Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

AMD

2026-02-23T09:32:20Z

FoulerTripod363: Rephrased the "Citation Needed" part and added citation from Britannica

{{Stub}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1969-05-01
|Industry=Semiconductors, Computer hardware
|Logo=AMD_logo.svg
|Type=Public
|Website=https://www.amd.com/
|Description=Advanced Micro Devices or AMD is an American technology company that sells CPUs and GPUs for both commercial and enterprise use.
}}

'''{{wplink|AMD|Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.}}''' or '''AMD''' is an American technology company that designs and sells computer components such as {{wplink|central processing unit}} (CPUs), {{wplink|graphics processing unit}} (GPUs) and related products for both commercial and enterprise use. AMD was cofounded in 1969 by Walter Jeremiah “Jerry” Sanders, a former executive at {{wplink|Fairchild Semiconductor}} Corporation, and seven colleagues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. {{!}} American Semiconductor Company {{!}} Britannica Money |url=https://www.britannica.com/money/Advanced-Micro-Devices-Inc |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Britannica}}</ref>

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

==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]].

===Abandonment of the sTRX4 platform (2019)===
{{Main|link to the main article}}
On November 25, 2019, AMD released {{wplink|socket sTRX4}} alongside their {{wplink|Threadripper#Castle_Peak_(Threadripper_3000_series,_Zen_2_based)|Threadripper 3000}} series of HEDT (high-end desktop) processors with the promise of long term support for the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AMDOfficial |title=Performance Preview: 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors for Creators |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/dsy4kw/performance_preview_3rd_gen_amd_ryzen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250802105206/https://old.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/dsy4kw/performance_preview_3rd_gen_amd_ryzen/ |archive-date=2025-08-02 |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeffrey |first=Cal |date=2019-11-12 |title=AMD commits to 'long-term' support for sTRX4 CPU socket used with third-gen Threadripper |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/82734-amd-commits-long-term-support-strx4-cpu-socket.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250802105138/https://www.techspot.com/news/82734-amd-commits-long-term-support-strx4-cpu-socket.html |archive-date=2025-08-02 |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=TechSpot}}</ref> This along with the strong reputation of {{wplink|socket AM4}} led many people to invest into the platform. Despite the promises made, AMD ultimately fell flat and only supported a total of one generation of CPUs before freezing the regular Ryzen Threadripper lineup till the release of {{wplink|List_of_AMD_Ryzen_processors#Storm_Peak_desktop|Threadripper 7000}} on {{wplink|socket sTR5}}.

==="Bulldozer" CPU false advertisement lawsuit (2015-2019)===
AMD settled the lawsuit with a $12.1 million payout, which is estimated to have compensated up to $35 per applicant that could give a proof of purchase. The complaint was about the Bulldozer processors being marketed as the "first native 8-core desktop processor," while this was allegedly false advertising. The CPU has 4 modules with each 2 sub-processors that shared resources instead of 8 independent cores that could perform separately and simultaneously.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Dylan |date=27 Aug 2019 |title=AMD Reaches $12.1M Settlement In Bulldozer False Advertising Suit |url=https://www.crn.com/news/components-peripherals/amd-reaches-12-1m-settlement-for-bulldozer-false-advertising-suit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810172133/https://www.crn.com/news/components-peripherals/amd-reaches-12-1m-settlement-for-bulldozer-false-advertising-suit |archive-date=10 Aug 2024 |access-date=2 Dec 2025 |website=CRN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hachman |first=Mark |date=28 Aug 2019 |title=AMD settles Bulldozer class-action suit that could pay out up to $35 per chip |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/397954/amd-settles-bulldozer-class-action-suit-that-could-pay-out-up-to-35-per-chip.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003044413/https://www.pcworld.com/article/397954/amd-settles-bulldozer-class-action-suit-that-could-pay-out-up-to-35-per-chip.html |archive-date=3 Oct 2024 |access-date=2 Dec 2025 |website=PCWorld}}</ref> And it was demonstrated that the alleged customer damages caused by the allegedly misleading claims can be measured on a class-wide basis.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 Jan 2019 |title=Dickey v. Advanced Micro Devices |url=https://regmedia.co.uk/2019/01/22/amd-core-class-action.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217004410/https://regmedia.co.uk/2019/01/22/amd-core-class-action.pdf |archive-date=17 Feb 2024 |access-date=2 Dec 2025 |website=The Register}}</ref>

==Current Products==

===Processors===

*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/server/epyc.html EPYC Servers]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/business-systems/ryzen-ai.html Ryzen AI for Business]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/handhelds/ryzen-z-series.html Ryzen Z for Handhelds]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/desktops/ryzen.html Ryzen for Desktops]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/laptop/ryzen.html]{{wplink|Ryzen}} for Laptops
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/workstations/ryzen-threadripper.html Ryzen Threadripper for Workstations and High End Desktops]

===Accelerators===

*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/accelerators/instinct.html Instinct GPU]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/accelerators/radeon-pro.html Radeon PRO V Accelerators]

===Graphics===

*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/graphics/desktops/radeon.html]{{wplink|Radeon}} RX
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/graphics/workstations.html Radeon PRO]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/graphics/workstations/radeon-ai-pro.html Radeon AI PRO]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/graphics/laptops/radeon.html Radeon RX for Laptops]

===Networking===

*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/ethernet-adapters.html Solarflare Ethernet Adapters]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/solutions/telco-and-networking/telco-accelerators.html Telco and Networking]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/accelerators/alveo.html Alveo for Data Centers]
*[https://www.amd.com/en/products/data-processing-units/pensando.html Pensando DPU]

==See also==

*[[Intel]]
*[[Nvidia]]
*[[Qualcomm]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Consent-or-pay

2025-09-10T19:32:53Z

FoulerTripod363: Deleted the old article screenshots

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Improper citations in bottom half of article.|Issue 2=Needs elaboration}}

'''Consent-or-pay''' is a business tactic in response to the European Union's ''[[General Data Protection Regulation]]'' [[General Data Protection Regulation|(GDPR)]]. Under this model, users of a website must either:

*'''Consent''' to the use of cookies and personal data for targeted advertising, '''or'''
*'''Pay''' a small monthly fee to access the service without tracking.

The practice generated significant debate among regulators, policymakers, and consumer advocates alike and is viewed as undermining meaningful consent. Despite controversy, the model is being increasingly adopted by large online platforms and news organizations. As of August 2025, 16 of the 50 largest UK news websites had implemented consent-or-pay.<ref name="Press Gazette">{{Cite web |first=Charlotte |last=Tobitt |title=Press Gazette, More UK news publishers are adopting 'consent or pay' advertising model |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/consent-or-pay-uk-publishers-advertising-2025/ |url-access=limited |date=21 Aug 2025 |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821204423/https://pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/consent-or-pay-uk-publishers-advertising-2025/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref>

==Background==
{{Main|General Data Protection Regulation}}

The General Data Protection Regulation was passed in 2018 with the aim of protecting online users from excessive data collection by large companies. The regulation does this by requiring companies to allow users to consent to data collection, and this is often done by an opt-in banner or pop-up on the home screen of any given website.

Companies began feeling like they were losing revenue over this new regulation because they could no longer collect data for targeted ads at the same scale they'd done before. This led to the new consent-or-pay model as a workaround.

==How it works==
When a user visits a website, a pop-up consent window is displayed. Traditional options would be '''Accept''' or '''Reject''' cookies. However the user is presented with the options to '''Accept or Pay'''.

*The payment is typically a low fee (e.g. £1.99 per month).
*Many of the sites that use the model were previously free-to-access and funded primarily through advertising.
*Consumers must now "pay" either with their personal data or with money.

This effectively introduces a '''paywall for previously freely accessible content''' even if no traditional subscription model exists.

==Why it is a problem==

===Invalid consent===
This binary model of data collection creates the illusion of consent because users are compelled to choose one of two bad options, both of which require loss in exchange for content that is generally considered free access.

===Lack of informed consent===
Companies often inform users that cookies and data collection are for "personalized ads" and "improving services". What they do not express is how a user's personal data is stored in data centers, shared among third-parties, sold to data brokers, and often become publicized through breaches. Users underestimate the costs of giving away their personal data, believing that advertisements of things they're already interested in makes their data a fair trade-off.

===False equivalence===
The consent-or-pay model creates a false equivalence between two options. It denotes that the company loses, say, $2 or $5 a month when a user rejects targeted ads. This is an impossible metric considering that there is no way to guess whether the individual user would have purchased any item that is advertised to them. At best, this means the monthly fee is completely arbitrary. At worst, it is based upon a percentage of users who do happen to make purchases and is then unfairly distributed upon all users, irrespective of purchase or ad consumption, which is also known as ''average revenue per user (ARPU).''

===Illusion of fair exchange===
For users, the consent-or-pay model leads to a false belief that a fair exchange is taking place. When a company asks for a price as low as $2 a month while seeking data collection as a "free" alternative, the user is led to believe that they are fairly reimbursing the company for loss ad revenue, especially for such a low monthly fee. In susceptible users, they may be tricked into believing this is a fair and ethical decision they are making, thus happily choosing to engage in a deliberately misleading practice.

==Meta investigation and fine==
After a year-long investigation by the European Commission, [[Meta]] was fined on 23 April 2025 for failing to comply with the [[Digital Markets Act]] (DMA). The European Commission's investigation targeted Meta's consent-or-pay model because it failed to meet the DMA's criteria of reducing personalized data for targeted ads and it does not allow users to freely consent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Jun 2024 |title=Commission sends preliminary findings to Meta over its "Pay or Consent" model for breach of the Digital Markets Act |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_3582 |website=European Commission}}</ref> Consequently, Meta was fined with €228 million in the month of April, and in July, the European Commission warned that the social media company may face accrued daily fines if they continue employing this tactic.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Foo Yun Chee |title=Meta may face daily fines over pay-or-consent model, EU warns |url=https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/meta-will-only-make-limited-changes-pay-or-consent-model-eu-says-2025-06-27/ |date=27 Jun 2025 |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |website=Reuters |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/WlLFg |archive-date=1 Sep 2025}}</ref>

==Other uses==

===News organizations===
Many media outlets have adopted consent-or-pay throughout Europe, including:

*The Mirror
*The Independent
*Der Spiegel
*Der Standard
*Le Monde
*Le Parisien
*Corriere della Sera
*MeridioNews<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Screenshot 20250910-195708 IronFox.png|alt=Screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy viewed on a mobile browser. (written in Italian)|Screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy appearing after rejecting cookies on [https://meridionews.it/piazzale-anita-garibaldi-ennesimo-raid-dei-vandali-la-provocazione-di-artale-mettiamo-una-garitta/ one of their articles]
File:08cd9c3c-fd76-4cc0-bf9a-0e85d8133609.png|alt=(machine-translated from Italian) screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy appearing after rejecting cookies on one of their articles, viewed from a mobile device|(machine-translated) screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy
</gallery>
==Response==

===Criticisms from policymakers===
In 2024, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) published a non-binding opinion on "Valid Consent in the Context of Consent or Pay Models Implemented by Large Online Platforms." The EDPB denotes that the consent-or-pay model does not constitute as valid consent and that appropriate alternative measures to the model should provide users with an "equivalent alternative". Additionally, they say that if a company wishes to use a payment model, then the opposing equal alternative should not involve processing personal data. Any choice in which users feel compelled to consent does not qualify as valid consent.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=EDPB: 'Consent or Pay' models should offer real choice |url=https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2024/edpb-consent-or-pay-models-should-offer-real-choice_en |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |website=European Data Protection Board}}</ref>

Anu Talus, Chair of the EDPB, said:<blockquote>"Online platforms should give users a real choice when employing 'consent or pay' models. The models we have today usually require individuals to either give away all their data or to pay. As a result most users consent to the processing in order to use a service, and they do not understand the full implications of their choices."<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

===Consumer advocates===
{{Incomplete section}}
Example Text<ref>{{Cite web |last=Illman |first=Erin Jane |date=29 Jul 2024 |title=Can Privacy Be Bought? How Scrutiny of Meta's Subscription Model Has Wider Implications –PART II |url=https://natlawreview.com/article/can-privacy-be-bought-how-scrutiny-metas-subscription-model-has-wider-0 |website=The National Law Review}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Nov 2023 |title=noyb files GDPR complaint against Meta over "Pay or Okay" |url=https://noyb.eu/en/noyb-files-gdpr-complaint-against-meta-over-pay-or-okay |website=noyb}}</ref>

==Effectiveness==
The effects of the consent-or-pay model vary widely.

*Advertising Week reports only 30% of users accept the cookies after the GDPR<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mititelu |first=Andra |title=As the Open Marketplace Fails, Advertisers Are Turning to Publishers to Reach Audiences |url=https://advertisingweek.com/as-the-open-marketplace-fails-advertisers-are-turning-to-publishers-to-reach-audiences/ |website=Advertising Week |date=2023
|access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927212627/https://advertisingweek.com/as-the-open-marketplace-fails-advertisers-are-turning-to-publishers-to-reach-audiences/ |archive-date=27 Sep 2023}}</ref>

*(2023) According to The Drum, as much as 40% of users simply use a {{Wplink|VPN service|VPN}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connell |first=Vanessa |title=70% of consumers blocking cookies online, research shows |url=https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2023/05/09/70-consumers-blocking-cookies-online-research-shows |website=The Drum |date=9 May 2023 |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511090722/https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2023/05/09/70-consumers-blocking-cookies-online-research-shows |archive-date=11 May 2023}}</ref>

*(PG 2025) Meanwhile, "When users are equally offered the chance to "accept all" or "reject all" cookies, consent rates are typically somewhere around 70-80%, according to both Skovgaards and Contentpass founder Dirk Freytag.<ref name="Press Gazette" />

==Alternative practices==
The Guardian develops a new "contextual advertising" model that bases ads upon whatever page the user is currently viewing (i.e. food ingredients on a recipe page). They say, "It's a perfect advertising product for a privacy conscious brand and a brand doing the right thing." They report a 35% increase in clicks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maher |first=Bron |title=Guardian gets around readers who reject cookies with new advertising product |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/guardian-light-reject-cookies-advertising-stereotype/ |url-access=limited |website=Press Gazette |date=21 Nov 2023 |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128184011/https://pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/guardian-light-reject-cookies-advertising-stereotype/ |archive-date=28 Nov 2023}}<nowiki>}}</nowiki></ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]

Consent-or-pay

2025-09-10T19:29:59Z

FoulerTripod363: Reformated the article screenshots

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Improper citations in bottom half of article.|Issue 2=Needs elaboration}}

'''Consent-or-pay''' is a business tactic in response to the European Union's ''[[General Data Protection Regulation]]'' [[General Data Protection Regulation|(GDPR)]]. Under this model, users of a website must either:

*'''Consent''' to the use of cookies and personal data for targeted advertising, '''or'''
*'''Pay''' a small monthly fee to access the service without tracking.

The practice generated significant debate among regulators, policymakers, and consumer advocates alike and is viewed as undermining meaningful consent. Despite controversy, the model is being increasingly adopted by large online platforms and news organizations. As of August 2025, 16 of the 50 largest UK news websites had implemented consent-or-pay.<ref name="Press Gazette">{{Cite web |first=Charlotte |last=Tobitt |title=Press Gazette, More UK news publishers are adopting 'consent or pay' advertising model |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/consent-or-pay-uk-publishers-advertising-2025/ |url-access=limited |date=21 Aug 2025 |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821204423/https://pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/consent-or-pay-uk-publishers-advertising-2025/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref>

==Background==
{{Main|General Data Protection Regulation}}

The General Data Protection Regulation was passed in 2018 with the aim of protecting online users from excessive data collection by large companies. The regulation does this by requiring companies to allow users to consent to data collection, and this is often done by an opt-in banner or pop-up on the home screen of any given website.

Companies began feeling like they were losing revenue over this new regulation because they could no longer collect data for targeted ads at the same scale they'd done before. This led to the new consent-or-pay model as a workaround.

==How it works==
When a user visits a website, a pop-up consent window is displayed. Traditional options would be '''Accept''' or '''Reject''' cookies. However the user is presented with the options to '''Accept or Pay'''.

*The payment is typically a low fee (e.g. £1.99 per month).
*Many of the sites that use the model were previously free-to-access and funded primarily through advertising.
*Consumers must now "pay" either with their personal data or with money.

This effectively introduces a '''paywall for previously freely accessible content''' even if no traditional subscription model exists.

==Why it is a problem==

===Invalid consent===
This binary model of data collection creates the illusion of consent because users are compelled to choose one of two bad options, both of which require loss in exchange for content that is generally considered free access.

===Lack of informed consent===
Companies often inform users that cookies and data collection are for "personalized ads" and "improving services". What they do not express is how a user's personal data is stored in data centers, shared among third-parties, sold to data brokers, and often become publicized through breaches. Users underestimate the costs of giving away their personal data, believing that advertisements of things they're already interested in makes their data a fair trade-off.

===False equivalence===
The consent-or-pay model creates a false equivalence between two options. It denotes that the company loses, say, $2 or $5 a month when a user rejects targeted ads. This is an impossible metric considering that there is no way to guess whether the individual user would have purchased any item that is advertised to them. At best, this means the monthly fee is completely arbitrary. At worst, it is based upon a percentage of users who do happen to make purchases and is then unfairly distributed upon all users, irrespective of purchase or ad consumption, which is also known as ''average revenue per user (ARPU).''

===Illusion of fair exchange===
For users, the consent-or-pay model leads to a false belief that a fair exchange is taking place. When a company asks for a price as low as $2 a month while seeking data collection as a "free" alternative, the user is led to believe that they are fairly reimbursing the company for loss ad revenue, especially for such a low monthly fee. In susceptible users, they may be tricked into believing this is a fair and ethical decision they are making, thus happily choosing to engage in a deliberately misleading practice.

==Meta investigation and fine==
After a year-long investigation by the European Commission, [[Meta]] was fined on 23 April 2025 for failing to comply with the [[Digital Markets Act]] (DMA). The European Commission's investigation targeted Meta's consent-or-pay model because it failed to meet the DMA's criteria of reducing personalized data for targeted ads and it does not allow users to freely consent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Jun 2024 |title=Commission sends preliminary findings to Meta over its "Pay or Consent" model for breach of the Digital Markets Act |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_3582 |website=European Commission}}</ref> Consequently, Meta was fined with €228 million in the month of April, and in July, the European Commission warned that the social media company may face accrued daily fines if they continue employing this tactic.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Foo Yun Chee |title=Meta may face daily fines over pay-or-consent model, EU warns |url=https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/meta-will-only-make-limited-changes-pay-or-consent-model-eu-says-2025-06-27/ |date=27 Jun 2025 |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |website=Reuters |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/WlLFg |archive-date=1 Sep 2025}}</ref>

==Other uses==

===News organizations===
Many media outlets have adopted consent-or-pay throughout Europe, including:

*The Mirror
*The Independent
*Der Spiegel
*Der Standard
*Le Monde
*Le Parisien
*Corriere della Sera
*MeridioNews<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Screenshot 20250910-195708 IronFox.png|alt=Screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy viewed on a mobile browser. (written in Italian)|Screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy appearing after rejecting cookies on [https://meridionews.it/piazzale-anita-garibaldi-ennesimo-raid-dei-vandali-la-provocazione-di-artale-mettiamo-una-garitta/ one of their articles]
File:08cd9c3c-fd76-4cc0-bf9a-0e85d8133609.png|alt=(machine-translated from Italian) screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy appearing after rejecting cookies on one of their articles, viewed from a mobile device|(machine-translated) screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy
</gallery>[[File:Screenshot 20250910-195708 IronFox.png|alt=Screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy viewed on a mobile browser. (written in Italian) |thumb|390x390px|Screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy appearing after rejecting cookies on [https://meridionews.it/piazzale-anita-garibaldi-ennesimo-raid-dei-vandali-la-provocazione-di-artale-mettiamo-una-garitta/ one of their articles]]]
[[File:08cd9c3c-fd76-4cc0-bf9a-0e85d8133609.png|alt=(machine-translated from Italian) screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy appearing after rejecting cookies on one of their articles, viewed from a mobile device|thumb|388x388px|(machine-translated) screenshot of MeridioNews' consent-or-pay policy]]

==Response==

===Criticisms from policymakers===
In 2024, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) published a non-binding opinion on "Valid Consent in the Context of Consent or Pay Models Implemented by Large Online Platforms." The EDPB denotes that the consent-or-pay model does not constitute as valid consent and that appropriate alternative measures to the model should provide users with an "equivalent alternative". Additionally, they say that if a company wishes to use a payment model, then the opposing equal alternative should not involve processing personal data. Any choice in which users feel compelled to consent does not qualify as valid consent.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=EDPB: 'Consent or Pay' models should offer real choice |url=https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2024/edpb-consent-or-pay-models-should-offer-real-choice_en |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |website=European Data Protection Board}}</ref>

Anu Talus, Chair of the EDPB, said:<blockquote>"Online platforms should give users a real choice when employing 'consent or pay' models. The models we have today usually require individuals to either give away all their data or to pay. As a result most users consent to the processing in order to use a service, and they do not understand the full implications of their choices."<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

===Consumer advocates===
{{Incomplete section}}
Example Text<ref>{{Cite web |last=Illman |first=Erin Jane |date=29 Jul 2024 |title=Can Privacy Be Bought? How Scrutiny of Meta's Subscription Model Has Wider Implications –PART II |url=https://natlawreview.com/article/can-privacy-be-bought-how-scrutiny-metas-subscription-model-has-wider-0 |website=The National Law Review}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Nov 2023 |title=noyb files GDPR complaint against Meta over "Pay or Okay" |url=https://noyb.eu/en/noyb-files-gdpr-complaint-against-meta-over-pay-or-okay |website=noyb}}</ref>

==Effectiveness==
The effects of the consent-or-pay model vary widely.

*Advertising Week reports only 30% of users accept the cookies after the GDPR<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mititelu |first=Andra |title=As the Open Marketplace Fails, Advertisers Are Turning to Publishers to Reach Audiences |url=https://advertisingweek.com/as-the-open-marketplace-fails-advertisers-are-turning-to-publishers-to-reach-audiences/ |website=Advertising Week |date=2023
|access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927212627/https://advertisingweek.com/as-the-open-marketplace-fails-advertisers-are-turning-to-publishers-to-reach-audiences/ |archive-date=27 Sep 2023}}</ref>

*(2023) According to The Drum, as much as 40% of users simply use a {{Wplink|VPN service|VPN}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connell |first=Vanessa |title=70% of consumers blocking cookies online, research shows |url=https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2023/05/09/70-consumers-blocking-cookies-online-research-shows |website=The Drum |date=9 May 2023 |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511090722/https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2023/05/09/70-consumers-blocking-cookies-online-research-shows |archive-date=11 May 2023}}</ref>

*(PG 2025) Meanwhile, "When users are equally offered the chance to "accept all" or "reject all" cookies, consent rates are typically somewhere around 70-80%, according to both Skovgaards and Contentpass founder Dirk Freytag.<ref name="Press Gazette" />

==Alternative practices==
The Guardian develops a new "contextual advertising" model that bases ads upon whatever page the user is currently viewing (i.e. food ingredients on a recipe page). They say, "It's a perfect advertising product for a privacy conscious brand and a brand doing the right thing." They report a 35% increase in clicks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maher |first=Bron |title=Guardian gets around readers who reject cookies with new advertising product |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/guardian-light-reject-cookies-advertising-stereotype/ |url-access=limited |website=Press Gazette |date=21 Nov 2023 |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128184011/https://pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/guardian-light-reject-cookies-advertising-stereotype/ |archive-date=28 Nov 2023}}<nowiki>}}</nowiki></ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]

User talk:RedClipTober

2025-08-16T17:44:51Z

FoulerTripod363: /* Linux category */ new section

== Linux category ==

Isnt it better to use "GNU/Linux" instead of Linux for categories? [[User:FoulerTripod363|FoulerTripod363]] ([[User talk:FoulerTripod363|talk]]) 17:44, 16 August 2025 (UTC)

User:FoulerTripod363/ User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app

2025-08-16T17:34:05Z

FoulerTripod363: moved wikipedia citation to hyperlink

{{IncidentCargo}}[[Tado]] rolled mandatory subscription for its phone application, pay-walling access to the Tado app . Pay-walling the free application locks away its core features like temperature control, smart schedule, and energy saving report. After user backlash the company rolled back their decision and claimed it was an internal experiment that rolled out never clarifying if the experiment is done.

==Background==
[[File:Tado original subscription plan for the tado app.png|alt=The image displays the original pricing of tado plans before the mandatory testing rolled. The free tier allowed the use of: temperature control, scheduling, and app updates|thumb|The image displays the original pricing of [[tado]] plans before the mandatory testing rolled]]
[[wikipedia:Tado°|Tado]] (tado° GmbH) is a Munich based technology company that specializes in manufacturing home thermostats and air conditioning controls. In March 2025, Tado announced<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado° announces price adjustment for Auto-Assist subscription to fuel and drive forward future innovations and enhancements |url=https://www.tado.com/en/press/tado-announces-price-adjustment-auto-assist-subscription |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado°}}</ref> auto assist subscription. The app serves the critical role for the Tado products like controlling the temperature.

==Tado Pay-Walling The Free Tier==
Tado users reported on the Tado community website<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado Marketing Test - tado Community |url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/26598/tado-marketing-test/p1 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mPjye |archive-date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado Community}}</ref> and Reddit<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monthly fee for app usage is live? : r/tado |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tado/comments/1ird12s/monthly_fee_for_app_usage_is_live/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Reddit}}</ref> that they are not allowed to use the app without paying the basic tier subscription fee loosing control of their device.<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Tado app pay-wall screen.png|Tado App paywall denying access basic control control over the consumer's Tado devices without paying a subscription fee
File:Tado original community post.png|Tado original community post complain over the new changes
File:Tado customer locked out.webp|Tado's app subscription live
File:Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post.jpg|Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post
</gallery>On Feb 2025, The Verge<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Tado told users it would start charging for its app {{!}} The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/615975/tado-smart-thermostat-tests-app-fee |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=The Verge}}</ref> reported on the issue that users of the app started to receive notifications that [[Tado]] introduced a new tier to its user, that to continue using the Tado application users must subscribe to the Basic tier. Later the company clarified it is a "marketing test" reverting to the original subscription plan. After the immense backlash over the uncertainty whether the test is still continuing, or the fact that they were involuntarily involved in this test loosing access to their hardware Tado has completely shutdown the community page without an explanation and any link for the community page is automatically redirected to the support page<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado Support: Help & Resources for your Devices {{!}} tado |url=https://www.tado.com/en/customer-services/support |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado}}</ref>.

==Tado's response==
Tado spokesperson Jason Collie has commented on the incident to The Verge with "As is typical in the industry, tado° is routinely doing marketing tests and research, and looks at customer feedback every day. Those involved in this test retained full access to the tado° App,"<ref name=":0" />.
==References==
{{reflist}}

User:FoulerTripod363/ User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app

2025-08-16T17:06:48Z

FoulerTripod363: changed the gallery to slideshow instead of traditional

{{IncidentCargo}}[[Tado]] rolled mandatory subscription for its phone application, pay-walling access to the Tado app . Pay-walling the free application locks away its core features like temperature control, smart schedule, and energy saving report. After user backlash the company rolled back their decision and claimed it was an internal experiment that rolled out never clarifying if the experiment is done.

==Background==
[[File:Tado original subscription plan for the tado app.png|alt=The image displays the original pricing of tado plans before the mandatory testing rolled. The free tier allowed the use of: temperature control, scheduling, and app updates|thumb|The image displays the original pricing of [[tado]] plans before the mandatory testing rolled]]
[[Tado]] (tado° GmbH) is a Munich based technology company that specializes in manufacturing home thermostats and air conditioning controls<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado° - Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tado%C2%B0 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>. In March 2025, Tado announced<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado° announces price adjustment for Auto-Assist subscription to fuel and drive forward future innovations and enhancements |url=https://www.tado.com/en/press/tado-announces-price-adjustment-auto-assist-subscription |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado°}}</ref> auto assist subscription. The app serves the critical role for the Tado products like controlling the temperature.

==Tado Pay-Walling The Free Tier==
Tado users reported on the Tado community website<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado Marketing Test - tado Community |url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/26598/tado-marketing-test/p1 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mPjye |archive-date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado Community}}</ref> and Reddit<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monthly fee for app usage is live? : r/tado |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tado/comments/1ird12s/monthly_fee_for_app_usage_is_live/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Reddit}}</ref> that they are not allowed to use the app without paying the basic tier subscription fee loosing control of their device.<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Tado app pay-wall screen.png|Tado App paywall denying access basic control control over the consumer's Tado devices without paying a subscription fee
File:Tado original community post.png|Tado original community post complain over the new changes
File:Tado customer locked out.webp|Tado's app subscription live
File:Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post.jpg|Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post
</gallery>On Feb 2025, The Verge<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Tado told users it would start charging for its app {{!}} The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/615975/tado-smart-thermostat-tests-app-fee |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=The Verge}}</ref> reported on the issue that users of the app started to receive notifications that [[Tado]] introduced a new tier to its user, that to continue using the Tado application users must subscribe to the Basic tier. Later the company clarified it is a "marketing test" reverting to the original subscription plan. After the immense backlash over the uncertainty whether the test is still continuing, or the fact that they were involuntarily involved in this test loosing access to their hardware Tado has completely shutdown the community page without an explanation and any link for the community page is automatically redirected to the support page<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado Support: Help & Resources for your Devices {{!}} tado |url=https://www.tado.com/en/customer-services/support |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado}}</ref>.

==Tado's response==
Tado spokesperson Jason Collie has commented on the incident to The Verge with "As is typical in the industry, tado° is routinely doing marketing tests and research, and looks at customer feedback every day. Those involved in this test retained full access to the tado° App,"<ref name=":0" />.
==References==
{{reflist}}

User:User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app (FoulerTripod363)

2025-08-16T17:05:12Z

FoulerTripod363: FoulerTripod363 moved page User:User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app (FoulerTripod363) to User:FoulerTripod363/ User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app: Fixed the name of the user

#REDIRECT [[User:FoulerTripod363/ User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app]]

User:FoulerTripod363/ User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app

2025-08-16T17:05:11Z

{{IncidentCargo}}[[Tado]] rolled mandatory subscription for its phone application, pay-walling access to the Tado app . Pay-walling the free application locks away its core features like temperature control, smart schedule, and energy saving report. After user backlash the company rolled back their decision and claimed it was an internal experiment that rolled out never clarifying if the experiment is done.

==Background==
[[File:Tado original subscription plan for the tado app.png|alt=The image displays the original pricing of tado plans before the mandatory testing rolled. The free tier allowed the use of: temperature control, scheduling, and app updates|thumb|The image displays the original pricing of [[tado]] plans before the mandatory testing rolled]]
[[Tado]] (tado° GmbH) is a Munich based technology company that specializes in manufacturing home thermostats and air conditioning controls<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado° - Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tado%C2%B0 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>. In March 2025, Tado announced<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado° announces price adjustment for Auto-Assist subscription to fuel and drive forward future innovations and enhancements |url=https://www.tado.com/en/press/tado-announces-price-adjustment-auto-assist-subscription |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado°}}</ref> auto assist subscription. The app serves the critical role for the Tado products like controlling the temperature.

==Tado Pay-Walling The Free Tier==
Tado users reported on the Tado community website<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado Marketing Test - tado Community |url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/26598/tado-marketing-test/p1 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mPjye |archive-date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado Community}}</ref> and Reddit<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monthly fee for app usage is live? : r/tado |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tado/comments/1ird12s/monthly_fee_for_app_usage_is_live/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Reddit}}</ref> that they are not allowed to use the app without paying the basic tier subscription fee loosing control of their device.<gallery>
File:Tado app pay-wall screen.png|Tado App paywall denying access basic control control over the consumer's Tado devices without paying a subscription fee
File:Tado original community post.png|Tado original community post complain over the new changes
File:Tado customer locked out.webp|Tado's app subscription live
File:Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post.jpg|Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post
</gallery>On Feb 2025, The Verge<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Tado told users it would start charging for its app {{!}} The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/615975/tado-smart-thermostat-tests-app-fee |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=The Verge}}</ref> reported on the issue that users of the app started to receive notifications that [[Tado]] introduced a new tier to its user, that to continue using the Tado application users must subscribe to the Basic tier. Later the company clarified it is a "marketing test" reverting to the original subscription plan. After the immense backlash over the uncertainty whether the test is still continuing, or the fact that they were involuntarily involved in this test loosing access to their hardware Tado has completely shutdown the community page without an explanation and any link for the community page is automatically redirected to the support page<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado Support: Help & Resources for your Devices {{!}} tado |url=https://www.tado.com/en/customer-services/support |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado}}</ref>.

==Tado's response==
Tado spokesperson Jason Collie has commented on the incident to The Verge with "As is typical in the industry, tado° is routinely doing marketing tests and research, and looks at customer feedback every day. Those involved in this test retained full access to the tado° App,"<ref name=":0" />.
==References==
{{reflist}}

User:FoulerTripod363/ User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app

2025-08-16T17:01:26Z

FoulerTripod363: FoulerTripod363 moved page User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app (FoulerTripod363) to User:User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app (FoulerTripod363): WIP

{{IncidentCargo}}[[Tado]] rolled mandatory subscription for its phone application, pay-walling access to the Tado app . Pay-walling the free application locks away its core features like temperature control, smart schedule, and energy saving report. After user backlash the company rolled back their decision and claimed it was an internal experiment that rolled out never clarifying if the experiment is done.

==Background==
[[File:Tado original subscription plan for the tado app.png|alt=The image displays the original pricing of tado plans before the mandatory testing rolled. The free tier allowed the use of: temperature control, scheduling, and app updates|thumb|The image displays the original pricing of [[tado]] plans before the mandatory testing rolled]]
[[Tado]] (tado° GmbH) is a Munich based technology company that specializes in manufacturing home thermostats and air conditioning controls<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado° - Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tado%C2%B0 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>. In March 2025, Tado announced<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado° announces price adjustment for Auto-Assist subscription to fuel and drive forward future innovations and enhancements |url=https://www.tado.com/en/press/tado-announces-price-adjustment-auto-assist-subscription |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado°}}</ref> auto assist subscription. The app serves the critical role for the Tado products like controlling the temperature.

==Tado Pay-Walling The Free Tier==
Tado users reported on the Tado community website<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado Marketing Test - tado Community |url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/26598/tado-marketing-test/p1 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mPjye |archive-date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado Community}}</ref> and Reddit<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monthly fee for app usage is live? : r/tado |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tado/comments/1ird12s/monthly_fee_for_app_usage_is_live/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Reddit}}</ref> that they are not allowed to use the app without paying the basic tier subscription fee loosing control of their device.<gallery>
File:Tado app pay-wall screen.png|Tado App paywall denying access basic control control over the consumer's Tado devices without paying a subscription fee
File:Tado original community post.png|Tado original community post complain over the new changes
File:Tado customer locked out.webp|Tado's app subscription live
File:Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post.jpg|Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post
</gallery>On Feb 2025, The Verge<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Tado told users it would start charging for its app {{!}} The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/615975/tado-smart-thermostat-tests-app-fee |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=The Verge}}</ref> reported on the issue that users of the app started to receive notifications that [[Tado]] introduced a new tier to its user, that to continue using the Tado application users must subscribe to the Basic tier. Later the company clarified it is a "marketing test" reverting to the original subscription plan. After the immense backlash over the uncertainty whether the test is still continuing, or the fact that they were involuntarily involved in this test loosing access to their hardware Tado has completely shutdown the community page without an explanation and any link for the community page is automatically redirected to the support page<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado Support: Help & Resources for your Devices {{!}} tado |url=https://www.tado.com/en/customer-services/support |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado}}</ref>.

==Tado's response==
Tado spokesperson Jason Collie has commented on the incident to The Verge with "As is typical in the industry, tado° is routinely doing marketing tests and research, and looks at customer feedback every day. Those involved in this test retained full access to the tado° App,"<ref name=":0" />.
==References==
{{reflist}}

User talk:FoulerTripod363

2025-08-16T17:00:08Z

FoulerTripod363: /* Tado article */ Reply

==Tado article==

Hi, there's already an article for [[User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app]], feel free to add to it instead of creating a new one! [[User:Emanuele|ema]] ([[User talk:Emanuele|talk]]) 14:47, 16 August 2025 (UTC)

:Its more of im changing the article entirely as it was originally created using AI im unusure of my changes thats why i created my own "fork" of it until i get good feed back on it i have alot done ill push it when im done [[User:FoulerTripod363|FoulerTripod363]] ([[User talk:FoulerTripod363|talk]]) 15:54, 16 August 2025 (UTC)
::Just as a heads up, you should probably move that article into your users space while you're working on it (just add user:FoulerTripod363/ to the start of the page name), or use the move tool to move it into your user space. That's the best place to put WIP things or anything that might represent duplication [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:22, 16 August 2025 (UTC)
:::understood will do [[User:FoulerTripod363|FoulerTripod363]] ([[User talk:FoulerTripod363|talk]]) 17:00, 16 August 2025 (UTC)

User:FoulerTripod363/ User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app

2025-08-16T16:57:40Z

FoulerTripod363: Tado user testing rewrite of the original wiki artical

{{IncidentCargo}}[[Tado]] rolled mandatory subscription for its phone application, pay-walling access to the Tado app . Pay-walling the free application locks away its core features like temperature control, smart schedule, and energy saving report. After user backlash the company rolled back their decision and claimed it was an internal experiment that rolled out never clarifying if the experiment is done.

==Background==
[[File:Tado original subscription plan for the tado app.png|alt=The image displays the original pricing of tado plans before the mandatory testing rolled. The free tier allowed the use of: temperature control, scheduling, and app updates|thumb|The image displays the original pricing of [[tado]] plans before the mandatory testing rolled]]
[[Tado]] (tado° GmbH) is a Munich based technology company that specializes in manufacturing home thermostats and air conditioning controls<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado° - Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tado%C2%B0 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>. In March 2025, Tado announced<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado° announces price adjustment for Auto-Assist subscription to fuel and drive forward future innovations and enhancements |url=https://www.tado.com/en/press/tado-announces-price-adjustment-auto-assist-subscription |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado°}}</ref> auto assist subscription. The app serves the critical role for the Tado products like controlling the temperature.

==Tado Pay-Walling The Free Tier==
Tado users reported on the Tado community website<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado Marketing Test - tado Community |url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/26598/tado-marketing-test/p1 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mPjye |archive-date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado Community}}</ref> and Reddit<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monthly fee for app usage is live? : r/tado |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tado/comments/1ird12s/monthly_fee_for_app_usage_is_live/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Reddit}}</ref> that they are not allowed to use the app without paying the basic tier subscription fee loosing control of their device.<gallery>
File:Tado app pay-wall screen.png|Tado App paywall denying access basic control control over the consumer's Tado devices without paying a subscription fee
File:Tado original community post.png|Tado original community post complain over the new changes
File:Tado customer locked out.webp|Tado's app subscription live
File:Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post.jpg|Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post
</gallery>On Feb 2025, The Verge<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Tado told users it would start charging for its app {{!}} The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/615975/tado-smart-thermostat-tests-app-fee |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=The Verge}}</ref> reported on the issue that users of the app started to receive notifications that [[Tado]] introduced a new tier to its user, that to continue using the Tado application users must subscribe to the Basic tier. Later the company clarified it is a "marketing test" reverting to the original subscription plan. After the immense backlash over the uncertainty whether the test is still continuing, or the fact that they were involuntarily involved in this test loosing access to their hardware Tado has completely shutdown the community page without an explanation and any link for the community page is automatically redirected to the support page<ref>{{Cite web |title=tado Support: Help & Resources for your Devices {{!}} tado |url=https://www.tado.com/en/customer-services/support |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tado}}</ref>.

==Tado's response==
Tado spokesperson Jason Collie has commented on the incident to The Verge with "As is typical in the industry, tado° is routinely doing marketing tests and research, and looks at customer feedback every day. Those involved in this test retained full access to the tado° App,"<ref name=":0" />.
==References==
{{reflist}}

File:Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post.jpg

2025-08-16T16:24:32Z

FoulerTripod363:

Tado new subscription as seen in a reddit post

User talk:FoulerTripod363

2025-08-16T15:54:56Z

FoulerTripod363: /* Tado article */ Reply

File:Tado original community post.png

2025-08-16T15:31:39Z

FoulerTripod363:

Tado original community post reporting the incident of tado paywalling the app

File:Tado app pay-wall screen.png

2025-08-16T15:23:07Z

FoulerTripod363:

Tado pay-wall deniying access to tado product owner basic control over their device

File:Tado original subscription plan for the tado app.png

2025-08-16T14:42:35Z

FoulerTripod363:

The image displays the original pricing of tado plans before the mandatory testing rolled

User:FoulerTripod363/ User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app

2025-08-16T14:06:54Z

FoulerTripod363: Created page with "{{IncidentCargo}} {{Ph-I-Int}} ==Background== {{Ph-I-B}} ==[Incident]== {{Ph-I-I}} ===[Company]'s response=== {{Ph-I-ComR}} ==Lawsuit== {{Ph-I-L}} ==Consumer response== {{Ph-I-ConR}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{Ph-I-C}}"

{{IncidentCargo}}
{{Ph-I-Int}}
==Background==
{{Ph-I-B}}

==[Incident]==
{{Ph-I-I}}

===[Company]'s response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

User testing for mandatory paid subscription into Tado Smart Thermostat app

2025-06-25T14:23:01Z

FoulerTripod363: Changed the definition of Tado

Tado (tado° GmbH) is a Munich based technology company that specializes in manufacturing home thermostats and air conditioning controls.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tado° |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tado%C2%B0 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref> In 2025, they announced a new policy requiring customers to pay a subscription fee to continue using the Tado app for basic heating controls. This change, set to take effect on '''February 19, 2025''', introduces a '''€0.99/month''' (or '''£0.99/month''') charge for "Basic" app access, while an '''"Auto-Assist"''' plan at '''€2.49/month''' ('''£2.49/month''') offers additional automation features <ref name="verge tado">
{{cite web
|first=Jennifer Pattison
|last=Tuohy
|title=This smart thermostat company told users it would start charging for its app
|url=https://www.theverge.com/news/615975/tado-smart-thermostat-tests-app-fee
|website=The Verge
|date=20 February 2025
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220142201/https://www.theverge.com/news/615975/tado-smart-thermostat-tests-app-fee
|archive-date=20 Feb 2025
}}</ref>
[[File:Tado thermostat app screenshot about increased cost and subscription fee.webp|alt=tado thermostat app screenshot about increased cost and subscription fee|thumb|tado thermostat app screenshot about increased cost and subscription fee <ref name="tado community - marketing test">
{{cite web
|date=10 Feb 2025
|url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/26598/tado-marketing-test
|title=Tado Marketing Test - tado° Community
|website=Tado Community
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>]]
Before, users could access all of the core heating functions, including scheduling & per-room control, for free using the Tado app. Now the subscription model locks these features behind a paywall, with Tado citing ''"ongoing costs for servers, external data, and continuous feature improvement"'' as the justification for the fee. <ref name="tato-reddit">
{{cite web
|title=Monthly fee for app usage is live?
|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tado/comments/1ird12s/monthly_fee_for_app_usage_is_live/
|website=Reddit
|date=February 2025
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>

Some users report that after clicking through the "fake" paywall, they are able to use the application. <ref>
[[:File:Marketing test tado 3 .png|Screenshot of Tado forum reply]]
</ref>

==Ownership rights eroded==

*'''Ownership & Digital Access:''' Customers purchased Tado hardware under the assumption of free app access may now face unexpected costs, having to pay for features that were initially provided as part of the price of the product purchase. This raises concerns about '''post-purchase monetization'''.
*'''Usability & Functionality:''' Core features such as temperature scheduling & remote control are being announced as being paywalled, which reduces the thermostat's usefulness without an active subscription.
*'''Transparency & Fair Business Practices:''' Tado’s failure to clearly communicate this change in advance has led to accusations of '''<nowiki/>'bait-and-switch' tactics''' by affected users.<ref name="tado community - marketing test" />

Customers have expressed frustration on forums and social media, with many stating that they would not have purchased Tado products had they known that basic functionality would eventually require a paid subscription. Some users have even considered legal action, arguing that retroactively charging for app access may constitute unfair business practices.<ref name="tato-reddit" />

==Product background==

Tado is a European company specializing in smart home heating solutions, including '''smart thermostats, radiator valves, & heat pump controllers'''. The company’s products are made to provide '''energy-efficient home heating''' by allowing users to control their heating systems remotely via a phone app; as well as integrate with smart home platforms. The idea is to automate energy usage to reduce costs. <ref name="tato-therm-x">
{{cite web
|title=Wired Smart Thermostat X - Starter Kit
|url=https://shop.tado.com/en/products/smart-thermostat-x-starter-kit-1
|website=Tado Shop
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927042418/https://shop.tado.com/en/products/smart-thermostat-x-starter-kit-1
|archive-date=27 Sep 2024
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>

===Purpose & core functionality===

Tado’s smart heating systems were developed to:
*'''Provide remote heating control''' via Tado's app, allowing customers to adjust temperature settings from anywhere.
*'''Automate heating schedules''' to improve energy efficiency & reduce cost.
*'''Support smart home integration''' with '''Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, & Amazon Alexa''' for voice control.
*'''Adapt to dynamic energy pricing''' through features like '''Tado Balance''', which schedules heating based on cheaper electricity rates during off-peak hours.<ref>
{{cite web
|first=Jon
|last=Porter
|title=Tado’s smart thermostat can now heat your home when prices are cheapest
|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/31/23330324/tado-balance-smart-thermostat-subscription-usage-energy-price
|website=The Verge
|date=31 Aug 2022
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913212250/https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/31/23330324/tado-balance-smart-thermostat-subscription-usage-energy-price
|archive-date= 13 Sep 2024
}}</ref>
*'''Work with various heating systems''', including '''gas boilers, heat pumps, and underfloor heating''', using OpenTherm and relay-based control methods.<ref name="tato-therm-x" />

===Marketing & key selling points===

Tado marketed its products with strong emphasis on '''energy savings, user convenience, & smart automation'''. Key claims made by Tado include, but are not limited to:
*'''Use up to 31% less energy''' <ref>
{{cite web
|title=Your heating costs reduced with tado°
|url=https://www.tado.com/gb-en/your-heating-costs-reduced-with-tado
|website=Tado
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112182950/https://www.tado.com/gb-en/your-heating-costs-reduced-with-tado
|archive-date=12 Nov 2021
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>
*'''Easy self-installation''' with guided setup through the Tado app.
*'''Seamless integration with smart home ecosystems''' such as Google, Apple, & Alexa: ''"tado° X supports the universal smart home standard Matter and works with Google, Apple and Alexa. For standardised control throughout your smart home."''<ref name="tato-therm-x" />
*'''Support for time-of-use tariffs''', allowing users to optimize heating based on fluctuating electricity prices <ref>
{{cite web
|title=Balance for Heat Pumps
|url=https://www.tado.com/en/heat-pump-solutions/balance-for-heat-pumps
|website=Tado
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>
*Initially, Tado presented its application as '''free to use''' for remotely changing temperatures, only placing more advanced features behind a paywall.

==Introduction of Tado app fees==

Before, customers could control their heating, set schedules, & adjust per-room temperatures through the Tado app at no cost. In early 2025, Tado announced a '''mandatory monthly fee''' for customers to use the Tado app. Starting from '''February 19, 2025''', users must subscribe to one of two plans to continue using the '''Tado app for core heating controls''':
*'''Basic Plan (€0.99/month or £0.99/month)''' – Provides access to the app with core thermostat controls.
*'''Auto-Assist Plan (€2.49/month or £2.49/month)''' – Includes additional automation features alongside app access.<ref name="verge tado" />

===Features removed, restricted, or altered===

With the introduction of the mandatory subscription, the following features are now '''paywalled behind a recurring fee''':
*'''Remote access and control of heating systems''' via the Tado app.
*'''Scheduling and per-room control''', which were previously standard functions.
*'''System monitoring and manual adjustments''', requiring a subscription for continued access.
*'''Smart integrations through Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa are free''', but these integrations offer '''limited functionality''' compared to the native app.<ref name="tato-reddit" />

===How the change was implemented===

Tado introduced this change through an '''in-app notification''', requiring users to subscribe before February 19, 2025 to keep the app working. The update was applied via a '''software change to the Tado ecosystem''', with no prior hardware modifications or firmware updates needed. Customers reported seeing the subscription prompt within the Tado app and on the official Tado online store during the checkout process.<ref name="tado community - marketing test" />

Tado initially referred to the subscription rollout as a '''"marketing test"''', but the notification was later confirmed to be an '''active policy change''' set for full implementation.<ref name="verge tado" />

===Mandatory nature of the change===

Unlike Tado’s existing '''Auto-Assist and Balance subscriptions''', which were previously '''optional''' for advanced energy-saving features, this '''new app access fee is required for all users''', regardless of whether they use premium automation services.<ref name="tato-reddit" />

===Tado's justification===

Tado justified locking previously free features behind subscriptions by citing '''increased server and maintenance costs''', as well as the need for '''continuous feature improvements'''. The company’s notification to users stated:
<blockquote>“To cover our ongoing costs for servers, external data, and continuous feature improvement, we are introducing a small fee for app usage for all customers starting 19 February 2025.”</blockquote>
Many customers questioned why a fee was required for '''basic heating control''' when Tado had previously marketed its products as '''subscription-free''' at the time of purchase.<ref name="tado community - marketing test" />

Tado's decision has led to a lot of customer backlash, with many customers saying they would've never bought Tado thermostats if they knew a '''core feature would later be locked behind a paywall'''.

==Consumer impact==

Existing customers have clicked to subscribe, only for some to realize that the subscription paywall was "fake" once they had entered all of their information. <ref name="tado community - marketing test - p3">
{{cite web
|date=10 Feb 2025
|url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/26598/tado-marketing-test/p3
|title=Tado Marketing Test - tado° Community - Page 3
|website=Tado Community
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>

<gallery mode="slideshow" caption="Tado forum admin claims that this is a marketing test.">
File:Tado thermostat app screenshot about increased cost and subscription fee.webp|tado thermostat app screenshot about increased cost and subscription fee<ref name="tado community - marketing test" />
File:Tado customer locked out.webp|Lockout screen saying that customer access to the app has been locked out until they subscribe. This was posted by a tado customer in response to their forum admin claiming it was just a "Test"<ref name="tado community - marketing test - p2">{{cite web|date=10 Feb 2025 |url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/26598/tado-marketing-test/p2 |title=Tado Marketing Test - tado° Community - Page 2 |website=Tado Community |access-date=21 Feb 2025 }}</ref>
File:Marketing test tado.png|Tado forum admin claims that this is a marketing test. <ref name="tado community - marketing test" />
File:Marketing test 2.png|Tado forum admin claims this is a marketing test and reaffirms that this is only a test.<ref name="tado community - marketing test" />
File:Marketing test tado 3 .png|Customer says that his app had a notification that the app would become subscription only on February 19th, two days after the notification was received.<ref name="tado community - marketing test - p2" />
File:Fake paywall.png|user on tado community forum confirms the paywall is fake, and asks whether or not this is a misappropriation of Apple's payment features<ref name="tado community - marketing test - p3" />
File:Triples down.png|Forum admin triples down on this just being a "test" while not providing details<ref name="tado community - marketing test - p3" />
</gallery>
Tado turning free features into mandatory subscriptions affects both '''existing customers''' who purchased Tado products under the assumption of lifetime app access & '''new buyers''' who were not made aware of the requirement at the time of purchase.

===Loss of functionality & additional costs===

The primary impact on users if this were to be implemented would be the '''loss of free access to important thermostat controls''', which were previously included with the purchase of Tado hardware. Consumers who do not subscribe to the new '''Basic Plan (€0.99/month)''' would no longer be able to:
*'''Remotely adjust their heating and cooling settings''' through the Tado app.
*'''Create & modify heating schedules''' for individual rooms.
*'''Manually override heating settings''' while away from home.
*'''Monitor system activity''' through the Tado app’s interface.<ref name="verge tado" />

Without the app, users must rely on '''third-party smart home integrations''' (e.g., Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa), which offer '''limited functionality''' & do not support all the features previously available in the Tado app. This has led customers to say their devices are now '''considerably less useful''' or '''effectively obsolete''' unless they pay the monthly fee.<ref name="tato-reddit" />

Also, the '''new recurring cost increases the total cost of ownership''' for Tado devices. While the company originally marketed its products as not requiring subscriptions for base feature sets, users who wish to retain full functionality must now '''pay an additional €11.88 per year''', or '''€29.99 per year for premium features''', leading some to argue that Tado '''misrepresented its pricing model at the time of purchase'''.<ref name="tado community - marketing test" />

==Company response==

Tado’s response to the backlash surrounding its newly introduced '''mandatory app subscription''' has been '''inconsistent and evasive''', with company representatives initially claiming that the change was a '''"marketing test"''', despite users receiving in-app notifications stating that the charge would take effect on '''February 19, 2025'''. This confused & frustrated customers who could not make heads or tails of Tado's policies or intentions.<ref name="tado community - marketing test" />

===Acknowledgment of Complaints===
Tado '''initially downplayed user concerns''', with company representatives in the official Tado Community forum insisting that the fee was part of a '''limited "marketing test"''' and that affected users would not actually be charged. This claim was contradicted by screenshots from customers showing that they were required to agree to the new subscription fee during the checkout process on Tado’s website.<ref name="tado community - marketing test - p2" />

Despite repeated user complaints and demands for clarification, Tado’s official responses remained vague:
*'''February 10, 2025''' – A Tado administrator stated that the charge was "just a test" and that no one would be charged.
*'''February 17, 2025''' – Another Tado representative acknowledged that '''negative feedback was widespread''' but did not confirm whether the fee would be permanently implemented.<ref name="tado community - marketing test - p3" />
*'''February 19, 2025''' – Users reported being locked out of their Tado app unless they clicked a subscription confirmation page, supporting user complaints that the "test" was misleading & designed to gauge whether customers would accept the fee<ref name="tado community - marketing test - p4">
{{cite web
|title=Tado Marketing Test - tado° Community - Page 4
|url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/26598/tado-marketing-test/p4
|website=Tado Community
|date=February 2025
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>.

Technically, Tado was correct - this was a "test." The users who posted the demand for subscription & payment screen in response to it being a "Test" didn't realize the extent of the test, in that this was a '''''fake payment screen''''' created in order to see if customers would click through to pay for the subscription. Customers who had no intention of paying for the

Customers have criticized Tado for '''poor communication''', arguing that the company deliberately created uncertainty to reduce backlash while still moving forward with the policy change.

==Tado's Efforts to Remove Negative Trustpilot Reviews==

As backlash grew over Tado's decision to implement mandatory subscriptions for app access, customers began leaving negative reviews on '''Trustpilot'''. Some users reported that Tado flagged their reviews as '''"defamatory"''' in an apparent attempt to remove criticism from public view.

===Customer Reports of Flagged Reviews===
Tado thermostat customers talked about their experience with Tado's "test" on reddit & social media, as well as leaving negative reviews for the company's products on trustpilot.com a, prominent review website. These reviews detailing Tado's shift to a subscription model. They were temporarily removed after being flagged by Tado for allegedly containing '''defamatory content'''. One customer reported:

<blockquote> “Tado has flagged my Trustpilot review as defamatory, despite it being an accurate representation of the truth. They really are testing my patience!” </blockquote>

Another affected customer described their review as follows:
<blockquote> “This was sold subscription-free. They have now locked loyal users like myself out of using the app unless they pay a subscription. This has been done in the midst of winter.” </blockquote>

These users expressed frustration that instead of addressing legitimate customer complaints about being part of a "test" to figure out if they'd pay more for the same thing, Tado appeared to be '''actively working to suppress negative feedback'''.<ref name="trustpilot-review-flagged">
{{cite web
|title=Trustpilot review flagged – r/tado
|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tado/comments/1itvwsx/trustpilot_review_flagged/
|website=Reddit
|date=21 February 2025
|access-date=21 February 2025
}}</ref>

[[File:Tado review trustpilot.jpg|alt=tado works to have customer review of their product removed for "defamatory content" after the customer factually recalls their issue with tado's business practice. |thumb|tado works to have customer review of their product removed for ''"defamatory content"'' after the customer factually recalls their issue with tado's business practice. <ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/tado/comments/1itvwsx/trustpilot_review_flagged/#lightbox</ref>]]

===Trustpilot’s Response===
Despite Tado's efforts, some customers successfully appealed their flagged reviews. Trustpilot reinstated certain reviews after determining that they '''did not contain defamatory content'''. Trustpilot’s response stated:

<blockquote> “Good news — we’ve assessed the content flagged by the business and determined that it’s not defamatory. Therefore, we’ve put your review back online.” </blockquote>

tado's work to have legitimate customer reviews removed from the internet has legitimized criticism that Tado prioritizes '''reputation management''' over taking accountability & responding to legitimate customer concerns regarding their subscription policy.<ref name="trustpilot-review-flagged" />

===Actions taken by Tado===

As of February 2025, '''Tado has not announced any refunds, trade-in offers, or compensation for affected users'''. The company has continued to insist that the subscription fee is under evaluation, but has not explicitly reversed or confirmed the policy.

Some users who contacted Tado’s '''customer support''' were advised that they could request a '''return and refund''', but only if their devices were still within the retailer’s return period. There is '''no official refund policy for existing customers''' who purchased Tado systems before the fee was introduced.<ref name="tado community - marketing test - p3" />

In response to mounting criticism, Tado administrators have repeatedly stated that the company is '''monitoring feedback''' and that the decision is not final. However, many users remain skeptical, believing that Tado will eventually '''implement the fee permanently''' despite the initial pushback.

===History of similar behavior===

This isn't the first time Tado has faced backlash for trying to implement '''post-purchase monetization'''. In '''2018''', the company launched a '''paid "Auto-Assist" subscription''', which locked previously free geofencing & automation features behind a paywall. Following customer complaints, Tado '''grandfathered in existing users''' by allowing them to keep their free access while charging new customers.<ref name="tado community - marketing test - p4" />

Many users think that Tado is following a similar '''bait-and-switch strategy''' with the new app subscription fee. They're testing customer resistance then '''gradually enforcing the change while exempting some existing users to minimize backlash'''. Some customers have even accused Tado of '''intentionally misleading consumers''' by not disclosing subscription plans at the time of purchase, leading to calls for regulatory action.

While Tado has not yet made a final decision, the company’s response has eroded trust among its user base, with many longtime customers stating that they plan to switch to competing smart thermostat brands that do not impose mandatory subscription fees.

==Tado spokesperson's criticism of reporting==

Rather than address customer issues or answer any of their questions, Tado criticized the manner within which the factual information on their practices were reported.

From The Verge,<blockquote>Tado spokesperson Jason Collie initially declined to provide an attributable statement to ''The Verge'', as is required by our background policy. After publication, Collie demanded that we issue a correction for writing that Tado would not comment and suggested that we could have cited an unattributed statement to him anyway. The statement is essentially the same as the one posted by a Tado forum account that we had already included in full in this story. “As is typical in the industry, tado° is routinely doing marketing tests and research, and looks at customer feedback every day. Those involved in this test retained full access to the tado° App,” Collie wrote.<ref name="verge tado" /></blockquote>The Verge asked Tado for a statement. The Verge did not receive a reply, so The Verge rightfully claimed that Jason Collie did not provide a statement to the Verge. Collie complained that The Verge did not attribute the statement that was already present in the forum to them, which was ''"As is typical in the industry, tado° is routinely doing marketing tests and research, and looks at customer feedback every day. Those involved in this test retained full access to the tado° App"''

==Tado Integration with Home Assistant==

Tado smart thermostats can be used with Home Assistant, an open source home automation platform. However there's limitations depending on how you use it

===Local control===

Tado devices do not natively support local control without relying on cloud services. Some users have reported success using the '''HomeKit Controller integration''' to connect Tado thermostats locally, bypassing Tado's cloud infrastructure. This method requires setting up Home Assistant’s HomeKit Controller & pairing it with the thermostat, but this may result in '''loss of smart scheduling functionality'''. Also, users have experienced inconsistent responsiveness when blocking the thermostat's internet access.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=HomeAssistant - Tado > Local Control
|url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/9803/homeassistant-tado-local-control
|website=Tado Community
|date=August 2021
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>

===Cloud-based API integration===

The most common way to integrate Tado with Home Assistant is with its '''cloud-based API'''. This requires authenticating using '''my.tado.com''', meaning that commands are sent and received via Tado's servers rather than a direct local connection. As a result:
*There is a '''delay of around 5 minutes''' when Home Assistant syncs changes from the Tado app.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Home Assistant sync with Tado app delayed
|url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/23893/home-assistant-sync-with-tado-app-delayed
|website=Tado Community
|date=September 2024
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>
*The cloud API is '''subject to outages or restrictions''', & Tado has previously updated its authentication system, temporarily breaking Home Assistant integrations.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Tado outdated requests
|url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/22492/tado-outdated-requests
|website=Tado Community
|date=January 2024
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref>
*'''If Tado turns its servers off, you lose your ability to use this integration.'''

===Support for Matter & Tado X devices===

Newer Tado X devices do not work with Home Assistant's traditional integration and instead require '''Matter compatibility'''. While Matter allows '''local control without a cloud connection''', Home Assistant users have reported difficulties adding Tado X devices via the Matter integration.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Unable to Add Tado X Devices to Home Assistant
|url=https://community.tado.com/en-gb/discussion/25363/unable-to-add-tado-x-devices-to-home-assistant
|website=Tado Community
|date=December 2024
|access-date=21 Feb 2025
}}</ref> Some users have had success by resetting the thermostat and re-adding it, while others suspect hardware differences may affect compatibility.

===Required hardware===

*Using the cloud API does not require additional hardware.
*'''For local control''', users need a Home Assistant instance with HomeKit Controller support.
*'''For Matter integration''', a compatible Matter controller is required, and proper IPv6 network configuration may be necessary.

Tado integration with Home Assistant is functional, but limited. Cloud-based control is the easiest method, but those looking for a completely local solution that doesn't require connection to the internet will face challenges with new Tado X models. Users who knew these hoops would have to be jumped through to use the product without a subscription may have chosen other solutions that allow more seamless local access.
==Broader implications==

Tado’s decision to introduce a mandatory subscription for app access is part of a '''growing trend among technology companies''' that seek to monetize features that were previously included with product purchases, '''changing the terms of the sale after the sale'''. This is part of a broader move towards '''subscription-based access models''', and away from having control over what you bought & paid for.

Tado’s introduction of an app paywall for important thermostat functions demonstrates the legitimate concern about '''digital ownership and''' '''the rights of consumers over their purchased devices'''. While customers physically own their thermostats, their ability to control them '''now depends on paying a recurring fee to access cloud-based services'''.

This shift '''blurs the line between ownership and rental models''', as companies can:
*'''Restrict or remove essential functions post-purchase''', holding users hostage to new policies.
*'''Make products dependent on cloud services''', reducing long-term usability if the company shuts down servers or decides they want more money.
*'''Charge consumers indefinitely for continued access''', creating uncertainty about the '''true cost of ownership''' for their products.

Tado’s actions contribute to the growing debate over '''"Right to Repair"''' and '''consumer protection against forced obsolescence'''. Similar concerns have been raised in other industries where companies use software locks to '''limit user control over their own hardware'''.

===Legal and regulatory concerns===

Tado’s move to '''monetize thermostat control''' raises concerns about the future of '''smart home technology''':
*If left unregulated, '''more companies could follow suit''', leading to a future where '''important device functions require neverending payments not disclosed at point of sale'''.
*Consumers may(hopefully) begin '''favoring local-control alternatives''', such as devices that operate '''without cloud dependence!'''
*Increased '''regulatory scrutiny''' could lead to new laws requiring advertising transparency, so companies '''disclose future costs upfront''' before consumers make purchasing decisions.

Tado’s decision & the outcome of their decision can serve as an important case study in whether customers accept or reject corporate-controlled access to devices they own & whether these practices will be allowed, legally, to continue.

==References==

[[Category:Tado]]
[[Category:Incidents]]
<references />