-08-08 |quote=The LBRY community invites everyone to join us in building a more free and open way to share content and information online.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Watson |first=RT |date=6 Jun 2024 |title=Decentralized YouTube alternative Odysee acquired by Forward Research despite content concerns |url=https://www.theblock.co/post/298888/decentralized-youtube-alternative-odysee-acquired-by-forward-research-despite-content-concerns |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/CL4UK |archive-date=28 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |work=The Block}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Li |first=Jun |last2=Grintsvayg |first2=Alex |last3=Kauffman |first3=Jeremy |last4=Fleming |first4=Charles |date=2020 |title=LBRY: A Blockchain-Based Decentralized Digital Content Marketplace |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9126007 |journal=2020 IEEE International Conference on Decentralized Applications and Infrastructures (DAPPS) |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=IEEE |doi=10.1109/DAPPS49028.2020.00005 |isbn=978-1-7281-6978-1 |via=IEEE Xplore}}</ref>
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|LG
|LG discontinued its LG Bluetooth Remote app (including plugins such as "btc4") making it non-public on the Play Store and making Bluetooth controllable devices (like for example the CM2630B) half as useful, without even publishing neither the protocol used to control such devices nor the source code of the app.
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|[[Lowe's]]
|Lowe's uses flock cameras and other AI powered cameras to collect data and build a profile on "prospective, current, or former Lowe's customers". Their cameras point away from their stores.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |date=6 Aug 2025 |title=Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data From Hundreds of AI Cameras With Cops |url=https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/n6mTn |archive-date=7 Aug 2025 |access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=404 Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Lowe’s U.S. Privacy Statement |url=https://www.lowes.com/l/about/privacy-and-security-statement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eGh91 |archive-date=5 Aug 2025 |access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=Lowe's}}</ref>
|-
|McDonald's/Taylor
|McDonald's US mandates which ice cream machine has to be used by franchise licensees. The company that makes these machines uses deliberately obfuscated error codes to force restaurant owners to use their expensive tech service to fix them and reset the machines. The company makes more money from these "repairs" support than with actual sales. Not strictly end consumer, but the pattern warrants documenting imo.
A similar problem exists with Doremi (Dolby) cinema projectors where their DRM leads to a ridiculous number of actions breaking the so-called "marriage" (projector-media block unity), requiring a costly technician to reset it. This one needs sources researched, though, as I don't have one on hand.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why McDonald's Ice Cream Machines Are Always Broken and How To Fix Them |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uCpY3tFTIA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IaCBe |archive-date=29 Aug 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[Meta]]/[[Facebook]], [[Yandex]]
|Automatic opt-in of user-generated content being used for the purposes of training AI.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borgesius |first=Frederik |date=Apr 24, 2025 |title=Post on akademienl.social |url=https://akademienl.social/@Frederik_Borgesius/114392662340468118 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vubno |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |website=akademienl.social}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=Apr 24, 2025 |title=AP: kom nu in actie als je niet wil dat Meta AI traint met jouw data |url=https://autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl/actueel/ap-kom-nu-in-actie-als-je-niet-wil-dat-meta-ai-traint-met-jouw-data |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ekCRd |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl}}</ref>
|-
|[[Meta]]/[[Instagram]]/[[Meta|Facebook]]
|If a user is detected to having suspicious activity, their account will be locked until they send selfie verification. This is said to be done in order to detect robots, minors, or accounts no longer controlled by its original owner. During selfie verification, the user will be instructed to slowly turn their head for the camera. The data may be sent to a third party to estimate the users age, scanned for the liveliness and biometrics, or compared to the users profile picture depending on the suspected issue. The data will be deleted once examined, which may take around a minute. Users have raised concerns on the privacy, safety, and honesty of the cooperations actions.
|[https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/1jcrhnb/comment/mrsbzlp/?force-legacy-sct=1]
[https://help.instagram.com/1053588012132894]
[https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-looks-to-expand-video-selfie-age-checking-abide-by-new-laws/753281/]
[https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/10/upload-a-video-selfie-to-get-your-facebook-or-instagram-account-back]
|-
|[[Meta]]/[[WhatsApp]]
|In a new lawsuit, an ex-engineer alleges that 1500 engineers had unrestricted access to WhatsApp user data and that the company "failed to remedy the hacking and takeover of more than 100,000 accounts each day, ignoring his pleas and proposed fixes and choosing instead to prioritize user growth". (ongoing)
|[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/08/meta-user-data-lawsuit-whatsapp]
|-
|[[Meta]]
|A Reuters article revealed that Meta deliberately avoided cracking down on fraudulent ads, even going as far as disbanding the relevant team, because they make a substantial amount of money from said ads (10.1% of its revenue).
|[https://www.reuters.com/investigations/meta-is-earning-fortune-deluge-fraudulent-ads-documents-show-2025-11-06/]
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Microsoft uses software engineers based in China to work on US Defense Department systems with laughably ineffective precautions. I think this is relevant in the context of Microsoft's attitude towards cloud security. In the past, master keys have been stolen by Chinese hackers and from my understanding, it's not even clear to what extent those groups still have access to Microsoft's internal systems, and by extension, Microsoft customers'. This needs more research though.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dudley |first=Renee |date=2025-07-15 |title=A Little-Known Microsoft Program Could Expose the Defense Department to Chinese Hackers |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/microsoft-digital-escorts-pentagon-defense-department-china-hackers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/nbGhM |archive-date=1 Aug 2025 |website=ProRepublica}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft Windows 11]]
|The Windows 11 Bing Wallpaper app, which offers regularly changing desktop wallpapers, opens bing.com at every single click onto the desktop and tries to make bing.com the default search engine during launch. This is the latest step in a series of invasive actions to get Windows users to use Bing and Edge.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Oct 2025 |title=Windows 11’s Bing Wallpaper app opens <nowiki>Bing.com</nowiki> if you click anywhere on the desktop |url=https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/10/26/windows-11s-bing-wallpaper-app-opens-bing-com-if-you-click-anywhere-on-the-desktop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/nQ3K5 |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=Windows Latest}}</ref>
|-
|[[Mitsubishi Motors]]
|Mitsubishi Motors has a rich history of consumer protection, compliance issues and privacy breaches. These include concealing safety defects, falsifying fuel economy data, and being fined for false advertising. Following the trend of subscription services for the automotive industry, Mitsubishi paywalls built-in features including remote start, SOS, collision detection, and car tracking through its app Mitsubishi Connect subscription service.
|[https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mitsubishi-fined-42-million-by-japans-consumer-affairs-agency-115026.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com] [https://leakd.com/leaks/mitsubishi-motors-vietnam-customer-data-breached/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Motors?utm_source=chatgpt.com] [https://violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/?order=pen_year&parent=mitsubishi-motors&sort=&utm_source=chatgpt.com][https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/newsroom/newsrelease/2017/20171129_3.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
|-
|Navdy, Harman International
|Device discontinued and no updates, device can be used offline for 1 year until it stops working.
https://www.reddit.com/r/navdy/
|
|-
|Nothing
|Nothing brings home-screen ads (can be disabled manually) and bloatware to its lower end models despite previously boasting about being bloatware free
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Floemer |first=Andreas |date=2025-10-27 |title=Phone 3a: NothingOS 4.0 brings optional ads to the lock screen |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Phone-3a-NothingOS-4-0-brings-optional-ads-to-the-lock-screen-10904033.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vATHV |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>
|-
|OICA (European automotive lobby organisation)
|The OICA recently pushed for the right to emit sounds from quiet electric cars to make them as loud as conventional cars with combustion engine and against stricter noise regulation in cities. The fake engine noises in question are specifically not for safety purposes, but for emotional effect for the driver. However, instead of playing the noises only inside for just the driver to hear, the noise is to be played on speakers on the exterior, thus affecting the general public. Noise pollution has long been known to have adverse health effects. ''[NOTE: Similar to environmental aspects, greenwashing etc., we will have to find a good angle for how this fits the wiki. I would say it does match the general theme of manufacturers deliberately making their products worse for minor financial gain and lobbies pushing against things that are in public interest.]''
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=2026-01-07 |title=Sound Dictatorship vs. Quiet: The Battle for E-Car Roar |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ZxlXG |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2026-01-08 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>
|-
|[[Qualcomm]]
|After acquisition of Arduino, Qualcomm changed terms of use and privacy policy. They introduce an irrevocable, perpetual license over anything users upload, broad surveillance-style monitoring of AI features, a clause preventing users from identifying potential patent infringement, years-long retention of usernames after account deletion, and the integration of all user data (including minors) into Qualcomm’s global data ecosystem.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-21 |title=EEVblog 1721 - RIP Arduino (New T&C Deep Dive) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO7hdxyCNCA |url-status=live |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-29 |title=Terms and Conditions |url=https://www.arduino.cc/en/terms-conditions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AnRQL |archive-date=18 Nov 2025 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=Arduino}}</ref>
|-
|[https://www.skystone.games/ Skystone Games]
|Boundary, a multiplayer online-only first-person shooter, got shut down just a year after its release by Skystone games, and its publishing rights relinquished, citing "ongoing delays and a lack of updates from the developer". Studio Surgical Scalpels (the developer) stated that the publisher decissions were "extremely sudden and unreasonable", and attempted to "regain the rights to boundary". The game has been offline for more than a year at the time of writing, and no refunds or communications to the userbase has been made by Skystone Games.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Boundary - End of service notice |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Steam}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Boundary Shut Down: Who's to Blame? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Slack]]
|Slack threatened to deactivate the Slack workspace and delete all message history of a nonprofit unless they agreed to a price hike of $200k yearly and also pay an extra $50k within a week. There were no prior warnings from Slack. A few years prior to this incident, they had agreed to migrate from the free nonprofit plan to a $5k per year plan.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-18 |title=Slack is extorting us with a $195k/yr bill increase |url=https://skyfall.dev/posts/slack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930075808/https://skyfall.dev/posts/slack |archive-date=2025-09-30}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sony]], Sony Online Entertainment/[[Daybreak Game Company]]
|Selling off SOE to the investment firm Columbus Nova, all games published by SOE were delisted without prior notice to consumers or developers, and licenses were revoked as well.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Shawn |date=Jun 10, 2016 |title=Akimi Village |url=https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/LvMtA |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Rachel |date=Feb 2, 2015 |title=SOE acquired, becomes Daybreak Game Company |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |work=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>
|-
|[[Superbox]]
|Android TV box manufacturer Superbox remotely locks consumers' devices if they were sold below the manufacturer's minimum specified prices and asks consumers to contact the retailer when they complain.
They are not the first to do something like this. [[Deye]] locked down inverters in the US that they suspected might be gray imports.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=You'll Own Nothing and Be Happy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5-rAyFQrk |website=YouTube |type=Video}}</ref>
|-
|UP3 By [[Jawbone]]
|Approximately 2011, Pioneering startup company from San Francisco, had revolutionary fitness trackers. In 2017 with no notice to customers they stole personal data and shut down app which in turn, bricked devices. Highly likely went bankrupt and sold to sister company to manipulate customer services and rights. Now owned by Aliph brands.
|
|-
|Vive
|In 2022, Vive discontinued the original Vive Facial Tracker module a year after the original release, then released an updated model with proprietary firmware that blocked use on other 3rd party VR headset, while only allowing the new model to work with their new locked-down headset. The 2021 version of the face tracker's long term support was seemingly cut overnight without any software updates since 2021.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vive Team |date=2022-08-07 |title=VIVE Focus 3 gets Facial Tracker, and Eye Tracker |url=https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619155201/https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |archive-date=2025-06-19 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Vive Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=StateKi |date=2023-10-10 |title=Post by StatekTi on X |url=https://x.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DiYbF |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=X (Formerly Twitter)}}</ref>
|-
|Wheatstone Corporation
|Wheatstone Corporation are a manufacturer of professional broadcast equipment, mainly audio consoles and interfaces that utilise their proprietary Wheatnet audio over IP protocol.
Wheatstone restricts access to firmware updates, software configuration tools and software. You must open a support ticked in order for them to send you a download link to these software tools, they make it very difficult to access software required to make their hardware audio interfaces work, even stating they want proof of purchase (not just a licence key) before they will even give you the download link. Managing licences is also non-existent and you will need to contact support, and as such a fee is imposed.
|
|-
|[[Wireless Power Consortium]]
|After monopolizing wireless charging market Qi turned from an open standard into a proprietary.
Version 1.3 introduced "secure authentication between the transmitter and the receiver", i.e. in order to operate every charger must include an expensive proprietary chip licensed only to certified members. This results in increased development and manufacturing costs directly passed onto consumer. Version 2.2, unlike previous versions, "is available for WPC Members only".
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qi Certification Is Changing and We've Got You Covered |url=https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/smarter-world-blog/BL-QI-CERTIFICATION-IS-CHANGING |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/C8IUW |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=NXP Semiconductors}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download the Qi Specifications |url=https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/knowledge-base/specifications/download-the-qi-specifications/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7dEYk |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=Wireless Power Consortium}}</ref>
|-
|Wolfgang Puck, Bread maker
|Some of the bread makers have anti repair screws in them to prevent people from repairing them themselves. Needs more citations.
|
|-
|[[World Orb]]
|World Network (Sam Altman/Open AI) scheme to collect biometric data on all people. Tied to cryptocurrency, AI schemes. Supposedly way for people to show they are human (run by the people who are trying to make a profit from AI).
|
|-
|'''Arduino''' (/ɑːrˈdwiːnoʊ/) is an Italian open-source hardware and software company owned by Qualcomm
|Arduino’s new terms of service worries hobbyists ahead of Qualcomm acquisition.
User shall not:

*translate, decompile or reverse-engineer the Platform, or engage in any other activity designed to identify the algorithms and logic of the Platform’s operation, unless expressly allowed by Arduino or by applicable license agreements …
|
|}

==List of themes not yet covered==
Consumer Rights Wiki is not an encyclopedia.

*Before proposing or making a theme article, see if you can find an article that covers the topic on wikipedia, or some other reference. If you can, just use a reference to that.
*Check the list of theme articles [[:Category:common terms]], to be sure there isn't already an article on the topic, or one closely related. Sometimes a theme may be covered by generalizing an existing article.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Theme
!Summary of Theme
!Refs
|-
|Legal Bullying
|There are increasing instances of companies using lawyers to silence product reviewers and other content creators by sending Cease & Desist letters to threaten and intimidate, and sometimes actually filing lawsuits against creators because they shared an opinion or exposed a flaw that makes the company look bad.
Rationale for inclusion on this Wiki: Honest product reviews serve to protect consumers from companies who manipulate and lie to customers about the quality, source, and real-world applicability of their products. Using lawyers to silence dissent directly hurts both content creators and consumers.
I believe Louis has covered or mentioned each of these Refs in his videos.
|<ref>{{cite_web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuDIMztL9OU}}</ref> <ref>{{cite_web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItSrtE-GHCc}}</ref> <ref>{{cite_web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STcKvMuYdf4}}</ref>
|}

==List of companies doing the right thing==
It would be helpful to include examples of companies doing the right thing, even if they aren't, strictly speaking, consumer products.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Good deed
!Refs
|-
|Tektronix
|Provided extensive product data on unsupported products to a museum, vintageTEK, and thus to tekwiki and the rest of the community.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lenihan |first=Thomas F. |date=2012-02-28 |title=Copyright Notice |url=https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828004431/https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |archive-date=2025-08-28 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=vintageTEK museum}}</ref>
|-
|Ulanzi
|The company offers a tutorial on how users can mix their own fog juice to use with Ulanzi mini fog machines from readily available low-cost ingredients, whereas competitors sell proprietary fog juice at extortionate prices, refuse to release the formula and refuse to honour the warranty if users use anything but the OEM brand with their machines.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tutorial {{!}} How to DIY Ulanzi FM01 Fog Machine Juice? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM |type=Video}}</ref>
|-
|APSystems
|After requests from users, the company released a firmware update that adds a local API to their EZ-1M solar micro inverter, allowing it to remain fully usable if the company ends support for the device
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=APsystems EZHI Local API User Manual |url=https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BBj54 |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=global.apsystems.com}}</ref>
|-
|stevesgames.co.uk
|Will never put ads or in-app purchases in their computer games and will make gamees available for free after securing the companys future.
|
|-
|Oral-B
|When installing the Android App, there is no login, and the user is asked for analytics tracking consent.
|
|-
|Core Devices (from creator of Pebble Smartwatches)
|Not strictly Core Devices, but when Pebble was sold to Fitbit, the servers remained online for some time, and the Pebble app was updated to allow the Rebble community project to take over some of the Pebble server-side functionality. All backers of the upcoming Pebble 2 series of watches were refunded in full, despite it being a crowd-funding campaign.
Following Google's acquisition of Fitbit and after many years, Google released much of the Pebble Smart Watch source code on github (excluding proprietary libraries). Core Devices and Rebble replaced the usage of the proprietary libraries with open source alternatives, and released new Android and iOS apps, not only supporting the new core devices, but bringing updated support to legacy Pebble devices.
|
|}

==See Also==

*[[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory]]
*[[Other Channels - Video Directory|Other Channels - VIdeo Directory]]

==Reference List==
<references />
[[Category:Sources]]

Apps deliberately refusing to work on modded devices

2026-01-08T04:33:51Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

Apps running on [[Android]] and potentially other operating systems can detect if the device has been modded and refuse to function if that is the case. This can happen if the device allows the user to run applications as root or administrator, has an unlocked bootloader or runs a different operating system than the one provided by the manufacturer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Apps & Games need PI |url=https://xdaforums.com/t/4677050/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/xgtcn |archive-date=8 Jan 2026 |website=XDA Forums}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Configure API responses |url=https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup#configure-api |website=Google}}</ref>

==How it works==
Some phones and PCs include a [[Trusted computing|Trusted Platform Module]] <ref>{{Cite web |title=Trusted Platform Module |url=http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=pos1R1003970&aid=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803203400/http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=pos1R1003970&aid=1 |archive-date=3 Aug 2016}}</ref>: a chip independent from the device's CPU which can only run software signed by the device manufacturer. This chip allows applications to use a technique called remote attestation to detect if the operating system has been tampered with, and if so will block functionality or refuse to work altogether. If done properly, remote attestation is impossible to spoof, even by the owner of the device.

==Why it is a problem==
The owner of the phone is unable to do the following (while continuing to use applications that block modded devices)

*update the device operating system once it is no longer supported by the device manufacturer
*use alternative operating systems such as Linux or other Android-based operating systems that add new features
*remove all bloatware
*access all data stored on the device

Since many businesses and governments require their customers to download their proprietary application to their phones in order to use their services (see [[Forced app download]]), and many of those applications refuse to work on a modded device, people are left unable to modify their phone as they wish, as they then couldn't interact with those businesses which require or heavily encourage their app.

==Examples==

===Android<ref name=":0" />===
{{Main|Google Play Integrity API}}
*Google Wallet
*VPN by Google for Pixel
*Netflix
*McDonald's App
*Google Messages (RCS does not work when device is modded)
*Uber Driver
*Twitter/X
*Twilio Authy Authenticator
*ChatGPT<ref>{{Cite web |title=PlayIntegrity Verification failed - ChatGPT / Bugs |url=https://community.openai.com/t/1267945 |website=OpenAI Developer Community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Question - ChatGPT error: Preauth Playintegrity verification failed |url=https://xdaforums.com/t/4737618/ |website=XDA Forums}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]

Apple App Store

2026-01-07T23:47:48Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{ToneWarning}}
[[File:App Store (iOS).svg|thumb|150px]]

'''[[Apple]]''' uses a range of technical measures to protect its App Store ecosystem and reduce consumer choice. These measures obscure the company's business intentions, creating roadblocks for app developers and users, while typically citing security reasons for their existence. This actively hinders lawmakers' ability to advocate for the rights of consumers and businesses within Apple's ecosystem and prevents apps from being as useful as their customers expect.

Apple imposes significant barriers to the running of any apps on iOS devices which were not sourced from the App Store, giving it a practical monopoly on app distribution for iOS devices.

A never-ending demand for a cut of every sale of a digital product, ranging from game currency to supporting content creators<ref name="patreon">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Patreon: adding Apple’s 30 percent tax is the price of staying in the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Vi9cV |archive-date=13 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business<ref name="facebook">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Katie |last2=Nellis |first2=Stephen |date=28 Aug 2020 |title=Exclusive: Facebook says Apple rejected its attempt to tell users about App Store fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-apple-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-says-apple-rejected-its-attempt-to-tell-users-about-app-store-fees-idUSKBN25O042/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/9CJDN |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>, hinders app developers from innovating. These developers, working hard and pulling countless hours to build a quality app, always need to take Apple's (and [[Google]]'s) demands into account - specifically, a fee of between 15% and 30% of all revenue collected via the app. This is revenue that can be reinvested in the app; however, it must be earmarked for the platforms they are '''required''' to use to reach their customers.

Because of this, several governments including South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=South Korea approves rules on app store law targeting Apple, Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/q1VQW |archive-date=11 Jan 2023 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Japan forces Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payments |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Jj9BI |archive-date=13 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Register]]}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Competition and Markets Authority |date=4 Mar 2021 |title=Investigation into Apple AppStore |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uZ7A5 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[gov.uk]]}}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2021 |title=Dominance of Apple and Google's app stores impacting competition and consumers |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/dominance-of-apple-and-googles-app-stores-impacting-competition-and-consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Bw3gv |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ACCC]]}}</ref> as well as the US and a handful of US States<ref>[[wikipedia:Open App Markets Act|Open App Markets Act]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=S.5364 - App Store Accountability Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364/text/is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7yPxE |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[congress.gov]]}}</ref><ref name="doj">{{Cite web |last=Balsamo |first=Mike |last2=Liedtke |first2=Mike |last3=Whitehurst |first3=Lindsay |last4=Bajak |first4=Frank |date=21 Mar 2024 |title=Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BB4Zn |archive-date=21 Mar 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[APNews]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Feb 2021 |title=It’s time to free ourselves from ‘Big Tech’ monopoly |url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/02/19/its-time-to-free-ourselves-from-big-tech-monopoly/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/bLDwu |archive-date=23 Feb 2021 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Arizona Capitol Times]]}}</ref> have opened investigations into anti-competitive practices, or considered or already passed legislation to force "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers.

This being a significant threat to Apple's revenue stream (interestingly, one they claim to be unsure is profitable<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=Schiller doesn’t know whether the App Store is profitable; there are no minutes of meetings |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AinvZ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9to5Mac]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9t05Mac]]}}</ref>), they have responded with practices such as geo-blocking certain operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Apple Wiki]]}}</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using careful wording with commonly-understood terms to describe unreasonably difficult-to-use systems.

Unlike traditional software license purchases, Apple's App Store terms tie the license to a specific account, making it impossible for users to resell their licenses secondhand, buy apps secondhand, or inherit a license from a relative.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-10 |title=I can sell my apps? |url=https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5888894 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DelOf |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=Apple Community}}</ref> This system has since been copied by numerous other players in the media and digital goods sector.

==Background info==
Important terms you'll run into in this article:

*'''[[wikipedia:Sandbox (computer security)|Sandbox]]''': Reduces the user's device/data exposure to security risks by reducing what an app is allowed to do.
*'''[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Entitlements Entitlements]''': Apple's method of "poking holes" in the sandbox to give the app more permissions. Some are available to developers, while many are only available to Apple.
*'''[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]''': The European Union's fairly sweeping recent regulations against forcing companies they classify as "gatekeepers" to play nice, giving smaller businesses access to software/hardware features they've historically reserved for their own use.

==In-app purchases==
Apple has been collecting users' credit card numbers since launching the iTunes Store in 2004. The launch of the App Store in 2008, followed by the introduction of in-app purchases (IAPs) in 2009, allowed iPhone app developers to sell app features to users. The IAP system is provided as a developer framework named [https://developer.apple.com/storekit/ StoreKit]. Apps and their in-app purchases are managed through a dashboard named [https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/ App Store Connect]. App sales have eclipsed iTunes Store sales, and are now a primary focus of Apple's Media Services division.

Apple requires that any purchase of a digital good or service within an app use its in-app purchase system. This may seem reasonable because the customer may inevitably call Apple support, demanding a refund for an app they have issues with. Apple would rather provide a refund and leave the customer with a positive support experience than initiate a messy process involving contact with a third party, whose customer service is likely to be of a lower quality.

App Store purchase fees range from 15% to 30%. In September 2016, Apple expanded subscriptions to be available for any type of app, also introducing a 15% discount incentive for users who had already subscribed for a year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goode |first=Lauren |date=2 Sep 2016 |title=Apple’s new subscription offerings are now available to App Store developers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12774758/apple-developers-app-store-new-subscription-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KmJCn |archive-date=7 Jan 202 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> In November 2020, Apple introduced a reduced 15% fee for app developers with annual revenue below $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centers |first=Josh |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Apple Drops App Store Commission to 15% for Small Developers |url=https://tidbits.com/2020/11/18/apple-drops-app-store-commission-to-15-for-small-developers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/tt8Hs |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[TidBITS]]}}</ref> For developers above this threshold, and for cases excluded from this program, such as for games, the fee is 30%. In the 2008 announcement of the App Store, Apple considered this a reasonable, industry-standard fee. However, the way we use apps has significantly evolved since 2009 - the world has shifted to heavily depend upon mobile apps, which have also evolved into more complex and sustainable business models than a simple one-time purchase.

[[wikipedia:Stripe, Inc.|Stripe]], a popular platform used for payments on the web, uses a base fee of 2.9% plus a fixed $0.30 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pricing |url=https://stripe.com/it/pricing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FoCG4 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Stripe]]}}</ref> With add-on services, before considering volume discounts, a Stripe transaction may have a cost of 6.4% + $1.10.<ref>Calculated from base fee (2.9% + $0.30) + international card (1.5%) + adaptive pricing (2%) + international payment methods ($0.80), as of January 2025</ref> Stripe has been used by businesses ranging from small online stores to [[OpenAI]] for ChatGPT Plus. Competing payment services have similar or identical fees to Stripe. '''The in-app purchase system does not provide sufficient value to justify the considerably higher costs compared to alternative payment platforms.'''

The App Store system poorly handles secondary marketplaces of digital services that exist within the primary App Store marketplace, such as Patreon. Apple, however, still requires companies in the business of selling digital services to use this inadequate system. This requires the app to account for Apple's fee, which is significant enough to warrant price increases frequently, and to follow rules even if they do not align with the nature of the service being provided. Apple has often been found in disputes with such apps. This injects extra complication at no benefit to the marketplace, the creator, or the customer - only to Apple, which has little to no involvement after delivering the initial app download to the user's phone. The significant fee also often drives app developers to consider building their app around an advertising model instead, creating privacy concerns.

Additionally, the 15% small business fee discount is determined based on the app's overall turnover and is not applied to individual creators within the app's marketplace. An app that generates over $1 million per year by providing services to creators who individually earn less than $1 million per year does not qualify for the discount.

Apple, often in conjunction with Google, engages in lobbying efforts in the United States and other countries to address these issues. "ACT | The App Association", pitched as an association of independent small business app developers, is at least 50% funded by Apple, and does not list its claimed 2,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2021 |title=Not a class ACT: the so-called App Association is simply an Apple Association and does NOT represent app developers' interests in fair distribution terms |url=http://www.fosspatents.com/2021/10/not-class-act-so-called-app-association.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eyn0i |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Sep 2022 |title=Vast majority of ACT {{!}} The App Association's funding comes from Apple, former employees tell Bloomberg: astroturfing against app developers' interests |url=http://www.fosspatents.com/2022/09/vast-majority-of-act-app-associations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eGRNV |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref> In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice, along with 16 state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company "extracts more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others."<ref name="doj" /> The future of this lawsuit is unclear as of April 2025.

Despite criticism of Apple forcing its fee into transactions with small businesses and creators on platforms such as [[#Patreon|Patreon]] and [[#Facebook online events|Facebook]], on January 23, 2025, Apple announced the Advanced Commerce API. It "support[s] developers' evolving business models - such as extensive content catalogs, creator experiences, and subscriptions with optional add-ons".<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Jan 2025 |title=Introducing the Advanced Commerce API |url=https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxy958ya |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KEH8h |archive-date=23 Jan 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref> While positioned as a way for such businesses to save development time and avoid ongoing costs by building on top of Apple's mature payments platform, its use is, in fact, necessary for these businesses to comply with the App Store guidelines, as seen in the cases outlined below. The feature requires submitting a description of the app's business model to Apple for approval. This continues a trend of requiring Apple's consent to conduct business in a place where users have been trained to expect it.

===Epic Games===
{{hatnote|See also: [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Apple|Epic Games v. Apple]] and [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Google|Epic Games v. Google]]}}

[[Epic Games, Inc.]] is a video game developer and publisher, known for games such as [[Fortnite]] and [[Unreal Tournament]], the [[Unreal Engine]], and the [[Epic Games Store]].

In 2018, Epic Games launched Fortnite on the iOS and Android platforms. The company made the unusual decision not to release the app on the [[Google Play Store]] - instead, it was made available as a standalone [[wikipedia:apk (file format)|Android app package]] file (.apk), which must be installed by following a series of manual steps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=3 Aug 2018 |title=Fortnite for Android will ditch Google Play Store for Epic’s website |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/3/17645982/epic-games-fortnite-android-version-bypass-google-play-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/yTQLj |archive-date=16 Mar 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The app was also released on the [[Samsung]] [[Samsung Galaxy Store|Galaxy Store]]. Google offered Epic Games a $147 million deal to release Fortnite on the Play Store, which the company declined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=9 Nov 2023 |title=Google offered Epic $147 million to launch Fortnite on the Play Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23953262/google-epic-fortnite-play-store-investment-antitrust-trial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/poKzi |archive-date=9 Nov 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 22 April 2020, Fortnite was finally released on the Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=22 April 2020 |title=Fortnite available on the Google Play Store for the first time |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/21/21229930/fortnite-available-on-google-play-android-mobile-devices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Z0huU |archive-date=13 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Polygon]]}}</ref> In a statement, the company explained:

<blockquote>
After 18 months of operating Fortnite on Android outside of the Google Play Store, we've come to a basic realization: Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage, through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer and carrier agreements and dealings, Google public relations characterizing third party software sources as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to outright block software obtained outside the Google Play store.
</blockquote>

On 13 August 2020, Epic Games launched a campaign against both Apple and Google's app store business practices. The company released app updates on both platforms, introducing a method for purchasing V-Bucks, in-game currency, at a 20% discount by directly transacting with Epic Games, against the developer rules of both platforms. The platforms responded by removing the game from their storefronts. Epic Games then filed civil antitrust lawsuits against both companies in the Northern District of California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Epic Games is suing Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/21367963/epic-fortnite-legal-complaint-apple-ios-app-store-removal-injunctive-relief |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfFgU |archive-date=14 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The campaign, branded "Free Fortnite", was later extended with lawsuits and complaints in Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Epic Games extends its fight against Apple to Australia |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Feb 2021 |title=Epic Game Files EU Antitrust Complaint Against Apple |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-eu-antitrust-complaint-against-apple |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0Nqn7 |archive-date=26 May 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref> and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Epic Games files complaint to support CMA Apple investigation |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-complaint-to-support-cma-apple-investigation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FMiCR |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref>

On September 11, 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers decided the case. While the lawsuit against Apple failed on nine of the ten counts, Rogers ruled against Apple's use of "anti-steering" - its strategy of preventing users from being "steered" to a third-party storefront for payment processing - and placed a permanent injunction on this behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandon |first=Russell |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22662320/epic-apple-ruling-injunction-judge-court-app-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gf9tJ |archive-date=10 Sep 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Despite the case mostly failing, the discovery process provided significant insight into Apple's decision-making process regarding App Store policies, including decisions made in major app review disputes. In one case, executive Phil Schiller argued for reducing the fee by 30%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gurman |first=Mark |date=4 May 2021 |title=Apple’s Schiller Floated Cutting App Store Fees a Decade Ago |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/apple-s-schiller-floated-cutting-app-store-fees-a-decade-ago |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/R7Zus |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

Epic Games and Apple both appealed the decision. 35 state attorneys-general, the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), [[Microsoft]], among others, filed amicus briefs in support of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=29 Jan 2022 |title=Epic largely lost to Apple, but 35 states are now backing its fight in a higher court |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/28/22907106/epic-games-v-apple-amicus-briefs-states-eff-microsoft-appeal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/P0TZY |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 11 December 2023, the jury in the case against Google decided on all 11 counts in favor of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Greg |last2=Scarcella |first2=Mike |date=13 Dec 2023 |title=Epic Games wins antitrust case against Google over Play app store |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-epic-games-face-off-app-antitrust-trial-nears-end-2023-12-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WaLBK |archive-date=12 Dec 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

On 1 May 2025, Rogers found that Apple willfully chose not to comply with the 2021 injunction, commenting "that it thought this court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=1 May 2025 |title=A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/659246/apple-epic-app-store-judge-ruling-control |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IThaV |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

===Facebook online events===
In August 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook introduced the ability for small businesses to accept an entrance fee for events. Previously, Facebook would only serve as a way to RSVP for the event; the organizer had to use a third-party event ticketing system to collect fees. The company pledged not to collect any fee on event sales "until 2023".<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Paid Online Events for Small Business Recovery |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/paid-online-events/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7X7KH |archive-date=6 Sep 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Meta]]}}</ref>

Apple disagreed, requiring the feature to use the in-app purchases system. This introduced Apple's 30% fee. As this increases the price the user pays, with no benefit to the small business the user intended to support, the cost was displayed as a line item in checkout. Apple did not accept this disclosure of the price, referring to it as "irrelevant".<ref name="facebook" /> Facebook was allowed to compromise on displaying the fee, but ''without'' indicating that it is specifically an App Store fee.

===HEY===
HEY.com is a paid webmail provider launched in June 2020 by long-time software company [[wikipedia:37signals|37signals]], specializing in inbox organization tools.

After successfully launching the initial version of the app on the App Store, the company announced that an update was rejected due to a complaint about the business model. The app does not support in-app purchases; instead, users are expected to have an account with the service already. Apple did not like this arrangement and demanded that the company build an in-app subscription option. The company argued that it is being held to a different set of rules than apps such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]], whose app does not provide any way to purchase a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=17 Jun 2020 |title=Hey.com exec says Apple is acting like ‘gangsters,’ rejecting App Store updates and demanding cut of sales |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/16/21293419/hey-apple-rejection-ios-app-store-dhh-gangsters-antitrust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OERP2 |archive-date=28 Jun 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> After a suggestion from Apple executive Phil Schiller in the media, HEY introduced a 14-day free trial mode, which was approved.<ref>https://www.hey.com/apple/path/</ref><ref>https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/</ref>

===Patreon===
In August 2024, [[Patreon]] announced a change in arrangement with Apple for its App Store app. From November 2024, subscriptions started from the iOS app would be required to use the in-app purchase system, bypassing Patreon's own long-standing payment practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Apple’s requirements are about to hit creators and fans on Patreon. Here’s what you need to know. |url=https://news.patreon.com/articles/understanding-apple-requirements-for-patreon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3Wid0 |archive-date=14 Aug 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Patreon]]}}</ref><ref name="patreon" /> This change does not affect the Android app.

By forcing Patreon out of the payments pipeline, specific payment models are no longer available to users of Patreon's iOS app. Creators who rely on the "per-creation" payment model, as opposed to the standard "per-month", can no longer be subscribed to from the app. The app is also unable to support the "first-of-the-month" model, where payments from all subscribers are collected on the first day of the month, rather than every 30 days, since each member's subscription day varies. The price must also be rounded to a price tier supported by Apple.

Patreon allows creators to choose between increasing their prices by 30% in the iOS app or maintaining the same prices, forfeiting 30% to Apple. Creators frequently remind potential supporters not to use the Patreon iOS app, adding extra inconvenience to those wanting to support the work of small creators.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - fee on top.png|"Maintain earnings and cover Apple's fee by increasing prices in the iOS app" (Recommended)
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - absorb fee.png|"Keep prices in the iOS app the same and cover Apple's fee yourself."
</gallery>

A similar case occurred with the app Fanhouse in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@jasminericegirl |date=9 Jun 2021 |title=#fuckapple, a thread I cofounded @fanhouseapp 8 months ago to empower creators to monetize their content. We pay creators 90% of earnings. Now, Apple is threatening to remove Fanhouse from the app store unless we give them 30% of creator earnings. This is theft and exploitation. |url=https://x.com/jasminericegirl/status/1402691047940100100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/U0qQw |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

===Twitter===
In August 2021, [[Twitter]] introduced a feature named Super Follows (now Subscriptions), in which users can pay a subscription fee to access more of a creator's content. For each user who enables Subscriptions, Twitter must submit a new in-app purchase SKU to the App Store, which will become available with the next update to the app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wongmjane |date=2 Sep 2021 |title=Each Super Follow is an In-App Purchase on the App Store, but because there are too many IAPs for the Twitter app, the App Store only shows 10 instead of the full list |url=https://x.com/wongmjane/status/1433372120080261120 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3gqwM |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> This, of course, is subject to the 30% fee. At the time of writing in January 2025, viewing the App Store listing reveals Elon Musk's $4.00 subscription as the fourth most popular IAP item.

==Notarization==
Since 2015, Apple has required all Mac apps to be "notarized." This is a preliminary, automated malware check, which, upon passing, provides a notary certificate that gets "stapled" to the app. Apple's explanation:

<blockquote>
Notarization of macOS software is not App Review. The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans your software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results to you quickly. If there are no issues, the notary service generates a ticket for you to staple to your software; the notary service also publishes that ticket online where Gatekeeper can find it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notarizing macOS software before distribution |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/H4EO9 |archive-date=26 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Whether this approach is actually better than that used by Windows antivirus, which only detects new malware samples when they are already on a user's computer, is a separate topic.

To comply with the DMA's regulations on app marketplaces, Apple created a new channel for releasing apps outside of the iOS App Store. Apps go through a notarization process. But the process is definitely ''not'' notarization. The name is intentionally being abused, by contrast to notarization on macOS, to make you believe it is something other than the existing App Review system. Despite the pain some developers and users have with it, notarization on macOS has always been considered a net positive. It made sense to take advantage of its reputation for the entirely different "notarization" on iOS.

See for yourself - view the [https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ App Review Guidelines] and tick "Show Notarization Review Guidelines Only". While this eliminates most rules, a significant number of them remain in place. These apps are still reviewed and tested by the App Review team, must have a complete product listing in App Store Connect, and can be outright rejected - all in the same way as an App Store app.

By contrast, all that is required for notarization on macOS is for your app not to be malware. You submit it to an automated system that approves it within minutes. '''You don't need to convince Apple that your app is worthy of existing on their platform.'''

The purpose of macOS notarization is that Apple maintains a record of all binaries intended for wide distribution on macOS, allowing it to review them both in advance and regularly for known malware/common malware patterns. If a malware app manages to get through, when Apple initially finds out, they can go back into the notary records and find every sample of that malware to analyze and block. This is a purely technical process, managed by skilled security researchers. At the same time, iOS app review and "notarization" are business processes managed by workers who have been given a checklist of violations to look for.

Apple is retaining complete control over what's allowed to run on iOS. On macOS, you can choose to run apps that have not been notarized (even though the process to bypass the warning is intentionally difficult). On iOS, you never get even that option. What Apple created is the App Store, but with more steps. It is still available on the App Store, but it is hidden so that it can only be installed through the third-party store it's tied to.

*Mysk: "iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store, and if the app is not available there, this happens."<ref>{{Cite web |last=@mysk_co |date=28 Jun 2024 |title=iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store and if the app is not available there, this happens: |url=https://x.com/mysk_co/status/1806638308455256242 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DsQQH |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

==JIT==
The following paragraph is highly technical: JIT allows for speedy programs/apps, and due to its fast nature, it's used almost everywhere and represents a massive improvement over older code interpreters.

[[wikipedia:Just-in-time compilation|JIT]], which stands for Just-In-Time, is a method of code execution where code, instead of being compiled before being distributed (like an EXE), gets compiled into machine code in real time right before being executed. This method of code execution allows for much faster website loading times, speedier emulation, faster program execution (with programs written in JavaScript, Python, Lua...) compared to interpreters, which instead translate code into machine code line by line, which is much, much slower; JIT also employs many more optimization techniques meant to improve performance.

Safari is allowed to use JIT to compile code from any site, just like Apple's [https://apps.apple.com/app/swift-playgrounds/id908519492 Playgrounds] app on iPad. Playgrounds bundle Apple's [[wikipedia:Swift (programming language)|Swift]] compiler and share backend code with the version of Playgrounds found in [[wikipedia:Xcode|Xcode]].

Third-party apps, such as Pythonista (a Python IDE), emulators like Delta and UTM, and terminal environments like iSH, are not allowed to use JIT; instead, they must interpret code, which results in severe performance degradation and increased computational expense, potentially draining more battery.

An example of apps being heavily affected by this restriction is UTM. UTM is a port of [[wikipedia:QEMU|QEMU]] for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to create [[wikipedia:Virtual_machine|VMs]] that can run various operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows. The iPhone's hardware is capable enough to emulate various modern OSes at full speed. Still, due to Apple's JIT limitation, the team behind UTM had to create UTM SE (slow edition), which doesn't require JIT but is nowhere near as fast as UTM with JIT, only being capable of running MS-DOS and derivatives at acceptable speeds. While methods that enable JIT for apps other than Safari and Playgrounds exist (some are currently working on iOS 18.5, like [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stikdebug/id6744045754 StikDebug]), Apple does not allow the use of JIT in notarized apps, meaning that apps that support JIT will have to be sideloaded, which comes with its own set of restrictions.

In the EU, Apple permitted web browsers to use rendering and JavaScript engines other than the built-in with Apple WebKit/JavaScriptCore, with the option for JS engines to use JIT. The browser still needs to be approved by Apple for an entitlement and must then work within the APIs provided by Apple. However, as of January 2025, no browsers using engines different from the built-in ones have been released, primarily due to arbitrarily imposed restrictions intended to discourage the use and development of third-party engines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/720xn |archive-date=26 Jan 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

However, Apple still does not allow different engines outside of the EU, with or without JIT support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App Review Guidelines |url=https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#2.5.6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/D9fQQ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
==In-app browsers==
Safari's in-app browser, which is the minimal version you get when tapping a link from social media, uses an entirely separate data store for each app. The in-app browser isn't aware of cookies in the "full" Safari app, or any other app, and doesn't support Safari extensions. Apple claimed this was to protect users from malicious apps stealing or setting cookies in Safari without their knowledge, which is a fair argument. However, it's hard not to notice that it makes web browsing inconvenient, encouraging users to install native apps where they can make transactions through Apple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@whitehatguy |date=12 Jun 2017 |title=Impact of iOS 11 no longer providing shared cookies between Safari, Safari View Controller instances |url=https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/1ehTJ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref>

This also means that your browsing history in the in-app browser is lost; there's no history menu, and it is not logged to the history in the full Safari app either. Good luck recalling that article you read a few weeks ago.

==See also==
*[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility Eligibility]
*Posts written by the author of this article:
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html The iOS 17.4 app marketplace flow is a disaster]
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html How I tricked iOS into giving me EU DMA features]
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Features controlled by iOS 17.4's eligibility system]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Apple App Store]]

Apple's planned obsolescence incidents

2026-01-07T22:07:35Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{StubNotice}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:iPhone planned obsolescence incidencies}}

Apple actively makes it near-impossible for third-parties and consumers to repair their products while maintaining their full, intended functionality.

==Product repair issues and software allegations==
Apple's implementation of planned obsolescence is primarily driven by technological obsolescence, encompassing hardware, firmware, and software limitations. The company's hardware design choices (such as proprietary screws, glued components, and complex internal layouts) make repairs difficult for consumers and third-party repair shops.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353685307_From_Planned_Obsolescence_to_the_Circular_Economy_in_the_Smartphone_Industry_an_evolution_of_strategies_embodied_in_product_features|DOI=10.1017/pds.2021.422|first1=Mário|first2=Eric|last1=Barros|last2=Dimla|journal=Proceedings of the Design Society 1:1607-1616|title=From Planned Obsolescence to the Circular Economy in the Smartphone Industry: an evolution of strategies embodied in product features|date=August 2021}} </ref> Firmware restrictions further limit repairability by disabling key functionalities when non-Apple components are used, as seen in battery and camera replacements, where users receive error messages and lose features like battery health monitoring and Face ID.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Disotto |first=John-Anthony |date=2023-05-16 |title=Does Apple build 'planned obsolescence' into its products? French investigation to find out begins |url=https://www.imore.com/apple/does-apple-build-planned-obsolescence-into-its-products-french-investigation-to-find-out-begins |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/g4DV5 |archive-date=23 Jul 2024 |website=iMore}}</ref>

Until recently, software updates also contributed to planned obsolescence by leading to performance degradation. Research has confirmed that Apple's software updates negatively impacted battery performance, often slowing down older devices and making them less functional over time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-03-02 |title=Apple settles iPhone slowdown case for $500m |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51706635 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303051825/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51706635 |archive-date=2020-03-03 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=BBC}}</ref> Apple has been criticized for discontinuing software support for older iPhone models, which forces consumers to upgrade to newer devices to maintain essential functions such as web browsing and email.

Despite growing regulatory pressure, Apple continues to control its repair ecosystem by restricting access to spare parts and discouraging third-party repairs. On the French Repairability Index (''[https://www.indicereparabilite.fr Indice de réparabilité]''), the majority of iPhone models obtain a score lower than five out of ten.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indice de réparabilité Smartphone |trans-title=Smartphone repairability scores |url=https://www.indicereparabilite.fr/appareils/multimedia/smartphone/page/3/?orderby=price |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708171707/https://www.indicereparabilite.fr/appareils/multimedia/smartphone/page/3/?orderby=price |archive-date=2025-07-08 |access-date= |website=French Repairability Index |language=fr}}</ref>

The EU-mandated transition in charging cables from Lightning to USB-C, affecting all smartphone manufacturers, required updates to existing accessories, reflecting a broader industry-wide standardization rather than forced obsolescence.

==Hardware obsolescence==
Apple's planned obsolescence extends beyond software to hardware. Since the 2008 MacBook Air, Apple has begun soldering the RAM into their laptops. They used proprietary RAM chips, making it impossible for consumers and 3rd-party repair shops to upgrade an ageing machine.

In 2015 on the 12-inch MacBook Pro, Apple began soldering in the SSD, meaning consumers can't upgrade their storage or replace it when it dies. Up until 2017, a failed SSD could be mitigated with an external SSD but Apple decided to move the EFI (bios) to the SSD, meaning if the SSD dies on the laptop it becomes a brick. Failing SSDs should not brick a computer that is made for video editors and professionals.

==Lawsuit==
In December 2022, French prosecutors opened an investigation into Apple over its part-pairing practice, which restricts third-party repairs. HOP, part of the [[Right to repair|Right to Repair]] Campaign, had previously filed a complaint, leading to Apple paying €25 million to the French treasury in 2020. HOP argues that this practice fosters planned obsolescence and harms sustainability efforts, advocating for a European ban on part-pairing. The investigation continues as part of broader efforts to protect consumer rights and encourage repairability.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2023 |title=Plainte contre Apple: le Procureur de la République ouvre l’enquête |trans-title=Complaint against Apple: the Public Prosecutor opens the investigation |url=https://www.halteobsolescence.org/plainte-contre-apple-le-procureur-de-la-republique-ouvre-lenquete/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251117133528/https://www.halteobsolescence.org/plainte-contre-apple-le-procureur-de-la-republique-ouvre-lenquete/ |archive-date=17 Nov 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>

Legal actions against independent repair shops further solidify its control, making it difficult for users to extend the lifespan of their devices without relying on Apple’s costly repair services.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Apple IPhones]]
[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Lawsuits]]
[[Category:Planned obsolescence]]

Apple

2026-01-07T21:59:34Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1976
|Industry=Electronics
|Logo=Apple_logo_black.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://apple.com/
|Description=Tech company known for hardware, software, and operating systems. Has repeatedly restricted device repairs and ability for users to downgrade their OS
}}
{{Wplink|Apple Inc.|'''Apple'''}} is an American technology company that was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. It is best known for its consumer electronics, software, and services.

Apple's current product lineup includes hardware such as the [[:Category:Apple IPhones|iPhone]], iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, [[Airpods|AirPods]], and Apple TV; operating systems such as iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and macOS; and various software and services including Apple Pay, iCloud, Apple Arcade, and multimedia streaming services like Apple Music and [[Apple TV+]].

==Incidents==

===Repairability of Apple products in the 2000s===
Since the 2000s, Apple has focused on reducing the weight of its products as technology has advanced and become increasingly complex. This shift has contributed to challenges in repairing and upgrading their devices.

===Hardware design issues in the 2010s===
Apple had numerous hardware design issues in the 2010s, often poorly acknowledged by the company and frequently charging exorbitant amounts for repair.

*High-cost GPU failures on early 2010's MacBooks<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-28 |title=Apple faces class-action lawsuit over 2011 MacBook Pro GPU issues |url=https://9to5mac.com/2014/10/28/apple-class-action-lawsuit-2011-macbook-pro-gpu-graphics-issues/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/dOfPg |archive-date=2025-06-06 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=9to5mac}}</ref>
*the 2016-'17 MacBook Pro's screen cable skimping scandal<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=2019-05-05 |title=Apple quietly addressed ‘Flexgate’ issue with MacBook Pro redesign |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/5/18251264/macbook-pro-2018-flexgate-fix-display-cable-2mm-longer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/fbtWU |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
*2016-2019 MacBooks butterfly keyboards<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bohn |first=Dieter |date=2020-05-04 |title=The saga of Apple’s bad butterfly MacBook keyboards is finally over |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/4/21246223/macbook-keyboard-butterfly-magic-pro-apple-design |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/D8U0I |archive-date=2021-10-08 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
*the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro's SSD failures<ref>{{Cite web |last=digilloyd |date=2020-04-03 |title=2019 MacBook Pro Seems to Have a High Failure Rate |url=https://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2020/20200403_1024-MacBookPro2019-repairs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/9a3yL |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Mac Performance Guide}}</ref>
*The announcement and cancellation of Apple AirPower<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple cancels AirPower product, citing inability to meet its high standards for hardware |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/29/apple-cancels-airpower-product-citing-inability-to-meet-its-high-standards-for-hardware/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401040644/https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/29/apple-cancels-airpower-product-citing-inability-to-meet-its-high-standards-for-hardware/ |archive-date=2019-04-01 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clover |first=Juli |date=2018-09-12 |title=After No Sign of AirPower at Today's Event Apple Wipes Most Mentions From Website |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/12/no-sign-of-airpower-at-september-event/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124170507/https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/12/no-sign-of-airpower-at-september-event/ |archive-date=2021-11-24 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=MacRumors}}</ref> due to overheating{{CitationNeeded|reason=no archived article mentioning overheating specifically}}

====Recent attempts to do better====
Recently, Apple has made efforts to improve its products, though some observers feel that its pro-consumer practices still do not match those of certain other manufacturers. This shift is thought by some to be influenced by evolving legislation.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=2022-10-26 |title=Apple to put USB-C connectors in iPhones to comply with EU rules |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/oct/26/iphone-usb-c-lightning-connectors-apple-eu-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/3qwt5 |archive-date=2022-10-31 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> 

This includes:

*Opening an online [[Apple Self Service Repair|Self Service Repair]] parts store.
*Making the back glass of iPhones removable starting from iPhone 14.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiens |first=Kyle |date=2022-09-16 |title=Inside Apple’s Secret iPhone 14 Redesign |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/64865/iphone-14-teardown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ggFoJ |archive-date=2022-09-20 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=iFixIt}}</ref>
*Allowing alternative app stores in an update to iOS 17, in compliance with new EU legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installing apps through alternative app distribution in the European Union |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/117767 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/lEKMA |archive-date=2024-10-03 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=support.apple.com}}</ref>
*Calibration tools for newly installed used parts in iOS 18,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Use Repair Assistant to finish an iPhone or iPad repair |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/120579 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uI8Qc |archive-date=2024-09-20 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=support.apple.com}}</ref> which sometimes work.{{CitationNeeded}}
*An upgradeable, swappable SSD in the 2024 Mac Mini - albeit you cannot swap these units between M4 and M4 Pro units due to the internal casing's design being different without much good reason.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sorrel |first=Charlie |date=2024-11-12 |title=All Hail the Return of Upgradeable Storage! Mac mini 2024 Teardown |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/104302/all-hail-the-return-of-upgradeable-storage-mac-mini-2024-teardown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/r8hpm |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=iFixit}}</ref>
*A battery removable with just a 9V battery in the 2024 iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iPhone 16 Plus Battery |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/120671 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/trT1j |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=support.apple.com}}</ref>
Many of these items have sparked allegations of [[Malicious Compliance]] and being introduced purely to make stricter right for repair legislation appear unnecessary to legislators while not doing much to improve the situation for consumers. 

For instance, pricing for parts on the [[Apple Self Service Repair|Self Service Repair]] store is virtually identical to having the part replaced by Apple themselves (including both the price of the part and labor), alternate app installation options are limited to users in the EU, still require developers to be registered with Apple, have them approve the apps and in many cases paying them fees, and the upgradeable SSDs do not use common standards such as M.2 NVME. Unlike standard SSDs, they are also not always swappable between different models and require access to a second Apple computer to provision after installation.

===Operating system downgrades===
It is not possible to upgrade or downgrade an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, etc. to an Operating System (OS) version that is no longer signed by Apple. In most cases, only the most recent version is signed. Some exceptions exist, such as certain Apple TV models and Apple Silicon Macs. Downgrading the Apple TV 4K series is not possible at all due to the lack of a USB port. On Macs with T2 chip or Apple Silicon, the user can select from three modes of secure boot:<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Startup Security Utility on a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/102522 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250607083624/https://support.apple.com/en-us/102522 |archive-date=7 Jun 2025 |access-date=22 Jun 2025 |website=Apple}}</ref>

*No security: Allow any OS to run (same as turning off secure boot on a PC).
*Medium security: Allow any OS that is signed with a secure boot certificate (default, same as turning on secure boot on a PC).
*Full security: Only allow the latest version of macOS, do not allow any other OS.

iOS devices only support full security mode. The device checks for a cryptographic "ticket,"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=APTicket |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/APTicket |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/jTHEl |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=theapplewiki.com}}</ref> which are tied to the OS version and CPU serial number. These are provided by a server, which only provides them for the latest version (with very specific exceptions). The device refuses to boot if the ticket does not match. Workarounds exist, but with major caveats that are not viable for most users,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-27 |title=Firmware rendering |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Firmware_downgrading |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wip/uT2aI |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=theapplewiki.com}}</ref> see the technical details on [[wikipedia:SHSH_blob|SHSH blobs]].

===Class action lawsuit===
Apple was the defendant of a class-action lawsuit with claims dating back to 2017 where users noticed their phones were being artificially slowed down. Apple agreed to settle the lawsuit for up to $500 million USD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Gael |date=9 Jan 2024 |title=Apple Starts Sending Out iPhone 'Batterygate' Settlement Payments. What to Know |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-starts-sending-out-iphone-batterygate-settlement-payments-what-to-know/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321051703/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-starts-sending-out-iphone-batterygate-settlement-payments-what-to-know/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2025 |access-date=22 Jun 2025 |website=CNET}}</ref> Apple claimed that this change was to benefit users who have old failing batteries, and that it wasn't for planned obsolescence.<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apple-iphone-payment-500-million-settlement-what-to-know/</ref> They later published software updates and an article explaining how users can opt out of this new "performance management" mode.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iPhone battery and performance |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/101575 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618231138/https://support.apple.com/en-us/101575 |archive-date=18 Jun 2025 |access-date=22 Jun 2025 |website=Apple}}</ref>

Once a new OS version is installed, there is no opportunity to go back. This also restricts the user's choice to {{Wplink|iOS jailbreaking|jailbreak}} the device, as the latest version naturally has patches for the latest jailbreak exploits. App developers also require access to earlier iOS versions to test that their app works correctly. The alternative, Xcode's iOS Simulator, is not a complete replacement for real hardware, as it does not have all features of a physical device.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vajpai |first=Shreeti |date=24 Jun 2024 |title=iOS Emulators / Simulators vs Real iOS Devices |url=https://contextqa.com/test-on-ios-emulators-simulators/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250519081214/https://contextqa.com/test-on-ios-emulators-simulators/ |archive-date=19 May 2025 |access-date=22 Jun 2025 |website=ContextQA}}</ref> Instead, app developers are forced to purchase several test devices, and remember to ''never'' allow them to update.

===Parts availability===
Many parts are not available directly from Apple. Those that are available directly from Apple may be more expensive than paying Apple to repair your device. Parts available to certified repair centers are extremely limited. Apple does not stock current generation iPad parts within GSX (See Certified Repair Centers). A limited selection of iPad parts are available from iFixit, however this can exclude some flex PCBs necessary for repairing headphone jacks.

If an Apple iPhone has GPS calibration issues and or {{Wplink|Bluetooth}} connectivity issues, Apple will do their own diagnostics. You explain to the Apple employee how and when the issues occur and you explain in detail your methods to reproduce the issues. The issues occur when your phone is in your pocket while using navigation and when you hold your phone upside down while using your Apple Beats wireless headphones. After Apple runs their diagnostics and they are not able to detect the issues, they will move onto the next step which is fully resetting your device. This is considered a standard troubleshooting procedure. When you ask the Apple store manager if they would be willing to exchange your device for a similar model if they cannot fix your device they respond with "No, because these phones are designed to be fixed". After the software reset fail, Apple will require you to leave your phone with them so they can send it to their offsite repair facility for further diagnostics. After a few days, Apple will come to the conclusion that your phone requires an entire new midsection. When asked what was replaced, Apple will inform you that the entire inside has been replaced — essentially giving you a new phone (with a new IMEI, EID, etc.) apart from the casing and screen.

===Diagnostic software availability===
Calibration software for some Apple devices has only recently become available to end users. End user calibration tools have only become accessible in iOS 18. Similar calibration tools have been available to Certified Repair Centers, but are generally limited as many parts are serialized, i.e. lid sensors on Mac Books.

===Certified repair centers===
Certified Repair Centers have some limited access to Apple's proprietary backend (GSX2). GSX contains many tools necessary to repair devices such as diagnostic tools, calibration tools, parts catalog, and device repair history. GSX is only accessible to repair centers Apple deems certified. GSX does not stock parts for iPads. It does not allow the calibration of parts such as lid sensors for a device, if that device does not have an open repair and purchased parts. The new iOS 18 calibration tool is very similar to Apple's ASU (GSX's diagnostic/calibration tool). Some videos of GSX can be found online. See: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy8bS1AgxcY GSX - How to Gain GSX Apple Access - iOSGenius]

===Advertisements in first party apps===
In 2014, Apple and the band U2 partnered to give all iTunes users a free digital copy of their newest album at the time, ''Songs of Innocence'', which was marketed as "the biggest album release ever in history".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/09/09Apple-U2-Release-Songs-of-Innocence-Exclusively-for-iTunes-Store-Customers/|title=Apple & U2 Release “Songs of Innocence” Exclusively for iTunes Store Customers|date=2014-09-09|work=Apple Newsroom|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405230217/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/09/09Apple-U2-Release-Songs-of-Innocence-Exclusively-for-iTunes-Store-Customers/|archive-date=2025-04-05|url-status=live}}</ref> Many users who didn't want the album couldn't remove it from their iTunes library due to the album being listed as a "past purchase" on their account (however the album could always be "hidden").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/09/apples-devious-u2-album-giveaway-even-worse-spam/|title=Apple's Devious U2 Album Giveaway Is Even Worse Than Spam|date=2014-09-16|first=Vijith|last=Assar|work=WIRED|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250530112829/https://www.wired.com/2014/09/apples-devious-u2-album-giveaway-even-worse-spam/|archive-date=2025-05-30|url-status=live}}</ref> Some reports speculated the deal was worth 100 million dollars and was done due to the band's declining popularity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/09/15/348612823/apples-u2-album-promotion-backfires|title=Apple's U2 Album Promotion Backfires|first=Nathan|last=Rott|date=2014-09-15|work=NPR|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601154245/https://www.npr.org/2014/09/15/348612823/apples-u2-album-promotion-backfires|archive-date=2025-06-01|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, Bono, a member of U2, wrote in his memoir how Tim Cook reportedly said how "there’s something not right about giving [U2's] art away for free" and "the whole point of what we’re trying to do at Apple is to not give away music free. The point is to make sure musicians get paid".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2022/10/24/tim-cook-said-free-u2-album-itunes-was-not-right/|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook thought U2 putting its album on your iPhone was ‘not right’—even though he did it anyway|first=Tristan|last=Bove|date=2022-10-24|work=Fortune|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127191141/https://fortune.com/2022/10/24/tim-cook-said-free-u2-album-itunes-was-not-right/|archive-date=2025-01-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2025, Apple added a promotional offer for F1 The Movie in their Wallet application.<ref>{{Cite web |title=F1 The Movie - News |url=https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/f1/news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/pQCP7 |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Apple TV+ Press}}</ref> Users have mentioned how this could violate Apple's own policy on advertising, how the high price of Apple devices shouldn't justify first party ads, and the annoyance of seeing it.<ref>{{Cite web |author=u/african-nightmare |date=2025-06-24 |title=Getting ads in Apple Wallet, how to disable? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/1ljfs7u/getting_ads_in_apple_wallet_how_to_disable/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/dNE2S |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-06-25 |work=Reddit}}</ref> For users on the iOS 26 beta, there is an option to disable "Offers & Promotions", with users on iOS 18 needing to disable notifications completely for the Wallet app.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/24/iphone-customers-upset-by-apple-wallet-ad-pushing-f1-movie/|title=iPhone customers upset by Apple Wallet ad pushing ‘F1’ movie|first=Sarah|last=Perez|date=2025-06-24|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2025-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250624213223/https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/24/iphone-customers-upset-by-apple-wallet-ad-pushing-f1-movie/|archive-date=2025-06-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

===AirDrop censorship (''2022'')===
As a result of the 2019 Hong Kong protests, Apple was pressured by the Chinese government to set a time limit for the AirDrop "everyone" option for iPhones due to its impact at scheduling protests against the government to avoid censorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/10/23450967/apple-airdrop-limited-china-goverment-protests|title=Apple limits AirDrop in China after its use in protests|first=Jess|last=Weatherbed|date=2022-11-10|work=The Verge|access-date=2025-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723112204/https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/10/23450967/apple-airdrop-limited-china-goverment-protests|archive-date=2025-07-23|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, the setting was applied to all iPhones worldwide to "mitigate unwanted file sharing", meaning users will need to set their airdrop setting manually every ten minutes instead of leaving it on permanently, leaving the only other options as "contacts only" and "receiving off".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/03/17/apple-globally-censoring-this-iphone-communication-feature-deserves-renewed-scrutiny/|title=Apple globally censoring this iPhone communication feature deserves renewed scrutiny|first=Zac|last=Hall|date=2025-03-17|work=9To5Mac|access-date=2025-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723142521/https://9to5mac.com/2025/03/17/apple-globally-censoring-this-iphone-communication-feature-deserves-renewed-scrutiny/|archive-date=2025-07-23|url-status=live}}</ref>

==="Peanuts" TV Special Takeover===
In late October of 2020, Apple announced that it's Apple TV+ service had become the exclusive home of the library of classic ''Peanuts'' animated specials, including ''A Charlie Brown Christmas'', ''It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown'', and ''A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving''. For almost 50 years, these beloved specials were shown once a year on free over-the-air TV, but as of 2020, anybody who wishes to watch them is now required to own a device that offers the Apple TV+ service and an active Apple TV+ subscription.<ref>{{cite web |last=Adalian |first=Josef |date=2020-10-19 |title=Apple TV+ Says: Welcome, Great Pumpkin |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown-streaming-apple-tv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/oJJHC |archive-date=2020-10-19 |access-date=2025-11-05 |work=Vulture}}</ref>

===2024 Antitrust Lawsuit===
In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple claiming that the "closed garden" ecosystem Apple creates surrounding its iPhones stifles competition and innovation. The lawsuit alleges that Apple is directly forcing customers to purchase and use iPhones and their accessories and software in several ways:

*Forcing mobile carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile to offer its best customer deals exclusively to those who purchase iPhones.
*Restricting the functionality of Super apps such as WeChat.
*Forcing in-app purchases through applications such as Fortnite to be made within the App Store and taking a part of the proceeds as commission pay.
*Restricting the use of third-party digital wallets and requiring users to exclusively use Apple Pay.
*Restricting how third-party message apps can interact with iMessage.
*Restricting their HomeKit home automation system and all compatible devices to work only on Apple's products and issuing cease & desist orders against emulators designed to make HomeKit compatible with third-party products.
*Restricting compatibility of third party smart watches.

Apple is expected to go to trial in early 2027.<ref>{{cite web |last=Liedtke |first=Michael |date=2025-06-30 |title=Judge allows antitrust lawsuit against Apple to proceed |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-case-justice-department-664c187d7d09d57460076c7aa2f0c0bf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wip/2sRIS |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-07-14 |work=Associated Press}}</ref>

===European Union USB-C Directive 2022/2380===
As part of Directive (EU) 2022/2380, the EU mandated that all smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, and other portable electronic devices must utilize USB-C as a universal charging standard by the end of 2024, with laptops following by 2026. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-07 |title=Directive (EU) 2022/2380 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 amending Directive 2014/53/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment (Text with EEA relevance) |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022L2380 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eYlnR |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=EUR-Lex}}</ref>

This regulatory measure directly addresses consumer frustration with incompatible chargers types and aims to significantly reduce electronic waste. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-28 |title=USB-C-Standard: Schluss mit dem Kabelwirrwarr |url=https://www.zdfheute.de/wirtschaft/ladekabel-usb-c-standard-apple-entsorgung-elektroschrott-100.html |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=zdfheute}}</ref> The legislation allows manufacturers to unbundle chargers from devices, potentially saving consumers money, and ensures charging speed harmonization across compatible devices.

While Apple initially opposed the standardization, arguing that it would "stifle innovation rather than encourage it," the company ultimately conceded defeat, with Apple's head of marketing stating "we have no choice" regarding compliance. <ref name=":2" />

===European Digital Markets Act.===
This law forced many companies including Apple to change the way they operate to create a fairer competition. Read more about this law [[Digital Markets Act|here]].

====Changes Apple introduced iOS and iPadOS to comply with this law:====

*Introduced the ability to install applications from alternative marketplaces
*asks which browser and search engine should be the default one
*Developers now are allowed to publish in the EU browsers that do not use webkit

====Controversies:====

*Apple removed iPhone torrenting app iTorrent from alternative marketplace AltStore PAL, developer said that the access was revoked "without any warning". In a statement to The Verge, Apple spokesperson Peter Ajemian said, “Notarization for this app was removed in order to comply with government sanctions-related rules in various jurisdictions. We have communicated this to the developer.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=August 28, 2025 |title=Apple pulls iPhone torrent app from AltStore PAL in Europe |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/767344/apple-removes-itorrent-altstore-pal-ios-marketplace |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903102041/https://www.theverge.com/news/767344/apple-removes-itorrent-altstore-pal-ios-marketplace |archive-date=September 3, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

===Elon Musk Lawsuit===
In August of 2025, businessman Elon Musk accused Apple of engaging in anti-competitive practices by only allowing their AI program OpenAI to reach the top of the sales chart on Apple App Store. He announced his plan to sue Apple for this practice.<ref>{{cite web |last=Durden |first=Tyler |date=2025-08-12 |title=Musk Accuses Apple Of "Unequivocal Antitrust Violation" For Favoring OpenAI In App Store Rankings |url=https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/musk-accuses-apple-unequivocal-antitrust-violation-favoring-openai-app-store-rankings |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/G7191 |archive-date=2025-09-20 |access-date=2025-08-14 |work=ZeroHedge}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Apple Wallet F1 sponsored ad (1).jpg|Notification of the offer
File:Apple Wallet F1 sponsored ad (2).jpg|Home screen of Wallet app
File:Apple Wallet F1 sponsored ad (3).jpg|Apple Cash card screen
File:Apple Wallet F1 sponsored ad (4).PNG|Screen when selecting "learn more"
</gallery>

===Greenwashing===
Apple claims to be environmentally friendly and invests significant amounts of funds in corresponding PR campaigns,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Environment {{!}} Mother Nature |url=https://www.apple.com/environment/mother-nature/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gHV3A |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=Apple}}</ref>  but the reality is not quite as green.

Customers are lead to think that their purchases and frequent replacement of their devices do not have a negative impact on the environment, which is not the case.

In autumn of 2025, stricter EU regulations on misleading marketing claims and a lawsuite by German environmental and consumer protection non-profit organization ''Deutsche Umwelthilfe'' have forced Apple to remove their claim of carbon neutrality on several products on their EU websites. Affected products include the Apple Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 11.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwan |first=Ben |date=2025-11-26 |title=Wegen EU-Regeln: Apple zieht Klimaneutralitäts-Claim zurück [Due to EU regulations: Apple retracts claim of climate neutrality] |url=https://www.heise.de/news/Wegen-EU-Regeln-Apple-zieht-Klimaneutralitaets-Claim-zurueck-10711532.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/d2VmA |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-26 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>

====Green energy pooling====
Apple shares manufacturing capacity at Chinese/Taiwanese companies FoxConn and Pegatron with other companies. If Apple uses a hypothetical 20% of their manufacturing capacity, and company B, C, D, and E also each take up 20%, and the company doing the manufacturing runs on 20% renewably generated energy, now Apple as well as companies B, C, D, and E will each publicly claim that their manufacturing runs 100% on renewable energy. In other words, each company will claim the 20% renewable energy was used for ''their'' production.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gieselmann |first=Hartmut |date=2023 |title=Von wegen CO2-neutral – Umweltexperten werfen Apple Greenwashing vor |url=https://www.heise.de/select/ct/2023/23/2326512021124424489 |journal=c't Magazin für Computertechnik [Germany] |volume=2023 |issue=23 |pages=49}}</ref>

====CO<small>2</small> Certificates and forest projects====
…

====The packaging trick====
Apple, like many companies, regularly emphasises how environmentally friendly their packaging is and highlight advancements in this area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple 2030 – We’ve reduced our emissions by over 60% |url=https://www.apple.com/environment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Cor7F |archive-date=2025-09-10 |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=Apple}}</ref>

This deliberately distracts from the fact that only a negligible fraction of the environmental footprint of an electronic device comes from the packaging, as it is made of siginificant amounts or rare earth minerals, metals and mined components and consuming vast amounts of energy, water and fuel in manufacturing and transport.

Some of the environmental advancements touted by Apple could also be argued to be environmentally beneficial side effects of purely economic decisions aimed at maximizing profit, such as shipping iPhones without chargers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dragan |first=Lauren |date=2023-09-12 |title=iPhones No Longer Come With a Charger or Headphones. Here’s What to Get If You Need Them. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/iphone-12-charger-headphones-options/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/p33vb |archive-date=2025-10-26 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

====Shredding vast amounts of fully functional devices====
In 2020, it came to light that Apple had filed a lawsuit against a recycling company, revealing that 100,000 iPhones had been illegitimately shipped to China to be sold there instead of being shredded as had been agreed with Apple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=2024-04-24 |title=100,000 iPhones stolen instead of scrapped; Apple accused of shredding usable devices |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/18/100000-iphones-stolen-instead-of-scrapped/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/oLvMZ |archive-date=2024-08-28 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=9to5mac}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carrique |first=Felicitas |date=2020-10-04 |title=Apple sues recycling partner for reselling more than 100,000 iPhones, iPads, and Watches it was hired to dismantle |url=https://www.theverge.com/apple/2020/10/4/21499422/apple-sues-recycling-company-reselling-ipods-ipads-watches |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/YRqdf |archive-date=2020-10-04 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=The Verge}}</ref>

These devices were likely trade-in devices from people who received a discount on a new model in exchange. Bloomberg News writes, referring to the contract with the recycler:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Carr |first=Austin |date=2024-04-18 |title=What Really Happens When You Trade In an iPhone at the Apple Store |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-04-18/apple-iphone-recycling-program-has-secrets |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/bfc3Y |archive-date=2024-08-05 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Bloomberg}}</ref><blockquote>Even if the iPhones looked good enough for resale, Apple Inc.’s contract with GEEP (said with a hard “g”) explicitly required that every product it sent be destroyed.</blockquote>Used iPhone that are sold on the used market are a direct competition to new sales by Apple.

Apple likely does not want the public to know about these processes, since security seems to be tight around the shredding process:<blockquote>In some cases, Apple hired outside security consultants to escort trucks to its recyclers and monitor the destruction process, which the tech giant could further analyze through data reports charting scrap weights and commodity yields to ensure the input matched the output.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Carr |first=Austin |date=2025-03-17 |title=Apple Drops Lawsuit Against Recycler in Mystery of Missing iPhones |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-17/apple-drops-lawsuit-against-recycler-in-mystery-of-missing-iphones |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.ph/2LdNE |archive-date=2025-05-17 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Bloomberg News}}</ref></blockquote>Apple later retreated the lawsuit,<ref name=":1" /> leading to speculation that it wanted to avoid having to disclose how many devices they are really having shredded. 

====iPhone recycling robot mostly a publicity stunt====
The first iteration of Apple's iPhone recycling robot, designed for the iPhone 6, was never more than a publicity stunt, according to an article by Bloomberg:<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>Liam’s precision automation, however, proved a dead end. It could handle just one iPhone model, and not that well. If a device had corroded screws or sticky insides, the robot would glitch. A person familiar with the project estimates Liam could run for about 10 minutes without human intervention. Another person says Apple at times fed the robot still-functioning iPhones and, for media demos, cherry-picked cleaner units so it didn’t crash, suggesting Liam was geared more for promotion than scalability.</blockquote>The same article cites industry insider claiming that the new iteration of the robot is only able to recycle as many devices in a year as Apple sells in just 48 hours.<ref name=":0" />

Thus it is safe to assume that the vast majority of trade-in devices are simply shredded.

==Products==

*[[ICloud]]
*[[:Category:Apple IPhones|iPhone]]
*iPad
*Mac
*Apple Watch
*AirPods
*Apple TV
*Apple Vision
*Apple Pencil

==Software==

*[[Apple App Store]]
*[[Apple Gatekeeper]]
*[[Xcode]]

==See also==
{{Placeholder box|Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Apple]]

Anthem server shutdown

2026-01-07T21:51:43Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Electronic Arts, BioWare
|StartDate=2025-07-03
|Status=Active
|Product=Anthem (game)
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Service Termination
|Description=EA plans to shut down Anthem's always-online servers on January 12, 2026, rendering the game completely unplayable for all owners.
}}{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Missing responses section, both from EA (if any) and consumers|Issue 2=Fix the citations to follow standard formattting}}
On July 3, 2025, [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) and [[BioWare]] announced the "sunsetting", or server shutdown, of their video game ''[[Anthem]],'' with January 12, 2026, set as the shutdown date.<ref name=":0">https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/news/anthem-game-update</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hore |first=Jamie |date=Jul 3, 2025 |title=Anthem will soon die for good, as Bioware confirms a full server shut down |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/anthem/servers-shutting-down-bioware |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/GiJw7 |archive-date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=Jul 4, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref> Premium in-game currency was taken off sale on the same day as the announcement,<ref name=":0" /> and the game was removed from the [[EA Play]] and [[Xbox Game Pass Ultimate]] libraries on August 15, 2025.<ref name=":1">https://in.ign.com/bioware-edmonton-project/235520/news/ea-will-shut-down-anthem-in-january</ref> ''[[Anthem]]'' is an "online-only title", so the game will no longer be playable after sunset.<ref name=":0" />

==Background==
'''<big>Post-Release Trajectory</big>'''

''[[Anthem]]'' is an online multiplayer role-playing game (RPG) developed by [[BioWare]] and published by EA. The game was released on February 22, 2019,<ref>https://www.gamespot.com/articles/anthem-was-released-two-years-ago-a-quick-recap-of-its-history-and-what-could-come-next/1100-6487883/</ref> and had widely "lukewarm reviews",<ref name=":1" /> such as [https://in.ign.com/ IGN]'s 6.5/10 and [https://gameinformer.com Game Informer]'s 7/10.<ref>https://in.ign.com/bioware-edmonton-project</ref><ref name=":2">https://gameinformer.com/review/anthem/grinding-gears</ref> Due to this mixed reception, the game's sales failed to reach EA's March 2019 target of 5-6 million copies,<ref>https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/-i-anthem-i-fell-short-of-ea-s-sales-expectations</ref> only reaching the milestone in December 2023.<ref name=":1" /> Despite this, active development of the game continued, and a major update dubbed "Anthem 2.0" was announced to be in the works in October 2020.<ref name=":2" /> However, this update was cancelled and active development of the game was discontinued in February 2021 as [[BioWare]] shifted resources towards other projects.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

<big>'''Always-Online Functionality'''</big>

''[[Anthem]]'' was designed to be played with up to three other people online,<ref>https://www.ea.com/games/anthem</ref> so the game has dedicated centralized servers to allow this. Apart from that, the servers are also responsible for all other game operations, which includes single-player missions.<ref>https://anthem.fandom.com/wiki/Anthem</ref> This means that the functioning of the entire video game is completely dependent upon the operational status of these centralized servers, and that an Internet connection will always be required to play ''[[Anthem]]'', regardless of whether a person fully owns a copy of the game, be it physical or digital.
==Server shutdown==
The [[BioWare]] team posted an update on [https://www.ea.com/games/anthem ''Anthem''<nowiki/>'s website] on July 3, 2025, stating that the game will be sunset on January 12, 2026.<ref name=":0" /> In the FAQ section of the update, the team announced that the game would be removed from the [[EA Play]] library, which removes the game from the [[Xbox Game Pass Ultimate]] library by extension, on
===EA's Terms of Service===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}
==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Electronic Arts]]

Anthem

2026-01-07T21:50:33Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{StubNotice}}{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = Anthem
| Release Year =2019
| Product Type =Action, role-playing Video Game
| In Production =Yes
| Official Website =https://www.ea.com/games/anthem
| Logo =Anthem logo.png
}}'''''{{Wplink|Anthem (video game)|Anthem}}''''' is an always-online multiplayer action role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by [[Electronic Arts]] (EA). The game was released on February 22, 2019 on the PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One. On July 3, 2025, EA announced that Anthem's servers will be shut down on January 12, 2026.<ref name=":022">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-03 |title=Anthem Game Update |url=https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/news/anthem-game-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704091220/https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/news/anthem-game-update |archive-date=2025-07-04 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=EA}}</ref> As the title is exclusively online-only, the closure of the servers renders the game unplayable, even offline.<ref name=":022" />

==Consumer impact summary==
EA shutting down the game servers has led to consumers who've spent money and time on the game to no longer have access to the product they rightfully paid for, even for offline use. As a result of said actions, many consumers feel disdain towards the brand, their current and future offerings or the industry as a whole.

==Anthem Server Shutdown==

===Server shutdowns (''2025.07.03'')===
{{Main|Anthem Server Shutdown}}
On July 3, 2025, EA announced that the Anthem servers would be sunset on January 12, 2026. Since the game was designed to require connection to the Anthem servers, the game would become unplayable following the shutdown of the servers. According to the terms of service that all consumers must agree to in order to play the game, this action by EA to revoke the purchase from the consumer is legal and permissible so long as 30 days notice was provided.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ELECTRONIC ARTS USER AGREEMENT |url=https://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBTERMS/US/en/PC/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/dW0Zg |archive-date=21 Sep 2024 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tos.ea.com}}</ref>

==Further reading==
*[https://consumerrights.wiki/Ubisoft#The_Crew_shutdown The Crew shutdown]
*[[Stop Killing Games]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts]]

Anova Culinary

2026-01-07T21:49:41Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Lack of citations|Issue 2=Insufficient references|Issue 3=Contains original research/opinions|Issue 4=Needs elaboration}}{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type =Subsidiary
| Founded =2013
| Industry =Small appliances, Kitchenware
| Official Website =https://www.anovaculinary.com/
| Logo =Anova.svg
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Anova_Culinary|Anova Culinary]]''', registered as '''Anova Applied Electronics, Inc.''', is a company headquartered in San Francisco that specializes in smart kitchen appliances designed for home cooking. Their product range includes devices such as sous-vide cookers, combination ovens, and vacuum sealers. In 2014, Anova introduced the Anova Precision Cooker, which claims to be the first sous-vide cooking device with Bluetooth connectivity, followed by a Wi-Fi-enabled version in 2015.

In 2014, Anova introduced The Anova Precision Oven, a countertop combi oven designed to function independently as a sous-vide solution or in conjunction with existing "Precision Cooker" products. It has both steam and convection cooking functions.

==Consumer impact summary==
The company attempted to perform a [[Bait-and-switch| bait and switch]] on the consumers who purchased devices that provided free access to their app reversing course following backlash. In addition because they do not provide connectivity to their app via common models, requiring use of their servers they inadventenlty limit the usefull life of their products by how long they are willing to support them.

==Incidents==

===Always-online Oven with cloud dependency===
Instead of connecting locally through common models like Bluetooth or WiFi-based solutions such as mDNS/Bonjour, all app functionality requires that the Oven is connected through the Anova's Firebase instance.{{citation needed}}

===Anova Oven App Subscription Model===
In 2024 (notably, shortly prior to the release of the Anova Precision Oven 2) Anova announced that they would be switching the app to a subscription model. This meant that any previously created or used recipe programmes would now require a paid account to activate.

The company later partially back-tracked on this, by allowing existing owners of the Anova Precision Oven 1 to be grandfathered under the previously free model. New purchases of the Anova Precision Oven 1 or version 2 model will still be subject to the new subscription model.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Svajian |first=Stephen |date=15 Aug 2024 |title=Update: Existing Users Grandfathered in; New Users will Pay a Small App Subscription Fee |url=https://anovaculinary.com/en-it/blogs/blog/update-existing-users-grandfathered-in-new-users-will-pay-a-small-app-subscription-fee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/8ld2N |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Anova Culinary]]}}</ref>

===Anova Precision Oven 1 faulty connections in handle===
Many Reddit users have reported that the oven's touch display can become unfunctional due to broken cables in the door handle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PINNED: Please post your major issues with Anova Precision Oven (APO) here |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/CombiSteamOvenCooking/comments/1epqz1r/comment/m7vghla/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/O6lve |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=My Anova Precision Oven display just failed - what's next |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/CombiSteamOvenCooking/comments/1997qhr/my_anova_precision_oven_display_just_failed_whats/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/RsC7S |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Buzzing and unresponsive handle :( |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/AnovaPrecisionOven/comments/190hbyw/buzzing_and_unresponsive_handle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/RA6Vv |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=Aug 2024 |title=My APO died after only 3 years - your thoughts |url=https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/my-apo-died-after-only-3-years-your-thoughts/33287 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/QPpv4 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Anova Culinary]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Self-destructive design]]
*[[Bait-and-switch]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Service Siphoning]]

Android System SafetyCore

2026-01-07T21:34:19Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{Incomplete|Issue 1= The incident is based mostly on speculation and (warranted) suspiciousness with Google's actions. More sources are needed or change of scope/deletion of the incident.|Issue 2= This is currently formatted as a product page, it may be a candidate to turn into an incident}}

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Release Year =2025
| Product Type =Software
| In Production =Yes
| Official Website =N/A
| Logo =SafetyCore.png
}}
Android System SafetyCore is an app developed and released by [[Google]] for the [[Android]] platform. According to [[Google]] the software provides locally-run nudity censoring for any Android devices running version 9 (pie) or later.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=22 Oct 2024 |title=5 new protections on Google Messages to help keep you safe |url=https://security.googleblog.com/2024/10/5-new-protections-on-google-messages.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/dm3il |archive-date=25 Feb 2025 |access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=Google Security Blog}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
User Freedom: Can be uninstalled, however a lack of communication and difficulty to find the installed app should call this freedom into question.

User Privacy: Claimed to "only scan files sent on messages app"<ref name=":0" />

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the
[[Category:Android| Arndroid category]]
.
===Installation without informed consent (January 22, 2025)===
In January 22, 2025, Google quietly rolled out Android System SafetyCore to all Android devices. The installation of the program neither informed consumers that it was installed, nor did it request consumers to install it onto their devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thitu |first=Naftary |date=10 Feb 2025 |title=Rogue or Safe App? Unmasking Android System SafetyCore |url=https://techweez.com/2025/02/07/hidden-guardian-or-unwanted-intruder-unmasking-android-system-safetycore/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/5JKhZ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=techweez}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Android System SafetyCore |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1iih2ll/android_system_safetycore/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ZjwW6 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This additionally bypassed any features consumers have enabled that blocks installations of programs without consumer approval first.

Due to a lack of both transparency or open sourcing, it has brought significant amounts of concern from consumers, especially those who work in tech security. <ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Feb 2025 |title=Android System SafetyCore: Hidden Installation and What You Should Know |url=https://www.protectstar.com/en/blog/android-system-safetycore-hidden-installation-and-what-you-should-know |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OpWu5 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=ProtectStar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guys help some app called android system safetycore installed automatically |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1gpdhwz/guys_help_some_app_called_android_system/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/pXKT3 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@dancytron |date=8 Feb 2025 |title=Android System SafetyCore |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1gpdhwz/guys_help_some_app_called_android_system/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/pXKT3 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=Puppy Linux Discussion Forum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@Phosphate5 |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=Android System SafetyCore is being silently installed on android devices |url=https://forum.artixlinux.org/index.php/topic,7782.msg46658.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FJ9R5 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=Artix Linux Forum}}
</ref> With [[Google]] directly stating that the program scans photos that are sent on the messages app, it has set a precedent for this concern as well, since malicious actors or [[Google]] themselves could theoretically hijack this product for illicit purposes, such as setting the app to scan for more than just mature photos, or scanning files beyond just what the messages app is allowed.

This lack of transparency has been also cited as a concern from GrapheneOS maintainers, stating that because it is not open source, they will not be including the app inside their operating system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@GrapheneOS |date=8 Feb 2025 |title=The functionality provided by Google's new Android System SafetyCore app |url=https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/1888280836426084502?mx=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/pZc6v |archive-date=6 Nov 2025 |access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Android]]
*[[Google]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Android]]

Android data collection

2026-01-07T21:11:03Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

This article addresses the manner in which Android phones share personal user information with [[Google]], usually in a complete user unaware and unapproved way, and the legal consequences Google has endured for deceptive practices in users' location tracking.

==Background==
'''[[Android]]''', the global top mobile operating system,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/kSdCi |archive-date=4 Dec 2025 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[StatCounter]]}}</ref> is used to power billions of devices globally. Tests have shown that Android phones with [[Google Mobile Services|Google services]] transmit user data to Google on multiple occasions even when users try to restrict sharing of data via settings. This has encouraged increasing alarm over user privacy, transparency, and personal data control.

A study found that data collection happens without any chance to opt out even before the user has even opened their first app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Connor |date=4 Mar 2025 |title=How Google tracks Android device users before they've even opened an app |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/04/google_android/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vVvzw |archive-date=4 Mar 2025 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=The Register}}</ref>

Moreover, most phone vendors do their own tracking on top and pre-install so-called [[bloatware]] in exchange for payment from the respective company, such as social media and shopping apps (Facebook, TikTok, Aliexpress, eBay, …), which transmit data in the background without user consent even if the apps are never even opened and the user never agreed to their TOS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trinity College Dublin |date=October 11, 2021 |title=Study reveals scale of data-sharing from Android mobile phones |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-reveals-scale-data-sharing-android-mobile.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/CX9RV |archive-date=12 Oct 2021 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=TechXplore}}</ref>

==Data sharing with Google==
A research examined the frequency of data sharing between Google and Android phones with Google services.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Leith |first=Douglas J. |date=25 Mar 2021 |title=Mobile Handset Privacy: Measuring The Data iOS and Android Send to Apple And Google |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/apple_google.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/2ycdM |archive-date=6 Oct 2021 |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> The research showed that even if an Android phone is set to minimal setting and left on its own, it shares data with Google on average every 4.5 minutes. The shared data includes sensitive information like:

*IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)

*Hardware serial number
*SIM serial number and IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity)
*Handset phone number

In addition, Google services on Android sends telemetry data to Google even when customers directly decline to have their data collected. For instance, each time a SIM card is inserted into the device, Google services sends its information to Google automatically.

Data exchanged with Google by Google Messages and Google Dialer applications on an Android smartphone was also researched.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leith |first=Douglas J. |date=28 Feb 2022 |title=What Data Do The Google Dialer and Messages Apps On Android Send to Google? |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/privacyofdialerandsmsapps.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gtRKo |archive-date=14 Mar 2022 |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> These applications report to Google whenever messages are being sent/received or calls are being received/made. Precisely:

*Google Messages sends a message text hash so Google can match the sender and receiver in a message exchange.
*Google Dialer also transmits call time and call duration to Google for linking both devices for a call.
*Both of the apps forward phone numbers to Google.
*Both user interaction timing and duration with both apps are also forwarded to Google in addition to the above.

No exemption option exists in the data transmission. Data comes through two pathways:

#The [[wikipedia:Google_Play_Services|Google Play Services]] Clearcut logger.
#Google/Firebase Analytics.

===Location History Lawsuit===
Google misled some Android users into thinking that the setting titled “Location History” was the only Google account setting that affected whether the company collected, kept and used personally identifiable data about their location. In fact, another account setting titled “Web & App Activity” also enabled Google to collect, store and use personally identifiable location data when it was turned on, and that setting was turned on by default.

For this, Google was sued in the United States<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=14 Nov 2022 |title=Google will pay $391M to settle Android location tracking lawsuit |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-will-pay-391m-to-settle-android-location-tracking-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/riwh9 |archive-date=15 Nov 2022 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[BleepingComputer]]}}</ref> and in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2022 |title=Google LLC to pay $60 million for misleading representations |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/google-llc-to-pay-60-million-for-misleading-representations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Jn1fd |archive-date=17 Aug 2022 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ACCC]]}}</ref>

==Privacy respecting alternatives==
Not many alternatives are available to users for completely avoiding this data sharing. Attempts to disable data collection via settings, Android integration with Google services does make it impossible to fully discontinue the passing on of person and device details.<ref name=":0" />

The use of [[wikipedia:List_of_custom_Android_distributions|custom ROMs]] or privacy-focused applications, do cut down on sharing data, these are likely to require technical know-how and are not necessarily in the hands of the average user.

In general, Google services which are the source of most of the data collection serve two functions:

#Application dependencies, like network location services, debugging tooling, advertising services etc.
#Application distribution

A privacy replacing alternative should therefore have an alternative for these functions.

Perhaps the only Google -free alternate configuration comprises of MicroG applications, which is an open source reimplementation of Google services. It provides necessary dependencies so that most of the applications which depend on Google services can function on a device without those Google services.

As for application distribution, few alternate channels, such as F-droid and Aurora Store exists.

[https://murena.com/ Murena], Fairphone and [https://iode.tech/ Iodé] sells devices pre-installed with de-googled Android based on LineageOS and MicroG, making privacy friendly Android phones accessible to non-technical users. However, the operating system called /e/ on Murena devices has a history of not always addressing security vulnerabilities in a timely manner<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duval |first=Gael |date=Sep 2023 |title=Some clarification regarding security vs privacy in /e/OS |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/some-clarification-regarding-security-vs-privacy-in-e-os/51839 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/APVqP |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[e]]}}</ref>. However the situation is still much better than the millions of phones in active use that no longer get manufacturer support.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Android]]
[[Category:Data collection]]

Ancestry.com

2026-01-07T21:04:45Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{incomplete|Issue 1=This need work to fit the [[Template:CompanyPreload|company article format]]|Issue 2= The section regarding the data leak is empty}}

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = Ancestry.com
| Release Year = 1996
| Product Type = Genealogy
| In Production = Yes
| Official Website = https://ancestry.com/
| Logo = Ancestry.svg
}}

[[wikipedia:Ancestry.com|'''Ancestry.com''']], owned by [[wikipedia:Blackstone_Inc.|The Blackstone Group]], is a genealogy company based in the US, known for its DNA testing and family trees.

==Consumer impact summary==

===Business Practices===
'''Strict cancellation rules:'''

14-day window to avoid cancellation fees ($25–$50).

===Privacy===
'''2-year data breach (2015–2017):'''

Credentials leaked via RootsWeb; some of them reused on Ancestry. Exposed data remained public for years.

==Anti-consumer practices==

===Cancellation policy===
Ancestry.com may charge a cancellation fee for "Subscriptions Longer than a Month, Billed Monthly" if users do not cancel within the first 14 days.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 Dec 2025 |title=Ancestry Renewal and Cancellation Terms |url=https://www.ancestry.com/c/legal/renewal-cancellation-terms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251011193700/https://www.ancestry.com/c/legal/renewal-cancellation-terms |archive-date=11 Oct 2025 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Ancestry}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Jun 2023 |title=Cancelation fee ? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/AncestryDNA/comments/14jqeu9/cancelation_fee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cUe64 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=9 Aug 2025 |website=Reddit |via=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

<blockquote>
Where offered, some subscriptions longer than a month may be eligible for monthly billing. Even though you will be billed monthly, you are committing to the entire length of your subscription (e.g. 6 months or 12 months).

…

(1) cancel immediately for a full refund of the first month’s fee and immediate loss of access, or (2) cancel effective at the end of the first month, subject to a cancellation fee. If you change from this type of subscription to a different type of subscription before the end of your subscription term, you will receive a prorated refund for the remainder of the current paid month, and you may be charged a cancellation fee. For subscriptions purchased on www.ancestry.com, cancellation fees are the lesser of (i) $25 USD for 6-month subscriptions or $50 USD for 12-month subscriptions (plus any applicable taxes) or (ii) the remaining cost of your subscription
</blockquote>
Ancestry's older price pages showed an offer which followed these cancellation terms, along with a citation showing the commitment, but this offer has since been removed from the page.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 Dec 2025 |title=Become a member |url=https://www.ancestry.com/offers/subscribe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824032751/https://www.ancestry.com/offers/subscribe |archive-date=2024-08-24 |access-date=2 Dec 2025 |website=Ancestry}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Data Breach (2015)===
RootsWeb, an Ancestry service, suffered a significant data breach: a file containing the access data of 297.8 thousand users has been publicly accessible on their server from November 2015 to December 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ancestry |url=https://haveibeenpwned.com/breach/Ancestry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mgqKd |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=9 Aug 2025 |website=haveibeenpwned.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 Feb 2024 |title=What happened in the Ancestry data breach? |url=https://www.twingate.com/blog/tips/ancestry-data-breach |archive-url=https://archive.ph/pxd1Y |archive-date=10 Nov 2024 |access-date=9 Aug 2025 |website=Twingate}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Spring |first=Tom |date=27 Dec 2017 |title=Leaky RootsWeb Server Exposes Some Ancestry.com User Data |url=https://threatpost.com/leaky-rootsweb-server-exposes-some-ancestry-com-user-data/129248/ |archive-url=https://archive.ph/XP0Ch |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=9 Aug 2025 |website=threatpost}}</ref> The company published a security update on the official website, now unavailable, stating that they temporarely shut down RootsWeb and locked all the compromised Ancestry accounts, requiring users to change their passwords.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blackham |first=Tony |date=23 Dec 2017 |title=RootsWeb Security Update |url=https://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2017/12/23/rootsweb-security-update/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227232406/https://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2017/12/23/rootsweb-security-update/ |archive-date=27 Dec 2017 |access-date=9 Aug 2025 |website=Ancestry}}</ref> Below is part of the full statement:<blockquote>We want to share an important security update with you.

Last Wednesday, December 20, Ancestry’s Information Security Team received a message from a security researcher indicating that he had found a file containing email addresses/username and password combinations as well as user names from a RootsWeb.com server. Our Information Security Team reviewed the details of this file, and confirmed that it contains information related to users of Rootsweb’s surname list information, a service we retired earlier this year. For those of you who are unfamiliar, RootsWeb is a free community-driven collection of tools that are used by some people to host and share genealogical information. Ancestry has been hosting dedicated RootsWeb servers as a favor to the community since 2000. Importantly, RootsWeb does not host sensitive information like credit card numbers or social security numbers, and is not supported by the same infrastructure as Ancestry’s other brands. We are in the process of informing all impacted customers and will also be working with regulators and law enforcement as appropriate.

We also reviewed the RootsWeb file to see if any of the account information overlapped with existing accounts on Ancestry sites. We did confirm that a very small number of accounts – less than one percent of our total customer group – used the same account credentials on both Rootsweb and an Ancestry commercial site. We are currently contacting these customers.

In all cases, any user whose account had its associated email/username and password included on the file has had their accounts locked and will need to create a new password the next time they visit.

'''What We’ve Done'''

As a result of this discovery, we have taken two immediate corrective actions.

First, for the approximately 55,000 customers who used the same credentials at RootsWeb’s surname list and Ancestry – whether currently active or not – we have locked their Ancestry accounts and will require that they create a new password the next time they visit. We have also sent them emails to alert them to the situation. Though we have seen no activity that indicates these accounts have been compromised, we believe taking this additional measure is the right step to ensure the security of these customers. If you have not received an email or a notice requiring you to change your password, you have not been affected. Again, this issue involves less than one percent of our users, so there is a very good chance your account wasn’t involved.

Second, we have temporarily taken RootsWeb offline, and are working to ensure that all data is saved and preserved to the best of our ability. As RootsWeb is a free and open community that has been largely built by its users, we may not be able to salvage everything as we work to resolve this issue and enhance the RootsWeb infrastructure.

'''What You Should Do'''

If you are a customer whose account was impacted, you will receive an email telling you that you need to change your password. In that case, you will be required to create a new password the next time you visit Ancestry.

For the vast majority of customers who are not impacted by this, there is nothing you need to do as a result of this incident. However, we always recommend that you take the time to evaluate your own security settings. Please, never use the same username and password for multiple services or sites. And it’s generally good practice to use longer passwords and to change them regularly.</blockquote>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Blackstone]]

Amazon PhotosPlus discontinuation

2026-01-07T20:55:29Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

Amazon PhotosPlus was a subscription-based service that offered users the ability to display their chosen photos on their devices as the "primary content." Additionally, it provided 25 GB of Amazon Photos storage, and cost $2 per month. Announced in October 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sobolewski-Kiwerski |first=Adrian |date=18 Oct 2023 |title=What is Amazon PhotosPlus and what devices does it work with? |url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/what-is-amazon-photosplus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DvhFG |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Pocket-lint}}</ref> [[Amazon]] sent an email informing its users that it was discontinuing the service,<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wheelsee |date=20 Aug 2024 |title=@smarthomemama @verge @reckless1280 @imdavidpierce well can’t say I didn’t see this coming. Amazon removing the key feature of the Amazon Echo 8 Show photo edition. |url=https://www.threads.net/@wheelsee/post/C-58LrqSbYW?xmt=AQGzdSySswLxRPEtQdHvzY0PMn5k0eXCG2lzMqmc0irZoIQ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ymTg8 |archive-date=27 Aug 2024 |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Threads}}</ref> cancelling it on September 12, 2024. This event has been described as having features which match the definition of a [[retroactively amended purchase]].<ref name="foo">{{Cite web |last=Pattison Tuohy |first=Jennifer |date=29 Sep 2023 |title=Amazon will charge you to use its new Echo Show 8 as a digital photo frame |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/22/23885332/amazon-echo-show-8-photos-edition-digital-frame-price-fee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/dt8SA |archive-date=24 Sep 2023 |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref>

==Background==
The Amazon Echo Show 8 was a Digital Frame, which launched at $149.99. For $10 more, customers could get the Amazon Echo Show 8 Photos Edition, which included 6 months of PhotosPlus and the ability to display photos as the "primary" content. Amazon spokesperson Courtney Ramirez<ref name="foo" /> confirmed that "Occasionally, Alexa will provide content suggestions based on a customer's interest. However, photos will remain the primary content."

===Features===
The Photos Edition with a PhotosPlus subscription offered several specific features that made it stand out:
*Photos would rotate every 30 seconds indefinitely
*Photos remained primary content without switching to advertisements
*25 GB of Amazon Photos storage included with the subscription
*The ability to remotely add new photos to the device

==Discontinuation of service less than a year after release==
In March 2024, Amazon discontinued the sale of the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=21 Aug 2024 |title=Amazon cancels the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition’s main feature — focusing on photos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/21/24225149/amazon-end-photosplus-subscription-echo-show-8-photos-edition |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Ked4V |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Five months later, in August 2024, Amazon announced the end of the PhotosPlus subscription service.

[[File:Amazon_PhotosPlus_Discontinuation_Notice_2024.jpg|thumb|300px|Amazon's email notification to PhotosPlus customers announcing the service discontinuation, sent August 2024.]]

After Amazon cancelled the PhotosPlus service, the Amazon Echo Show 8 Photos Edition became functionally identical to the standard Amazon Echo Show 8,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heinzman |first=Andrew |date=21 Aug 2024 |title=Amazon’s $160 Digital Photo Frame Will Soon Be Filled With Ads |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/amazon-cancels-photosplus-subscription/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Pfwoz |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=How-To-Geek}}</ref> with users forced to view advertisements and promotional content after three hours of photo display.

==Customer response==
The discontinuation caused substantial customer backlash,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amazon discontinuing the Photos part of the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/1ex6ar4/amazon_discontinuing_the_photos_part_of_the_echo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gNVyA |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> particularly because:
*Customers had paid a premium ($10) for hardware that would lose its primary distinguishing feature of avoiding ads
*The product lifecycle had lasted less than one year
*No refunds or compensation were offered for the hardware premium
*No alternative was provided for viewers wanting to avoid ads on their photo display

===Workarounds===
After discontinuation, Amazon suggested two alternatives for photo display, neither of which replicated the original functionality:
*Using the standard photo frame feature by saying, "Alexa, start Photo Frame"
*Accessing photos through Settings > Clock & Photo Display

While users kept access to their 25 GB of Amazon Photos storage, the devices defaulted to showing ads and promotions after three hours of photo display, which removed the primary reason customers had chosen the Photos Edition variant.

==References==

[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Discontinued products]]
[[Category:Discontinued subscription services]]
[[Category:Articles based on videos]]
[[Category:Service Siphoning]]

<references />

Amazon

2026-01-07T20:44:54Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1994
| Industry = Technology
| Logo = Amazon.svg
| ParentCompany =
| Type = Public
| Website = https://amazon.com/
| Description = Major e-commerce platform which has allowed fraudulent listings, removed functionality and purchased products from Kindle devices, and more.
}}

[[wikipedia:Amazon_(company)|'''Amazon.com, Inc.''']] is a global leader in e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital streaming founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos. Originally launched as an online bookstore, Amazon quickly expanded into a marketplace offering a wide range of products, including - but not limited to - electronics, clothing, household goods, and groceries. Today, it is one of the largest companies in the world, with a dominant presence in retail, technology, and logistics.

In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon is a major player in cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS), which provides cloud infrastructure and services to businesses globally. The company also offers a variety of digital services, such as Amazon Prime - which provides streaming video and music - and Alexa; its voice-activated virtual assistant. Amazon has also developed consumer products like the Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, and Echo smart speakers.

Amazon has faced significant scrutiny and criticism, particularly concerning its treatment of workers, marketplace practices, data privacy issues, and its impact on small businesses. It has been involved in various regulatory and legal challenges related to anti-competitive behavior, safety, and consumer protection, with calls for increased oversight on its business operations.

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User Freedom
* User Privacy
* Business Model
* Market Control}}

====Business Model====
Amazon gets a majority of its revenue from seller fees and Amazon Prime memberships. In addition, Amazon has a "subscribe and save" option for some products. With this, the page to manage these subscriptions is obfuscated for the user, intentional or not.

<gallery>
File:Amazon Subscribe and Save Example.jpg|No "subscribe and save" option available
File:Amazon Subscribe and Save Example (1).jpg|The option appears in the "buy again" section.
</gallery>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this company. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:Amazon|Amazon category]].
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Controversy
!Year
!Background info
!Aftermath
!Related article
!Related video(s)
|-
|Amazon removing kindle books from old devices.
|2025
|As of May 26, 2025 Kindle for Android app versions released prior to March 2022 (v8.51 or earlier) no longer support Kindle content downloads.
|Old android devices (such as Galaxy Tab 4) that are not compatible with Android OS v.9.0+ are no longer able to download Kindle ebooks. Furthermore, Amazon 'forcibly' removed any ebooks downloaded to the kindle app on those devices the next time they connected to the internet, without warning that this would occur.
|https://www.androidauthority.com/kindle-app-drm-loophole-3554844/
|
|-
|Amazon removing ability to download Kindle books
|2025
|Starting on February 26, 2025, Amazon removed a feature from its website allowing users to download purchased books to a computer and then copy them manually to a Kindle over USB.
|Starting February 26, 2025, the ‘Download & Transfer via USB’ option will no longer be available.
|[[Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books]]
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMoCzeGnIss '''Amazon are changing the way you own your Kindle books - you have 10 days to react''']
<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=18 Feb 2025 |title=Amazon revokes the concept of owning books, can edit books you already bought; PIRACY IS THE ANSWER! |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=XfcoUdWCB9M |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon sells lethal litterboxes
|2024
|Amazon sold knockoffs of Whisker brand "Litter-Robot" litterboxes that were designed in a unsafe way that led to the deaths of multiple cats, and posed a danger to young children.
|The responsible knockoff product was delisted, yet many other variants of the same product exist on the site.
|
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=10 Sep 2024 |title=Amazon litterbox fatally harms cat; this is the sad end result of what I've talked about all year :( |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=p6Y19nSPvC4 |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon adds ads to premium subscription
|2023 – Present
|Amazon added advertisements to previously ad free subscriptions for Prime Video and Echo Show frames.
|Continues to occur.
|
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=26 Aug 2024 |title=Amazon charges extra to avoid ads, says "lol jk" & adds them anyway |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=RSi6g5-xUaY |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2 May 2024 |title=Amazon Hikes Profits by Forcing Ads on PAID Prime Subscribers |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=ua_QL9YysHQ |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=28 Dec 2023 |title=Ads on Amazon Prime Video: Paying More for Less? 😒 |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=VLFpU9aqtXc |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon allows fraudulent listings
|2014 – Present
|
|Fraudulent listings continue to be added, some removed.
|[[Amazon allows fraudulent product page after manual review]]
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=5 Aug 2024 |title=Amazon allows fraudulent product page after manual review! Deep dive on Amazon's support of scams |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=qZCMislL6_I |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=14 Jan 2024 |title=Amazon's Reckless Bet: Hazardous Items Unfazed by Viral Scare |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=7trdHLtsFKM |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=30 Dec 2023 |title=Amazon Sells Fake Electrical Fuses |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=21 Dec 2023 |title=Amazon's Illusion of Quality: How Dangerous Products Get Top Ratings! |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=DiKflg8Uko4 |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=16 Dec 2023 |title=Amazon Sells Dangerous Electrical Crimps |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=y83BS_mK9GE |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=5 Aug 2023 |title=Amazon sells EOL devices as new after banning independents for quality control 🤣 |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=Rhb0ID9z4aE |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=24 Feb 2022 |title=Amazon has a credibility problem brewing |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=XZNn2mO3dNQ |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=24 Apr 2014 |title=Group Vertical eBay/Amazon Macbook screens are garbage; see for yourself! |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=C0YNLWdj9sQ |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon allows sellers to bribe customers for better ratings
|2016 – Present
|Amazon sellers give customers gift cards in exchange for positive product reviews; Amazon does nothing to stop this.
|Continues to occur.
|[[Amazon's history of seller bribery]]
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=16 Jul 2024 |title=Amazon sellers bribe customers for good reviews; Amazon does nothing |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=eS698R-bxuc |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon has bad marketplace algorithms
|2023 – Present
|
|Algorithms still seem to be nonbeneficial.
|
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=4 Jan 2024 |title=Beyond Algorithms: Why Amazon's Automated Systems Fail Sellers & Customers |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=tAaSXz8CBMc |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon trashes refurbished market
|2022–2023
|
|Unknown
|
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=18 Jul 2023 |title=Apple & Amazon pay a fine for trashing the refurbished market |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=h3qgbvq2SWs |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=8 Sep 2022 |title=eBay follows amazon's lead, consolidating & destroying the refurbished marketplace |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=qzUXmeaZsIQ |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon cancels associate account after recent negative media coverage, with a different reason
|2023
|
|Unknown
|
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=22 Jun 2023 |title=Amazon cancelled my account after exposing their wrongful lockout of a paying customer |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kcohq313q00 |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon wrongfully suspends account of home owner
|2023
|A home owner was locked out of their Amazon account for nearly a week, after a delivery driver from Amazon misheard an automated message from their Eufy doorbell.
|Account reinstated.
|[[Amazon locks home owner out of Amazon account over allegation by Amazon delivery driver|Amazon locks home owner out of amazon account over allegation by amazon delivery driver]]
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=18 Jun 2023 |title=Man locked out of amazon account over his doorbell gets account back, but no apology |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=SyEgD-5GK9c |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=12 Jun 2023 |title=Amazon accuses customer of racism & shuts down their smart home - enough cloud junk |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon engages in anticompetitive behavior
|2021–2022
|
|Unknown
|
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=18 Sep 2022 |title=Amazon forces sellers to keep prices high on other platforms |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=YBJoSGWdP0Y |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=26 Oct 2021 |title=Amazon copying products/rigging search results |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=XCLx4mVJ4gk |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon sells fake electrical fuses
|2023
|Fuses are being sold that do not blow when supplied more power than it is intended to handle, which is a major safety risk.
|These fuses are still being sold to this day.
|[[Amazon allows fraudulent product page after manual review! Deep dive on Amazons support of scams]]
|<ref group="Video References">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=30 Dec 2023 |title=Amazon Sells Fake Electrical Fuses |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref>
|-
|Amazon PhotosPlus discontinuation
|2024
|
|Since September 2024, it is no longer possible to use the Amazon Echo Show 8 as a digital frame without advertisements.
|[[Amazon PhotosPlus Discontinuation]]
|
|-
|Amazon uses [[dark patterns]] for its premium subscription
|2023 – Present
|Systematically designing the cancelling steps to be complicated and long; using tricks to kidnap users into the subscription.<ref>{{cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=FTC Takes Action Against Amazon for Enrolling Consumers in Amazon Prime Without Consent and Sabotaging Their Attempts to Cancel |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129015417/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |archive-date=2025-01-29 |website=Federal Trade Commission |url-status=live}}</ref> See "Project Illiad".
|Continues to occur.
|
|
|-
|Amazon removes option to lend Kindle e-books
|2022
|E-books marked with "lending enabled" could be lent to other Kindle users for a period of time during which the title is unavailable to the sender.
|Since August 2022, it is not possible to borrow Kindle books.
|
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAvFmnuZZMI '''Amazon Discontinues Lending Kindle e-Books''']
|-
|Amazon removes option not to send voice recordings from Echo devices
|2025
|In March 2025, Echo customers with the option "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" enabled received an e-mail that local processing will no longer be supported on their device.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-18 |title=TechLinked – Microsoft’s Big Oopsie – Echo voice recordings, Gemini watermarks |url=https://youtu.be/DhXH83O6pXc?t=268 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=YouTube – TechLinked}}</ref>
|
|[[Amazon Echo changes terms of voice usage]]
|
|-
|Amazon discontinues Appstore for Android devices
|2025
|On August 20, 2025, Amazon will remove Android devices' access to the Amazon Appstore.
|Android apps downloaded through the Amazon Appstore will cease to function.
|[[Amazon revokes access to their Appstore on non-Amazon devices|Amazon pulls the plug on its Android app store that you never used anyway]]
|
|-
|Amazon fights against unionization
|1994 - Present
|Ever since its creation, Amazon has demonstrated anti-union efforts. This has even gone to the point of being in the training videos for employees, invoking fear in any who resist this corporate hold.
|
|
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRpwVwFxyk4 Amazon trains against unionizing]
[https://newlaborforum.cuny.edu/2021/11/15/crushing-unions-by-any-means-necessary-how-amazons-blistering-anti-union-campaign-won-in-bessemer-alabama/ Article on Anti-unionism of Amazon]
|-
|Amazon removes kindle books from user libraries.
|2009
|In 2009, Amazon removed 2 illegally published books, Animal Farm and 1984, from sale and user libraries, along with any notes and annotations made by the reader. Others have also reported missing books from their libraries.
|Those affected have been given refunds and there haven't been any further documented cases of books being removed from readers' libraries, although user reports are still prevalent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=A |first=Georgie |date=13 Nov 2022 |title=Bought books removed by Amazon. |url=https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000ALx14HSQR/bought-books-removed-by-amazon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Z2ov3 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=Amazon}}</ref>
|[https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/technology/companies/18amazon.html Amazon Erases Orwell Books From Kindle]
|
|-
|Amazon purposely delays assisting customers with lost packages
|2025
|Amazon has been found delaying assistance to customers who contact customer service to report issues with a order (i.e., a missing package). Amazon states they are unable to take any action until a certain date, delaying the resolution process further in hopes the customer will not contact them again to request a refund.
|Unknown
|
|
|-
|Amazon adds ads on the lockscreen's of Amazon Fire Tablets & Amazon Kindle
|2012 - Present
|Amazon shows ads on both the Kindle & Fire Tablets lockscreen's to get money out of your purchases makes you pay a fee to remove them. This only applies to the cheaper models.
|This practice still occurs, but is very easy to remove through a quick search.
|[https://xdaforums.com/t/windows-linux-tool-fire-toolbox-v42-1.3889604/ Fire Toolbox]
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=T70xcAGUDQ4cR5PwPR Learn More About Ads On Kindle Fire and Fire Tablet - Amazon]
|
|}

==Products==

===Amazon Kindle (2007–Present)===
Amazon has progressively removed options for products purchased through the Kindle, effectively changing the meaning of purchases and ownership. It first removed the ability of users to lend e-books to one another, and later removed the ability to download purchased e-books to a computer.

===Amazon PhotosPlus (2023–2024)===
Amazon sold physical devices that could displaying photos stored in its Amazon Photos cloud storage through its PhotosPlus service. Less than one year later, it cancelled the service, which [[Retroactively amended purchase|changed the functionality]] of the devices, including showing advertisements every few hours.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=21 Aug 2024 |title=Amazon cancels the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition’s main feature — focusing on photos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/21/24225149/amazon-end-photosplus-subscription-echo-show-8-photos-edition |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Ked4V |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref>

===Amazon Prime (2005–Present)===
Amazon uses [[dark patterns]] for its subscription services, including tricking users into subscribing and making it very complicated to cancel. Moreover, some features of the service, such as free deliveries, are region locked to where you initially subscribed, forcing you to buy another subscription to be able to use the service.{{CitationNeeded}}

===Amazon Appstore (2011–Present)===
Amazon Appstore is the primary app store for Amazon's Fire devices, and is also available on other Android devices. On August 20, 2025, Amazon has removed access to the app store for all non-Fire devices. Apps installed on non-Fire devices from the Amazon Appstore have ceased to function but Fire devices are still to be able to access the Amazon Appstore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doffman |first=Zak |date=17 Aug 2025 |title=Amazon’s App Store Deadline—Stop Using Your Apps In 48 Hours |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/08/17/amazons-app-store-decision-48-hours-to-delete-your-apps/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/CRmel |archive-date=18 Aug 2025 |access-date=30 Nov 2025 |website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravi |first=Nandika |date=20 Feb 2025 |title=Amazon will suspend support for its Appstore on Android |url=https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/amazon-will-suspend-support-for-its-appstore-on-android |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/1sEqt |archive-date=20 Feb 2025 |access-date=30 Nov 2025 |website=Android Central}}</ref> There was no restitution for non-Fire users who may have purchased paid apps through the Amazon Appstore.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}

===Amazon Echo (2014–Present)===

===Amazon Alexa (2013–Present)===
On July 1st 2024, Amazon removed 3rd party list support from the Alexa service, resulting in only lists hosted by Amazon being supported<ref>{{Cite web |access-date=2025-09-16 |title=Deprecated Features |website=Amazon Developer Documentation |url=https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/ask-overviews/deprecated-features.html#shopping-lists |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522134122/https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/ask-overviews/deprecated-features.html#shopping-lists |archive-date=2025-05-22 }}</ref>. While it is still possible to manage lists via Alexa skills, these now require the skill activation phrase to be used (e.g. "Alexa, ask AnyList to add XYZ to my shopping list"). This followed from a [[Google#Google Assistant 3rd Party List Support|similar move by Google]] in 2023.

===All Louis Rossmann videos covering Amazon===
<references group="Video References" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Allstate

2026-01-07T20:26:19Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{StubNotice}}{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Allstate
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1931
| Industry = Insurance
| Official Website = https://allstate.com/
| Logo = Allstate.png
}}

[[wikipedia:Allstate|'''Allstate''']], founded in 1931,<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Nov 2025 |title=Building on our legacy as an industry leader |url=https://www.allstatecorporation.com/about/our-history.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/jvpJz |archive-date=10 Jul 2024 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Allstate}}</ref> is an American insurance provider that also operates in Canada. The company owns several subsidiaries, many of which carry the Allstate name, as well as Esurance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2011 |title=Allstate Targets Online Insurance Sales; Buys Esurance, Answer Financial |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/05/18/199061.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eFLGI |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Insurance Journal}}</ref> It is one of the largest insurers in the United States.

==Consumer impact summary==
Allstate’s policies reflect a larger trend in insurance markets where companies leverage anti-consumer strategies to maintain revenue control:

*Accused of systematically offering settlements below market value and intentionally delaying claims to pressure claimants into accepting lower payouts. This strategy was allegedly developed with ''McKinsey & Company'' in the 1990s to maximize profits by reducing payouts.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Behind McKinsey & Company’s Efforts To Help Allstate Squeeze Personal Injury Victims |url=https://www.injurytriallawyer.com/blog/behind-mckinsey-companys-efforts-to-help-allstate-squeeze-personal-injury-victims/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/XOWeT |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=injurytriallawyer.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Samples |first=Steve |title=Allstate Worst Insurance Company For Consumers |url=https://tex.law/allstate-worst-insurance-company-for-consumers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/t9rAo |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=tex.lawe}}</ref>

*Internal documents revealed a tactic of "sitting and waiting" to frustrate claimants into settling for inadequate amounts, particularly in personal injury cases.<ref name=":0" />
*High denial rates: Florida subsidiaries ''Castle Key Indemnity'' and ''Castle Key Insurance'' denied 47.1% and 46% of claims, respectively, in 2023, which are among the highest rates in the state.<ref name=":1" />
*Having policy language that allows claim denials if a loss involves both covered and excluded events. This was widely criticized after Hurricane Katrina, where homeowners were denied claims for storm damage if flooding also contributed.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Allstate Rebuts Stinging Criticism |url=https://consumerwatchdog.org/uncategorized/allstate-rebuts-stinging-criticism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/diB8z |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=consumerwatchdog.org}}</ref>
*Adjusters were allegedly trained to minimize payouts and received bonuses for reducing claim values. Former employees described a culture of "lying to customers" to meet profit targets.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

===Market control===
Internal reports named "McKinsey Documents" revealed that Allstate prioritized profit over policyholders, aiming to pay 30% below market value on claims. Profits doubled to $4.6 billion by 2007, thanks to these tactics.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

CEO Tom Wilson sold $32 million in stock amid scrutiny, while the company engaged in stock repurchases, which were criticized as price manipulation.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

===Public backlash and reputation===
The consumer group American Association for Justice ranks ''Allstate'' as the worst insurer for consumers due to its claims practices.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

Negative reviews cite poor customer service, claim delays, and premium hikes without corresponding improvements in coverage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Revell |first=Nicholson |title=Allstate Worst Insurance Company For Consumers |url=https://nicholsonrevell.com/blog/allstate-worst-insurance-company-for-consumers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wOsho |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=nicholsonrevell.com}}</ref> Allstate has disputed some claims, citing third-party reports supporting its practices.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents in which this company is involved. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:Allstate|Allstate category]].

===Texas lawsuit (January 2025)===
{{Main|Allstate and Arity's alleged unauthorized driver data collection through mobile apps}}
Allstate, Arity, and their subsidiaries are currently defendants in a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas, which alleges multiple violations of data privacy regulations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stempel |first=Jonathan |date=13 Jan 2025 |editor-last=Gregorio |editor-first=David |editor2-last=Ellis |editor2-first=Aurora |title=Texas sues Allstate for collecting driver data without consent |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/texas-sues-allstate-over-data-collection-cellphones-2025-01-13/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/i5vxt |archive-date=10 Nov 2025 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref>{{Update needed|date={{subst:November}} {{subst:2025}}|reason=Progress?}}

===Andrea Stevenson v. Allstate Insurance Co et al (May 2024)===
A $25 million class-action settlement for inflating premiums and unfairly denying claims.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scarcella |first=Mike |date=29 May 2024 |title=US court approves $25 mln Allstate settlement in insurance rate class action |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-court-approves-25-mln-allstate-settlement-insurance-rate-class-action-2024-05-29/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/myPBE |archive-date=30 May 2024 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

===TCPA Violations (March 2024)===
A 2024 court ruling found Allstate vicariously liable for illegal robocalls made by its subcontractors, in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Apr 2024 |title=Court Applies Finds an Insurance Company Vicariously Liable for the Actions and Failures of the Company’s Independent Insurance Agents’ Third-Party Telemarketing Subcontractors |url=https://commlawgroup.com/2024/court-applies-finds-an-insurance-company-vicariously-liable-for-the-actions-and-failures-of-the-companys-independent-insurance-agents-third-party-telemarketing-subcontractor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/kScOG |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC The Commlaw Group}}</ref>{{Citation needed}}

===Excessive home insurance rates (May 2008)===
The Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel, who filed the suit, stated that Allstate charged customers excessive home insurance rates from 2004 to 2007. Allstate paid a $70 million fine in Texas for overcharging homeowners.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2008 |title=Insurance Refunds |url=https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/11801/allstate-homeowners-insurance-overcharging.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/8b1pD |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=LawyersandSettlements.com}}</ref>

===Katrina Case (April 2007)===
Allstate Insurance Co. had to pay $2.8 million bad faith ruling in Weiss v. Allstate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Apr 2007 |title=Allstate Fined $2.8M In Katrina Case |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/allstate-fined-28m-in-katrina-case/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/rHRys |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=CBS News}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[:Category:Lawsuits]]

==References==
[[Category:Allstate]]
<references />
[[Category:Articles in need of citations]]
[[Category:Articles requiring change in tone]]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Articles requiring expansion]]

Akelius

2026-01-07T20:08:22Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{StubNotice}}
{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type =Private
| Founded =1994
| Industry =Real estate
| Official Website =https://www.akelius.com/
| Logo =Akelius Logo.svg
}}'''[[wikipedia:Akelius|Akelius]]''' is a corporate landlord that owns 20,000 rental apartments in major cities such as New York, Boston, Washington, Austin, Toronto, Montreal, Québec City, Ottawa, Paris and London.
==Incidents==

===Exploitative Rent Policies Under Berlin's Rent Cap (2020-2021)===
In 2020, the company evaded Berlin's short-term rent cap by including '''"shadow rents"''' in leases—secret provisions requesting payment of '''as much as five times the advertised rent''', retroactively payable if the law were to be annulled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Šustr |first=Nicolas |date=26 Jul 2020 |title=Akelius will Kasse machen |url=https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1139639.akelius-akelius-will-kasse-machen.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3RtDZ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=11 Apr 2025 |website=www.nd-aktuell.de}}</ref> When Germany's constitutional court ruled the rent cap null and void in 2021, Akelius started to recover these overpayments from renters, fueling indignation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Imogen |date=21 Apr 2021 |title='Extraordinary situation': What can you do if your Berlin landlord demands rent cap arrears? |url=https://www.thelocal.de/20210421/extraordinary-situation-what-can-you-do-if-your-berlin-landlord-demands-rent-cap-arrears/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gOE6W |archive-date=5 Aug 2025 |access-date=11 Apr 2025 |website=The Local Germany}}</ref> The Berlin government intervened with a '''€10 million interest-free loan fund''' to aid affected tenants from being evicted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Casey |first=Ruairi |last2=Ponsford |first2=Matthew |date=26 Apr 2021 |title=The Enduring Legacy of Berlin’s Rent Cap |url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/04/the-enduring-legacy-of-berlins-rent-cap |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/JzV5J |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=11 Apr 2025 |website=Tribune}}</ref>

===UN Human Rights Violations Accusations (2020)===
The '''United Nations Human Rights Council''' called out Akelius for systemic '''"renovictions"'''—coercive renovations to remove tenants and circumvent rent control.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smee |first=Michael |date=11 May 2020 |title=UN accuses Toronto apartment owner of human rights abuses |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/united-nations-toronto-apartment-human-rights-1.5563756 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7gqhk |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=11 Apr 2025 |website=CBC News}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=29 Apr 2020 |title=Corporate landlord is abusing tenants’ human rights, says UN housing expert |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/04/corporate-landlord-abusing-tenants-human-rights-says-un-housing-expert?LangID=E&NewsID=25845 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/qtxlN |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=11 Apr 2025 |website=www.ohchr.org}}</ref> The UN Special Rapporteur on housing reported cases where residents were forced to live in uninhabitable conditions for months, with no running water or heating,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simonpillai |first=Radheyan |date=11 Feb 2021 |title=As lockdown hit, Akelius tenants say cold water shortage lasted 96 days |url=https://nowtoronto.com/real-estate/akelius-canada-100-vaughan-road-cold-water-shortage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/PcGx5 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=11 Apr 2025 |website=NOW Magazine}}</ref> while Akelius undertook upscale overhauls to justify outrageous rent increases.<ref name=":0" /> Investigations also showed the company targeted low-income communities, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Akelius]]

Airthings ASA app release

2026-01-07T19:57:04Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Needs more references.|Issue 2=Phasing out offline functionality needs be improved and better cited.}}[https://www.airthings.com/ Airthings] ASA sells air monitors and purifiers, which customers can pair with a mobile app in order to access the air measurements and various additional services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Nov 2025 |title=Helps you understand the air you breathe |url=https://www.airthings.com/app |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/I10Td |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Airthings}}</ref> On May 21, 2024, they sent an e-mail{{Citation needed}} to all users stating their old app will be retired, and asking users to use their new Airthings app instead.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2025 |title=FAQ: Retirement of the Wave Gen 1 app on October 1, 2025 |url=https://help.airthings.com/en/articles/11680546-faq-retirement-of-the-wave-gen-1-app-on-october-1-2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/jerc8 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Airthings}}</ref> The old app, also named Airthings, was rebranded as Wave Gen 1. The new app does not allow users to use their devices in offline mode like the previous version, and measurements are automatically sent to Airthings' servers without warning.{{Citation needed}} The old app has now been retired.<ref name=":0" />

==Background==
Airthings devices can monitor the rooms' air quality. The Gen 1 devices have Bluetooth BLE capability that allow users to view a graph of all the devices' sensors (like CO2, humidity, and Radon) and assign a room name such as: "kid's bedroom", "living room", "bathroom", etc. to distinguish between various devices.{{Citation needed}}

Users first had to log in to set up their account, but once they logged in for the first time, they were able to view their device's collected data in real time when they had no internet connection, due to the devices using Bluetooth BLE.{{Citation needed}}

==Phasing out offline functionality==
The old Airthings app had the ability to view user data even if the phone was offline. The app connects to all devices and displays their status and data. A [[dark pattern]] "sync" button would both collect data from the devices using BLE ''and'' send data to the cloud. By going offline, this could be prevented. Users would often use an offline secondary phone as the household monitor.{{Citation needed}}

On May 21, 2024, Airthings ASA alerted old app users by e-mail that their current app will not be publicly available in the future and that they should move to the new app that does not allow collecting device data without being online as it uploads it at the same time to their servers before displaying it.{{Citation needed}}

===Airthings' response===
From their "FAQ: Retirement of the Wave Gen 1 app on October 1, 2025"<blockquote>
====Can I continue to use the old app?====
No, the old app will stop working (monitors will not sync) and it will not be possible to log in.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
====How do I switch to the new app?====
Simply download the Airthings app from your app store. Then log in with your existing credentials, and you’re good to go. All of your homes, devices and data history will be there. Make sure you use the correct email address to log in!<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

===Workarounds===
Owners of Airthings Wave Gen 1 products can pair with open-source software called Home Assistant to still get their measurements while keeping all the internet traffic on the local network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Nov 2025 |title=Airthings |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/airthings/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/4vR7G |archive-date=31 Oct 2021 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Home Assistant}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Forced app download]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Articles in need of citations]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

AirAsia

2026-01-07T19:51:39Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{Incomplete}}{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = AirAsia
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1993
| Industry = Airline
| Official Website = https://airasia.com/
| Logo = AirAsia.webp
}}
[[wikipedia:AirAsia|'''AirAsia''']] is a budget airline based in Malaysia. In 2007, The New York Times described AirAsia as a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kurlantzick |first=Joshua |title=Does Low Cost Mean High Risk? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/travel/23prac.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/fA8yp |archive-date=20 Mar 2024 |access-date=2025-08-16 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> As of November 2025, they serve Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.

==Anti-consumer practices==
AirAsia secretly and forcefully subscribes any user who creates or links an account with them to 23 different types of {{Wplink|Spamming|spam}} ("AirAsia communications").

#Users are neither made aware of this fact nor presented with the option to opt out.{{Citation needed}}
#Normally companies bury opt-in text within their [[terms and conditions]], but even the AirAsia privacy terms page is vague about this.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}
#Unsubscribing from AirAsia's spam is an 8-step process where users have to log into their account.

===Forced enrollment in marketing spam===
[[File:Airasia signup page 1.png|thumb|AirAsia sign up dialog that pops up after you select a flight to book. Multiple sign up/easy sign in options are pushed with large, colored icons while the no sign up option is presented as "Continue as guest" in small plain text at the bottom.]]
[[File:Airasia signup page.png|thumb|AirAsia sign up page with no notification to users that they will be automatically opted in to receiving "informational" and marketing emails from 23 different AirAsia sources with no ability for users to opt out directly at sign up.]]
[[File:Airasia spam unsubscribe step 2.PNG.png|thumb|AirAsia Notification Preferences page showing 23 different sources of promotional emails that every user is automatically opted into upon creation of an AirAsia account.]]
[[File:Airasia_spam_unsubscribe_step_1.png|thumb|Clicking on an unsubscribe link in an email brings users to this page. AirAsia forces users to log in before they can unsubscribe.]]
AirAsia secretly and automatically forces users to enroll into 23 different types of promotional and marketing emails (referred to as "communications") when they create or link an account.

#When booking a flight with AirAsia, a popup dialog appears that pushes users to sign in, or create or link an account. The sign-up and and sign-in options are pushed with large font sizes and prominent, colored icons.
#The option to book a flight is presented as a small, plain-text link "Continue as guest" at the bottom of the popup dialog. (SEE IMAGE 1)
#During sign-up or log-in, users are not made aware that they will automatically be opted in to receiving spam "communication" emails from AirAsia. They are also forced into opting in by default, with no ability to opt out directly on the same page.
#Typically companies sneak promotional and marketing email opt in into their [[terms of service]] or Privacy Terms page, but on the AirAsia Privacy Statement page,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=AirAsia's Privacy Statement |url=https://www.airasia.com/aa/about-us/en/gb/privacy-statement.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/jfXwj |archive-date=2025-01-30}}</ref> they are still extremely vague{{Citation needed|reason=Personal account}} about the fact they are opting users into their spam, automatically, forcefully, and unknowingly.

"Information collection" section:<ref name=":0" />
<blockquote>The information may be used to provide you with location-based services such as search results and marketing content.</blockquote>
"Use of information collected" section:<ref name=":0" />
<blockquote>AirAsia and AirAsia Group of Companies who have access to this Personal Information with our permission and who need to know or have access to this Personal Information in order to: perform the service requested by you (including to make, administer, and manage reservations or handle payments, "single sign-on," and customer service); analyze how you use this Website and other websites belonging to AirAsia or AirAsia Group of Companies, improve and provide new and personalized offers, products and services, and marketing, for purposes of research, analytics, to develop and improve any existing and future products or services offered by us, to explore further potential initiatives, to optimise research, improve our forecasting abilities, and for other business purposes of AirAsia or AirAsia Group of Companies; detect, prevent, and investigate fraudulent transactions and/or activities, other illegal activities, and data breaches; internal (audit/compliance) investigations; or as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.</blockquote>
"Sharing of Information Collected" section:<ref name=":0" />
<blockquote>We may share your Personal Information to: data analytics, marketing agency, third party suppliers of products and services, business partners or service providers, parties which have business or contractual dealings with AirAsia and the AirAsia Group of Companies, and other third party who is able to demonstrate that you have explicitly consented to the disclosure of your Personal Information by us to such third party.</blockquote>The same Privacy Statement does provide steps to "Manage your marketing communications,"<ref name=":0" /> which is a 3-step process assuming the user does this after creating their account and/or booking their flight. The steps highlighted on that page are:
#Click on Account (your name with the user icon in the upper right side of the page)
#Click on My Account
#Click on Notifications Preferences
However, since users are not made aware that they will be opted into a barrage of spam emails, they would not be aware or have reason to go into "Notification Preferences" immediately after account creation/booking.{{Citation needed|reason=Personal account}} Since most users will learn about the spam later, the unsubscribe process is in reality an 8-step process that takes eight clicks instead of the three suggested by AirAsia's Privacy Statement page (see below).

===Multi-step friction to unsubscribe from AirAsia marketing spam===
Since most users will learn about the spam later{{Citation needed|reason=Personal account}}, the unsubscribe process is in reality an 8-step process that takes eight clicks and user login, instead of the three suggested by AirAsia's Privacy Statement page:
#User clicks on unsubscribe button at bottom of AirAsia promotional email.
#Instead of directly unsubscribing the user or bringing them to an unsubscribe confirmation page, users are instead linked to their account "Notification Preferences" page where they have to log in.
#After entering their log-in details, users have to also input a [[one-time password]] (OTP). This step takes at least five additional clicks, where the user has to:
##Click on their email tab or client (assuming they have it opened)
##Click on the AirAsia OTP email (if they do not receive it immediately, refreshing may incur additional clicks)
##Copy or remember the OTP, and click back to the AirAsia login tab
##Paste the OTP into the form
##Click continue
#User is now on their Notification Preferences page where they get to see the 23 different types of AirAsia spam they never knew they opted into. Assuming they never wanted and don't want to continue receiving any of these spam emails, they would click on "Pause all emails".
#User also has to click on "Pause all communications" if they wanted to stop spam from coming in through push notifications and WhatsApp.
#*Another [[dark pattern]] here from AirAsia is "Pause all communications," which implies the user would stop receiving any communications whatsoever. Users would typically want their booking emails, travel itinerary, etc., so they would not think of selecting this option.
#*The fine print above this button says, "Your account activities, transactional updates, payment updates, booking and delivery information are compulsory," meaning such emails will be delivered in any case and "communications" in "Pause all communications" really refers to promotional and marketing spam.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:AirAsia]]

Adobe sued by FTC over hidden fees in subscription plans

2026-01-06T04:28:14Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Adobe Inc. and two of its executives, alleging deceptive subscription practices that violate federal consumer protection laws. In particular early termination fees in its "Annual, Paid Monthly" subscription plans.
The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses Adobe of concealing critical terms of its subscription plans and creating obstacles to cancellation. Adobe denies wrongdoing, and the case is ongoing as of January 2025.

==Key allegations==

#'''Hidden Early Termination Fees (ETFs):'''
#*Adobe allegedly pre-selected its "Annual, Paid Monthly" (APM) subscription plan as the default option for users signing up for services like Creative Cloud.<ref name="natlaw">{{cite web |last=Marcus |first=Phyllis H. |date=2 July 2024 |title=FTC Sues Adobe and Execs for Illegal “Hidden Fees” |url=https://natlawreview.com/article/ftc-sues-adobe-and-execs-illegal-hidden-fees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/CWr8R |archive-date=6 Jan 2026 |access-date=18 Feb 2025 |website=The National Law Review}}</ref>
#*While marketed as a monthly payment plan, the APM plan locks users into a year-long contract. If canceled within the first year, users are charged an ETF amounting to 50% of the remaining annual payments.<ref name="natlaw" />
#*The FTC claims the ETF was buried in fine print or hidden behind hyperlinks that most consumers would not notice during the sign-up process.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=17 June 2024 |title=FTC Takes Action Against Adobe and Executives for Hiding Fees, Preventing Consumers from Easily Cancelling Software Subscriptions |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/06/ftc-takes-action-against-adobe-executives-hiding-fees-preventing-consumers-easily-cancelling |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/owfd2 |archive-date=28 Aug 2024 |access-date=18 Feb 2025 |website=FTC goverment website}}</ref>
#'''Complex cancellation process:'''
#*Adobe's cancellation process reportedly requires navigating through multiple pages, re-entering passwords, providing feedback, and reviewing warnings about fees.<ref name="ftc2">{{cite web |last=Fair |first=Lesley |date=17 June 2024 |title=FTC says Adobe hid key terms of “annual paid monthly” subscription plan and set up roadblocks to deter customer cancellations |url=https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2024/06/ftc-says-adobe-hid-key-terms-annual-paid-monthly-subscription-plan-set-roadblocks-deter-customer |url-status=dead |access-date=18 Feb 2025 |website=FTC goverment website}}</ref>
#*Consumers attempting to cancel online or via customer service often faced dropped calls, multiple transfers, and continued charges even after cancellation attempts.<ref name="ftc2" />
#'''Violation of consumer protection laws:''' <br /> The FTC alleges that Adobe's practices violate the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA) and the FTC Act<ref>{{cite web |last1=Butler |first1=Timothy A. |last2=White |first2=Matthew M. |last3=Cierny |first3=Tessa L. |date=9 July 2024 |title=FTC Targets Adobe for Hidden Fees and Deceptive Subscription Practices |url=https://www.gtlaw.com/en/insights/2024/7/ftc-targets-adobe-for-hidden-fees-and-deceptive-subscription-practices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/An9Mo |archive-date=6 Jan 2026 |access-date=18 Feb 2025 |website=Greenberg Traurig,LLP}}</ref> by:
#*Failing to clearly disclose material terms upfront.
#*Charging consumers without obtaining express informed consent.
#*Not providing simple mechanisms for stopping recurring charges.

==FTC's legal action==
The FTC is seeking<ref>{{cite web |last1=Patton |first1=Kate |last2=Nava |first2=Maria |date=24 July 2024 |title=FTC Takes Action Against Adobe For Unfair Subscription Practices |url=https://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/advertising-marketing-branding/1496334/ftc-takes-action-against-adobe-for-unfair-subscription-practices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/JaEJV |archive-date=6 Jan 2026 |access-date=18 Feb 2025 |website=Mondaq - Law Articles and Insights}}</ref>:

*A permanent injunction to stop Adobe from continuing these practices.
*Civil penalties and monetary relief for affected consumers.

The lawsuit also names two Adobe executives—Maninder Sawhney and David Wadhwani—highlighting their roles in implementing these subscription practices. This reflects a growing trend in holding corporate officers personally accountable for deceptive business practices.

==Adobe's response==
Adobe has denied the allegations, stating that its subscription services are transparent and designed to provide flexibility to users. The company plans to contest the lawsuit in court.<ref>{{cite web |last=Griffin |first=Alaina |date=3 July 2024 |title=The FTC is suing software giant Adobe over hidden fees and an “overly complicated” cancellation process |url=https://www.archpaper.com/2024/07/the-ftc-is-suing-software-giant-adobe-over-hidden-fees-and-an-overly-complicated-cancellation-process/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 Feb 2025 |website=The Architect's Newspaper}}</ref>

==Current status==
As of January 2025, the case remains pending in federal court. The FTC continues to push for stronger enforcement against hidden fees and deceptive subscription practices across industries.

==References==

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Articles based on videos]]
[[Category:Adobe]]
<references />

ASUS downgrades a well-reviewed monitor panel

2026-01-06T04:15:11Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=External linking is not proper citation|Issue 2=convert to incident article using [[Template:IncidentPreload]]}}{{ProductCargo
|Company=Asus
|ProductLine=VG259QM 280hz IPS LCD
|ReleaseYear=2020
|InProduction=No
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Monitor, Display
|Website=https://www.asus.com
|Description=280hz IPS LCD Monitor. Manufacturer switched to a cheaper panel component whilst keeping model number, keeping prior reviews.
}}The VG259QM 280Hz IPS 24.5-inch monitor was released in late 2020 with a [https://www.panelook.com/Q250HTA00-A000_AUO_24.5_LCM_overview_47755.html Qisda Panel] to excellent reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qisda Q250HTA00-A000 Overview |url=https://www.panelook.com/Q250HTA00-A000_AUO_24.5_LCM_overview_47755.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/n3vUi#selection-42.0-47.22 |archive-date=25 Oct 2025 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Panelook.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Breton |first=Samuel |last2=Lim |first2=Ryan |last3=Khong |first3=Yannick |date=2020-08-25 |title=ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM Monitor Review |url=https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/tuf-gaming-vg259qm |url-status=dead |website=RTINGS.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eberle |first=Christian |date=2020-09-14 |title=Asus TUF VG259QM Monitor Review: Ultimate 280Hz Gaming |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/asus-tuf-vg259qm |url-status=dead |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> Users eventually noticed that their VG259QM monitors appeared as an inferior [https://www.panelook.com/M250HAN01.A_AUO_24.5_LCM_overview_52042.html AUO panel].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=cmdrgod |date=2022-11-23 |title=The Official *Asus VG259QM* Owners Thread (+ Secret Overdrive) |url=https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?t=7414&start=590 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104132729/https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?t=7414&start=590 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Blur Busters}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=djexpert |date=2022-08-04 |title=The Official *Asus VG259QM* Owners Thread (+ Secret Overdrive) |url=https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?t=7414&start=580 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104131434/https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?t=7414&start=580 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |website=Blur Busters}}</ref> This change occurred around the same time ASUS released the VG259QM as a new product (with the same product number) in Japan in 2022.

==Consumer-impact summary==
There was no indication on any website or on the packaging that this change had happened. The product retained the exact same model number after the panel change; the only indication of the panel change is in the service menu.

The user-reported inferior performance of the new panel, the lack of any indication of a change (except service menu), combined with the glowing reviews of the original monitor, has led some people to make the unsubstantiated claim that it's possible that ASUS may have kept the exact same model number to intentionally deceive consumers who read reviews and discourage reviews of the new panel. However, there is no direct evidence that ASUS deliberately intended to deceive the consumer or review sites.

The same model number also meant that while no one seems to have actually measured the performance of the AUO panel version, TechSpot made the monitor "Best of 2022", directly referencing the 2020 Tom's Hardware review of the VG259QM with the old Qisda panel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asus TUF Gaming VG259QM 24.5" |url=https://www.techspot.com/products/monitors/asus-vg259qm.217665/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616073242/https://www.techspot.com/products/monitors/asus-vg259qm.217665/ |archive-date=2025-06-16 |website=TechSpot}}</ref>

==Details==
On 23 Nov 2022, cmdrgod sounds the alarm about the panel change on blurbusters.com. He provides a comparison of service menus between his old VG259QM and the new one. He claims the new panel is much worse, and that ASUS support told him there was a shortage, and that this kind of switch is normal. <ref name=":0" />

On the previous page of the thread, user djexpert mentions that in Japan, the VG259QM was released as a "new" product in July 2022. His service menu shows an AUO panel.<ref name=":1" />

Guru3d also mention VG259QM as a 2022 "new" product.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hagedoorn |first=Hilbert |date=2022-07-22 |others= |title=ASUS VG259QM 280Hz / 1ms 24.5-inch Fast IPS gaming LCD |url=https://www.guru3d.com/story/asus-vg259qm-280hz-1ms-24-5-inch-fast-ips-gaming-lcd |url-status=live |website=The guru of 3D}}</ref> 

Due to the unfortunate incident of ASUS releasing two different products with identical model numbers, no one properly tested the AUO version, so there's no technical proof that the motion clarity is actually as bad as it appears to the human eye.

==See also==

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Amazon locks home owner out of Amazon account over allegation by Amazon delivery driver

2026-01-05T04:53:06Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

A home owner was locked out of their [[Amazon]] account for nearly a week, after a delivery driver from Amazon misheard an automated message from their Eufy doorbell. The delivery driver had a package to deliver at the address of the home owner, and "reported receiving racist remarks", which were later proven to be a false accusation, as the doorbell said "Excuse me, can I help you?". The home owner was locked out of their account over this before the investigation was completed, which also suspended the [[Amazon Echo]] devices of the home owner.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Brandon Jackson |date=2023-06-04 |title=A Tale of Unwanted Disruption: My Week Without Amazon |url=https://medium.com/@bjax_/a-tale-of-unwanted-disruption-my-week-without-amazon-df1074e3818b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OnOVF |archive-date=19 Jun 2023 |publisher=Medium |language=en |format=article}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Louis Rossmann |date=2023-06-12 |title=Amazon accuses customer of racism & shuts down their smart home |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ukTm9 |archive-date=19 Jun 2023 |publisher=YouTube |language=en |format=video |ref=Rossmann-video-1}}</ref>

==Background==
The smart devices that Amazon offers require an associated account. The company also has their online e-commerce platform, which also requires having an Amazon account. It is likely that consumers use the same account for both their purchases and their smart devices of the same company, if they have those. But even if that is not the case, and they would use separate Amazon accounts, Amazon would still hold a position of power as these devices do not function without an Amazon account, or at least intent users to have an account as a soft requirement to access all the features. For instance, the echo smart speakers devices require logging in to an Amazon account on the Alexa App.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Set up Alexa in a Few Easy Steps |url=https://www.amazon.com/alexa-setup-guide/b?node=17978645011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/38eGD |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |publisher=Amazon |language=en |format=guide}}</ref>

==Locked out of account after delivery==
The incidents raises concerns about what is proportionate in this scenario, where there is an accusation by a delivery driver allegedly being harassed. Safety of the drivers are also a factor, which the home owner acknowledges:<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>Let me be clear: I fully support Amazon taking measures to ensure the safety of their drivers. However, I question why my entire smart home system had to be rendered unusable during their internal investigation. It seems more sensible to impose a temporary delivery restriction or purchasing ban on my account. Submitting video evidence from multiple angles right after my initial call with the executive appeared to have little impact on their decision to disable my account.</blockquote>The home owner later clarified that they self hosted many of the services, which made the effect of the lock out far softer but still concerning if it were to happen to the average home owner.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=Louis Rossmann |date=2023-06-18 |title=Man locked out of amazon account over his doorbell gets account back, but no apology |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyEgD-5GK9c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/2a14q |archive-date=19 Jun 2023 |publisher=YouTube |language=en |format=video |ref=Rossmann-video-2}}</ref>

===Amazon's response===

The account was unlocked again after the investigation found out that the claim was false.<ref name=":0" /> Although the story made the news, it did not feature an apology from Amazon for their decision to lock a home owner out of their account over a false accusation. There was also no mention on whether Amazon thought the measure was proportionate in the e-mail to the customer, just that the account would be temporarily suspended.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

There are also some broader concerns with this practice, in this case the home owner could still access their recordings of the incident, as the doorbell made a recording. But in the cases where there would not be a recording it would be hard to prove for the home owner that they were innocent. While it is not the case for [[Ring]] doorbells as they have separate Ring accounts, although Ring is owned by Amazon, the situation would become even harder for the home owner if they could not access the video footage as consequence of being locked out of an account.

==Consumer response==
The main concern is about the consequence of locking someone out of their Amazon account, which can have further consequences if that same account is used for home automation with Amazon products. It gives Amazon control over products that have already been sold to the customer, which would normally keep functioning if they were not from the same company.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Locked out of account]]

Ally Invest Securities

2026-01-05T04:51:58Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

{{Incomplete}}

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Ally Invest
| Type = Subsidiary
| Founded = 2016
| Industry = Stockbrokering
| Official Website = https://www.ally.com/invest
| Logo = Ally Financial Logo.svg
}}

'''Ally Invest Securities, LLC''' (also known as '''Ally Invest''') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of [[Ally Financial]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Nov 2025 |title=We’re not just raising the bar, we’re redefining it. |url=https://www.ally.com/about/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DnDW0 |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=25 Nov 2025 |website=Ally}}</ref> which provides securities brokerage and financial services.

Ally Invest provides services to customers who are natural persons or legal entities such as trusts.

==Consumer impact summary==

===Forced arbitration===
Ally Invest may present customers with agreements that [[Forced arbitration|force arbitration]], without an opt-out clause:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2025 |title=Ally Invest Securities Trust Account Application |url=https://www.ally.com/content/dam/pdf/invest/invest-trust-application.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BzhwS |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=25 Nov 2025 |website=Ally}}</ref>
<blockquote>THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A PRE-DISPUTE ARBITRATION CLAUSE. BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
(I) ALL PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT ARE GIVING UP THE RIGHT TO SUE EACH OTHER IN COURT, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO A JURY, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY THE RULES OF THE ARBITRATION FORUM IN WHICH A CLAIM IS FILED.</blockquote>
===Asymmetric indemnification clauses===
Ally Invest may present customers with an account agreement which includes language like the following:<ref name=":0" />
<blockquote>In addition, I agree that the Indemnified Parties will not be liable for any Losses that result from....any activities of or services provided by the Indemnified Parties in connection with My Account (including, without limitation, any technology services, reporting, trading, research or capital introduction services)</blockquote>
<blockquote>I consent to the use of automated systems....I understand that the use of Automated Systems entails risks...that could cause substantial damage, expense or liability to Me. I understand and agree that Indemnified Parties will have no liability whatsoever for any Losses arising out of or relating to a System Failure.</blockquote>
But in practice, the customer will be expected to unconditionally make timely and competent performance on cash, securities, instructions, documents, etc. or suffer consequences like margin loan interest without any provision for indemnification.{{Citation needed|reason=Personal account}}

Similarly, Ally Invest requires the customer to endorse a sweeping guarantee of "Information Accuracy" but does not make the same guarantee (specifies indemnity for itself instead).{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

===Information collection and sharing===
Ally Invest may use or transmit data related to a customer's account or device with a wireless carrier. They may present customers with account applications specifying text like the following:<ref name=":0" />
<blockquote>Customer Authentication. I authorize My wireless carrier to use or disclose information about My account and My wireless device, if available, to AIS or its service provider for the duration of My business relationship, solely to help them identify Me or My wireless device and to prevent fraud.</blockquote>
===Piercing the corporate veil===
Ally Invest may try to require customers provide it with a security interest in their property that reaches beyond the relationship strictly between the customer and Ally Invest Securities:<ref name=":0" />
<blockquote>Setoff and Security Interest Rights. I grant AIS a security interest in each of My accounts with AIS and its affiliates (each, an “Ally Company”) for obligations owing to any Ally Company.</blockquote>
An intentionally broad and/or vague definition of "affiliates" could be an attempt of Ally Invest Securities to use the customer's property to satisfy business dealings that are not directly between the customer and Ally Invest Securities.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

Customers should be aware of the risk that Ally Invest Securities may have already invested in legal arguments on this matter that could result in the customer's substantial economic losses in the case that one of Ally's related interests (potentially a very close "affiliate") is able to create a successful claim against customer property where such a breadth of (successful) claimants may not have existed under similar circumstances (such as with a different broker).{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

===Interest rates charged===
Ally Invest may be charging customers a higher rate of interest than the maximum allowed rate named in statutory laws in some jurisdictions in the United States. For example, the 2024 Maryland Code Commercial law sec. 12-102<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=General Legal Rate of Interest |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/commercial-law/title-12/subtitle-1/section-12-102/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/SZNEj |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=25 Nov 2025 |website=Justitia U.S. Law}}</ref> states a maximum rate of interest of 6 percent per annum, but Ally Invest does not specify that it does not allow its interest rates to go above 6% for customers residing in Maryland. It is worth noting, however, that other companies providing brokerage services publicly advertise similarly high (less favorable) interest rates to customers. As of 2025-01-19, the public-facing Ally Invest website cites a margin loan interest rate as of 2024-12-18 of between 7.50% and 12%.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Ally Invest Securities]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]
[[Category:Articles in need of citations]]

Adobe Digital Editions' ebook DRM

2026-01-05T04:50:31Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

Modern-day ebook publishers have been utilizing various forms of [[Digital rights management|digital-rights management]] (DRM) to protect the books they sell to make sure that "copyright laws are respected and that authors and publishers are fairly compensated".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=DRM for NOOK Content |url=https://help.barnesandnoble.com/hc/en-us/articles/5445106302107-DRM-for-NOOK-Content |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/u0VWd |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Barnes & Noble}}</ref> However, the end user who purchases the content legally ends up being restricted in what they are able to do with the ebook once they have purchased it. One of Adobe's version of this DRM is called "Adobe Digital Editions" which is the client the user uses to read their ebooks.

==Background==
'''[[Adobe]] eBook Platform''' is a platform for publishers to leverage when selling ebooks. This includes the following software suite: Adobe InDesign® CC software, Adobe Content Server software, the Adobe Reader® Mobile Software Development Kit (SDK), and Adobe Digital Editions.<ref name=":0">[https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/cc/us/en/solutions/ebook/adobe_ebook_platform_whitepaper.pdf Adobe® eBook Platform: Authoring and delivering eBooks across devices]</ref> A summary of each of the software is outlined below at a high level (mostly extracted from the Adobe white paper on the platform):

*Adobe Content Server - "Adobe Content Server allows publishers, retailers, distributors, and libraries to host and manage eBook distribution. This server software encrypts PDF and EPUB eBook files and allows publishers and retailers to manage the rights on the eBook files they distribute.<ref name=":0" />"
*Adobe Reader Mobile SDK - The SDK " allows e-reader device manufacturers and eBook application developers to support EPUB and PDF files protected by Content Server in their products. It enables tethered and over-the-air downloads so that consumers can order eBooks directly through their devices or “side-load” them by copying files from their desktops to their mobile devices".<ref name=":0" />
*Adobe InDesign - InDesign allows the publishers to export EPUB and EPUB3 files from print layouts. This also allows publishers to export ebooks to hardware such as the "Sony Reader, the Barnes & Noble nook, and smartphones, as well as personal computers using Microsoft® Windows® or Mac OS".<ref name=":0" />
*Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) - "Adobe Digital Editions is a free, lightweight desktop reading application for PC and Mac that allows eBook consumers to easily download and organize their eBooks easily. Consumers can read their eBooks online and offline, transfer copy-protected eBooks from their personal computers to other devices, organize eBooks into a custom library, and annotate page".<ref name=":0" />

All these solutions come together to give publishers control over their ebook content. The main product discussed on this page is Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). ADE allows for the following benefits:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Optimize your reading experience with the best eBook reader across formats. |url=https://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/digital-editions.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/GVpVP |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Adobe]]}}</ref>

*Download and transfer of books between devices
*EPUB3 support
*Keyword search across ebooks
*Voiceover accessibility
*Multi-language support
*Bookmarking, highlighting, and note support
*Support for borrowing ebooks from libraries
*ebook printing (publishers decide whether they opt-in for allowing printing or not)
*EPUB, EPUB3 and PDF support

ADE also has system requirements, as it is an application running on your system:<ref>{{Cite web |title=System requirements |url=https://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/tech-specs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/4UDbM |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Adobe]]}}</ref>

Windows:

*Intel® Pentium® 4 processor or later
*Windows® 7 (32 or 64 bit running in 32-bit mode) or later
*512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)
*40MB of available hard-disk space

Mac OS:

*Intel Core™ Duo or faster processor
*Mac OS X v10.8 or later
*Compatible with Apple Retina Display
*512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)
*75MB of available hard-disk space

iOS:

*Minimum requirement 9.0 or later.
*Compatible with iPhone and iPad.

Android:

*Minimum requirement 4.4 or later.
*Compatible with the Mobile and Tablet.

==Adobe Digital Edition's Consumer Effects==
With the release of the platform and specifically the Adobe Digital Edition application, consumers have been restricted on what they are allowed to do with ebooks that they have purchased. Although unlimited downloads are mentioned by publishers and ebook sites, those are tied to an account.<ref name=":1" /> This means that if access to an account is lost, then the access to those ebooks is lost as well. eBooks.com is one of the various e-bookstores that sells both non-DRM and DRM books leveraging ADE. When purchasing an ebook from them, you get a .acsm file. This format only works with the Adobe Digital Editions application. The user needs to create an Adobe account (after already creating an ebooks.com account) in order to add the book to their account. ADE (pertaining to purchases from ebooks.com) allows for authorization of up to 10 devices with a single Adobe ID, but only one computer.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Turvey |first=Alex |title=What is DRM? (DRM FAQs) |url=https://support.ebooks.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360000726656-What-is-DRM-DRM-FAQs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cEs8C |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=eBooks.com}}</ref> The end user would not be able to read a book on a home computer and then later on a laptop simultaneously due to this limitation. Barnes and Noble uses ADE as well for their ebooks, with their limitations being a bit different in comparison to ebooks.com's. They have 4 versions of DRM types they leverage for the books sold on their site:<ref name=":1" />

#Consumer DRM (eBook)
##Unlimited downloads
##Up to six (6) devices/computers
##No copying and printing
#Business DRM (eBook)
##One (1) download
##Up to one (1) device/computer
##No copying and printing
#Education DRM (eTextbook)
##Two (2) downloads
##Up to two (2) devices/computers
##Limited copying and printing
#Hard DRM
##Six (6) downloads
##Up to six (6) devices/computers
##Used for Case Studies made available by professors and specific courses

In both cases, the user is limited to only a certain number of devices and has to constantly authorize and un-authorize readers in order to be in compliance. This leads to a lack of autonomy for the user who has purchased the book. In addition, with the Barnes and Noble "Consumer DRM" section, a user is not able to print the ebook they have purchased either. Going back to the ebooks.com example, ebooks.com has a bit more control on the consumer stating that due to DRM: "the amount of printing or copying and pasting you can do may be restricted, or prevented entirely. It will also determine whether the read aloud functionality is enabled for the ebook or not".<ref name=":2" />

With ADE, a consumer will always need to download the application to access books that they have purchased. This is under the assumption that the user is able to have the technical know-how to do all the ADE overhead in order to finally read the book they have purchased. In addition, individuals who do not have access to the most modern technology, thus not being able to download ADE on their system, are also then prevented from reading ebooks they have purchased.

If a user were to be able to remove DRM from a ebook purchased from an e-bookstore leveraging ADE, they would then be breaching the compliance with an end-user license agreement or a customer license. On ebook.com's customer license page, they mention the following: "You promise to keep any eBook in the form in which it was supplied to you. We may include other information (including information identifying the author, the copyright owner, or the terms upon which the eBook is supplied) to any eBook supplied to you. You promise not to circumvent any measures that we have taken to protect the rights in the eBook that we have supplied, including removing this information or otherwise facilitating an infringement of copyright".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Customer License |url=https://www.ebooks.com/en-us/information/customerlicense/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/GTEsJ |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=eBooks.com}}</ref> Although no lawsuits have been found being documented (as of writing this article), the door for this kind of consumer abuse is still present.

In 2014, the Electronic Frontier Foundation had published an article regarding how Adobe Digital Edition was tracking its end users by logging what the end-user reads and what happens to those files.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McSherry |first=Corynne |date=7 Oct 2014 |title=Adobe Spyware Reveals (Again) the Price of DRM: Your Privacy and Security |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/10/adobe-spyware-reveals-again-price-drm-your-privacy-and-security |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cbuNx |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=EFF}}</ref> This data was also being sent in plain-text undermining the privacy of the users.

==Consumer response==
On Reddit, consumers are constantly inquiring about steps to remove the Adobe DRM, as it is obstructing the end-users method of being able to comfortably read the ebooks they have purchased.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adobe Digital Editions & DRM |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/xvct89/adobe_digital_editions_drm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/LWIft |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

==Adobe Ebook DRM Removal==
In the Abbey House Media v. Apple Inc ruling on an ebookstore notifying users of how to remove ebook DRM, a judge has ruled that telling users to remove DRM from books they have legally purchased is "not contributory copyright infringement".<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Nov 2014 |title=Abbey House Media v. Apple Inc |url=https://www.eff.org/document/abbey-house-media-v-apple-inc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/CovSv |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=EFF}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Higgins |first=Parker |date=10 Dec 2014 |title=Pointing Users to DRM-Stripping Software Isn't Copyright Infringement, Judge Rules |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/12/pointing-users-drm-stripping-software-isnt-copyright-infringement-judge-rules?language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0nI8s |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=EFF}}</ref> The summary of this case being that the removal of DRM protection on books in non-infringing cases of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) does not necessarily lead to the piracy of digital books.<ref name=":3" />

An online persona known as ApprenticeAlf, has also gone ahead to create a tool to remove DRM as well from multiple forms of ebook DRM, not only Adobe's.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=10 Sep 2012 |title=DRM Removal Tools for eBooks |url=https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/drm-removal-tools-for-ebooks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/NHxJp |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Apprentice Alf's Blog}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Digital rights management]]
[[Category:Adobe]]

Adobe

2026-01-05T04:47:39Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Adobe
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Software
| Official Website = https://adobe.com/
| Logo = Adobe.svg
}}

[[wikipedia:Adobe_Inc.|'''Adobe''']] is a software company based in San Jose, California, that specializes in creative software, including photo editing, video editing, animation, illustration, web development, and more. Founded in 1982, the company developed the Portable Document Format (PDF) in 1992, along with a comprehensive suite of creative software. Widespread adoption of their products by novices, industry professionals, and nation-states has enabled Adobe to carve out a significant market share in the creative software industry. In FY24, Adobe's Digital Media Segment reported $15.86 billion in revenue to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). <ref>[https://www.adobe.com/cc-shared/assets/investor-relations/pdfs/adbe-2024-annual-report.pdf ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934] </ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Lack of ownership===
In 2013, Adobe switched from a perpetual license model to a subscription model (Creative Cloud).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2013-05-06 |title=Adobe’s Creative Suite is dead, long live the Creative Cloud |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/05/adobes-creative-suite-is-dead-long-live-the-creative-cloud/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cxcNR |archive-date=16 Jun 2013 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Campbell-Dollaghan |first=Kelsey |date=2013-05-06 |title=Say Goodbye to Creative Suite: Adobe CS Is Now Creative Cloud |url=https://gizmodo.com/say-goodbye-to-creative-suite-adobe-rebrands-cs-as-cre-493155052 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0LcBS |archive-date=16 Jun 2013 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2013-05-06 |title=Adobe heralds subscription-only future for Photoshop and Creative Suite |url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/06/Adobe-kills-perpetual-licenses-as-creative-suite-moves-to-creative-cloud-cc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622072403/http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/06/Adobe-kills-perpetual-licenses-as-creative-suite-moves-to-creative-cloud-cc |archive-date=2013-06-22 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Digital Photography Review}}</ref>

===Proprietary file formats===
Works created in Adobe software come in Adobe-exclusive file formats such as .psd for Photoshop<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Colin |date= |title=Most commonly used file types in Photoshop |url=https://photoshopcafe.com/commonly-used-file-types-photoshop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0ZT6H |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Photoshop CAFE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Brendan |date=2023-10-12 |title=File Formats In Photoshop Explained (Complete List) |url=https://www.bwillcreative.com/file-formats-in-photoshop-explained/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mTNlg |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Brendan Williams Creative}}</ref> and .indd for InDesign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Which File Format?: A Guide to INDD, IDML, INX and Everything In-Between |url=https://indesignskills.com/tutorials/open-indesign-files-in-earlier-versions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/SumKq |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=InDesign Skills}}</ref>

===Data breaches===
In 2013, Adobe disclosed a data breach affecting approximately 3 million customers. This number was later revised to approximately 38 million. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Finkle |first=Jim |date=29 Oct 2013 |title=Adobe data breach more extensive than previously disclosed |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/technology/adobe-data-breach-more-extensive-than-previously-disclosed-idUSBRE99S1DJ |website=reuters.com/}}</ref> This incident resulted in a $1,000,000 settlement and a commitment to implementing new security policies. <ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Nov 2016 |title=Adobe to Pay $1 Million, Update Security Policies to Resolve Multistate Investigation Into Data Breach |url=https://www.mass.gov/news/adobe-to-pay-1-million-update-security-policies-to-resolve-multistate-investigation-into-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/nSVpL |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |website=mass.gov}}</ref> In 2019, researchers discovered that Adobe's Elasticsearch database was insecure, potentially exposing the information of approximately 7.5 million users. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Khandelwal |first=Swati |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Unsecured Adobe Server Exposes Data for 7.5 Million Creative Cloud Users |url=https://thehackernews.com/2019/10/adobe-database-leaked.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/UfO7n |archive-date=12 Apr 2020}}</ref> Breaches impacting U.S. federal agencies and Adobe Commerce/Magento stores also occurred in 2023 and 2024, respectively. <ref>{{Cite web |date=5 Dec 2023 |title=Threat Actors Exploit Adobe ColdFusion CVE-2023-26360 for Initial Access to Government Servers |url=https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-339a |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/8g4C3 |archive-date=15 Jan 2024 |website=cisa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sansec Forensics Team |date=1 Oct 2024 |title=Thousands of Adobe Commerce stores hacked in competing CosmicSting campaigns |url=https://sansec.io/research/cosmicsting-fallout |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vj2if |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |website=sansec.io}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Transition to subscription-based software===
{{Hatnote|Read More: [[Adobe Lightroom]], [[Adobe Subscriptions]], [[Adobe CS Activation]] and
[[Adobe sued by FTC over hidden fees in subscription plans]]
}}

Adobe initially distributed its software with perpetual licenses, allowing its users to make a one-time payment to own and access a specific application or, through Adobe's Creative Suite, a collection of applications. In 2011, Adobe introduced Creative Cloud, a subscription service that provides users with access to individual applications or multiple applications for a monthly or yearly fee. In 2013, Adobe discontinued Creative Suite.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

As of 2025, the only means to access up-to-date versions of many Adobe applications legally is through Creative Cloud. Additionally, the activation servers for perpetual licenses of previous versions of these applications have been shut down, which prevents consumers from activating the software using a legitimate copy and a serial number.

Creative Cloud offers various subscription options, including monthly plans (with monthly or annual billing) or prepaid yearly plans. There are also plans for individual applications and bundles containing multiple applications. Prices of individual applications range from $22.99 per month or $263.88 prepaid annually. The Creative Cloud Pro subscription, which includes 22 applications and additional extras such as 100 GB of cloud storage, is priced at $69.99 per month or $779.88 per year prepaid.

Plans billed annually but paid monthly have a cancellation fee 14 days after purchase. This fee is set at 50% of the remaining contract balance. For example, if the user cancels the plan in the seventh month of an annual plan that costs $69.99 per month, they will incur a fee of $174.98. Prepaid annual plans do not offer refunds or cancellation options after the 14-day period.

===Alleged use of user data for AI training===
{{main|Adobe's AI policy}}
Adobe has been accused of using user information for the purpose of training artificial intelligence. In 2024, Adobe updated its Terms of Service, granting itself a "non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license" to users' content. This grants Adobe permission to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display, publicly perform, and sublicense their users' content. This change raises concerns over conflicts with existing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and intellectual property rights. Users were required to accept the new Terms of Service to access their previously stored content.

Adobe has stated that it does not use user content to train generative AI, but Adobe may use it for improving its machine learning systems, with an opt-out available. However, no opt-out option was presented during acceptance of the Terms of Service. 

===User documents forced into the cloud with no opt-out===
Some of Adobe's iPad applications, including, but not limited to, the digital painting application Adobe Fresco<ref>{{Cite web |author=PaulaArtist2 |date=2021-12-13 |title=[How To] Save work locally / work offline |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/fresco-discussions/how-to-save-work-locally-work-offline/m-p/12390252 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WreAh |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref> and the document scanning application Adobe Scan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagra |first=Ria |date=2021-06-14 |title=Does Adobe Scan offer a way to not utilize the Adobe Cloud |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/adobe-scan-discussions/does-adobe-scan-offer-a-way-to-not-utilize-the-adobe-cloud/m-p/12104402 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cO5G1 |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref>, require an account to access and do not offer any option to opt out of syncing all documents created in these applications with Adobe's cloud servers. Similarly, the new non-Classic versions of Lightroom are fundamentally built around uploading all images to Adobe's cloud.

There is no end-to-end encryption, i.e., Adobe has full access to all of these files. Disabling internet access allows the user to work offline, but any files created in the affected apps will immediately sync to the cloud in the background as soon as the device is connected to a network again.

As an American company, Adobe is subject to the United States Cloud Act, which requires all US companies to grant the US government access to any user data, even if stored on servers outside their jurisdiction, and to comply with requests to help with spy operations upon request.

===Tracking users' eBook reading activities===
In 2014, it was revealed that Adobe Digital Editions, Adobe’s e-book reading application, reported extensive information about users' reading habits back to Adobe. This included several unique identifiers, such as which e-books were added to the application, when each one was opened, and for how long, as well as the percentage read and page navigation information.

All of this information was transmitted completely unencrypted in plain text. This meant that someone else using the same public Wi-Fi as another user would have been able to track their reading activities in real-time, entirely undetected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |date=8 Oct 2014 |title=Adobe’s e-book reader sends your reading logs back to Adobe—in plain text |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/10/adobes-e-book-reader-sends-your-reading-logs-back-to-adobe-in-plain-text/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gwRVe |archive-date=28 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ArsTechnica]]}}</ref>

===User information leaks and data breaches===
In 2013, credit card information and personal data of 38 million users were exposed in a data breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Maaz |date=26 Mar 2023 |title=The Adobe Attack of 2013: A Cautionary Tale of Cybersecurity Failure |url=https://medium.com/@maazptl240602/the-adobe-attack-of-2013-a-cautionary-tale-of-cybersecurity-failure-1ef4ec74eb64 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/xqXwd |archive-date=11 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Medium]]}}</ref>

In 2019, Adobe left approximately 7.5 million Creative Cloud customer records publicly accessible online due to gross negligence. The database was not protected with a password.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cimpanu |first=Catalin |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Adobe left 7.5 million Creative Cloud user records exposed online |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-left-7-5-million-creative-cloud-user-records-exposed-online/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KDsVc |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[ZDNet]}}</ref>

===Paywalls Pantone colors and changes user files===
Adobe and Pantone change colors in users' existing files in Photoshop and Illustrator to black unless they pay an additional $15/month. <ref>{{Cite web |title=You now have to pay to use Pantone colors in Adobe products |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/1/23434305/adobe-pantone-subscription-announcement-photoshop-illustrator |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uoPg0 |archive-date=1 Nov 2022 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adobe Just Held a Bunch of Colors Hostage |url=https://www.wired.com/story/adobe-pantone-color-subscription-fee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mh7w6 |archive-date=10 Nov 2022 |website=Wired}}</ref>

==Products==

===Adobe Creative Cloud===
Adobe's previous line of creative software has been joined into a broader ecosystem called the ''Adobe Creative Cloud.'' The Creative Cloud includes updated versions of the previously purchasable software:

*Photoshop
*Lightroom
*InDesign
*After Effects
*Dreamweaver
*Illustrator
*XD
*and many more

Included with the Creative Cloud, depending on plan options, Adobe also offers cloud-based storage, typefaces, stock photos, and other stock files.

==References==
<references />
*{{cite web |author=((Wikipedia contributors)) |date=2025-02-03 |title=Adobe Inc. |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adobe_Inc.&oldid=1273676016 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Wikipedia}}
*{{cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=Adobe roofies all of their customers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXxMCm941WA |date=2024-06-07 |website=YouTube |access-date=2025-01-15}}

[[Category:Adobe]]

Amazon sued for enrolling and charging customers into Audible without consent

2026-01-05T04:38:33Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Amazon, Audible
|StartDate=2024
|EndDate=2025
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Audible membership
|Product=Amazon Prime
|ArticleType=Service
|Type=Service Termination
|Description=Audible enrolled Amazon customers in Audible memberships without their knowledge or consent
}}'''[[Audible]]''', a subsidiary of Amazon, has two pending class action lawsuits against it for enrolling Amazon customers into the Audible membership without their consent and charging them the $14.95 monthly subscription fee<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Stutland |first=Donielle |date=10 Jan 2025 |title=ADVERTISING—W.D. Wash.: Amazon and Audible can’t escape class action over auto-enrollment, (Jan 10, 2025) |url=https://www.vitallaw.com/news/advertising-w-d-wash-amazon-and-audible-can-t-escape-class-action-over-auto-enrollment/ald01d087b56ebb9f46a4a141a2e6b95e6cdd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vO7Eh |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=18 Sep 2025 |website=Vital Law}}</ref>

==Background==
In Sherk v. Audible, the plaintiff alleges Audible enrolled existing Amazon account holders into Audible’s monthly subscription (“membership”) without their knowledge or consent.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sherk |first=Grace |date=11 Mar 2025 |title=Sherk v. Audible, Inc |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/sherk-v-audible-inc-complaint_1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/8Ij8i |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=18 Sep 2025 |website=Class Action}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-04-23 |title=Amazon Audible faces class action over unauthorized subscriptions |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/amazon-audible-faces-class-action-over-unauthorized-subscriptions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250826232032/https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/amazon-audible-faces-class-action-over-unauthorized-subscriptions/ |archive-date=2025-08-26 |access-date=2025-08-26 |work=Top Class Actions}}</ref> The complaint alleges that Audible utilized payment information already on file with Amazon, charged monthly membership fees, and made it difficult for users to discover, cancel, or obtain refunds for these subscriptions.

In Heck v. Amazon, the plaintiff used Amazon’s “FREE No-Rush Shipping” option, which came with a “digital reward.”<ref name=":2" /> She later discovered that redeeming this reward resulted in her personal and payment information being passed to Audible. The lawsuit alleges that Audible then enrolled her in a 30-day trial that automatically converted into a paid subscription unless it was affirmatively canceled. The plaintiff alleged she never received notice, confirmation, or cancellation information and was billed for several months without knowledge.

==Incident==
The plaintiff states that the victims of Amazon's enrollment in Audible had a difficult time cancelling the subscription service, which may be due to the company's failure to enact [[click-to-cancel]]<ref name=":0" /> that can result in customers continuing to be charged for the service during the time it takes them to cancel.

A similar lawsuit was filed on January 10, 2025, claiming that Amazon would pass consumer information to Audible, which would then sign up consumers for a free trial.<ref name=":2" /> After the free trial expired, the consumer would be transitioned to a paid subscription without notification.

===Corporate response===
Amazon and Audible responded to Heck’s claims by arguing that they had no duty to disclose any link between "No-Rush Shipping" rewards and Audible enrollment, since the rewards were marketed as digital credits and any Audible trial was separate, voluntary, and disclosed.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Chun |first=John |date=8 Jan 2025 |title=ORDER DENYING MOTION TO DISMISS |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/heck-v-amazon-ucsd-western-washington-opinion.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/76RZA |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=18 Sep 2025 |website=courthousenews.com}}</ref> They contended that Heck failed to show reliance or causation, as her choice of "No-Rush Shipping" was motivated by free shipping rather than Audible. They further claimed compliance with the California Auto-Renewal Law by providing clear terms, obtaining consent, and sending acknowledgment emails, suggesting that Heck either ignored or forgot these notices. Drawing on ''Viveros v. Audible'', they insisted that the signups were transparent and optional, meaning Heck must have given consent. Finally, they questioned whether she had suffered any real injury, noting that she had received both rewards and the Audible trial and could have canceled before charges accrued, making her losses the result of her own inaction rather than deception.

The court rejected most of these arguments at the dismissal stage.<ref name=":3" /> It found that Heck plausibly alleged non-disclosure, lack of consent, and ARL violations, which are sufficient to proceed. Notably, the court noted that the situation was unlike Viveros, as Heck alleged; she was enrolled in Audible without realizing it, whereas Viveros involved consumers knowingly signing up.

==Lawsuit==
In ''Sherk v. Audible'', the plaintiffs claim that customers were enrolled in Audible memberships without their consent, often without realizing they had been signed up at all.<ref name=":1" /> Audible allegedly used personal and billing information already stored in Amazon accounts to facilitate these enrollments and failed to provide explicit written confirmation or conspicuous notice of recurring charges. Many customers only discovered their membership after receiving unexpected billing, and, according to the complaint, Audible made cancellation difficult, with some users continuing to be charged even after attempting to cancel their membership. The lawsuit further alleges that many of these “nonconsensual enrollees” never used Audible’s services and that Audible either knew or should have been aware of the widespread problem, given numerous complaints on public forums and consumer watchdog sites. Despite this knowledge, Audible is accused of failing to correct the practice because it generated revenue. Additionally, Audible allegedly restricted refunds, making it difficult for customers to recover payments, and was therefore unjustly enriched by retaining subscription fees from customers who had never agreed to join. The plaintiffs seek restitution and disgorgement of these funds as relief.

In ''Heck v. Amazon.com Inc.'', the plaintiff alleges that Amazon and its subsidiary Audible automatically enrolled her in an Audible membership without her knowledge or consent after she selected the “No-Rush Shipping” option for Amazon Prime orders, which provided digital rewards.<ref name=":2" /> Heck claims that she was never informed that redeeming these rewards would result in an Audible trial that would automatically convert into a paid subscription, nor did she receive clear communications about the terms, cancellation policy, or how to opt out. She further alleges that Amazon had exclusive knowledge of this enrollment process and failed to disclose it, creating a situation in which she was charged $14.95 per month for services she did not knowingly subscribe to. The lawsuit asserts violations of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), the Unfair Competition Law (UCL), and the Auto-Renewal Law (ARL), focusing on non-disclosure, lack of affirmative consent, and the economic harm caused by these automatic charges. Relief sought includes damages and restitution for unauthorized subscription fees, highlighting the alleged deceptive practices and failure to obtain informed consent prior to billing.

==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}


==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Audible]]
[[Category:Amazon]]

Amazon locks home owner out of Amazon account over allegation by Amazon delivery driver

2026-01-05T04:36:18Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

A home owner was locked out of their [[Amazon]] account for nearly a week, after a delivery driver from Amazon misheard an automated message from their Eufy doorbell. The delivery driver had a package to deliver at the address of the home owner, and "reported receiving racist remarks", which were later proven to be a false accusation, as the doorbell said "Excuse me, can I help you?". The home owner was locked out of their account over this before the investigation was completed, which also suspended the [[Amazon Echo]] devices of the home owner.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Brandon Jackson |date=2023-06-04 |title=A Tale of Unwanted Disruption: My Week Without Amazon |url=https://medium.com/@bjax_/a-tale-of-unwanted-disruption-my-week-without-amazon-df1074e3818b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OnOVF |archive-date=19 Jun 2023 |publisher=Medium |language=en |format=article}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Louis Rossmann |date=2023-06-12 |title=Amazon accuses customer of racism & shuts down their smart home |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ukTm9 |archive-date=19 Jun 2023 |publisher=YouTube |language=en |format=video |ref=Rossmann-video-1}}</ref>

==Background==
The smart devices that Amazon offers require an associated account. The company also has their online e-commerce platform, which also requires having an Amazon account. It is likely that consumers use the same account for both their purchases and their smart devices of the same company, if they have those. But even if that is not the case, and they would use separate Amazon accounts, Amazon would still hold a position of power as these devices do not function without an Amazon account, or at least intent users to have an account as a soft requirement to access all the features. For instance, the echo smart speakers devices require logging in to an Amazon account on the Alexa App.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Set up Alexa in a Few Easy Steps |url=https://www.amazon.com/alexa-setup-guide/b?node=17978645011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/38eGD |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=Amazon |language=en |format=guide}}</ref>

==Locked out of account after delivery==
The incidents raises concerns about what is proportionate in this scenario, where there is an accusation by a delivery driver allegedly being harassed. Safety of the drivers are also a factor, which the home owner acknowledges:<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>Let me be clear: I fully support Amazon taking measures to ensure the safety of their drivers. However, I question why my entire smart home system had to be rendered unusable during their internal investigation. It seems more sensible to impose a temporary delivery restriction or purchasing ban on my account. Submitting video evidence from multiple angles right after my initial call with the executive appeared to have little impact on their decision to disable my account.</blockquote>The home owner later clarified that they self hosted many of the services, which made the effect of the lock out far softer but still concerning if it were to happen to the average home owner.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=Louis Rossmann |date=2023-06-18 |title=Man locked out of amazon account over his doorbell gets account back, but no apology |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyEgD-5GK9c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/2a14q |archive-date=19 Jun 2023 |publisher=YouTube |language=en |format=video |ref=Rossmann-video-2}}</ref>

===Amazon's response===

The account was unlocked again after the investigation found out that the claim was false.<ref name=":0" /> Although the story made the news, it did not feature an apology from Amazon for their decision to lock a home owner out of their account over a false accusation. There was also no mention on whether Amazon thought the measure was proportionate in the e-mail to the customer, just that the account would be temporarily suspended.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

There are also some broader concerns with this practice, in this case the home owner could still access their recordings of the incident, as the doorbell made a recording. But in the cases where there would not be a recording it would be hard to prove for the home owner that they were innocent. While it is not the case for [[Ring]] doorbells as they have separate Ring accounts, although Ring is owned by Amazon, the situation would become even harder for the home owner if they could not access the video footage as consequence of being locked out of an account.

==Consumer response==
The main concern is about the consequence of locking someone out of their Amazon account, which can have further consequences if that same account is used for home automation with Amazon products. It gives Amazon control over products that have already been sold to the customer, which would normally keep functioning if they were not from the same company.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Locked out of account]]

Amazon alters the content of purchased ebooks

2026-01-05T04:35:08Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

[[Amazon]] allows publishers who publish e-books through their store to alter their existing works, and push such updates to the copies of e-books in user libraries, without explicit user permission, or user notification. This may be simply to correct minor errors, but in some cases can constitute substantial changes in wording, for example to make a work more politically correct. The highest profile example of this was the '''editing of Roald Dahl's books''' for British users in 2023, aimed at removing language deemed offensive or outdated.

==Post-purchase e-book edits==

In February 2023, {{Wplink|Puffin_Books|Puffin Books}}, a British book publisher, was found to be automatically updating Roald Dahl e-books previously purchased by UK users on Amazon with new "sanitized" versions that contained hundreds of changes to the original text. Users who had purchased the e-books before the changes were implemented found their copies automatically replaced with the edited versions, without being given a choice or notification beyond the updates themselves.<ref name="times1">{{Cite web |author1=Ben Ellery |author2=James Beal |date=25 February 2023 |title=Roald Dahl ebooks ‘force censored versions on readers’ despite backlash |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/roald-dahl-collection-books-changes-text-puffin-uk-2023-rm2622vl0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/pByaH |archive-date=19 Feb 2025 |publisher=Times Media |format=article}}</ref>

In 2023, The Telegraph reported that '''hundreds of changes''' were made to Roald Dahl's classic children's books, including ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'', ''Matilda'', and ''The Witches''.<ref name=":3" /> These edits were performed by the publisher Puffin in collaboration with a group called '''Inclusive Minds''', with the stated goal of ensuring the books ''"can continue to be enjoyed by all today."''

Whilst users are able to disable automatic e-book updates for previously purchased e-books in their libraries, such updates are enabled by Amazon by default.

===Examples of specific edits===
The changes included numerous alterations to the original text, such as:
*Replacing "fat" with "enormous" in describing Augustus Gloop
*Removing Miss Trunchbull's "great horsey face" description to just "face"
*Modifying character occupations (e.g., changing a woman "working as a cashier" to "working as a top scientist")
*Removing references to certain authors (e.g., replacing Joseph Conrad with Jane Austen in Matilda)<ref name=":3" />

*Gender-neutral language – "Cloud-Men" in ''James and the Giant Peach'' were renamed "Cloud-People".
*Removal of references to physical appearance – The "fat little brown mouse" in ''The Witches'' became simply "little brown mouse".
*Sanitization of language – ''The Witches'' originally stated: "You must be mad, woman!" This was rephrased to "You must be out of your mind!"

Clarissa Aykroyd, a children's publishing professional, described the automatic updates as feeling "Orwellian," saying she assumed users would be given the option on whether to download the original version or the newly sanitized versions given how significant the changes were. The forced updates led her to become "weary of ebooks."<ref name="times1" />

==Public response==

Critics of the practice have pointed to how such changes would not have aligned with the original author's wishes. As stated by Matthew Dennison, a biographer of the late author,

<blockquote>When it came to children’s books, Dennison says Dahl didn’t care what adults thought as long as his target readers were happy. “‘I don’t give a b----r what grown-ups think,’ was a characteristic statement,” Dennison says. “And I’m almost certain that he would have recognised that alterations to his novels prompted by the political climate were driven by adults rather than children, and this always inspired derision, if not contempt, in Dahl.
“He never, for example, had any truck with librarians who criticised his books as too frightening, lacking moral role models, negative in their portrayal of women, etc,” he continues. “Dahl wrote stories intended to kindle in children a lifelong love of reading and to remind them of the childhood wonderlands of magic and enchantment, aims in which he succeeded triumphantly. Adult anxieties about political niceties didn’t register in this outlook. This said, although Dahl could be unabashed in offending adults, he took pains never to alienate or make unhappy his child readers.” <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |author1=Ed Cumming |author2=Abigail Buchanan |author3=Genevieve Holl-Allen |date=24 Feb 2023 |title=Roald Dahl rewritten |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/17/roald-dahl-books-rewritten-offensive-matilda-witches-twits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ancLj |archive-date=17 Apr 2025 |publisher=The Telegraph |language=en |format=article}}</ref></blockquote>

Spelling out what Dahl said above: "I don't give a bugger"<ref>{{Cite web |author=Roald Dahl |date=1983 |title=The Witches |url=https://issuu.com/footlights/docs/depaul_-_the_witches |url-status=dead |publisher=The Theatre School at DePaul University (2011)}}</ref>

==Company response==
After backlash, Puffin announced it would publish the classic collection of 17 Dahl texts alongside the edited versions. Puffin acknowledged "very real questions around how stories can be kept relevant for new generations" while giving readers "the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl's magical, marvelous stories."<ref name="times1" />

===Debate over modern censorship===
The changes to Dahl's books sparked wider debate over whether these changes were necessary updates or excessive censorship, as well as whether Amazon should enable this behavior by default. Critics argue that altering the original language distorts an author's intent, undermines a user's 'ownership' of their e-books, and removes historical context.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Amazon
|StartDate=2023
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Amazon Kindle
|Product=Amazon Kindle
|ArticleType=Service
|Type=Digital restrictions
|Description=Amazon allows publishers to retroactively make editorial changes to already purchased ebooks in users' Kindle library without their knowledge
}}

[[Category:Amazon]]

Activision discontinues Blur video game

2026-01-05T04:32:54Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=No references included}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Activision Blizzard
|StartDate=2011
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Blur
|Product=Blur
|ArticleType=Incident
|Type=Service Termination
|Description=The game Blur cannot be legitimately purchased for no apparent reason.
}}
Blur is an arcade-style street racing game released on May 25, 2010 for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blur |url=https://www.gamespot.com/games/blur/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/jQ6It |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=GameSpot}}</ref> It was discontinued in 2011 when the game studio behind Blur, Bizarre Creations, was shut down by [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Nov 2010 |title=Updated: Activision shutting down Bizarre and Budcat studios? |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-shuts-down-bizarre-and-budcat-studios/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/geNo6 |archive-date=27 Oct 2023 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=PCGamer}}</ref> The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have been discontinued, and Blur has been delisted on [[Steam]], thus Blur is not for sale on any platform.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2018 |title=How can I buy this game legally? |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/42640/discussions/0/3374780959389252968 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BhCPU |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=Steam}}</ref> Blur servers have been brought back online as of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Jan 2023 |title=Steam thread |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/42640/discussions/0/3758850980071094166/?l=english |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Xbv4t |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=Steam}}</ref>

==Background==
All platforms gave Blur favourable reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=GameFAQs reviews for blur |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/960251-blur/reviews |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=GameFAQs}}</ref> Blur sold 31,000 copies in the US in the first 5 days<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Activison: Blur was not a failure |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-blur-was-not-a-failure |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/JLoI5 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-23}}</ref> and sold a total of 500,000 copies by the time it was discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Article clipping from The Independent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent/87964042 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/4CCWX |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-23}}</ref> A sequel was planned, but was abandoned and never finished due to the closing of Bizarre Creations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Blur 2 |url=https://www.igdb.com/games/blur-2 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=IGDB}}</ref> An unofficial free-to-play spin-off titled "Blur Overdrive" was released on November 1, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-1 |title=Blur Overdrive |url=https://4pda.to/forum/index.php?showtopic=513912 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ThPCX |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=4PDA}}</ref>

==Discontinuation notice==
Activision's statement:<blockquote>Over the past three years since our purchase of Bizarre Creations, the fundamentals of the racing genre have changed significantly. Although we made a substantial investment in creating a new IP, Blur, it did not find a commercial audience. Bizarre is a very talented team of developers; however, because of the broader economic factors impacting the market, we are exploring our options regarding the future of the studio, including a potential sale of the business.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Nov 2010 |title=Activision Looking To Close Or Sell Bizarre Creations |url=https://worthplaying.com/article/2010/11/16/news/78258-activision-looking-to-close-or-sell-bizarre-creations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DMogb |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=WorthPlaying}}</ref></blockquote>

==Consumer response==
The consumer response to Activision discontinuing Blur was of disappointment. Players enjoyed the game's campaign mode and split-screen racing. The legal way to play Blur is to purchase a Steam key or obtain a physical disc, but this is difficult, as the game has been delisted on Steam. Because of this, many players have resorted to downloading the game on abandonware sites.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-26 |title=Reddit thread |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/patientgamers/comments/1fx72vx/while_a_commercial_failure_at_the_time_blur_is/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/9mXFl |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

Unofficial servers for Blur are currently being hosted by the Amax Emu project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amax Emu |url=https://amax-emu.com/Dashboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/v0MQf |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Amax Emu}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Stop Killing Games]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Activision Blizzard]]
[[Category:Discontinued products]]
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Service cancellation]]

Adobe

2026-01-05T04:29:59Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Adobe
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Software
| Official Website = https://adobe.com/
| Logo = Adobe.svg
}}

[[wikipedia:Adobe_Inc.|'''Adobe''']] is a software company based in San Jose, California, that specializes in creative software, including photo editing, video editing, animation, illustration, web development, and more. Founded in 1982, the company developed the Portable Document Format (PDF) in 1992, along with a comprehensive suite of creative software. Widespread adoption of their products by novices, industry professionals, and nation-states has enabled Adobe to carve out a significant market share in the creative software industry. In FY24, Adobe's Digital Media Segment reported $15.86 billion in revenue to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). <ref>[https://www.adobe.com/cc-shared/assets/investor-relations/pdfs/adbe-2024-annual-report.pdf ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934] </ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Lack of ownership===
In 2013, Adobe switched from a perpetual license model to a subscription model (Creative Cloud).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2013-05-06 |title=Adobe’s Creative Suite is dead, long live the Creative Cloud |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/05/adobes-creative-suite-is-dead-long-live-the-creative-cloud/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cxcNR |archive-date=16 Jun 2013 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Campbell-Dollaghan |first=Kelsey |date=2013-05-06 |title=Say Goodbye to Creative Suite: Adobe CS Is Now Creative Cloud |url=https://gizmodo.com/say-goodbye-to-creative-suite-adobe-rebrands-cs-as-cre-493155052 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0LcBS |archive-date=16 Jun 2013 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2013-05-06 |title=Adobe heralds subscription-only future for Photoshop and Creative Suite |url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/06/Adobe-kills-perpetual-licenses-as-creative-suite-moves-to-creative-cloud-cc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622072403/http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/06/Adobe-kills-perpetual-licenses-as-creative-suite-moves-to-creative-cloud-cc |archive-date=2013-06-22 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Digital Photography Review}}</ref>

===Proprietary file formats===
Works created in Adobe software come in Adobe-exclusive file formats such as .psd for Photoshop<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Colin |date= |title=Most commonly used file types in Photoshop |url=https://photoshopcafe.com/commonly-used-file-types-photoshop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0ZT6H |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Photoshop CAFE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Brendan |date=2023-10-12 |title=File Formats In Photoshop Explained (Complete List) |url=https://www.bwillcreative.com/file-formats-in-photoshop-explained/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mTNlg |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Brendan Williams Creative}}</ref> and .indd for InDesign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Which File Format?: A Guide to INDD, IDML, INX and Everything In-Between |url=https://indesignskills.com/tutorials/open-indesign-files-in-earlier-versions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/SumKq |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=InDesign Skills}}</ref>

===Data breaches===
In 2013, Adobe disclosed a data breach affecting approximately 3 million customers. This number was later revised to approximately 38 million. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Finkle |first=Jim |date=29 Oct 2013 |title=Adobe data breach more extensive than previously disclosed |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/technology/adobe-data-breach-more-extensive-than-previously-disclosed-idUSBRE99S1DJ |website=reuters.com/}}</ref> This incident resulted in a $1,000,000 settlement and a commitment to implementing new security policies. <ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Nov 2016 |title=Adobe to Pay $1 Million, Update Security Policies to Resolve Multistate Investigation Into Data Breach |url=https://www.mass.gov/news/adobe-to-pay-1-million-update-security-policies-to-resolve-multistate-investigation-into-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/nSVpL |archive-date=2026-01-04 |website=mass.gov}}</ref> In 2019, researchers discovered that Adobe's Elasticsearch database was insecure, potentially exposing the information of approximately 7.5 million users. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Khandelwal |first=Swati |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Unsecured Adobe Server Exposes Data for 7.5 Million Creative Cloud Users |url=https://thehackernews.com/2019/10/adobe-database-leaked.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/UfO7n |archive-date=12 Apr 2020}}</ref> Breaches impacting U.S. federal agencies and Adobe Commerce/Magento stores also occurred in 2023 and 2024, respectively. <ref>{{Cite web |date=5 Dec 2023 |title=Threat Actors Exploit Adobe ColdFusion CVE-2023-26360 for Initial Access to Government Servers |url=https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-339a |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/8g4C3 |archive-date=15 Jan 2024 |website=cisa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sansec Forensics Team |date=1 Oct 2024 |title=Thousands of Adobe Commerce stores hacked in competing CosmicSting campaigns |url=https://sansec.io/research/cosmicsting-fallout |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vj2if |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |website=sansec.io}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Transition to subscription-based software===
{{Hatnote|Read More: [[Adobe Lightroom]], [[Adobe Subscriptions]], [[Adobe CS Activation]] and
[[Adobe sued by FTC over hidden fees in subscription plans]]
}}

Adobe initially distributed its software with perpetual licenses, allowing its users to make a one-time payment to own and access a specific application or, through Adobe's Creative Suite, a collection of applications. In 2011, Adobe introduced Creative Cloud, a subscription service that provides users with access to individual applications or multiple applications for a monthly or yearly fee. In 2013, Adobe discontinued Creative Suite.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

As of 2025, the only means to access up-to-date versions of many Adobe applications legally is through Creative Cloud. Additionally, the activation servers for perpetual licenses of previous versions of these applications have been shut down, which prevents consumers from activating the software using a legitimate copy and a serial number.

Creative Cloud offers various subscription options, including monthly plans (with monthly or annual billing) or prepaid yearly plans. There are also plans for individual applications and bundles containing multiple applications. Prices of individual applications range from $22.99 per month or $263.88 prepaid annually. The Creative Cloud Pro subscription, which includes 22 applications and additional extras such as 100 GB of cloud storage, is priced at $69.99 per month or $779.88 per year prepaid.

Plans billed annually but paid monthly have a cancellation fee 14 days after purchase. This fee is set at 50% of the remaining contract balance. For example, if the user cancels the plan in the seventh month of an annual plan that costs $69.99 per month, they will incur a fee of $174.98. Prepaid annual plans do not offer refunds or cancellation options after the 14-day period.

===Alleged use of user data for AI training===
{{main|Adobe's AI policy}}
Adobe has been accused of using user information for the purpose of training artificial intelligence. In 2024, Adobe updated its Terms of Service, granting itself a "non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license" to users' content. This grants Adobe permission to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display, publicly perform, and sublicense their users' content. This change raises concerns over conflicts with existing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and intellectual property rights. Users were required to accept the new Terms of Service to access their previously stored content.

Adobe has stated that it does not use user content to train generative AI, but Adobe may use it for improving its machine learning systems, with an opt-out available. However, no opt-out option was presented during acceptance of the Terms of Service. 

===User documents forced into the cloud with no opt-out===
Some of Adobe's iPad applications, including, but not limited to, the digital painting application Adobe Fresco<ref>{{Cite web |author=PaulaArtist2 |date=2021-12-13 |title=[How To] Save work locally / work offline |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/fresco-discussions/how-to-save-work-locally-work-offline/m-p/12390252 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WreAh |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref> and the document scanning application Adobe Scan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagra |first=Ria |date=2021-06-14 |title=Does Adobe Scan offer a way to not utilize the Adobe Cloud |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/adobe-scan-discussions/does-adobe-scan-offer-a-way-to-not-utilize-the-adobe-cloud/m-p/12104402 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cO5G1 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref>, require an account to access and do not offer any option to opt out of syncing all documents created in these applications with Adobe's cloud servers. Similarly, the new non-Classic versions of Lightroom are fundamentally built around uploading all images to Adobe's cloud.

There is no end-to-end encryption, i.e., Adobe has full access to all of these files. Disabling internet access allows the user to work offline, but any files created in the affected apps will immediately sync to the cloud in the background as soon as the device is connected to a network again.

As an American company, Adobe is subject to the United States Cloud Act, which requires all US companies to grant the US government access to any user data, even if stored on servers outside their jurisdiction, and to comply with requests to help with spy operations upon request.

===Tracking users' eBook reading activities===
In 2014, it was revealed that Adobe Digital Editions, Adobe’s e-book reading application, reported extensive information about users' reading habits back to Adobe. This included several unique identifiers, such as which e-books were added to the application, when each one was opened, and for how long, as well as the percentage read and page navigation information.

All of this information was transmitted completely unencrypted in plain text. This meant that someone else using the same public Wi-Fi as another user would have been able to track their reading activities in real-time, entirely undetected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |date=8 Oct 2014 |title=Adobe’s e-book reader sends your reading logs back to Adobe—in plain text |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/10/adobes-e-book-reader-sends-your-reading-logs-back-to-adobe-in-plain-text/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gwRVe |archive-date=28 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ArsTechnica]]}}</ref>

===User information leaks and data breaches===
In 2013, credit card information and personal data of 38 million users were exposed in a data breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Maaz |date=26 Mar 2023 |title=The Adobe Attack of 2013: A Cautionary Tale of Cybersecurity Failure |url=https://medium.com/@maazptl240602/the-adobe-attack-of-2013-a-cautionary-tale-of-cybersecurity-failure-1ef4ec74eb64 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/xqXwd |archive-date=11 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Medium]]}}</ref>

In 2019, Adobe left approximately 7.5 million Creative Cloud customer records publicly accessible online due to gross negligence. The database was not protected with a password.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cimpanu |first=Catalin |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Adobe left 7.5 million Creative Cloud user records exposed online |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-left-7-5-million-creative-cloud-user-records-exposed-online/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KDsVc |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[ZDNet]}}</ref>

===Paywalls Pantone colors and changes user files===
Adobe and Pantone change colors in users' existing files in Photoshop and Illustrator to black unless they pay an additional $15/month. <ref>{{Cite web |title=You now have to pay to use Pantone colors in Adobe products |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/1/23434305/adobe-pantone-subscription-announcement-photoshop-illustrator |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uoPg0 |archive-date=1 Nov 2022 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adobe Just Held a Bunch of Colors Hostage |url=https://www.wired.com/story/adobe-pantone-color-subscription-fee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mh7w6 |archive-date=10 Nov 2022 |website=Wired}}</ref>

==Products==

===Adobe Creative Cloud===
Adobe's previous line of creative software has been joined into a broader ecosystem called the ''Adobe Creative Cloud.'' The Creative Cloud includes updated versions of the previously purchasable software:

*Photoshop
*Lightroom
*InDesign
*After Effects
*Dreamweaver
*Illustrator
*XD
*and many more

Included with the Creative Cloud, depending on plan options, Adobe also offers cloud-based storage, typefaces, stock photos, and other stock files.

==References==
<references />
*{{cite web |author=((Wikipedia contributors)) |date=2025-02-03 |title=Adobe Inc. |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adobe_Inc.&oldid=1273676016 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Wikipedia}}
*{{cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=Adobe roofies all of their customers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXxMCm941WA |date=2024-06-07 |website=YouTube |access-date=2025-01-15}}

[[Category:Adobe]]

Adobe

2026-01-05T04:24:13Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Adobe
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Software
| Official Website = https://adobe.com/
| Logo = Adobe.svg
}}

[[wikipedia:Adobe_Inc.|'''Adobe''']] is a software company based in San Jose, California, that specializes in creative software, including photo editing, video editing, animation, illustration, web development, and more. Founded in 1982, the company developed the Portable Document Format (PDF) in 1992, along with a comprehensive suite of creative software. Widespread adoption of their products by novices, industry professionals, and nation-states has enabled Adobe to carve out a significant market share in the creative software industry. In FY24, Adobe's Digital Media Segment reported $15.86 billion in revenue to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). <ref>[https://www.adobe.com/cc-shared/assets/investor-relations/pdfs/adbe-2024-annual-report.pdf ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934] </ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Lack of ownership===
In 2013, Adobe switched from a perpetual license model to a subscription model (Creative Cloud).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2013-05-06 |title=Adobe’s Creative Suite is dead, long live the Creative Cloud |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/05/adobes-creative-suite-is-dead-long-live-the-creative-cloud/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cxcNR |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Campbell-Dollaghan |first=Kelsey |date=2013-05-06 |title=Say Goodbye to Creative Suite: Adobe CS Is Now Creative Cloud |url=https://gizmodo.com/say-goodbye-to-creative-suite-adobe-rebrands-cs-as-cre-493155052 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0LcBS |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2013-05-06 |title=Adobe heralds subscription-only future for Photoshop and Creative Suite |url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/06/Adobe-kills-perpetual-licenses-as-creative-suite-moves-to-creative-cloud-cc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622072403/http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/06/Adobe-kills-perpetual-licenses-as-creative-suite-moves-to-creative-cloud-cc |archive-date=2013-06-22 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Digital Photography Review}}</ref>

===Proprietary file formats===
Works created in Adobe software come in Adobe-exclusive file formats such as .psd for Photoshop<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Colin |date= |title=Most commonly used file types in Photoshop |url=https://photoshopcafe.com/commonly-used-file-types-photoshop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0ZT6H |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Photoshop CAFE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Brendan |date=2023-10-12 |title=File Formats In Photoshop Explained (Complete List) |url=https://www.bwillcreative.com/file-formats-in-photoshop-explained/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mTNlg |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Brendan Williams Creative}}</ref> and .indd for InDesign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Which File Format?: A Guide to INDD, IDML, INX and Everything In-Between |url=https://indesignskills.com/tutorials/open-indesign-files-in-earlier-versions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/SumKq |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=InDesign Skills}}</ref>

===Data breaches===
In 2013, Adobe disclosed a data breach affecting approximately 3 million customers. This number was later revised to approximately 38 million. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Finkle |first=Jim |date=29 Oct 2013 |title=Adobe data breach more extensive than previously disclosed |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/technology/adobe-data-breach-more-extensive-than-previously-disclosed-idUSBRE99S1DJ |website=reuters.com/}}</ref> This incident resulted in a $1,000,000 settlement and a commitment to implementing new security policies. <ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Nov 2016 |title=Adobe to Pay $1 Million, Update Security Policies to Resolve Multistate Investigation Into Data Breach |url=https://www.mass.gov/news/adobe-to-pay-1-million-update-security-policies-to-resolve-multistate-investigation-into-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/nSVpL |archive-date=2026-01-04 |website=mass.gov}}</ref> In 2019, researchers discovered that Adobe's Elasticsearch database was insecure, potentially exposing the information of approximately 7.5 million users. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Khandelwal |first=Swati |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Unsecured Adobe Server Exposes Data for 7.5 Million Creative Cloud Users |url=https://thehackernews.com/2019/10/adobe-database-leaked.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/UfO7n |archive-date=2026-01-04}}</ref> Breaches impacting U.S. federal agencies and Adobe Commerce/Magento stores also occurred in 2023 and 2024, respectively. <ref>{{Cite web |date=5 Dec 2023 |title=Threat Actors Exploit Adobe ColdFusion CVE-2023-26360 for Initial Access to Government Servers |url=https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-339a |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/8g4C3 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |website=cisa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sansec Forensics Team |date=1 Oct 2024 |title=Thousands of Adobe Commerce stores hacked in competing CosmicSting campaigns |url=https://sansec.io/research/cosmicsting-fallout |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vj2if |archive-date=2026-01-04 |website=sansec.io}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Transition to subscription-based software===
{{Hatnote|Read More: [[Adobe Lightroom]], [[Adobe Subscriptions]], [[Adobe CS Activation]] and
[[Adobe sued by FTC over hidden fees in subscription plans]]
}}

Adobe initially distributed its software with perpetual licenses, allowing its users to make a one-time payment to own and access a specific application or, through Adobe's Creative Suite, a collection of applications. In 2011, Adobe introduced Creative Cloud, a subscription service that provides users with access to individual applications or multiple applications for a monthly or yearly fee. In 2013, Adobe discontinued Creative Suite.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

As of 2025, the only means to access up-to-date versions of many Adobe applications legally is through Creative Cloud. Additionally, the activation servers for perpetual licenses of previous versions of these applications have been shut down, which prevents consumers from activating the software using a legitimate copy and a serial number.

Creative Cloud offers various subscription options, including monthly plans (with monthly or annual billing) or prepaid yearly plans. There are also plans for individual applications and bundles containing multiple applications. Prices of individual applications range from $22.99 per month or $263.88 prepaid annually. The Creative Cloud Pro subscription, which includes 22 applications and additional extras such as 100 GB of cloud storage, is priced at $69.99 per month or $779.88 per year prepaid.

Plans billed annually but paid monthly have a cancellation fee 14 days after purchase. This fee is set at 50% of the remaining contract balance. For example, if the user cancels the plan in the seventh month of an annual plan that costs $69.99 per month, they will incur a fee of $174.98. Prepaid annual plans do not offer refunds or cancellation options after the 14-day period.

===Alleged use of user data for AI training===
{{main|Adobe's AI policy}}
Adobe has been accused of using user information for the purpose of training artificial intelligence. In 2024, Adobe updated its Terms of Service, granting itself a "non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license" to users' content. This grants Adobe permission to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display, publicly perform, and sublicense their users' content. This change raises concerns over conflicts with existing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and intellectual property rights. Users were required to accept the new Terms of Service to access their previously stored content.

Adobe has stated that it does not use user content to train generative AI, but Adobe may use it for improving its machine learning systems, with an opt-out available. However, no opt-out option was presented during acceptance of the Terms of Service. 

===User documents forced into the cloud with no opt-out===
Some of Adobe's iPad applications, including, but not limited to, the digital painting application Adobe Fresco<ref>{{Cite web |author=PaulaArtist2 |date=2021-12-13 |title=[How To] Save work locally / work offline |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/fresco-discussions/how-to-save-work-locally-work-offline/m-p/12390252 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WreAh |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref> and the document scanning application Adobe Scan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagra |first=Ria |date=2021-06-14 |title=Does Adobe Scan offer a way to not utilize the Adobe Cloud |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/adobe-scan-discussions/does-adobe-scan-offer-a-way-to-not-utilize-the-adobe-cloud/m-p/12104402 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cO5G1 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref>, require an account to access and do not offer any option to opt out of syncing all documents created in these applications with Adobe's cloud servers. Similarly, the new non-Classic versions of Lightroom are fundamentally built around uploading all images to Adobe's cloud.

There is no end-to-end encryption, i.e., Adobe has full access to all of these files. Disabling internet access allows the user to work offline, but any files created in the affected apps will immediately sync to the cloud in the background as soon as the device is connected to a network again.

As an American company, Adobe is subject to the United States Cloud Act, which requires all US companies to grant the US government access to any user data, even if stored on servers outside their jurisdiction, and to comply with requests to help with spy operations upon request.

===Tracking users' eBook reading activities===
In 2014, it was revealed that Adobe Digital Editions, Adobe’s e-book reading application, reported extensive information about users' reading habits back to Adobe. This included several unique identifiers, such as which e-books were added to the application, when each one was opened, and for how long, as well as the percentage read and page navigation information.

All of this information was transmitted completely unencrypted in plain text. This meant that someone else using the same public Wi-Fi as another user would have been able to track their reading activities in real-time, entirely undetected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |date=8 Oct 2014 |title=Adobe’s e-book reader sends your reading logs back to Adobe—in plain text |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/10/adobes-e-book-reader-sends-your-reading-logs-back-to-adobe-in-plain-text/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gwRVe |archive-date=28 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ArsTechnica]]}}</ref>

===User information leaks and data breaches===
In 2013, credit card information and personal data of 38 million users were exposed in a data breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Maaz |date=26 Mar 2023 |title=The Adobe Attack of 2013: A Cautionary Tale of Cybersecurity Failure |url=https://medium.com/@maazptl240602/the-adobe-attack-of-2013-a-cautionary-tale-of-cybersecurity-failure-1ef4ec74eb64 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/xqXwd |archive-date=11 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Medium]]}}</ref>

In 2019, Adobe left approximately 7.5 million Creative Cloud customer records publicly accessible online due to gross negligence. The database was not protected with a password.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cimpanu |first=Catalin |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Adobe left 7.5 million Creative Cloud user records exposed online |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-left-7-5-million-creative-cloud-user-records-exposed-online/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KDsVc |archive-date=5 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[ZDNet]}}</ref>

===Paywalls Pantone colors and changes user files===
Adobe and Pantone change colors in users' existing files in Photoshop and Illustrator to black unless they pay an additional $15/month. <ref>{{Cite web |title=You now have to pay to use Pantone colors in Adobe products |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/1/23434305/adobe-pantone-subscription-announcement-photoshop-illustrator |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uoPg0 |archive-date=1 Nov 2022 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adobe Just Held a Bunch of Colors Hostage |url=https://www.wired.com/story/adobe-pantone-color-subscription-fee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mh7w6 |archive-date=10 Nov 2022 |website=Wired}}</ref>

==Products==

===Adobe Creative Cloud===
Adobe's previous line of creative software has been joined into a broader ecosystem called the ''Adobe Creative Cloud.'' The Creative Cloud includes updated versions of the previously purchasable software:

*Photoshop
*Lightroom
*InDesign
*After Effects
*Dreamweaver
*Illustrator
*XD
*and many more

Included with the Creative Cloud, depending on plan options, Adobe also offers cloud-based storage, typefaces, stock photos, and other stock files.

==References==
<references />
*{{cite web |author=((Wikipedia contributors)) |date=2025-02-03 |title=Adobe Inc. |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adobe_Inc.&oldid=1273676016 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Wikipedia}}
*{{cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=Adobe roofies all of their customers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXxMCm941WA |date=2024-06-07 |website=YouTube |access-date=2025-01-15}}

[[Category:Adobe]]

Activision discontinues Blur video game

2026-01-05T03:48:27Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=No references included}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Activision Blizzard
|StartDate=2011
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Blur
|Product=Blur
|ArticleType=Incident
|Type=Service Termination
|Description=The game Blur cannot be legitimately purchased for no apparent reason.
}}
Blur is an arcade-style street racing game released on May 25, 2010 for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blur |url=https://www.gamespot.com/games/blur/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/jQ6It |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=GameSpot}}</ref> It was discontinued in 2011 when the game studio behind Blur, Bizarre Creations, was shut down by [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Nov 2010 |title=Updated: Activision shutting down Bizarre and Budcat studios? |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-shuts-down-bizarre-and-budcat-studios/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/geNo6 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=PCGamer}}</ref> The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have been discontinued, and Blur has been delisted on [[Steam]], thus Blur is not for sale on any platform.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2018 |title=How can I buy this game legally? |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/42640/discussions/0/3374780959389252968 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BhCPU |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=Steam}}</ref> Blur servers have been brought back online as of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Jan 2023 |title=Steam thread |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/42640/discussions/0/3758850980071094166/?l=english |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Xbv4t |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=Steam}}</ref>

==Background==
All platforms gave Blur favourable reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=GameFAQs reviews for blur |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/960251-blur/reviews |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=GameFAQs}}</ref> Blur sold 31,000 copies in the US in the first 5 days<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Activison: Blur was not a failure |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-blur-was-not-a-failure |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/JLoI5 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-23}}</ref> and sold a total of 500,000 copies by the time it was discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Article clipping from The Independent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent/87964042 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/4CCWX |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-23}}</ref> A sequel was planned, but was abandoned and never finished due to the closing of Bizarre Creations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Blur 2 |url=https://www.igdb.com/games/blur-2 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=IGDB}}</ref> An unofficial free-to-play spin-off titled "Blur Overdrive" was released on November 1, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-1 |title=Blur Overdrive |url=https://4pda.to/forum/index.php?showtopic=513912 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ThPCX |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=4PDA}}</ref>

==Discontinuation notice==
Activision's statement:<blockquote>Over the past three years since our purchase of Bizarre Creations, the fundamentals of the racing genre have changed significantly. Although we made a substantial investment in creating a new IP, Blur, it did not find a commercial audience. Bizarre is a very talented team of developers; however, because of the broader economic factors impacting the market, we are exploring our options regarding the future of the studio, including a potential sale of the business.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Nov 2010 |title=Activision Looking To Close Or Sell Bizarre Creations |url=https://worthplaying.com/article/2010/11/16/news/78258-activision-looking-to-close-or-sell-bizarre-creations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DMogb |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=WorthPlaying}}</ref></blockquote>

==Consumer response==
The consumer response to Activision discontinuing Blur was of disappointment. Players enjoyed the game's campaign mode and split-screen racing. The legal way to play Blur is to purchase a Steam key or obtain a physical disc, but this is difficult, as the game has been delisted on Steam. Because of this, many players have resorted to downloading the game on abandonware sites.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-26 |title=Reddit thread |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/patientgamers/comments/1fx72vx/while_a_commercial_failure_at_the_time_blur_is/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/9mXFl |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

Unofficial servers for Blur are currently being hosted by the Amax Emu project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amax Emu |url=https://amax-emu.com/Dashboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/v0MQf |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Amax Emu}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Stop Killing Games]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Activision Blizzard]]
[[Category:Discontinued products]]
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Service cancellation]]

Amazon sued for enrolling and charging customers into Audible without consent

2026-01-05T03:19:20Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Amazon, Audible
|StartDate=2024
|EndDate=2025
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Audible membership
|Product=Amazon Prime
|ArticleType=Service
|Type=Service Termination
|Description=Audible enrolled Amazon customers in Audible memberships without their knowledge or consent
}}'''[[Audible]]''', a subsidiary of Amazon, has two pending class action lawsuits against it for enrolling Amazon customers into the Audible membership without their consent and charging them the $14.95 monthly subscription fee<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Stutland |first=Donielle |date=10 Jan 2025 |title=ADVERTISING—W.D. Wash.: Amazon and Audible can’t escape class action over auto-enrollment, (Jan 10, 2025) |url=https://www.vitallaw.com/news/advertising-w-d-wash-amazon-and-audible-can-t-escape-class-action-over-auto-enrollment/ald01d087b56ebb9f46a4a141a2e6b95e6cdd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vO7Eh |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=18 Sep 2025 |website=Vital Law}}</ref>

==Background==
In Sherk v. Audible, the plaintiff alleges Audible enrolled existing Amazon account holders into Audible’s monthly subscription (“membership”) without their knowledge or consent.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sherk |first=Grace |date=11 Mar 2025 |title=Sherk v. Audible, Inc |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/sherk-v-audible-inc-complaint_1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/8Ij8i |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=18 Sep 2025 |website=Class Action}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-04-23 |title=Amazon Audible faces class action over unauthorized subscriptions |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/amazon-audible-faces-class-action-over-unauthorized-subscriptions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250826232032/https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/amazon-audible-faces-class-action-over-unauthorized-subscriptions/ |archive-date=2025-08-26 |access-date=2025-08-26 |work=Top Class Actions}}</ref> The complaint alleges that Audible utilized payment information already on file with Amazon, charged monthly membership fees, and made it difficult for users to discover, cancel, or obtain refunds for these subscriptions.

In Heck v. Amazon, the plaintiff used Amazon’s “FREE No-Rush Shipping” option, which came with a “digital reward.”<ref name=":2" /> She later discovered that redeeming this reward resulted in her personal and payment information being passed to Audible. The lawsuit alleges that Audible then enrolled her in a 30-day trial that automatically converted into a paid subscription unless it was affirmatively canceled. The plaintiff alleged she never received notice, confirmation, or cancellation information and was billed for several months without knowledge.

==Incident==
The plaintiff states that the victims of Amazon's enrollment in Audible had a difficult time cancelling the subscription service, which may be due to the company's failure to enact [[click-to-cancel]]<ref name=":0" /> that can result in customers continuing to be charged for the service during the time it takes them to cancel.

A similar lawsuit was filed on January 10, 2025, claiming that Amazon would pass consumer information to Audible, which would then sign up consumers for a free trial.<ref name=":2" /> After the free trial expired, the consumer would be transitioned to a paid subscription without notification.

===Corporate response===
Amazon and Audible responded to Heck’s claims by arguing that they had no duty to disclose any link between "No-Rush Shipping" rewards and Audible enrollment, since the rewards were marketed as digital credits and any Audible trial was separate, voluntary, and disclosed.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Chun |first=John |date=8 Jan 2025 |title=ORDER DENYING MOTION TO DISMISS |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/heck-v-amazon-ucsd-western-washington-opinion.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/76RZA |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=18 Sep 2025 |website=courthousenews.com}}</ref> They contended that Heck failed to show reliance or causation, as her choice of "No-Rush Shipping" was motivated by free shipping rather than Audible. They further claimed compliance with the California Auto-Renewal Law by providing clear terms, obtaining consent, and sending acknowledgment emails, suggesting that Heck either ignored or forgot these notices. Drawing on ''Viveros v. Audible'', they insisted that the signups were transparent and optional, meaning Heck must have given consent. Finally, they questioned whether she had suffered any real injury, noting that she had received both rewards and the Audible trial and could have canceled before charges accrued, making her losses the result of her own inaction rather than deception.

The court rejected most of these arguments at the dismissal stage.<ref name=":3" /> It found that Heck plausibly alleged non-disclosure, lack of consent, and ARL violations, which are sufficient to proceed. Notably, the court noted that the situation was unlike Viveros, as Heck alleged; she was enrolled in Audible without realizing it, whereas Viveros involved consumers knowingly signing up.

==Lawsuit==
In ''Sherk v. Audible'', the plaintiffs claim that customers were enrolled in Audible memberships without their consent, often without realizing they had been signed up at all.<ref name=":1" /> Audible allegedly used personal and billing information already stored in Amazon accounts to facilitate these enrollments and failed to provide explicit written confirmation or conspicuous notice of recurring charges. Many customers only discovered their membership after receiving unexpected billing, and, according to the complaint, Audible made cancellation difficult, with some users continuing to be charged even after attempting to cancel their membership. The lawsuit further alleges that many of these “nonconsensual enrollees” never used Audible’s services and that Audible either knew or should have been aware of the widespread problem, given numerous complaints on public forums and consumer watchdog sites. Despite this knowledge, Audible is accused of failing to correct the practice because it generated revenue. Additionally, Audible allegedly restricted refunds, making it difficult for customers to recover payments, and was therefore unjustly enriched by retaining subscription fees from customers who had never agreed to join. The plaintiffs seek restitution and disgorgement of these funds as relief.

In ''Heck v. Amazon.com Inc.'', the plaintiff alleges that Amazon and its subsidiary Audible automatically enrolled her in an Audible membership without her knowledge or consent after she selected the “No-Rush Shipping” option for Amazon Prime orders, which provided digital rewards.<ref name=":2" /> Heck claims that she was never informed that redeeming these rewards would result in an Audible trial that would automatically convert into a paid subscription, nor did she receive clear communications about the terms, cancellation policy, or how to opt out. She further alleges that Amazon had exclusive knowledge of this enrollment process and failed to disclose it, creating a situation in which she was charged $14.95 per month for services she did not knowingly subscribe to. The lawsuit asserts violations of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), the Unfair Competition Law (UCL), and the Auto-Renewal Law (ARL), focusing on non-disclosure, lack of affirmative consent, and the economic harm caused by these automatic charges. Relief sought includes damages and restitution for unauthorized subscription fees, highlighting the alleged deceptive practices and failure to obtain informed consent prior to billing.

==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}


==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Audible]]
[[Category:Amazon]]

Amazon locks home owner out of Amazon account over allegation by Amazon delivery driver

2026-01-05T03:11:59Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

A home owner was locked out of their [[Amazon]] account for nearly a week, after a delivery driver from Amazon misheard an automated message from their Eufy doorbell. The delivery driver had a package to deliver at the address of the home owner, and "reported receiving racist remarks", which were later proven to be a false accusation, as the doorbell said "Excuse me, can I help you?". The home owner was locked out of their account over this before the investigation was completed, which also suspended the [[Amazon Echo]] devices of the home owner.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Brandon Jackson |date=2023-06-04 |title=A Tale of Unwanted Disruption: My Week Without Amazon |url=https://medium.com/@bjax_/a-tale-of-unwanted-disruption-my-week-without-amazon-df1074e3818b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OnOVF |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=Medium |language=en |format=article}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Louis Rossmann |date=2023-06-12 |title=Amazon accuses customer of racism & shuts down their smart home |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ukTm9 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=YouTube |language=en |format=video |ref=Rossmann-video-1}}</ref>

==Background==
The smart devices that Amazon offers require an associated account. The company also has their online e-commerce platform, which also requires having an Amazon account. It is likely that consumers use the same account for both their purchases and their smart devices of the same company, if they have those. But even if that is not the case, and they would use separate Amazon accounts, Amazon would still hold a position of power as these devices do not function without an Amazon account, or at least intent users to have an account as a soft requirement to access all the features. For instance, the echo smart speakers devices require logging in to an Amazon account on the Alexa App.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Set up Alexa in a Few Easy Steps |url=https://www.amazon.com/alexa-setup-guide/b?node=17978645011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/38eGD |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=Amazon |language=en |format=guide}}</ref>

==Locked out of account after delivery==
The incidents raises concerns about what is proportionate in this scenario, where there is an accusation by a delivery driver allegedly being harassed. Safety of the drivers are also a factor, which the home owner acknowledges:<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>Let me be clear: I fully support Amazon taking measures to ensure the safety of their drivers. However, I question why my entire smart home system had to be rendered unusable during their internal investigation. It seems more sensible to impose a temporary delivery restriction or purchasing ban on my account. Submitting video evidence from multiple angles right after my initial call with the executive appeared to have little impact on their decision to disable my account.</blockquote>The home owner later clarified that they self hosted many of the services, which made the effect of the lock out far softer but still concerning if it were to happen to the average home owner.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=Louis Rossmann |date=2023-06-18 |title=Man locked out of amazon account over his doorbell gets account back, but no apology |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyEgD-5GK9c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/2a14q |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=YouTube |language=en |format=video |ref=Rossmann-video-2}}</ref>

===Amazon's response===

The account was unlocked again after the investigation found out that the claim was false.<ref name=":0" /> Although the story made the news, it did not feature an apology from Amazon for their decision to lock a home owner out of their account over a false accusation. There was also no mention on whether Amazon thought the measure was proportionate in the e-mail to the customer, just that the account would be temporarily suspended.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

There are also some broader concerns with this practice, in this case the home owner could still access their recordings of the incident, as the doorbell made a recording. But in the cases where there would not be a recording it would be hard to prove for the home owner that they were innocent. While it is not the case for [[Ring]] doorbells as they have separate Ring accounts, although Ring is owned by Amazon, the situation would become even harder for the home owner if they could not access the video footage as consequence of being locked out of an account.

==Consumer response==
The main concern is about the consequence of locking someone out of their Amazon account, which can have further consequences if that same account is used for home automation with Amazon products. It gives Amazon control over products that have already been sold to the customer, which would normally keep functioning if they were not from the same company.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Locked out of account]]

Amazon alters the content of purchased ebooks

2026-01-05T03:03:59Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

[[Amazon]] allows publishers who publish e-books through their store to alter their existing works, and push such updates to the copies of e-books in user libraries, without explicit user permission, or user notification. This may be simply to correct minor errors, but in some cases can constitute substantial changes in wording, for example to make a work more politically correct. The highest profile example of this was the '''editing of Roald Dahl's books''' for British users in 2023, aimed at removing language deemed offensive or outdated.

==Post-purchase e-book edits==

In February 2023, {{Wplink|Puffin_Books|Puffin Books}}, a British book publisher, was found to be automatically updating Roald Dahl e-books previously purchased by UK users on Amazon with new "sanitized" versions that contained hundreds of changes to the original text. Users who had purchased the e-books before the changes were implemented found their copies automatically replaced with the edited versions, without being given a choice or notification beyond the updates themselves.<ref name="times1">{{Cite web |author1=Ben Ellery |author2=James Beal |date=25 February 2023 |title=Roald Dahl ebooks ‘force censored versions on readers’ despite backlash |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/roald-dahl-collection-books-changes-text-puffin-uk-2023-rm2622vl0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/pByaH |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=Times Media |format=article}}</ref>

In 2023, The Telegraph reported that '''hundreds of changes''' were made to Roald Dahl's classic children's books, including ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'', ''Matilda'', and ''The Witches''.<ref name=":3" /> These edits were performed by the publisher Puffin in collaboration with a group called '''Inclusive Minds''', with the stated goal of ensuring the books ''"can continue to be enjoyed by all today."''

Whilst users are able to disable automatic e-book updates for previously purchased e-books in their libraries, such updates are enabled by Amazon by default.

===Examples of specific edits===
The changes included numerous alterations to the original text, such as:
*Replacing "fat" with "enormous" in describing Augustus Gloop
*Removing Miss Trunchbull's "great horsey face" description to just "face"
*Modifying character occupations (e.g., changing a woman "working as a cashier" to "working as a top scientist")
*Removing references to certain authors (e.g., replacing Joseph Conrad with Jane Austen in Matilda)<ref name=":3" />

*Gender-neutral language – "Cloud-Men" in ''James and the Giant Peach'' were renamed "Cloud-People".
*Removal of references to physical appearance – The "fat little brown mouse" in ''The Witches'' became simply "little brown mouse".
*Sanitization of language – ''The Witches'' originally stated: "You must be mad, woman!" This was rephrased to "You must be out of your mind!"

Clarissa Aykroyd, a children's publishing professional, described the automatic updates as feeling "Orwellian," saying she assumed users would be given the option on whether to download the original version or the newly sanitized versions given how significant the changes were. The forced updates led her to become "weary of ebooks."<ref name="times1" />

==Public response==

Critics of the practice have pointed to how such changes would not have aligned with the original author's wishes. As stated by Matthew Dennison, a biographer of the late author,

<blockquote>When it came to children’s books, Dennison says Dahl didn’t care what adults thought as long as his target readers were happy. “‘I don’t give a b----r what grown-ups think,’ was a characteristic statement,” Dennison says. “And I’m almost certain that he would have recognised that alterations to his novels prompted by the political climate were driven by adults rather than children, and this always inspired derision, if not contempt, in Dahl.
“He never, for example, had any truck with librarians who criticised his books as too frightening, lacking moral role models, negative in their portrayal of women, etc,” he continues. “Dahl wrote stories intended to kindle in children a lifelong love of reading and to remind them of the childhood wonderlands of magic and enchantment, aims in which he succeeded triumphantly. Adult anxieties about political niceties didn’t register in this outlook. This said, although Dahl could be unabashed in offending adults, he took pains never to alienate or make unhappy his child readers.” <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |author1=Ed Cumming |author2=Abigail Buchanan |author3=Genevieve Holl-Allen |date=24 Feb 2023 |title=Roald Dahl rewritten |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/17/roald-dahl-books-rewritten-offensive-matilda-witches-twits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ancLj |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=The Telegraph |language=en |format=article}}</ref></blockquote>

Spelling out what Dahl said above: "I don't give a bugger"<ref>{{Cite web |author=Roald Dahl |date=1983 |title=The Witches |url=https://issuu.com/footlights/docs/depaul_-_the_witches |url-status=dead |publisher=The Theatre School at DePaul University (2011)}}</ref>

==Company response==
After backlash, Puffin announced it would publish the classic collection of 17 Dahl texts alongside the edited versions. Puffin acknowledged "very real questions around how stories can be kept relevant for new generations" while giving readers "the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl's magical, marvelous stories."<ref name="times1" />

===Debate over modern censorship===
The changes to Dahl's books sparked wider debate over whether these changes were necessary updates or excessive censorship, as well as whether Amazon should enable this behavior by default. Critics argue that altering the original language distorts an author's intent, undermines a user's 'ownership' of their e-books, and removes historical context.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Amazon
|StartDate=2023
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Amazon Kindle
|Product=Amazon Kindle
|ArticleType=Service
|Type=Digital restrictions
|Description=Amazon allows publishers to retroactively make editorial changes to already purchased ebooks in users' Kindle library without their knowledge
}}

[[Category:Amazon]]

Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books

2026-01-05T03:01:05Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

[[File:Fyi-amazon-is-removing-download-transfer-option-on-feb-26th-v0-s7wd6fm1rqie1.webp|alt=Amazon notice about removing download capability|thumb|Amazon notice about removing download capability.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/ |archive-url=https://archive.ph/l6K1B |archive-date=17 Feb 2025 |publisher=Reddit |language=en |format=forum thread}}</ref>]]
On 26 February 2025, [[Amazon]] removed the "download and transfer via USB" feature from their website. This means [[Amazon Kindle]] users are no longer able to download their purchased e-books from Amazon's website to their computers using the "download and transfer via USB" feature. A message describing this change appeared on the page for the download feature a few weeks before the feature was removed.<ref name="theverge">{{Cite web |author=Andrew Liszewski |date=14 Feb 2025 |title=Amazon’s killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/612898/amazon-removing-kindle-book-download-transfer-usb |archive-url=https://archive.ph/QNFuC |archive-date=14 Feb 2025 |publisher=The Verge |language=en |format=article}}</ref>

==Background==
Amazon allows purchasing e-books on their platform. These e-books are designed to be used with Amazon Kindle devices and the Kindle app. The "download and transfer via USB" feature allowed users to download purchased e-books on their computers. The intended use for this was to allow people to transfer e-books from their computer to their Kindle, without requiring the Kindle to have an internet connection. The "download and transfer via USB" feature was available since the early days of Kindle, when many devices didn't have {{Wplink|Wi-Fi}} capabilities, such as the Kindle 1, Kindle 2, and Kindle DX.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=21 Nov 2011 |title=Amazon Kindle 1 |url=https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Amazon_Kindle_1 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gAZqC |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=MobileRead Wiki |language=en |format=wiki page}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=21 Nov 2011 |title=Amazon Kindle 2 |url=https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Amazon_Kindle_2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/QmcSy |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=MobileRead Wiki |language=en |format=wiki page}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2014 |title=Kindle DX |url=https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kindle_DX |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/kBocF |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=MobileRead Wiki |language=en |format=wiki page}}</ref>

===Reasons for feature===
*Allowed users to transfer books to Kindles without an internet connection. Older devices may no longer be able to connect.
*Let users create backup copies of their purchased e-book library.
*Provided a way to access books in the older AZW3 format, which is more amenable to format conversion than newer formats due to less restrictive DRM.
*Gave users more control over their purchased content.

===DRM implications===
As well as the intended usage, customers used this feature to create backups of their Kindle libraries and to convert the e-books to other formats to use with non-Kindle devices. Amazon Kindle e-readers use a proprietary format to store e-books, and a lot of the e-books contain [[Digital rights management|DRM]], which needs to be removed to use the e-books with non-Kindle devices. Newer Kindle devices use the KFX format, which makes it almost impossible to remove DRM. Since the download and transfer feature used the older AZW3 format, people with newer Kindles could use this feature to download their e-books in a format where the DRM can be removed.<ref name="theverge" />

==Removal of download and transfer via USB==
In February 2025, Amazon added a notice next to the download button whenever users accessed the "download and transfer via USB" feature. This notice said that the feature would be removed on February 26th. After that day, customers were no longer able to download their purchased e-books from the Amazon website.

Customers will still be able to download e-books to their Kindles, but will either have to use the Kindle store on the device or the "Deliver or Remove from Device" option on the Amazon website.<ref name="theverge" /> Both of these options require the e-reader to have an internet connection.

This isn't the first time Amazon has made changes affecting customers' access to their purchased e-books. For instance, Amazon previously removed books customers had purchased since the company that uploaded them didn't have the rights to the content.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Michael Kozlowski |date=14 Feb 2025 |title=Amazon is not to be trusted anymore with their Kindle e-reader |url=https://goodereader.com/blog/kindle/amazon-is-not-to-be-trusted-anymore-with-their-kindle-e-reader |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/srsIB |archive-date=15 Feb 2025 |publisher=Good e-Reader |language=en |format=article}}</ref>

==Customer response==
This change has caused significant backlash from customers.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |author=CriminOlly |date=16 Feb 2025 |title=Amazon are changing the way you own your Kindle books - you have 10 days to react |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMoCzeGnIss |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/fWSJK |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=YouTube |language=en |format=video}}</ref> This is due to the following reasons:

*The change makes it much harder for customers to read e-books they have purchased on non-Kindle devices.
*Customers are now required to connect their Kindle e-readers to the internet if they want to download books purchased on Amazon.
*The change makes it harder for customers to move away from Amazon to another e-book platform, since customers are not able to keep the e-books they purchased through Amazon.

After the announcement, many consumers downloaded their purchased e-books with the download and transfer feature while the feature was available. Many people have also moved to other providers to buy e-books going forward.

Other users resorted to {{Wplink|Privilege escalation#Jailbreaking|jailbreaking}} their devices to ensure continued access to previous features. This can be done using tools such as [https://kindlemodding.org/jailbreaking/WinterBreak/ WinterBreak], which allow users to run custom applications like [https://github.com/koreader/koreader/wiki/Installation-on-Kindle-devices KOReader], a unified eBook reader that supports PDF, DjVu, EPUB, FB2, and many other formats—on Cervantes, Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, and [[Android]] devices.

==Effect on original Kindle devices (Kindle 1, Kindle 2, & Kindle DX)==
The Amazon Kindle 1 (2007), Kindle 2 (2009), and Kindle DX (2009) relied on EVDO and 3G networks for wireless book downloads via Amazon’s Whispernet service.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> However, with the global shutdown of these older networks by mobile carriers, these early Kindle models are no longer able to download purchased Kindle books wirelessly in most regions.

Since e-books can no longer be purchased from the Kindle Store and downloaded, there is no way to get them onto these devices.

*Users are no longer be able to download Kindle books to a computer for manual transfer to their device via USB.
*Kindle books that were downloaded before this date can still be transferred manually.
*Any new purchases will require a WiFi-enabled Kindle, a 4G-enabled Kindle or access to Amazon’s Kindle apps to read.
*This effectively bricks older Kindles for the use case of reading newly purchased Kindle books

====Remaining functionality====
*The Kindle 1, Kindle 2, and Kindle DX still support USB file transfers for non-Amazon content, including:
**DRM-free MOBI, PRC, and TXT files.
**Converted EPUB files using tools like Calibre.
**Public domain books from sites such as Project Gutenberg.
*Users who backed up their Kindle books before the 26 February 2025 cutoff can still manually transfer them via USB.

==Technical USB restrictions==
In 2023, Amazon changed how their Kindle devices interact with computers from a raw view of a file system using UMS ([[wikipedia:USB_mass_storage_device_class|USB Mass Storage]]) to a filtered view using the MTP ({{Wplink|Media Transfer Protocol}}).<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Aug 2023 |title=Kindle Scribe no longer connects as USB drive |url=https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4352640 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/hkXML |archive-date=3 Jan 2026 |publisher=MobileRead Forums |language=en |format=forum thread}}</ref>

MTP requires support on the operating system. Amazon had to provide macOS software to communicate with Kindles,<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Nov 2024 |title=Amazon releases MTP USB File Manager for macOS |url=https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=364580 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OQBWA |archive-date=3 Jan 2026 |publisher=MobileRead Forums |language=en |format=forum thread}}</ref> and even Windows users had some issues. This change made download and transfer more complex for newer devices.

This change means that all files transferred to the device will have to pass through a software filter running on the device before being accepted. Currently, this filtering is ineffective as demonstrated by WinterBreak which uses the exposed HTML cache. Future software revisions can and will add restrictions, especially to "improve security."

Amazon has been pushing for content to go through Send-To-Kindle<ref>{{Cite web |title=Send to Kindle page |url=https://www.amazon.com/sendtokindle |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ft38A |archive-date=2026-01-04 |publisher=Amazon}}</ref> instead of USB. This allows Amazon to restrict the usage of Kindle devices to display illicit content.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Amazon Kindle]]
[[Category:Digital rights management]]
[[Category:Retroactively amended purchase]]
[[Category:Articles based on videos]]

Amazon Kindle

2026-01-05T02:44:33Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = Amazon Kindle
| Release Year = 2007
| Product Type = E-reader
| In Production = Yes
| Official Website = https://amazon.com/kindle
| Logo = Amazon kindle logo.png
}}

'''Amazon Kindle''' is a product line of e-readers made by '''[[Amazon]]'''.

=Consumer-impact summary=
{{Ph-C-CIS}}

==Controversies==
While EPUB has been the widely adopted format for digital books,<ref>{{Cite web |title=EPUB 3.3 |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/epub-33/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/t2Se6 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[w3.org]]}}</ref> the Kindle e-readers do not support this format natively. That means that it is not possible to load these files directly to the e-reader (which is called {{Wplink|sideloading}}), but have to be converted first to one of the proprietary formats the Kindle uses. Books directly purchased through Amazon come with [[DRM]] restrictions.

Around 2022 it was announced that there would be an option to read these files,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Stan |date=3 May 2022 |title=Amazon's Kindle will finally support epub files |url=https://mashable.com/article/amazon-kindle-epub |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/aRy3x |archive-date=3 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2022 |website=[[Mashable]]}}</ref> which was not through native support but via their e-mail service or dedicated app for the Kindle. Both send the file to the Kindle Cloud Library, and process the file on Amazon servers to the proprietary format.

As for the sideloading itself, newer firmware versions of Kindle e-readers only work with {{Wplink|Media Transfer Protocol|MTP}},<ref>{{Cite web |author=Nathan |date=20 Oct 2024 |title=Amazon Removed Download and Transfer Option for New Kindles |url=https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2024/10/20/amazon-removed-download-and-transfer-option-for-new-kindles/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/dXMCw |archive-date=3 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Ebook Reader]]}}</ref> which led to controversy among {{Wplink|power user}}s as it disrupted existing workflow, which is to be expected. Book management software like Calibre<ref>[https://calibre-ebook.com/ Calibre]</ref> addresses this issue, and can do the conversion of file formats locally. The recent firmware updates have caused other issues, like faster battery drain than before and a slower user experience.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kozlowski |first=Micheal |date=20 Aug 2024 |title=The Amazon Kindle is in a state of decline |url=https://goodereader.com/blog/kindle/the-amazon-kindle-is-in-a-state-of-decline |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/fKayf |archive-date=3 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Good EReader]]}}</ref>

===Anti-repair and anti-ownership practices===
Kindle devices regularly receive bad scores in repair reviews.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Frauenheim |first=Carsten |title=Kindle 11 Repair |url=https://it.ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Dgz4C |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[iFixit]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Kris |title=Kindle Paperwhite 5 (11th Generation) Repair |url=https://ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_Paperwhite_11th_Generation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/PtM8A |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[iFixit]]}}</ref> The baseline model has a replaceable battery, but provides no official replacement parts or repair instructions, and solders the power button and usb-c port to the motherboard.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">[https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/e-reader-repairability-scores e-reader repairability scores]</ref> The paper-white model uses excessive amounts of adhesive for the battery and motherboard, which make it harder to replace the battery.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Most of the components of the device, most importantly the e-ink screen, are not available to the general market. Any stock for e-ink displays for these devices can rarely be found, and they usually approach the cost of the device itself, making repair uneconomical.

Kindle devices run a Linux distribution, however the bootloader is locked down and users have had trouble accessing debug ports on newer hardware.{{Citation needed|reason=Personal account}} Adding to this, Amazon relies on proprietary software and drivers which make it difficult to port a standard mainline Linux kernel onto their devices.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [:Category:{{PAGENAME}} {{PAGENAME}} category].

===Download feature removed for purchased books (2025.02.26)===
{{Main|Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books}}
[[File:Fyi-amazon-is-removing-download-transfer-option-on-feb-26th-v0-s7wd6fm1rqie1.webp|alt=Amazon notice about removing download capability|thumb|Amazon notice about removing download capability.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/ |archive-url=https://archive.ph/l6K1B |archive-date=17 Feb 2025 |publisher=Reddit |language=en |format=forum thread}}</ref>]]
On 26 February 2025, [[Amazon]] removed the "download and transfer via USB" feature from their website. This means [[Amazon Kindle]] users are no longer able to download their purchased e-books from Amazon's website to their computers using the "download and transfer via USB" feature. A message describing this change appeared on the page for the download feature a few weeks before the feature was removed.

===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==
*[[Amazon alters the content of purchased ebooks]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Amazon Kindle]]
[[Category:Amazon]]

Amazon Echo changes terms of voice usage

2026-01-05T02:34:42Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

[[Amazon Echo]] is a series of client devices for the [[Amazon Alexa]] voice control platform for connected smart homes. Echo products have long offered the option to disable cloud voice analysis and perform processing on-device, in addition to a separate option that theoretically prevents the company from saving voice recordings. However, in March of 2025, the company sent an email to users with this option on that disables the first option and only leaves the second, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/03/17/amazon-echo-alexa-reporting-privacy/82503576007/ citing the need to train generative AI].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Robledo |first=Anthony |date=2025-03-17 |title=Amazon is removing an Echo privacy setting that keeps Alexa recordings from the company |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/03/17/amazon-echo-alexa-reporting-privacy/82503576007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319001811/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/03/17/amazon-echo-alexa-reporting-privacy/82503576007/ |archive-date=2025-03-19 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=USA Today}}</ref>

==Background==
Alexa as a service is based around an edge client + cloud service model where a physical device acts as a conduit between voice and the cloud. This raises substantial privacy concerns as it is, because the lack of open source means that no one actually knows whether privacy settings are respected. However, much like Apple, Amazon assured customers through its settings interface that enabling the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting would utilize exclusively local processing, sending your data to the cloud only "for features that require the transmission of audio, such as when you make a call or send a message or announcement via Alexa."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Turn on Do Not Send Voice Recordings |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GQXLLWHBCVL6L5QD |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cvDM8 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Amazon Customer Support}}</ref> Local processing was available as a server on the Echo (4th Gen), Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15, and could be utilized by lower power or older devices as clients.<ref name=":1" />

From archival analysis of the [https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201602230 Alexa FAQ] page, it can be estimated that this feature was introduced in early to mid 2022, given the first available archived copy of the page was in September 2022. As of writing, this page still includes this feature despite its imminent removal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alexa and Alexa Device FAQs |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201602230 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901001441/https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201602230 |archive-date=2022-09-01 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Amazon Customer Support}}</ref> This likely means that the Echo (4th Gen) was not launched with this feature, as it was launched 10/22/2020<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gartenberg |first=Chaim |date=2020-09-24 |title=Amazon redesigns the Echo with a new spherical design and a custom machine learning processor |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21452347/amazon-echo-4th-generation-features-price-release-date-alexa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212183356/https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21452347/amazon-echo-4th-generation-features-price-release-date-alexa |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Verge}}</ref> with the Echo Show 10 following not long after on 2/25/2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Dan |date=2021-02-24 |title=Amazon Echo Show 10 review: Alexa’s next move |url=https://www.theverge.com/22297810/amazon-echo-show-10-2021-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317152944/https://www.theverge.com/22297810/amazon-echo-show-10-2021-review |archive-date=2025-03-17 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Verge}}</ref> However, the Echo Show 15 (2023) and Echo Show 15 (2024) were both launched since, as implied by their names, and even the former was announced after this feature was unveiled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuohy |first=Jennifer Pattison |date=2022-12-16 |title=Amazon Echo Show 15 review: Alexa’s on your wall |url=https://www.theverge.com/22839220/amazon-echo-show-15-review-wall-mounted-alexa-tablet-kitchen-tv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307173006/https://www.theverge.com/22839220/amazon-echo-show-15-review-wall-mounted-alexa-tablet-kitchen-tv |archive-date=2025-03-07 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
[[File:Upcoming change to your Alexa Settings.png|alt=This image is a screenshot of the email sent by Amazon to customers using the Do Not Send Voice Recordings feature on Echo devices. It indicates that on March 28, 2025, this feature will be disabled and voice recordings will recorded as they "expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features."|thumb|Email from Amazon, 2025-03-14]]

==Removal of the Do Not Send Voice Feature==
On March 14, 2025 (unknown if this notice rolled out over multiple days), Amazon sent an email with the subject "Upcoming change to your Alexa Settings" to customers which had enabled the Do Not Send Voice feature. The email cites coming improvements to Alexa, including the addition of generative AI features. No alternative is given other than the already-existing "Don't save recordings" feature, which merely prohibits Amazon from keeping copies of the recordings.

Amazon claims in the email that "[t]he Alexa experience is designed to protect your privacy and keep your data secure." However, they do not appear to elaborate on this further than redirecting customers to the Alexa Privacy Hub, which cites features like the microphone toggle button and the ability to go back through already saved recordings and delete them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alexa Privacy Hub |url=https://www.amazon.com/b/?node=19149155011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220192838/https://www.amazon.com/Alexa-Privacy-Hub/b?ie=UTF8&node=19149155011 |archive-date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Amazon.com}}</ref>

It is worth noting that other companies like Apple that admit to sending some voice/speech data for processing at least claim to use confidential computing ([[wikipedia:Confidential_computing|read more on Wikipedia]]) techniques like [https://security.apple.com/blog/private-cloud-compute/ Private Cloud Compute]. While these are not fully open-source solutions, these privacy-preserving technologies are audited externally and claim to be inaccessible to employees. Amazon has, in the past, admitted some recordings "undergo anonymized human review,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scarcella |first=Mike |date=2024-10-31 |title=Amazon denies duping US consumers over Alexa’s recording practices |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/amazon-denies-duping-us-consumers-over-alexas-recording-practices-2024-10-31/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/xWyGC |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Reuters}}</ref>" so it is evident these recordings are not fully autonomously processed in such a way.

==Consumer response==

The response to this issue has been varied--some consumers, such as many in [https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1jb8qwx/psa_amazon_alexa_discontinuing_do_not_send_voice/ this Reddit thread], are quite displeased with the removal of the feature, with comments like "Great opportunity to discontinue Amazon Alexa!" and "We will spy on you and you will like it." However, media outlets have circulated a claim by Amazon that only 0.03% of users used the feature,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-19 |title=Amazon ends little-used privacy feature that let Echo users opt out of sending recordings to company |url=https://apnews.com/article/amazon-privacy-echo-7fb3c19fa7f664bde5c5be259f8b23ee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/I66JT |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Associated Press}}</ref> so it is likely that this will go broadly unnoticed whether it is positive or negative.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Amazon Echo]]

Ally Invest Securities

2026-01-05T02:22:18Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{Incomplete}}

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Ally Invest
| Type = Subsidiary
| Founded = 2016
| Industry = Stockbrokering
| Official Website = https://www.ally.com/invest
| Logo = Ally Financial Logo.svg
}}

'''Ally Invest Securities, LLC''' (also known as '''Ally Invest''') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of [[Ally Financial]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Nov 2025 |title=We’re not just raising the bar, we’re redefining it. |url=https://www.ally.com/about/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DnDW0 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=25 Nov 2025 |website=Ally}}</ref> which provides securities brokerage and financial services.

Ally Invest provides services to customers who are natural persons or legal entities such as trusts.

==Consumer impact summary==

===Forced arbitration===
Ally Invest may present customers with agreements that [[Forced arbitration|force arbitration]], without an opt-out clause:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2025 |title=Ally Invest Securities Trust Account Application |url=https://www.ally.com/content/dam/pdf/invest/invest-trust-application.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BzhwS |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=25 Nov 2025 |website=Ally}}</ref>
<blockquote>THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A PRE-DISPUTE ARBITRATION CLAUSE. BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
(I) ALL PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT ARE GIVING UP THE RIGHT TO SUE EACH OTHER IN COURT, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO A JURY, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY THE RULES OF THE ARBITRATION FORUM IN WHICH A CLAIM IS FILED.</blockquote>
===Asymmetric indemnification clauses===
Ally Invest may present customers with an account agreement which includes language like the following:<ref name=":0" />
<blockquote>In addition, I agree that the Indemnified Parties will not be liable for any Losses that result from....any activities of or services provided by the Indemnified Parties in connection with My Account (including, without limitation, any technology services, reporting, trading, research or capital introduction services)</blockquote>
<blockquote>I consent to the use of automated systems....I understand that the use of Automated Systems entails risks...that could cause substantial damage, expense or liability to Me. I understand and agree that Indemnified Parties will have no liability whatsoever for any Losses arising out of or relating to a System Failure.</blockquote>
But in practice, the customer will be expected to unconditionally make timely and competent performance on cash, securities, instructions, documents, etc. or suffer consequences like margin loan interest without any provision for indemnification.{{Citation needed|reason=Personal account}}

Similarly, Ally Invest requires the customer to endorse a sweeping guarantee of "Information Accuracy" but does not make the same guarantee (specifies indemnity for itself instead).{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

===Information collection and sharing===
Ally Invest may use or transmit data related to a customer's account or device with a wireless carrier. They may present customers with account applications specifying text like the following:<ref name=":0" />
<blockquote>Customer Authentication. I authorize My wireless carrier to use or disclose information about My account and My wireless device, if available, to AIS or its service provider for the duration of My business relationship, solely to help them identify Me or My wireless device and to prevent fraud.</blockquote>
===Piercing the corporate veil===
Ally Invest may try to require customers provide it with a security interest in their property that reaches beyond the relationship strictly between the customer and Ally Invest Securities:<ref name=":0" />
<blockquote>Setoff and Security Interest Rights. I grant AIS a security interest in each of My accounts with AIS and its affiliates (each, an “Ally Company”) for obligations owing to any Ally Company.</blockquote>
An intentionally broad and/or vague definition of "affiliates" could be an attempt of Ally Invest Securities to use the customer's property to satisfy business dealings that are not directly between the customer and Ally Invest Securities.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

Customers should be aware of the risk that Ally Invest Securities may have already invested in legal arguments on this matter that could result in the customer's substantial economic losses in the case that one of Ally's related interests (potentially a very close "affiliate") is able to create a successful claim against customer property where such a breadth of (successful) claimants may not have existed under similar circumstances (such as with a different broker).{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

===Interest rates charged===
Ally Invest may be charging customers a higher rate of interest than the maximum allowed rate named in statutory laws in some jurisdictions in the United States. For example, the 2024 Maryland Code Commercial law sec. 12-102<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=General Legal Rate of Interest |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/commercial-law/title-12/subtitle-1/section-12-102/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/SZNEj |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=25 Nov 2025 |website=Justitia U.S. Law}}</ref> states a maximum rate of interest of 6 percent per annum, but Ally Invest does not specify that it does not allow its interest rates to go above 6% for customers residing in Maryland. It is worth noting, however, that other companies providing brokerage services publicly advertise similarly high (less favorable) interest rates to customers. As of 2025-01-19, the public-facing Ally Invest website cites a margin loan interest rate as of 2024-12-18 of between 7.50% and 12%.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Ally Invest Securities]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]
[[Category:Articles in need of citations]]

Amazon allows fraudulent product page after manual review

2026-01-05T02:11:23Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Article does not follow a clear structure. See Discussion tab}}

Sellers on Amazon can list products, gather reviews for them, and then modify the listings to sell entirely different items while retaining the reviews from the previously sold products. Additionally, Amazon continues to allow the sale of products that fail to deliver on the promises advertised.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}

These practices create significant challenges for customers, making it difficult to rely on reviews when making informed purchasing decisions on Amazon's platform.

===Removing Reviews (Including Verified Reviews)===
When Amazon removed reviews—presumably{{Clarify|how}} to eliminate those for unrelated products{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}—they also deleted reviews from customers who had purchased the product currently being sold, including those marked as 'Verified Purchase' by Amazon. The removal of legitimate reviews makes it harder for potential buyers to determine whether a product is fraudulent or not. This is because reviews from verified purchases of the currently listed product, which could have alerted buyers to potential issues, were also removed.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}

====Examples Of Such and Related Incidents====

=====Portable Air Conditioner=====
Amazon sells a portable air conditioner<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Portable Air ConditionerS Portable AC Unit for Large Room |url=https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Conditioners-Control-Dehumidifier-Included/dp/B0CY85TKPF/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706183221/https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Conditioners-Control-Dehumidifier-Included/dp/B0CY85TKPF/ |archive-date=6 Jul 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref> for which the aforementioned removing of reviews took place. This listing contained reviews for digital picture frames, desks, shower heads and balloons, adding to the number of positive reviews displayed for the portable air conditioner being sold.

The listing in questions has been available on Amazon since at least July of 2024<ref name=":0" /> and is currently still being listed in January 2025<ref name=":0" />.

=====Electrical Fuses=====
Electrical fuses are used to break an electrical circuit if too much current is flowing through them. This is essential to prevent circuits from operating and failing in an unsafe manner.

Amazon hosts listings for many such fuses. When purchasing and testing highly rated fuses from three different sellers on Amazon<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nilight - 50019R 272pcs Standard & Mini & Low Profile Mini Blade Fuse Assortment, 2A 5A 10A 15A 20A 25A 30A 35A Replacement Fuses for Car Boat Truck SUV Automotive |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08D3R1BRY |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105005821/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08D3R1BRY |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=140 Pcs Fuses Automotive Kit - Blade Auto Fuse Assortment Standard and Mini Car Fuse for Marine, RV, Camper, Boat, Truck (5A 7.5A 10A 15A 20A 25A 30AMP/ATC/ATO) |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0899WR671?th=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105010229/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0899WR671?th=1 |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CrocSee 250 Pieces - Car Fuses Assortment Kit, Blade-Type Automotive Fuses - Standard & Mini Size (2A/3A/5A/7.5A/10A/15A/ 20A/25A/30A/35A/40A), Replacement Fuses for Car/RV/Truck/Motorcycle/Boat |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0895PV8S2?th=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105012044/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0895PV8S2?th=1 |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref>, it was found<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=30 Dec 2023 |title=Amazon Sells Fake Electrical Fuses |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105010714/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> that the fuses did not perform as specified. Testing revealed that the fuses only failed after being subjected to multiple times their rated current. As a result, they did not break the connection as advertised, which could pose a significant safety risk if used in electrical circuits.

The fuses tested had and still have many reviews with a very high total rating. The fuses mentioned here, have been listed on Amazon since at least December of 2023 and are all still available for purchase. Due to the issues outlined above, a potential buyer relying on Amazon's reviews may have difficulties making an informed purchasing decision.

====Amazon on How They Keep Reviews Trustworthy and Useful====
Amazon themselves describes what they do to keep their reviews trustworthy and useful as follows:<blockquote>Our automated and human checks stop millions of suspicious reviews before customers ever see them. We also take legal action against groups that pay customers to post fake reviews. See our anti-manipulation policy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Understanding Customer Reviews and Ratings |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G8UYX7LALQC8V9KA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105011053/https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G8UYX7LALQC8V9KA |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref></blockquote>

===The CPSC on Hazardous Products Sold by Third-Party Sellers on Amazon.com===
In July of 2024, the United States' Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found Amazon responsible for hazardous products<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=30 Jul 2024 |title=CPSC Finds Amazon Responsible Under Federal Safety Law for Hazardous Products Sold by Third-Party Sellers on Amazon.com |url=https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/CPSC-Finds-Amazon-Responsible-Under-Federal-Safety-Law-for-Hazardous-Products-Sold-by-Third-Party-Sellers-on-Amazon-com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105011334/https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/CPSC-Finds-Amazon-Responsible-Under-Federal-Safety-Law-for-Hazardous-Products-Sold-by-Third-Party-Sellers-on-Amazon-com |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[CPSC]]}}</ref> sold by third-party sellers on amazon.com. In particular, they stated the following:<blockquote>Amazon was a “distributor” of products that are defective or fail to meet federal consumer product safety standards, and therefore bears legal responsibility for their recall. More than 400,000 products are subject to this order: specifically, faulty carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, hairdryers without electrocution protection, and children’s sleepwear that violated federal flammability standards.<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>The Commission determined that these products, listed on Amazon.com and sold by third-party sellers using the Fulfilled by Amazon program, pose a “substantial product hazard” under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Articles in need of citations]]

Amazon allows fraudulent product page after manual review

2026-01-05T02:10:02Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Article does not follow a clear structure. See Discussion tab}}

Sellers on Amazon can list products, gather reviews for them, and then modify the listings to sell entirely different items while retaining the reviews from the previously sold products. Additionally, Amazon continues to allow the sale of products that fail to deliver on the promises advertised.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}

These practices create significant challenges for customers, making it difficult to rely on reviews when making informed purchasing decisions on Amazon's platform.

===Removing Reviews (Including Verified Reviews)===
When Amazon removed reviews—presumably{{Clarify|how}} to eliminate those for unrelated products{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}—they also deleted reviews from customers who had purchased the product currently being sold, including those marked as 'Verified Purchase' by Amazon. The removal of legitimate reviews makes it harder for potential buyers to determine whether a product is fraudulent or not. This is because reviews from verified purchases of the currently listed product, which could have alerted buyers to potential issues, were also removed.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}

====Examples Of Such and Related Incidents====

=====Portable Air Conditioner=====
Amazon sells a portable air conditioner<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Portable Air ConditionerS Portable AC Unit for Large Room |url=https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Conditioners-Control-Dehumidifier-Included/dp/B0CY85TKPF/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706183221/https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Conditioners-Control-Dehumidifier-Included/dp/B0CY85TKPF/ |archive-date=6 Jul 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref> for which the aforementioned removing of reviews took place. This listing contained reviews for digital picture frames, desks, shower heads and balloons, adding to the number of positive reviews displayed for the portable air conditioner being sold.

The listing in questions has been available on Amazon since at least July of 2024<ref name=":0" /> and is currently still being listed in January 2025<ref name=":0" />.

=====Electrical Fuses=====
Electrical fuses are used to break an electrical circuit if too much current is flowing through them. This is essential to prevent circuits from operating and failing in an unsafe manner.

Amazon hosts listings for many such fuses. When purchasing and testing highly rated fuses from three different sellers on Amazon<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nilight - 50019R 272pcs Standard & Mini & Low Profile Mini Blade Fuse Assortment, 2A 5A 10A 15A 20A 25A 30A 35A Replacement Fuses for Car Boat Truck SUV Automotive |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08D3R1BRY |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105005821/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08D3R1BRY |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=140 Pcs Fuses Automotive Kit - Blade Auto Fuse Assortment Standard and Mini Car Fuse for Marine, RV, Camper, Boat, Truck (5A 7.5A 10A 15A 20A 25A 30AMP/ATC/ATO) |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0899WR671?th=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105010229/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0899WR671?th=1 |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CrocSee 250 Pieces - Car Fuses Assortment Kit, Blade-Type Automotive Fuses - Standard & Mini Size (2A/3A/5A/7.5A/10A/15A/ 20A/25A/30A/35A/40A), Replacement Fuses for Car/RV/Truck/Motorcycle/Boat |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0895PV8S2?th=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105012044/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0895PV8S2?th=1 |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref>, it was found<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=30 Dec 2023 |title=Amazon Sells Fake Electrical Fuses |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105010714/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> that the fuses did not perform as specified. Testing revealed that the fuses only failed after being subjected to multiple times their rated current. As a result, they did not break the connection as advertised, which could pose a significant safety risk if used in electrical circuits.

The fuses tested had and still have many reviews with a very high total rating. The fuses mentioned here, have been listed on Amazon since at least December of 2023 and are all still available for purchase. Due to the issues outlined above, a potential buyer relying on Amazon's reviews may have difficulties making an informed purchasing decision.

====Amazon on How They Keep Reviews Trustworthy and Useful====
Amazon themselves describes what they do to keep their reviews trustworthy and useful as follows:<blockquote>Our automated and human checks stop millions of suspicious reviews before customers ever see them. We also take legal action against groups that pay customers to post fake reviews. See our anti-manipulation policy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Understanding Customer Reviews and Ratings |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G8UYX7LALQC8V9KA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105011053/https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G8UYX7LALQC8V9KA |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref></blockquote>

===The CPSC on Hazardous Products Sold by Third-Party Sellers on Amazon.com===
In July of 2024, the United States' Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found Amazon responsible for hazardous products<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=30 Jul 2024 |title=CPSC Finds Amazon Responsible Under Federal Safety Law for Hazardous Products Sold by Third-Party Sellers on Amazon.com |url=https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/CPSC-Finds-Amazon-Responsible-Under-Federal-Safety-Law-for-Hazardous-Products-Sold-by-Third-Party-Sellers-on-Amazon-com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105011334/https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/CPSC-Finds-Amazon-Responsible-Under-Federal-Safety-Law-for-Hazardous-Products-Sold-by-Third-Party-Sellers-on-Amazon-com |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[CPSC]]}}</ref> sold by third-party sellers on amazon.com. In particular, they stated the following:<blockquote>Amazon was a “distributor” of products that are defective or fail to meet federal consumer product safety standards, and therefore bears legal responsibility for their recall. More than 400,000 products are subject to this order: specifically, faulty carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, hairdryers without electrocution protection, and children’s sleepwear that violated federal flammability standards.<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>The Commission determined that these products, listed on Amazon.com and sold by third-party sellers using the Fulfilled by Amazon program, pose a “substantial product hazard” under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Articles in need of citations]]

Adobe Digital Editions' ebook DRM

2026-01-05T02:08:47Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

Modern-day ebook publishers have been utilizing various forms of [[Digital rights management|digital-rights management]] (DRM) to protect the books they sell to make sure that "copyright laws are respected and that authors and publishers are fairly compensated".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=DRM for NOOK Content |url=https://help.barnesandnoble.com/hc/en-us/articles/5445106302107-DRM-for-NOOK-Content |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/u0VWd |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Barnes & Noble}}</ref> However, the end user who purchases the content legally ends up being restricted in what they are able to do with the ebook once they have purchased it. One of Adobe's version of this DRM is called "Adobe Digital Editions" which is the client the user uses to read their ebooks.

==Background==
'''[[Adobe]] eBook Platform''' is a platform for publishers to leverage when selling ebooks. This includes the following software suite: Adobe InDesign® CC software, Adobe Content Server software, the Adobe Reader® Mobile Software Development Kit (SDK), and Adobe Digital Editions.<ref name=":0">[https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/cc/us/en/solutions/ebook/adobe_ebook_platform_whitepaper.pdf Adobe® eBook Platform: Authoring and delivering eBooks across devices]</ref> A summary of each of the software is outlined below at a high level (mostly extracted from the Adobe white paper on the platform):

*Adobe Content Server - "Adobe Content Server allows publishers, retailers, distributors, and libraries to host and manage eBook distribution. This server software encrypts PDF and EPUB eBook files and allows publishers and retailers to manage the rights on the eBook files they distribute.<ref name=":0" />"
*Adobe Reader Mobile SDK - The SDK " allows e-reader device manufacturers and eBook application developers to support EPUB and PDF files protected by Content Server in their products. It enables tethered and over-the-air downloads so that consumers can order eBooks directly through their devices or “side-load” them by copying files from their desktops to their mobile devices".<ref name=":0" />
*Adobe InDesign - InDesign allows the publishers to export EPUB and EPUB3 files from print layouts. This also allows publishers to export ebooks to hardware such as the "Sony Reader, the Barnes & Noble nook, and smartphones, as well as personal computers using Microsoft® Windows® or Mac OS".<ref name=":0" />
*Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) - "Adobe Digital Editions is a free, lightweight desktop reading application for PC and Mac that allows eBook consumers to easily download and organize their eBooks easily. Consumers can read their eBooks online and offline, transfer copy-protected eBooks from their personal computers to other devices, organize eBooks into a custom library, and annotate page".<ref name=":0" />

All these solutions come together to give publishers control over their ebook content. The main product discussed on this page is Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). ADE allows for the following benefits:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Optimize your reading experience with the best eBook reader across formats. |url=https://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/digital-editions.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/GVpVP |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Adobe]]}}</ref>

*Download and transfer of books between devices
*EPUB3 support
*Keyword search across ebooks
*Voiceover accessibility
*Multi-language support
*Bookmarking, highlighting, and note support
*Support for borrowing ebooks from libraries
*ebook printing (publishers decide whether they opt-in for allowing printing or not)
*EPUB, EPUB3 and PDF support

ADE also has system requirements, as it is an application running on your system:<ref>{{Cite web |title=System requirements |url=https://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/tech-specs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/4UDbM |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Adobe]]}}</ref>

Windows:

*Intel® Pentium® 4 processor or later
*Windows® 7 (32 or 64 bit running in 32-bit mode) or later
*512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)
*40MB of available hard-disk space

Mac OS:

*Intel Core™ Duo or faster processor
*Mac OS X v10.8 or later
*Compatible with Apple Retina Display
*512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)
*75MB of available hard-disk space

iOS:

*Minimum requirement 9.0 or later.
*Compatible with iPhone and iPad.

Android:

*Minimum requirement 4.4 or later.
*Compatible with the Mobile and Tablet.

==Adobe Digital Edition's Consumer Effects==
With the release of the platform and specifically the Adobe Digital Edition application, consumers have been restricted on what they are allowed to do with ebooks that they have purchased. Although unlimited downloads are mentioned by publishers and ebook sites, those are tied to an account.<ref name=":1" /> This means that if access to an account is lost, then the access to those ebooks is lost as well. eBooks.com is one of the various e-bookstores that sells both non-DRM and DRM books leveraging ADE. When purchasing an ebook from them, you get a .acsm file. This format only works with the Adobe Digital Editions application. The user needs to create an Adobe account (after already creating an ebooks.com account) in order to add the book to their account. ADE (pertaining to purchases from ebooks.com) allows for authorization of up to 10 devices with a single Adobe ID, but only one computer.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Turvey |first=Alex |title=What is DRM? (DRM FAQs) |url=https://support.ebooks.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360000726656-What-is-DRM-DRM-FAQs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cEs8C |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=eBooks.com}}</ref> The end user would not be able to read a book on a home computer and then later on a laptop simultaneously due to this limitation. Barnes and Noble uses ADE as well for their ebooks, with their limitations being a bit different in comparison to ebooks.com's. They have 4 versions of DRM types they leverage for the books sold on their site:<ref name=":1" />

#Consumer DRM (eBook)
##Unlimited downloads
##Up to six (6) devices/computers
##No copying and printing
#Business DRM (eBook)
##One (1) download
##Up to one (1) device/computer
##No copying and printing
#Education DRM (eTextbook)
##Two (2) downloads
##Up to two (2) devices/computers
##Limited copying and printing
#Hard DRM
##Six (6) downloads
##Up to six (6) devices/computers
##Used for Case Studies made available by professors and specific courses

In both cases, the user is limited to only a certain number of devices and has to constantly authorize and un-authorize readers in order to be in compliance. This leads to a lack of autonomy for the user who has purchased the book. In addition, with the Barnes and Noble "Consumer DRM" section, a user is not able to print the ebook they have purchased either. Going back to the ebooks.com example, ebooks.com has a bit more control on the consumer stating that due to DRM: "the amount of printing or copying and pasting you can do may be restricted, or prevented entirely. It will also determine whether the read aloud functionality is enabled for the ebook or not".<ref name=":2" />

With ADE, a consumer will always need to download the application to access books that they have purchased. This is under the assumption that the user is able to have the technical know-how to do all the ADE overhead in order to finally read the book they have purchased. In addition, individuals who do not have access to the most modern technology, thus not being able to download ADE on their system, are also then prevented from reading ebooks they have purchased.

If a user were to be able to remove DRM from a ebook purchased from an e-bookstore leveraging ADE, they would then be breaching the compliance with an end-user license agreement or a customer license. On ebook.com's customer license page, they mention the following: "You promise to keep any eBook in the form in which it was supplied to you. We may include other information (including information identifying the author, the copyright owner, or the terms upon which the eBook is supplied) to any eBook supplied to you. You promise not to circumvent any measures that we have taken to protect the rights in the eBook that we have supplied, including removing this information or otherwise facilitating an infringement of copyright".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Customer License |url=https://www.ebooks.com/en-us/information/customerlicense/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/GTEsJ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=eBooks.com}}</ref> Although no lawsuits have been found being documented (as of writing this article), the door for this kind of consumer abuse is still present.

In 2014, the Electronic Frontier Foundation had published an article regarding how Adobe Digital Edition was tracking its end users by logging what the end-user reads and what happens to those files.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McSherry |first=Corynne |date=7 Oct 2014 |title=Adobe Spyware Reveals (Again) the Price of DRM: Your Privacy and Security |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/10/adobe-spyware-reveals-again-price-drm-your-privacy-and-security |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cbuNx |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=EFF}}</ref> This data was also being sent in plain-text undermining the privacy of the users.

==Consumer response==
On Reddit, consumers are constantly inquiring about steps to remove the Adobe DRM, as it is obstructing the end-users method of being able to comfortably read the ebooks they have purchased.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adobe Digital Editions & DRM |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/xvct89/adobe_digital_editions_drm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/LWIft |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

==Adobe Ebook DRM Removal==
In the Abbey House Media v. Apple Inc ruling on an ebookstore notifying users of how to remove ebook DRM, a judge has ruled that telling users to remove DRM from books they have legally purchased is "not contributory copyright infringement".<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Nov 2014 |title=Abbey House Media v. Apple Inc |url=https://www.eff.org/document/abbey-house-media-v-apple-inc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/CovSv |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=EFF}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Higgins |first=Parker |date=10 Dec 2014 |title=Pointing Users to DRM-Stripping Software Isn't Copyright Infringement, Judge Rules |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/12/pointing-users-drm-stripping-software-isnt-copyright-infringement-judge-rules?language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0nI8s |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=EFF}}</ref> The summary of this case being that the removal of DRM protection on books in non-infringing cases of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) does not necessarily lead to the piracy of digital books.<ref name=":3" />

An online persona known as ApprenticeAlf, has also gone ahead to create a tool to remove DRM as well from multiple forms of ebook DRM, not only Adobe's.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=10 Sep 2012 |title=DRM Removal Tools for eBooks |url=https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/drm-removal-tools-for-ebooks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/NHxJp |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Apprentice Alf's Blog}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Digital rights management]]
[[Category:Adobe]]

VMware

2026-01-05T01:43:43Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{Stub}}
{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type =Subsidiary
| Founded =1998
| Industry =Virtualization Software
| Official Website =https://www.vmware.com
| Logo =Vmware.svg
}}
'''[[wikipedia:VMWare|VMware]]''' is a major player in the enterprise virtualization software market. The brand has been a subsidiary of [[Broadcom Inc.|Broadcom]] since November 2023.

Since the Broadcom takeover, licensing and business model changes bordering on extortion, price increases, litigations against corporate users such as Siemens, deliberately ending support for [https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/broadcom-sends-cease-and-desist-letters-to-subscription-less-vmware-users/ perpetual license] products, have left many customers facing skyrocketing virtualization costs.

==Consumer-impact summary==
In 2024, Broadcom removed the ability to extend support for perpetual licensing, and required that customers switch to subscription licensing. The product you bought can no longer be updated, to receive updates you must throw away your perpetual licensing and buy new subscription licenses. AT&T claimed an annual cost increase of 1050%.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=2024-10-01 |title=AT&T claims VMware offered it a 1,050 percent price rise |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/01/att_broadcom_filings_update/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251128045252/https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/01/att_broadcom_filings_update/ |archive-date=2025-11-28 |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=The Register}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===Cease and Desist Letters/Notifications===
{{Main|VMware extraordinary price increase for licenses since acquisition by Broadcom}}
An incident of a customer receiving a cease and desist letter from Broadcom, regarding perpetual licensing and other services offered.
[[File:Undefined - Imgur.png|thumb|alt= Re: Notice of Expiration of Support. Dear <Customer>, The above referenced Order(s) between ("Customer") and VMware LLC (as successor in interest to VMware, Inc. and hereinafter referred to as "VMware") expired on or before February 15, 2025 ("Expiration Date"). Accordingly, Customer's right to receive Support Services for the perpetual Software listed in the Order(s) expired on or before such date. As no new order(s) for subscription licenses and support services has been executed between the parties, Support Services are no longer available for the perpetual Software listed in the Order(s) and such Software licenses deployed in your environment are running unsupported. VMware, therefore, immediately demands that all use of Support Services associated with VMware Software, including Maintenance Releases/Updates, Minor Releases, Major Releases/Upgrades extensions, enhancements, patches, bug fixes or security patches (with the exception of zero-day security patches for vSphere 7.x and 8.x, CVSS score greater than or equal to 9.0, so long as those are generally provided by VMware at no cost) be ceased. The implementation of any of the aforementioned (excluding select zero-day patches as defined above) past the Expiration Date must be immediately removed/deinstalled. Any such use of Support past the Expiration Date constitutes a material breach of the Agreement with VMware and an infringement of VMware's intellectual property rights, potentially resulting in claims for enhanced damages and attorneys' fees. Additionally, Customer must comply with any post-expiration reporting requirements related to the Order(s) and governing license agreement. Failure to comply with such requirements may result in a breach of the Agreement by Customer and VMware may exercise its right to audit Customer as well as any other available contractual or legal remedy. If you have questions, please contact your Broadcom/VMware Account Director or authorized reseller. This communication shall not prejudice or waive any rights or remedies that Broadcom or VMware may have as respects the subject matter set forth herein, all of which are hereby expressly reserved. Sincerely, <Representative>|Notice of Expiration of Support by Broadcom<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-16 |title=Notice of Expiration of Support by Broadcom |url=https://imgur.com/FbrdQya |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AZWo7 |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=2025-09-11}}</ref>]]
==Products==
{{Placeholder box|This is a list of the company's product lines '''with articles on this wiki'''.
* [[Example product line one]] (release date): Short summary of the product's incidents.
* [[Example product line two]] (release date):}}

==See also==
[[Broadcom Inc.]]

<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2025-05-07 |title=VMware perpetual license holders receive cease-and-desist letters from Broadcom |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/broadcom-sends-cease-and-desist-letters-to-subscription-less-vmware-users/ |access-date=2025-09-11 |work=Ars Technica |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013130617/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/broadcom-sends-cease-and-desist-letters-to-subscription-less-vmware-users/ |archive-date=13 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=HJForsythe |date=2025-04-15 |title=VMWare threatening perpetual license holders than haven't purchased subcriptions. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/1jzqbte/vmware_threatening_perpetual_license_holders_than/ |access-date=2025-09-11 |via=Reddit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425092928/https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/1jzqbte/vmware_threatening_perpetual_license_holders_than/ |archive-date=25 Apr 2025}}</ref>

==Alternatives==
Alternatives include the popular free and open source project [https://www.proxmox.com/ Proxmox], which has a less polished user interface but is otherwise functionally very close and is backed by an Austria-based company that offers subscription-based support plans for corporate users and [https://www.qemu.org/ QEMU], a fast emulation software whose name means ‘Quick Emulator’ and is open source.

Linux virtualization (e.g. Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization) is available with corporate levels of support. The VMware hypervisor shell is based on Red Hat. Nutanix offers comparable efficiency to VMware.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Virtualization software]]

Amazon allows fraudulent product page after manual review

2026-01-05T01:26:11Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

ADDW car systems legislated in the EU

2026-01-05T00:55:29Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{StubNotice}}

The European Union has passed legislation that mandates Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems for new cars produced and meant to sell within the EU<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=16 Dec 2019 |title=Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019R2144 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105005359/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019R2144 |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |website=EUR-Lex}}</ref> (Article 6 clause D).

==How it works==
Coming 7 July 2026 all new vehicles within the European Union have to contain cameras that monitor driver behavior and notify the driver accordingly in cases of improper driving conduct, something that had already taken place with M and N type vehicles from July 7th 2024<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=ADDW specifications |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=PI_COM:C(2023)4523 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104122145/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=PI_COM:C(2023)4523 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |website=EUR-Lex}}</ref>. This is on par with the goal EU had set to cut down on road accidents by half compared to 2019<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=28 Oct 2021 |title=European Commission welcomes launch of Global Plan for the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021-2030 |url=https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/european-commission-welcomes-launch-global-plan-un-decade-action-road-safety-2021-2030-2021-10-28_en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104122509/https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/european-commission-welcomes-launch-global-plan-un-decade-action-road-safety-2021-2030-2021-10-28_en |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |website=European Commission}}</ref>. The cameras are meant to monitor the drivers gaze, causing a case for a warning if it is not directed at the specified areas that are defined in.<ref name=":0" /> (Specifically points 3.3.1.1., 3.3.1.2., 3.3.1.3).

The legislation asserts that the data generated by the ADDW system, should be contained within a closed loop and not be made available to 3rd parties, in addition no data should be collected except that which is needed to perform the task, and the data must be deleted after processing.<ref name=":0" /> (Article 6 clause 3).

==Why it is a problem==
'''Privacy concerns''' are a major issue with such legislation. Although the data falls under GDPR and the EU has established strong rules, serious questions remain. For instance, in the case of Tesla, employees were found sharing sensitive content from consumer vehicle cameras in private group chats.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stecklow |first=Steve |last2=Cunningham |first2=Waylon |last3=Jin |first3=Hyunjoo |date=7 Apr 2023 |title=Tesla workers shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/tesla-workers-shared-sensitive-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=8 Apr 2023 |title=Tesla workers shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1746491 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104124032/https://www.dawn.com/news/1746491 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=Dawn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brodkin |first=John |date=6 Apr 2023 |title=Tesla workers shared images from car cameras, including “scenes of intimacy” |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/04/tesla-workers-shared-images-from-car-cameras-including-scenes-of-intimacy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250830115126/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/04/tesla-workers-shared-images-from-car-cameras-including-scenes-of-intimacy/ |archive-date=2025-08-30 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=ArsTechnica}}</ref> Moreover, cars are already regarded as privacy hazards, with manufacturers often selling user information and exhibiting questionable security practices.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Caltrider |first=Jen |last2=Rykov |first2=Misha |last3=MacDonald |first3=Zoë |date=6 Sep 2023 |title=It’s Official: Cars Are the Worst Product Category We Have Ever Reviewed for Privacy |url=https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/its-official-cars-are-the-worst-product-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250804133419/https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/its-official-cars-are-the-worst-product-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/ |archive-date=2025-08-04 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=Mozilla Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Katharine |first=Kemp |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=Modern cars are surveillance devices on wheels with major privacy risks – new report |url=https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/11/modern-cars-surveillance-devices-privacy-risks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250713111557/https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/11/modern-cars-surveillance-devices-privacy-risks |archive-date=2025-07-13 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=unsw.edu.au}}</ref> Adding to this, [[NOYB]], which is a "European Center for Digital Rights", conducted a survey with more than 1,000 privacy professionals, and 74.4% of them assume that the average company fails to comply properly with GDPR guidelines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GDPR a culture of non-compliance? |url=https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2024-01/GDPR_a%20culture%20of%20non-compliance.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801172545/https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2024-01/GDPR_a%20culture%20of%20non-compliance.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-01 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |website=noyb}}</ref> This raises doubts about how effectively the EU can enforce GDPR in the automotive sector, especially as the adoption of such technologies becomes widespread and affects citizens daily lives in the coming years.

==References==
{{reflist}}

AirPods

2026-01-04T04:55:10Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{StubNotice}}{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = AirPods
| Release Year = 2016-12-13
| Product Type = Wireless earbuds
| In Production = Yes
| Official Website = https://apple.com/airpods
| Logo = AirPods logo.png
}}AirPods are wireless earbuds designed by [[Apple]]. They first debuted on September 07, 2016, alongside the iPhone 7, and were released on December 13, 2016.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 Sep 2016 |title=Apple reinvents the wireless headphone with AirPods |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-reinvents-the-wireless-headphones-with-airpods/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104044455/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-reinvents-the-wireless-headphones-with-airpods/ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Apple}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
AirPods are designed in a way that makes them unrepairable, leading to customers having to buy a new pair after a few years of use. Apple can replace them, but won't repair them or help you do it yourself. According to an expert from iFixit:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Dalvin |date=20 Apr 2023 |title=Apple Doesn’t Repair AirPods. Here’s Why. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omMPJEoZGJE |url-status=live |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Youtube |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref><blockquote>If you want to take this apart, non-destructively, to replace the batteries, as far as I know, that's impossible.</blockquote>The rechargeable batteries in AirPods can see fast-tracked degradation at a certain number of battery cycles,<ref name=":1" /> with two-year-old sets lasting for less than half of the advertised five hours.{{Citation needed}}

Up until September 22, 2023, Apple used their proprietary Lightning connector on the AirPods' charging case.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borresen |first=Jennifer |date=22 Sep 2023 |title=iPhone 15 pro uses USB-C charger: An exploration of how Apple got here |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/09/22/iphone-15-pro-usb-c-charger-explained/70916655007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104044745/https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/09/22/iphone-15-pro-usb-c-charger-explained/70916655007/ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=USA Today}}</ref>

Apple has a program to service batteries and purchase replacement individual AirPods and charging cases. The replacement of one or both AirPods or the charging case has a lower price with AppleCare+ than without. Apple offers battery servicing for free with AppleCare+ and for a fee without.{{Citation needed}}
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of products part of the product line.

Touch on relevant topics like:
* User Freedom
* User Privacy
* Business Model
* Market Control}}

===User Freedom===
Airpods are not designed to be free as they are only feature-rich with other products in the apple ecosystem. With non-apple products they have limited functionality as basic wireless headphones due to the artificial restrictions that Apple has put in place.<ref>https://www.soundguys.com/dont-use-airpods-android-20767/</ref> However there have been projects attempting to allow the more sophisticated usage of airpods with non-apple products such as librepods.<ref>https://github.com/cysgodi/librepods</ref><ref>https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/21/librepods-unlocks-airpods-features-android/</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
{{Placeholder box|Replace the placeholder text in the sections below with the incidents that affect this product line and a short summary. Also replace the link so it point to the right company article.}}

===Example incident one (''date'')===
{{Main|link to the main article}} {{Placeholder box|Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).}}

===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

Incidents affecting all of the company's products can be found in the company article: [[Company article]]

==Products==

*AirPods (1st generation) (December 13, 2016<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2 March 2025 |title=Every Apple AirPods Generation: A Full History of Release Dates - IGN |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/all-apple-airpods-release-dates-in-order |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104044220/https://www.ign.com/articles/all-apple-airpods-release-dates-in-order |archive-date=2026-01-04 |website=IGN}}</ref>)
*AirPods (2nd generation) (March 20, 2019<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods Pro (1st generation) (October 30, 2019<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods Max (December 15, 2020<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods (3rd generation) (October 26, 2021<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods Pro 2 (previously 2nd generation) (September 23, 2022<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods 4/ANC (September 20, 2024<ref name=":0" />)
==See also==
{{Placeholder box|Link to relevant theme articles or product lines with similar incidents.}}

*[[Apple]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Airpods]]
[[Category:Apple]]

Acer settles online breach probe for $115k

2026-01-04T04:37:04Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{MergeRequest|Article is a news article, not an incident, and should be deleted. Info should be added to Acer page where relevant.}}{{Irrelevant}}

[[Acer]] agreed to pay $115,000 and reform its data security practices after a year-long lapse exposed the personal and financial information of more than 35,000 customers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Schneiderman |first=Eric |date=2017-01-26 |title=A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Computer Manufacturer After Data Breach Exposed More Than 35,000 Credit Card Numbers |url=https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104040538/https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=New York State Attorney General's Press Releases}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mlot |first=Stepanie |date=2017-01-27 |title=Acer Settles Online Breach Probe for $115k |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104041024/https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=PC Mag}}</ref> The New York Attorney General’s office found that Acer left its U.S. website misconfigured and in debugging mode, allowing attackers to access unencrypted credit card details and other sensitive data between 2015 and 2016.

==Background==
Acer is a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer best known for producing computers, laptops, and related hardware. Its products are sold globally through various retail channels, including its U.S. online store, acer.com. At the time of the incident, Acer relied on this platform for direct-to-consumer sales, making the security of its website critical for handling sensitive customer data, including payment card transactions.

==Breach==
The breach began when Acer’s U.S. e-commerce platform was improperly managed between July 2015 and April 2016. An employee had enabled debugging mode, which stored customer data in plain text log files including: names, full credit card details, addresses, and login credentials. In addition, the website was misconfigured to allow directory browsing, enabling attackers to easily access subdirectories and extract sensitive files. Between November 2015 and April 2016, attackers made hundreds of unauthorized data requests, ultimately stealing the information of 35,071 individuals. The breach first came to light in January 2016, when Discover Card flagged Acer as a common point of purchase in fraudulent transactions.

===Acer's response===

According to the customer notice letter submitted to the California Attorney General’s office:<ref>Acer's Notice of Breach to Customers [https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf? https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf?]</ref>

*Notification: Acer sent a formal ''Notice of Data Breach'' to impacted customers, informing them that if they shopped on the Acer e-commerce site between May 12, 2015 and April 28, 2016, their personal and payment information may have been exposed, including name, address, credit card number (with the last digits specified), expiration date, and CVV security code. Acer clarified the hackers did not collect Social Security numbers, and they had no evidence that passwords or login credentials were compromised California DOJ Attorney General. It should be noted that in the settlement with the New York State Attorney General, Acer admitted username and passwords were part of the breach.<ref name=":0" />
*Remediation Actions: Acer stated that it took immediate steps to remediate the security issue upon discovery and enlisted outside cybersecurity experts to assist, though details on those steps were lacking. It reported the incident to its credit card payment processor and offered full cooperation to federal law enforcement California DOJ Attorney General.
*Consumer Guidance Offered: The notice included a Resources Guide advising customers to monitor their account statements, watch for signs of identity theft or fraud, and take proactive steps such as:
**Reviewing their free annual credit reports (via annualcreditreport.com),
**Filing a police report if they suspect identity theft,
**Contacting the Federal Trade Commission or their State Attorney General’s office for assistance,
**Placing fraud alerts and security freezes with national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.
*Acer offered a toll-free number for customer questions.

===Settlement with New York State Attorney General===
In January 2017, Acer reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office, agreeing to pay $115,000 in penalties and adopt a range of security reforms.<ref name=":0" /> These included designating employees to oversee data protection, implementing annual staff training, adopting multi-factor authentication, deploying intrusion detection systems, and conducting regular penetration tests and vulnerability assessments. Acer also committed to following credit card industry data security standards and to hold service providers to the same level of compliance.

==Consumer response==

Consumers expressed frustration, distrust, and tangible harm following Acer’s data breach. On HardForum, several posters reported that they never received a notification from Acer despite being affected, and some discovered fraudulent charges on their credit cards after purchasing through Acer’s online store.<ref>{{Cite web |author=HardOCP News |date=2016-06-20 |title=Acer Admits Hackers Stole Up To 34,000 Customer Credit Cards |url=https://hardforum.com/threads/acer-admits-hackers-stole-up-to-34-000-customer-credit-cards.1902876/ |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=[H]ardForum}}</ref> Others criticized Acer for mishandling sensitive payment data, particularly for storing CVV codes, which violates standard payment card security rules. The overall tone was one of anger at both the breach and Acer’s poor communication.

On The Register’s forum, reactions were similarly skeptical and critical.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Shaun |date=2016-06-17 |title=You Acer holes! PC maker leaks payment cards in e-store hack |url=https://www.theregister.com/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104042936/https://www.theregister.com/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=The Register}}</ref> Commenters condemned Acer for failing to follow PCI DSS compliance standards and for allowing card verification codes to be compromised.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasher |first=Justin |date=2016-06-17 |title=Re: Storing CC security verification codes |url=https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104043419/https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Forum on 'The Register'}}</ref> Some users confirmed they did receive breach notification letters, though experiences varied widely. Many expressed concern that Acer’s negligence would push costs and risks onto consumers through fraudulent charges and credit monitoring needs.

Consumers faced heightened risks of identity theft and financial fraud due to the exposure of full credit card details, login credentials, and personal addresses. The fact that sensitive data was stored unencrypted in plain text worsened concerns about Acer’s handling of private information. While the settlement imposed stronger protections going forward, many customers were left to deal with potential fraudulent charges, credit monitoring, and long-term distrust in Acer’s ability to safeguard their personal information. Public statements from the Attorney General emphasized consumer expectations for companies to uphold basic data security standards, reflecting broader frustration with corporate negligence in protecting private data.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Acer]]

Acer settles online breach probe for $115k

2026-01-04T04:15:57Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

{{MergeRequest|Article is a news article, not an incident, and should be deleted. Info should be added to Acer page where relevant.}}{{Irrelevant}}

[[Acer]] agreed to pay $115,000 and reform its data security practices after a year-long lapse exposed the personal and financial information of more than 35,000 customers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Schneiderman |first=Eric |date=2017-01-26 |title=A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Computer Manufacturer After Data Breach Exposed More Than 35,000 Credit Card Numbers |url=https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104040538/https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=New York State Attorney General's Press Releases}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mlot |first=Stepanie |date=2017-01-27 |title=Acer Settles Online Breach Probe for $115k |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104041024/https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=PC Mag}}</ref> The New York Attorney General’s office found that Acer left its U.S. website misconfigured and in debugging mode, allowing attackers to access unencrypted credit card details and other sensitive data between 2015 and 2016.

==Background==
Acer is a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer best known for producing computers, laptops, and related hardware. Its products are sold globally through various retail channels, including its U.S. online store, acer.com. At the time of the incident, Acer relied on this platform for direct-to-consumer sales, making the security of its website critical for handling sensitive customer data, including payment card transactions.

==Breach==
The breach began when Acer’s U.S. e-commerce platform was improperly managed between July 2015 and April 2016. An employee had enabled debugging mode, which stored customer data in plain text log files including: names, full credit card details, addresses, and login credentials. In addition, the website was misconfigured to allow directory browsing, enabling attackers to easily access subdirectories and extract sensitive files. Between November 2015 and April 2016, attackers made hundreds of unauthorized data requests, ultimately stealing the information of 35,071 individuals. The breach first came to light in January 2016, when Discover Card flagged Acer as a common point of purchase in fraudulent transactions.

===Acer's response===

According to the customer notice letter submitted to the California Attorney General’s office:<ref>Acer's Notice of Breach to Customers [https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf? https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf?]</ref>

*Notification: Acer sent a formal ''Notice of Data Breach'' to impacted customers, informing them that if they shopped on the Acer e-commerce site between May 12, 2015 and April 28, 2016, their personal and payment information may have been exposed, including name, address, credit card number (with the last digits specified), expiration date, and CVV security code. Acer clarified the hackers did not collect Social Security numbers, and they had no evidence that passwords or login credentials were compromised California DOJ Attorney General. It should be noted that in the settlement with the New York State Attorney General, Acer admitted username and passwords were part of the breach.<ref name=":0" />
*Remediation Actions: Acer stated that it took immediate steps to remediate the security issue upon discovery and enlisted outside cybersecurity experts to assist, though details on those steps were lacking. It reported the incident to its credit card payment processor and offered full cooperation to federal law enforcement California DOJ Attorney General.
*Consumer Guidance Offered: The notice included a Resources Guide advising customers to monitor their account statements, watch for signs of identity theft or fraud, and take proactive steps such as:
**Reviewing their free annual credit reports (via annualcreditreport.com),
**Filing a police report if they suspect identity theft,
**Contacting the Federal Trade Commission or their State Attorney General’s office for assistance,
**Placing fraud alerts and security freezes with national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.
*Acer offered a toll-free number for customer questions.

===Settlement with New York State Attorney General===
In January 2017, Acer reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office, agreeing to pay $115,000 in penalties and adopt a range of security reforms.<ref name=":0" /> These included designating employees to oversee data protection, implementing annual staff training, adopting multi-factor authentication, deploying intrusion detection systems, and conducting regular penetration tests and vulnerability assessments. Acer also committed to following credit card industry data security standards and to hold service providers to the same level of compliance.

==Consumer response==

Consumers expressed frustration, distrust, and tangible harm following Acer’s data breach. On HardForum, several posters reported that they never received a notification from Acer despite being affected, and some discovered fraudulent charges on their credit cards after purchasing through Acer’s online store.<ref>{{Cite web |author=HardOCP News |date=2016-06-20 |title=Acer Admits Hackers Stole Up To 34,000 Customer Credit Cards |url=https://hardforum.com/threads/acer-admits-hackers-stole-up-to-34-000-customer-credit-cards.1902876/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=[H]ardForum}}</ref> Others criticized Acer for mishandling sensitive payment data, particularly for storing CVV codes, which violates standard payment card security rules. The overall tone was one of anger at both the breach and Acer’s poor communication.

On The Register’s forum, reactions were similarly skeptical and critical.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Shaun |date=2016-06-17 |title=You Acer holes! PC maker leaks payment cards in e-store hack |url=https://www.theregister.com/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=The Register}}</ref> Commenters condemned Acer for failing to follow PCI DSS compliance standards and for allowing card verification codes to be compromised.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasher |first=Justin |date=2016-06-17 |title=Re: Storing CC security verification codes |url=https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Forum on 'The Register'}}</ref> Some users confirmed they did receive breach notification letters, though experiences varied widely. Many expressed concern that Acer’s negligence would push costs and risks onto consumers through fraudulent charges and credit monitoring needs.

Consumers faced heightened risks of identity theft and financial fraud due to the exposure of full credit card details, login credentials, and personal addresses. The fact that sensitive data was stored unencrypted in plain text worsened concerns about Acer’s handling of private information. While the settlement imposed stronger protections going forward, many customers were left to deal with potential fraudulent charges, credit monitoring, and long-term distrust in Acer’s ability to safeguard their personal information. Public statements from the Attorney General emphasized consumer expectations for companies to uphold basic data security standards, reflecting broader frustration with corporate negligence in protecting private data.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Acer]]

Acer settles online breach probe for $115k

2026-01-04T04:14:00Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived date

{{MergeRequest|Article is a news article, not an incident, and should be deleted. Info should be added to Acer page where relevant.}}{{Irrelevant}}

[[Acer]] agreed to pay $115,000 and reform its data security practices after a year-long lapse exposed the personal and financial information of more than 35,000 customers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Schneiderman |first=Eric |date=2017-01-26 |title=A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Computer Manufacturer After Data Breach Exposed More Than 35,000 Credit Card Numbers |url=https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104040538/https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |archive-date=03 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=New York State Attorney General's Press Releases}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mlot |first=Stepanie |date=2017-01-27 |title=Acer Settles Online Breach Probe for $115k |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104041024/https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |archive-date=03 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=PC Mag}}</ref> The New York Attorney General’s office found that Acer left its U.S. website misconfigured and in debugging mode, allowing attackers to access unencrypted credit card details and other sensitive data between 2015 and 2016.

==Background==
Acer is a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer best known for producing computers, laptops, and related hardware. Its products are sold globally through various retail channels, including its U.S. online store, acer.com. At the time of the incident, Acer relied on this platform for direct-to-consumer sales, making the security of its website critical for handling sensitive customer data, including payment card transactions.

==Breach==
The breach began when Acer’s U.S. e-commerce platform was improperly managed between July 2015 and April 2016. An employee had enabled debugging mode, which stored customer data in plain text log files including: names, full credit card details, addresses, and login credentials. In addition, the website was misconfigured to allow directory browsing, enabling attackers to easily access subdirectories and extract sensitive files. Between November 2015 and April 2016, attackers made hundreds of unauthorized data requests, ultimately stealing the information of 35,071 individuals. The breach first came to light in January 2016, when Discover Card flagged Acer as a common point of purchase in fraudulent transactions.

===Acer's response===

According to the customer notice letter submitted to the California Attorney General’s office:<ref>Acer's Notice of Breach to Customers [https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf? https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf?]</ref>

*Notification: Acer sent a formal ''Notice of Data Breach'' to impacted customers, informing them that if they shopped on the Acer e-commerce site between May 12, 2015 and April 28, 2016, their personal and payment information may have been exposed, including name, address, credit card number (with the last digits specified), expiration date, and CVV security code. Acer clarified the hackers did not collect Social Security numbers, and they had no evidence that passwords or login credentials were compromised California DOJ Attorney General. It should be noted that in the settlement with the New York State Attorney General, Acer admitted username and passwords were part of the breach.<ref name=":0" />
*Remediation Actions: Acer stated that it took immediate steps to remediate the security issue upon discovery and enlisted outside cybersecurity experts to assist, though details on those steps were lacking. It reported the incident to its credit card payment processor and offered full cooperation to federal law enforcement California DOJ Attorney General.
*Consumer Guidance Offered: The notice included a Resources Guide advising customers to monitor their account statements, watch for signs of identity theft or fraud, and take proactive steps such as:
**Reviewing their free annual credit reports (via annualcreditreport.com),
**Filing a police report if they suspect identity theft,
**Contacting the Federal Trade Commission or their State Attorney General’s office for assistance,
**Placing fraud alerts and security freezes with national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.
*Acer offered a toll-free number for customer questions.

===Settlement with New York State Attorney General===
In January 2017, Acer reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office, agreeing to pay $115,000 in penalties and adopt a range of security reforms.<ref name=":0" /> These included designating employees to oversee data protection, implementing annual staff training, adopting multi-factor authentication, deploying intrusion detection systems, and conducting regular penetration tests and vulnerability assessments. Acer also committed to following credit card industry data security standards and to hold service providers to the same level of compliance.

==Consumer response==

Consumers expressed frustration, distrust, and tangible harm following Acer’s data breach. On HardForum, several posters reported that they never received a notification from Acer despite being affected, and some discovered fraudulent charges on their credit cards after purchasing through Acer’s online store.<ref>{{Cite web |author=HardOCP News |date=2016-06-20 |title=Acer Admits Hackers Stole Up To 34,000 Customer Credit Cards |url=https://hardforum.com/threads/acer-admits-hackers-stole-up-to-34-000-customer-credit-cards.1902876/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=[H]ardForum}}</ref> Others criticized Acer for mishandling sensitive payment data, particularly for storing CVV codes, which violates standard payment card security rules. The overall tone was one of anger at both the breach and Acer’s poor communication.

On The Register’s forum, reactions were similarly skeptical and critical.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Shaun |date=2016-06-17 |title=You Acer holes! PC maker leaks payment cards in e-store hack |url=https://www.theregister.com/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=The Register}}</ref> Commenters condemned Acer for failing to follow PCI DSS compliance standards and for allowing card verification codes to be compromised.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasher |first=Justin |date=2016-06-17 |title=Re: Storing CC security verification codes |url=https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Forum on 'The Register'}}</ref> Some users confirmed they did receive breach notification letters, though experiences varied widely. Many expressed concern that Acer’s negligence would push costs and risks onto consumers through fraudulent charges and credit monitoring needs.

Consumers faced heightened risks of identity theft and financial fraud due to the exposure of full credit card details, login credentials, and personal addresses. The fact that sensitive data was stored unencrypted in plain text worsened concerns about Acer’s handling of private information. While the settlement imposed stronger protections going forward, many customers were left to deal with potential fraudulent charges, credit monitoring, and long-term distrust in Acer’s ability to safeguard their personal information. Public statements from the Attorney General emphasized consumer expectations for companies to uphold basic data security standards, reflecting broader frustration with corporate negligence in protecting private data.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Acer]]

Acer settles online breach probe for $115k

2026-01-04T04:11:50Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{MergeRequest|Article is a news article, not an incident, and should be deleted. Info should be added to Acer page where relevant.}}{{Irrelevant}}

[[Acer]] agreed to pay $115,000 and reform its data security practices after a year-long lapse exposed the personal and financial information of more than 35,000 customers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Schneiderman |first=Eric |date=2017-01-26 |title=A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Computer Manufacturer After Data Breach Exposed More Than 35,000 Credit Card Numbers |url=https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104040538/https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |archive-date=2026-01-03 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=New York State Attorney General's Press Releases}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mlot |first=Stepanie |date=2017-01-27 |title=Acer Settles Online Breach Probe for $115k |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104041024/https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |archive-date=2026-01-03 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=PC Mag}}</ref> The New York Attorney General’s office found that Acer left its U.S. website misconfigured and in debugging mode, allowing attackers to access unencrypted credit card details and other sensitive data between 2015 and 2016.

==Background==
Acer is a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer best known for producing computers, laptops, and related hardware. Its products are sold globally through various retail channels, including its U.S. online store, acer.com. At the time of the incident, Acer relied on this platform for direct-to-consumer sales, making the security of its website critical for handling sensitive customer data, including payment card transactions.

==Breach==
The breach began when Acer’s U.S. e-commerce platform was improperly managed between July 2015 and April 2016. An employee had enabled debugging mode, which stored customer data in plain text log files including: names, full credit card details, addresses, and login credentials. In addition, the website was misconfigured to allow directory browsing, enabling attackers to easily access subdirectories and extract sensitive files. Between November 2015 and April 2016, attackers made hundreds of unauthorized data requests, ultimately stealing the information of 35,071 individuals. The breach first came to light in January 2016, when Discover Card flagged Acer as a common point of purchase in fraudulent transactions.

===Acer's response===

According to the customer notice letter submitted to the California Attorney General’s office:<ref>Acer's Notice of Breach to Customers [https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf? https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf?]</ref>

*Notification: Acer sent a formal ''Notice of Data Breach'' to impacted customers, informing them that if they shopped on the Acer e-commerce site between May 12, 2015 and April 28, 2016, their personal and payment information may have been exposed, including name, address, credit card number (with the last digits specified), expiration date, and CVV security code. Acer clarified the hackers did not collect Social Security numbers, and they had no evidence that passwords or login credentials were compromised California DOJ Attorney General. It should be noted that in the settlement with the New York State Attorney General, Acer admitted username and passwords were part of the breach.<ref name=":0" />
*Remediation Actions: Acer stated that it took immediate steps to remediate the security issue upon discovery and enlisted outside cybersecurity experts to assist, though details on those steps were lacking. It reported the incident to its credit card payment processor and offered full cooperation to federal law enforcement California DOJ Attorney General.
*Consumer Guidance Offered: The notice included a Resources Guide advising customers to monitor their account statements, watch for signs of identity theft or fraud, and take proactive steps such as:
**Reviewing their free annual credit reports (via annualcreditreport.com),
**Filing a police report if they suspect identity theft,
**Contacting the Federal Trade Commission or their State Attorney General’s office for assistance,
**Placing fraud alerts and security freezes with national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.
*Acer offered a toll-free number for customer questions.

===Settlement with New York State Attorney General===
In January 2017, Acer reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office, agreeing to pay $115,000 in penalties and adopt a range of security reforms.<ref name=":0" /> These included designating employees to oversee data protection, implementing annual staff training, adopting multi-factor authentication, deploying intrusion detection systems, and conducting regular penetration tests and vulnerability assessments. Acer also committed to following credit card industry data security standards and to hold service providers to the same level of compliance.

==Consumer response==

Consumers expressed frustration, distrust, and tangible harm following Acer’s data breach. On HardForum, several posters reported that they never received a notification from Acer despite being affected, and some discovered fraudulent charges on their credit cards after purchasing through Acer’s online store.<ref>{{Cite web |author=HardOCP News |date=2016-06-20 |title=Acer Admits Hackers Stole Up To 34,000 Customer Credit Cards |url=https://hardforum.com/threads/acer-admits-hackers-stole-up-to-34-000-customer-credit-cards.1902876/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=[H]ardForum}}</ref> Others criticized Acer for mishandling sensitive payment data, particularly for storing CVV codes, which violates standard payment card security rules. The overall tone was one of anger at both the breach and Acer’s poor communication.

On The Register’s forum, reactions were similarly skeptical and critical.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Shaun |date=2016-06-17 |title=You Acer holes! PC maker leaks payment cards in e-store hack |url=https://www.theregister.com/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=The Register}}</ref> Commenters condemned Acer for failing to follow PCI DSS compliance standards and for allowing card verification codes to be compromised.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasher |first=Justin |date=2016-06-17 |title=Re: Storing CC security verification codes |url=https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Forum on 'The Register'}}</ref> Some users confirmed they did receive breach notification letters, though experiences varied widely. Many expressed concern that Acer’s negligence would push costs and risks onto consumers through fraudulent charges and credit monitoring needs.

Consumers faced heightened risks of identity theft and financial fraud due to the exposure of full credit card details, login credentials, and personal addresses. The fact that sensitive data was stored unencrypted in plain text worsened concerns about Acer’s handling of private information. While the settlement imposed stronger protections going forward, many customers were left to deal with potential fraudulent charges, credit monitoring, and long-term distrust in Acer’s ability to safeguard their personal information. Public statements from the Attorney General emphasized consumer expectations for companies to uphold basic data security standards, reflecting broader frustration with corporate negligence in protecting private data.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Acer]]

Acer settles online breach probe for $115k

2026-01-04T04:08:09Z

BobSagetFan1212: fixed archived link

{{MergeRequest|Article is a news article, not an incident, and should be deleted. Info should be added to Acer page where relevant.}}{{Irrelevant}}

[[Acer]] agreed to pay $115,000 and reform its data security practices after a year-long lapse exposed the personal and financial information of more than 35,000 customers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Schneiderman |first=Eric |date=2017-01-26 |title=A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Computer Manufacturer After Data Breach Exposed More Than 35,000 Credit Card Numbers |url=https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104040538/https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |archive-date=2026-01-03 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=New York State Attorney General's Press Releases}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mlot |first=Stepanie |date=2017-01-27 |title=Acer Settles Online Breach Probe for $115k |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=PC Mag}}</ref> The New York Attorney General’s office found that Acer left its U.S. website misconfigured and in debugging mode, allowing attackers to access unencrypted credit card details and other sensitive data between 2015 and 2016.

==Background==
Acer is a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer best known for producing computers, laptops, and related hardware. Its products are sold globally through various retail channels, including its U.S. online store, acer.com. At the time of the incident, Acer relied on this platform for direct-to-consumer sales, making the security of its website critical for handling sensitive customer data, including payment card transactions.

==Breach==
The breach began when Acer’s U.S. e-commerce platform was improperly managed between July 2015 and April 2016. An employee had enabled debugging mode, which stored customer data in plain text log files including: names, full credit card details, addresses, and login credentials. In addition, the website was misconfigured to allow directory browsing, enabling attackers to easily access subdirectories and extract sensitive files. Between November 2015 and April 2016, attackers made hundreds of unauthorized data requests, ultimately stealing the information of 35,071 individuals. The breach first came to light in January 2016, when Discover Card flagged Acer as a common point of purchase in fraudulent transactions.

===Acer's response===

According to the customer notice letter submitted to the California Attorney General’s office:<ref>Acer's Notice of Breach to Customers [https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf? https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf?]</ref>

*Notification: Acer sent a formal ''Notice of Data Breach'' to impacted customers, informing them that if they shopped on the Acer e-commerce site between May 12, 2015 and April 28, 2016, their personal and payment information may have been exposed, including name, address, credit card number (with the last digits specified), expiration date, and CVV security code. Acer clarified the hackers did not collect Social Security numbers, and they had no evidence that passwords or login credentials were compromised California DOJ Attorney General. It should be noted that in the settlement with the New York State Attorney General, Acer admitted username and passwords were part of the breach.<ref name=":0" />
*Remediation Actions: Acer stated that it took immediate steps to remediate the security issue upon discovery and enlisted outside cybersecurity experts to assist, though details on those steps were lacking. It reported the incident to its credit card payment processor and offered full cooperation to federal law enforcement California DOJ Attorney General.
*Consumer Guidance Offered: The notice included a Resources Guide advising customers to monitor their account statements, watch for signs of identity theft or fraud, and take proactive steps such as:
**Reviewing their free annual credit reports (via annualcreditreport.com),
**Filing a police report if they suspect identity theft,
**Contacting the Federal Trade Commission or their State Attorney General’s office for assistance,
**Placing fraud alerts and security freezes with national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.
*Acer offered a toll-free number for customer questions.

===Settlement with New York State Attorney General===
In January 2017, Acer reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office, agreeing to pay $115,000 in penalties and adopt a range of security reforms.<ref name=":0" /> These included designating employees to oversee data protection, implementing annual staff training, adopting multi-factor authentication, deploying intrusion detection systems, and conducting regular penetration tests and vulnerability assessments. Acer also committed to following credit card industry data security standards and to hold service providers to the same level of compliance.

==Consumer response==

Consumers expressed frustration, distrust, and tangible harm following Acer’s data breach. On HardForum, several posters reported that they never received a notification from Acer despite being affected, and some discovered fraudulent charges on their credit cards after purchasing through Acer’s online store.<ref>{{Cite web |author=HardOCP News |date=2016-06-20 |title=Acer Admits Hackers Stole Up To 34,000 Customer Credit Cards |url=https://hardforum.com/threads/acer-admits-hackers-stole-up-to-34-000-customer-credit-cards.1902876/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=[H]ardForum}}</ref> Others criticized Acer for mishandling sensitive payment data, particularly for storing CVV codes, which violates standard payment card security rules. The overall tone was one of anger at both the breach and Acer’s poor communication.

On The Register’s forum, reactions were similarly skeptical and critical.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Shaun |date=2016-06-17 |title=You Acer holes! PC maker leaks payment cards in e-store hack |url=https://www.theregister.com/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=The Register}}</ref> Commenters condemned Acer for failing to follow PCI DSS compliance standards and for allowing card verification codes to be compromised.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasher |first=Justin |date=2016-06-17 |title=Re: Storing CC security verification codes |url=https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Forum on 'The Register'}}</ref> Some users confirmed they did receive breach notification letters, though experiences varied widely. Many expressed concern that Acer’s negligence would push costs and risks onto consumers through fraudulent charges and credit monitoring needs.

Consumers faced heightened risks of identity theft and financial fraud due to the exposure of full credit card details, login credentials, and personal addresses. The fact that sensitive data was stored unencrypted in plain text worsened concerns about Acer’s handling of private information. While the settlement imposed stronger protections going forward, many customers were left to deal with potential fraudulent charges, credit monitoring, and long-term distrust in Acer’s ability to safeguard their personal information. Public statements from the Attorney General emphasized consumer expectations for companies to uphold basic data security standards, reflecting broader frustration with corporate negligence in protecting private data.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Acer]]

Acer settles online breach probe for $115k

2026-01-04T04:07:07Z

BobSagetFan1212: added archive link with archive date

{{MergeRequest|Article is a news article, not an incident, and should be deleted. Info should be added to Acer page where relevant.}}{{Irrelevant}}

[[Acer]] agreed to pay $115,000 and reform its data security practices after a year-long lapse exposed the personal and financial information of more than 35,000 customers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Schneiderman |first=Eric |date=2017-01-26 |title=A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Computer Manufacturer After Data Breach Exposed More Than 35,000 Credit Card Numbers |url=https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=/web/20260104040538/https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-settlement-computer-manufacturer-after-data-breach |archive-date=2026-01-03 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=New York State Attorney General's Press Releases}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mlot |first=Stepanie |date=2017-01-27 |title=Acer Settles Online Breach Probe for $115k |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/acer-settles-online-breach-probe-for-115k |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=PC Mag}}</ref> The New York Attorney General’s office found that Acer left its U.S. website misconfigured and in debugging mode, allowing attackers to access unencrypted credit card details and other sensitive data between 2015 and 2016.

==Background==
Acer is a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer best known for producing computers, laptops, and related hardware. Its products are sold globally through various retail channels, including its U.S. online store, acer.com. At the time of the incident, Acer relied on this platform for direct-to-consumer sales, making the security of its website critical for handling sensitive customer data, including payment card transactions.

==Breach==
The breach began when Acer’s U.S. e-commerce platform was improperly managed between July 2015 and April 2016. An employee had enabled debugging mode, which stored customer data in plain text log files including: names, full credit card details, addresses, and login credentials. In addition, the website was misconfigured to allow directory browsing, enabling attackers to easily access subdirectories and extract sensitive files. Between November 2015 and April 2016, attackers made hundreds of unauthorized data requests, ultimately stealing the information of 35,071 individuals. The breach first came to light in January 2016, when Discover Card flagged Acer as a common point of purchase in fraudulent transactions.

===Acer's response===

According to the customer notice letter submitted to the California Attorney General’s office:<ref>Acer's Notice of Breach to Customers [https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf? https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Customer%20Notice%20Letter%20-%20California_0.pdf?]</ref>

*Notification: Acer sent a formal ''Notice of Data Breach'' to impacted customers, informing them that if they shopped on the Acer e-commerce site between May 12, 2015 and April 28, 2016, their personal and payment information may have been exposed, including name, address, credit card number (with the last digits specified), expiration date, and CVV security code. Acer clarified the hackers did not collect Social Security numbers, and they had no evidence that passwords or login credentials were compromised California DOJ Attorney General. It should be noted that in the settlement with the New York State Attorney General, Acer admitted username and passwords were part of the breach.<ref name=":0" />
*Remediation Actions: Acer stated that it took immediate steps to remediate the security issue upon discovery and enlisted outside cybersecurity experts to assist, though details on those steps were lacking. It reported the incident to its credit card payment processor and offered full cooperation to federal law enforcement California DOJ Attorney General.
*Consumer Guidance Offered: The notice included a Resources Guide advising customers to monitor their account statements, watch for signs of identity theft or fraud, and take proactive steps such as:
**Reviewing their free annual credit reports (via annualcreditreport.com),
**Filing a police report if they suspect identity theft,
**Contacting the Federal Trade Commission or their State Attorney General’s office for assistance,
**Placing fraud alerts and security freezes with national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.
*Acer offered a toll-free number for customer questions.

===Settlement with New York State Attorney General===
In January 2017, Acer reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office, agreeing to pay $115,000 in penalties and adopt a range of security reforms.<ref name=":0" /> These included designating employees to oversee data protection, implementing annual staff training, adopting multi-factor authentication, deploying intrusion detection systems, and conducting regular penetration tests and vulnerability assessments. Acer also committed to following credit card industry data security standards and to hold service providers to the same level of compliance.

==Consumer response==

Consumers expressed frustration, distrust, and tangible harm following Acer’s data breach. On HardForum, several posters reported that they never received a notification from Acer despite being affected, and some discovered fraudulent charges on their credit cards after purchasing through Acer’s online store.<ref>{{Cite web |author=HardOCP News |date=2016-06-20 |title=Acer Admits Hackers Stole Up To 34,000 Customer Credit Cards |url=https://hardforum.com/threads/acer-admits-hackers-stole-up-to-34-000-customer-credit-cards.1902876/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=[H]ardForum}}</ref> Others criticized Acer for mishandling sensitive payment data, particularly for storing CVV codes, which violates standard payment card security rules. The overall tone was one of anger at both the breach and Acer’s poor communication.

On The Register’s forum, reactions were similarly skeptical and critical.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Shaun |date=2016-06-17 |title=You Acer holes! PC maker leaks payment cards in e-store hack |url=https://www.theregister.com/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=The Register}}</ref> Commenters condemned Acer for failing to follow PCI DSS compliance standards and for allowing card verification codes to be compromised.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasher |first=Justin |date=2016-06-17 |title=Re: Storing CC security verification codes |url=https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2016/06/17/what_a_pain_in_the_acer/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Forum on 'The Register'}}</ref> Some users confirmed they did receive breach notification letters, though experiences varied widely. Many expressed concern that Acer’s negligence would push costs and risks onto consumers through fraudulent charges and credit monitoring needs.

Consumers faced heightened risks of identity theft and financial fraud due to the exposure of full credit card details, login credentials, and personal addresses. The fact that sensitive data was stored unencrypted in plain text worsened concerns about Acer’s handling of private information. While the settlement imposed stronger protections going forward, many customers were left to deal with potential fraudulent charges, credit monitoring, and long-term distrust in Acer’s ability to safeguard their personal information. Public statements from the Attorney General emphasized consumer expectations for companies to uphold basic data security standards, reflecting broader frustration with corporate negligence in protecting private data.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Acer]]