Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Apple's planned obsolescence incidents

2025-08-17T00:14:09Z

ClippyIsAnArchUser: Added a summary sentence at the top and separated it from the main-body text with a heading.

{{StubNotice}}

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 |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 |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 |access-date=13 Feb 2025 |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.

==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 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/ |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's planned obsolescence incidents

2025-08-17T00:05:12Z

ClippyIsAnArchUser: 1. Added a couple of necessary citations. 2. Changed a couple sentences on the second paragraph to past-tense; making it clear that this was an incident of the past.

{{StubNotice}}

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 |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 |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 |access-date=13 Feb 2025 |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.

==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 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/ |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]]

Chromium

2025-08-16T20:18:02Z

ClippyIsAnArchUser: 1. Removed the old introduction paragraph due to a misunderstanding. 2. Made the 'Background' the new initiating summary paragraph. 3. Made the paragraph under Controversies more concise.

{{ToneWarning}}

'''Chromium''' is a [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source]] [[:Category:Web browsers|web browser]] developed by and primarily maintained by [[Google]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Google |date= |title=Chromium |url=https://www.chromium.org/Home/ |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref> Its code-base serves as the foundation for several major web browsers, including [[Google Chrome]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Microsoft Edge]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-06 |title=10 cool things to check out at Microsoft Build 2019 |url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2019/05/06/10-cool-things-to-check-out-at-microsoft-build-2019/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.microsoft.com}}</ref> [[Opera]]/[[Opera GX]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-27 |title=Today, Opera 15 has been updated to Opera 16 |url=https://blogs.opera.com/news/2013/08/today-opera-15-has-been-updated-to-opera-16/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.opera.com}}</ref> [[Brave browser|Brave]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=Brave - Homepage |url=https://brave.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=brave.com}}</ref> and others.

==Licensing==
Chromium's code is published under the 3-clause BSD license <ref>{{Cite web |last=Google |title=LICENSE |url=https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/master/LICENSE |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===Manifest V3===
Manifest V3 is an update to the manifest structure used by browser-extensions across the majority of the browser market; it is presented as an upgrade to security, privacy and performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=David |title=Resuming the transition to Manifest V3 |url=https://developer.chrome.com/blog/resuming-the-transition-to-mv3 |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Chrome for developers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Sep 2024 |title=Overview and timelines for migrating to Manifest V3 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/extensions-chromium/developer-guide/manifest-v3 |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> Manifest V3's changes restrict the access browser-extensions can have, presenting a security benefit by not allowing them to load remote resources on the fly or deeply alter rendered content, by doing so the effectiveness of the browser market's most effective ad-blockers is diminished.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Aamir |date=17 Nov 2023 |title=Google's Manifest V3 changes will soon disable uBlock Origin on Chrome |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/google-chrome-manifest-v3-changes-3386506/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> Workarounds and updated versions of Manifest V3 have been made but are less effective since, for example, blocked domains cannot be updated as conveniently.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buria |first=Taras |date=3 Aug 2024 |title=uBlock Origin developer recommends switching to uBlock Lite as Chrome flags the extension |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/ublock-origin-developer-recommends-switching-to-ublock-lite-as-chrome-flags-the-extension/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Neowin}}</ref> This manifest change is backed by leading Chromium browsers, making it difficult for other browsers to match previous ad-blocking abilities without committing to sustaining Manifest V2 (such as Firefox which also uses chromium-sourced manifests<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Edward |date=13 Mar 2024 |title=Manifest V3 & Manifest V2 (March 2024 update) |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2024/03/13/manifest-v3-manifest-v2-march-2024-update/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Mozilla]]}}</ref>) or sustaining their own ad-blocking solutions<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 Jun 2024 |title=What Manifest V3 means for Brave Shields and the use of extensions in the Brave browser |url=https://brave.com/blog/brave-shields-manifest-v3/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Brave]]}}</ref> of varied effectiveness.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Jun 2024 |title=Manifest v3 update: Vivaldi is future-proofed with its built-in functionality |url=https://vivaldi.com/blog/manifest-v3-update-vivaldi-is-future-proofed-with-its-built-in-functionality/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Vivaldi]]}}</ref>

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

Chromium

2025-08-16T19:57:00Z

ClippyIsAnArchUser: 1. Changed the tone and summarized the initial paragraph. 2. Added a source/link.

{{ToneWarning}}

Google's update to it's browser-extension software - Manifest - was falsely advertised as being more secure, private, and performant while restricting features of privacy and performance focused browser-extensions - driving them more revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnett |first=Daly |date=2021-12-09 |title=Chrome Users Beware: Manifest V3 is Deceitful and Threatening |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/12/chrome-users-beware-manifest-v3-deceitful-and-threatening |website=eff.org}}</ref>

==Background==
'''Chromium''' is a [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source]] [[:Category:Web browsers|web browser]] developed by and primarily maintained by [[Google]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Google |date= |title=Chromium |url=https://www.chromium.org/Home/ |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref> Its code-base serves as the foundation for several major web browsers, including [[Google Chrome]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Microsoft Edge]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-06 |title=10 cool things to check out at Microsoft Build 2019 |url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2019/05/06/10-cool-things-to-check-out-at-microsoft-build-2019/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.microsoft.com}}</ref> [[Opera]]/[[Opera GX]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-27 |title=Today, Opera 15 has been updated to Opera 16 |url=https://blogs.opera.com/news/2013/08/today-opera-15-has-been-updated-to-opera-16/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.opera.com}}</ref> [[Brave browser|Brave]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=Brave - Homepage |url=https://brave.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=brave.com}}</ref> and others.

==Licensing==
Chromium's code is published under the 3-clause BSD license <ref>{{Cite web |last=Google |title=LICENSE |url=https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/master/LICENSE |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===Manifest V3===
Manifest V3 is an update to the manifest structure used by extensions across most of the browser market, presented as an upgrade to security, privacy and performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=David |title=Resuming the transition to Manifest V3 |url=https://developer.chrome.com/blog/resuming-the-transition-to-mv3 |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Chrome for developers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Sep 2024 |title=Overview and timelines for migrating to Manifest V3 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/extensions-chromium/developer-guide/manifest-v3 |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> Manifest V3's changes restrict the access extensions can have, presenting a security benefit by not allowing them to load remote resources on the fly or alter rendered content as deeply, by doing so the effectiveness of the browser market's most effective ad-blockers is diminished.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Aamir |date=17 Nov 2023 |title=Google's Manifest V3 changes will soon disable uBlock Origin on Chrome |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/google-chrome-manifest-v3-changes-3386506/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> Workarounds and updated versions have been made but are less effective since, for example, blocked domains cannot be updated as conveniently.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buria |first=Taras |date=3 Aug 2024 |title=uBlock Origin developer recommends switching to uBlock Lite as Chrome flags the extension |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/ublock-origin-developer-recommends-switching-to-ublock-lite-as-chrome-flags-the-extension/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Neowin}}</ref> This manifest change is backed by leading Chromium browsers, making it difficult for other browsers to match previous ad-blocking abilities without committing to sustaining Manifest V2 (such as Firefox which also uses chromium-sourced manifests<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Edward |date=13 Mar 2024 |title=Manifest V3 & Manifest V2 (March 2024 update) |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2024/03/13/manifest-v3-manifest-v2-march-2024-update/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Mozilla]]}}</ref>) or sustaining their own ad-blocking solutions<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 Jun 2024 |title=What Manifest V3 means for Brave Shields and the use of extensions in the Brave browser |url=https://brave.com/blog/brave-shields-manifest-v3/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Brave]]}}</ref> of varied effectiveness.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Jun 2024 |title=Manifest v3 update: Vivaldi is future-proofed with its built-in functionality |url=https://vivaldi.com/blog/manifest-v3-update-vivaldi-is-future-proofed-with-its-built-in-functionality/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Vivaldi]]}}</ref>

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

Chromium

2025-08-16T19:16:43Z

ClippyIsAnArchUser: 1. Hyphenated ad-block for readability 2. Added a 'Background' heading above the Chromium paragraph. 3. Wrote a summary paragraph at the top.

Google's update to the browser-extension engine - Manifest - is falsely advertised to the consumers of Chromium as being more secure, private, and performant while in reality it restricts privacy and performance focused browser-extensions' access to the necessary features they need to operate properly. This actually makes the platform less of all of those things - Google benefits by causing ad-blocking browser-extensions to malfunction, earning them more revenue.

== Background ==
'''Chromium''' is a [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source]] [[:Category:Web browsers|web browser]] developed by and primarily maintained by [[Google]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Google |date= |title=Chromium |url=https://www.chromium.org/Home/ |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref> Its code-base serves as the foundation for several major web browsers, including [[Google Chrome]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Microsoft Edge]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-06 |title=10 cool things to check out at Microsoft Build 2019 |url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2019/05/06/10-cool-things-to-check-out-at-microsoft-build-2019/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.microsoft.com}}</ref> [[Opera]]/[[Opera GX]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-27 |title=Today, Opera 15 has been updated to Opera 16 |url=https://blogs.opera.com/news/2013/08/today-opera-15-has-been-updated-to-opera-16/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.opera.com}}</ref> [[Brave browser|Brave]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=Brave - Homepage |url=https://brave.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=brave.com}}</ref> and others.

==Licensing==
Chromium's code is published under the 3-clause BSD license <ref>{{Cite web |last=Google |title=LICENSE |url=https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/master/LICENSE |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===Manifest V3===
Manifest V3 is an update to the manifest structure used by extensions across most of the browser market, presented as an upgrade to security, privacy and performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=David |title=Resuming the transition to Manifest V3 |url=https://developer.chrome.com/blog/resuming-the-transition-to-mv3 |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Chrome for developers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Sep 2024 |title=Overview and timelines for migrating to Manifest V3 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/extensions-chromium/developer-guide/manifest-v3 |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> Manifest V3's changes restrict the access extensions can have, presenting a security benefit by not allowing them to load remote resources on the fly or alter rendered content as deeply, by doing so the effectiveness of the browser market's most effective ad-blockers is diminished.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Aamir |date=17 Nov 2023 |title=Google's Manifest V3 changes will soon disable uBlock Origin on Chrome |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/google-chrome-manifest-v3-changes-3386506/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> Workarounds and updated versions have been made but are less effective since, for example, blocked domains cannot be updated as conveniently.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buria |first=Taras |date=3 Aug 2024 |title=uBlock Origin developer recommends switching to uBlock Lite as Chrome flags the extension |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/ublock-origin-developer-recommends-switching-to-ublock-lite-as-chrome-flags-the-extension/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Neowin}}</ref> This manifest change is backed by leading Chromium browsers, making it difficult for other browsers to match previous ad-blocking abilities without committing to sustaining Manifest V2 (such as Firefox which also uses chromium-sourced manifests<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Edward |date=13 Mar 2024 |title=Manifest V3 & Manifest V2 (March 2024 update) |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2024/03/13/manifest-v3-manifest-v2-march-2024-update/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Mozilla]]}}</ref>) or sustaining their own ad-blocking solutions<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 Jun 2024 |title=What Manifest V3 means for Brave Shields and the use of extensions in the Brave browser |url=https://brave.com/blog/brave-shields-manifest-v3/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Brave]]}}</ref> of varied effectiveness.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Jun 2024 |title=Manifest v3 update: Vivaldi is future-proofed with its built-in functionality |url=https://vivaldi.com/blog/manifest-v3-update-vivaldi-is-future-proofed-with-its-built-in-functionality/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Vivaldi]]}}</ref>

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