Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

User:Left4Code

2026-05-03T04:06:38Z

Left4Code: updated time

Will probably use this for volunteer experience on a resume. Think Louis would let me put him down as a reference? (Only half-joking)

My website is [https://left4code.neocities.org left4code.neocities.org] if you want to get in contact. My [https://left4code.neocities.org/left4code_gpg.txt email and PGP key] are there.

<s>hCaptcha is ruining my life.</s> I have been blessed by Lord Keith and saved from the hCaptcha nightmare, thank you!

Time spent editing so far (people like numbers, right?) {HH:MM:SS}: 31:04:00

Stats table (Shamelessly stolen from Beanie)

{| class="wikitable"
|+Contribution Scores
!Score
!Pages
!Changes
|-
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|score}}
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|pages}}
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|changes}}
|}

Alien Rides

2026-05-03T03:44:50Z

Left4Code: /* References */ This commit introduces a PoC for a new archive label. "archive-blocked". See more of an explanation here: https://consumerrights.wiki/w/User_talk:Sojourna#c-Left4Code-20260503034400-Left4Code-20260503033300 Revert if this is a horrible idea.

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2021
|Industry=Electric vehicles,Retail
|Logo=Alien Rides.png
|ParentCompany=
|CompanyAlias=Alien Technology Group Inc,AlienRides
|Type=Private
|Website=https://alienrides.com/
|Description=Co-filed ITC complaint to ban all major EUC brands from the US unless manufacturers pay patent licensing fees
}}

'''Alien Rides''' (legally Alien Technology Group, Inc.) is a personal electric vehicle retailer and repair shop in San Francisco, California. In January 2026, the company co-filed a complaint with the [[U.S. International Trade Commission]] seeking to ban imports of electric unicycles from five major Chinese manufacturers, using two patents held by its partner [[Inventist|Inventist, Inc.]]<ref name="frreceipt">{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2026 |title=Notice of Receipt of Complaint; Solicitation of Comments Relating to the Public Interest |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/26/2026-01333/notice-of-receipt-of-complaint-solicitation-of-comments-relating-to-the-public-interest |url-status=archive-blocked (captcha:unknown) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260503031859/https://unblock.federalregister.gov/ |archive-date=2026-05-03 |access-date=2026-03-26 |work=Federal Register |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |volume=91}}</ref> The ITC instituted Investigation No. 337-TA-1488 on March 2, 2026.<ref name="usitc">{{Cite web |last=Huber |first=Claire |date=March 2, 2026 |title=USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles and Components Thereof |url=https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2026/er0302_68229.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260503032158/https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2026/er0302_68229.htm |archive-date=2026-05-03 |access-date=2026-03-26 |work=United States International Trade Commission}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==

*Co-complainant with Inventist in an ITC [[Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930|Section 337]] case seeking a general exclusion order that would block electric unicycles from five manufacturers at the U.S. border<ref name="institution">{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2026 |title=Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles and Components Thereof and Products Containing the Same; Institution of Investigation |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/05/2026-04347/certain-gyro-stabilized-electric-unicycles-and-components-thereof-and-products-containing-the-same |url-status=archive-blocked (captcha:unknown) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260503031859/https://unblock.federalregister.gov/ |archive-date=2026-05-03 |access-date=2026-03-26 |work=Federal Register |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |volume=91}}</ref>
*Named respondents (LeaperKim, BEGODE, Inmotion, Kingsong, Nosfet) account for nearly all high-performance EUC models available in the United States<ref name="eridecorner">{{Cite web |last=Mwaniki |first=Amos |date=January 29, 2026 |title=Shocking Scandal: Alien Rides Accused of Patent Scheme to Block EUC Imports and Crush Competition! |url=https://www.eridecorner.com/shocking-scandal-alien-rides-accused-of-patent-scheme-to-block-euc-imports-and-crush-competition/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216182036/https://www.eridecorner.com/shocking-scandal-alien-rides-accused-of-patent-scheme-to-block-euc-imports-and-crush-competition/ |archive-date=2026-02-16 |access-date=2026-03-26 |work=Eride Corner}}</ref>
*EUC community organized a boycott of Alien Rides after the filing became public<ref name="euf">{{Cite web |last=WheelGoodTime |date=January 28, 2026 |title=URGENT: Imminent Death Threat of the Entire EUC Industry |url=https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/41390-urgent-imminent-death-threat-of-the-entire-euc-industry/ |url-status=archive-blocked (captcha:cloudflare) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260503033006/https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/41390-urgent-imminent-death-threat-of-the-entire-euc-industry/ |archive-date=2026-05-03 |access-date=2026-03-26 |work=Electric Unicycle Forum}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Anti-competitive tendencies (''2026'')===
{{Main|AlienRides LLC tries and bans all importation of Electric Unicycles using patent law unless licensing fee is paid.}}

Inventist and Alien Rides filed an ITC complaint on January 21, 2026, asserting U.S. Patent No. 8,807,250 and U.S. Patent No. D729,698 against five Chinese EUC manufacturers. The complaint seeks a general exclusion order that would block the named products at the U.S. border unless the manufacturers agree to licensing terms.<ref name="institution" /> The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit had previously affirmed that at least one respondent's second-generation designs did not infringe the utility patent.<ref name="cafc">{{Cite web |date=November 14, 2025 |title=Inventist Inc. v. Ninebot Inc. (USA), No. 24-1010 |url=https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/24-1010.OPINION.11-14-2025_2604045.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260423002055/https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/24-1010.OPINION.11-14-2025_2604045.pdf |archive-date=2026-04-23 |access-date=2026-03-26 |publisher=United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit}}</ref>

==Background==

Alien Rides operates a retail and repair shop at 2256 Palou Ave, San Francisco.<ref name="institution" /> The company is the U.S. distribution partner for Inventist, Inc., founded by [[Shane Chen]], the inventor of the Solowheel self-balancing electric unicycle.<ref name="frreceipt" /> Alien Technology Group filed a trademark for "Alien Rides" in June 2021 covering online retail for personal electric vehicles.<ref name="euf" />

Kevin Grandon operates the business. In a January 28, 2026 statement responding to community backlash, Grandon stated that "patent enforcement does not mean the industry has to stop" and that "licensing is common across every technology sector."<ref name="euf" />

==See also==

*[[Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930]]
*[[Shane Chen]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Alien Rides]]

User talk:Sojourna

2026-05-03T03:44:14Z

Left4Code: /* archiving websites behind cloudflare or any other blockers */ Reply

==I've got a lotta work to do==

[[:Category:Articles with deletion requests]]. I've dealt with about 30 files so far. That took like 10 MINUTES. I've definitely got a lotta work to do. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:24, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

:I just remembered as I posted this there was a mass deletion tool that can make it super easy to delete everything made by a user. I didn't select everything, obviously, but I selected most. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:28, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
::WAIT THERE ARE STILL SOME? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:29, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
:::...Would it be bad at this time if I mentioned that combing through the entire upload log correcting bad/vague names while adding the license section is my long-term personal project? — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 06:31, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Wow. Makes sense! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:34, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

==umm==

From [[User:Sojourna]]:
<blockquote>Hello, I am Sojourna. I don't expect to be a huge contributor here and my visits likely infrequent, but I hope to help out in my own small way regardless.</blockquote>
That aged well.

HOW MUCH FREE TIME DO YOU HAVE?? I THOUGHT I HAD FREE TIME! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:18, 27 March 2026 (UTC)

:only 35 files this time, thats not many [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:19, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
::I'm caught up to July 2025 so far, so progress is (slowly) being made on the backlog! Once I'm caught up for the upload log, things ought to calm down for a bit. (Most of it is Louis' fault for that one mass upload; he can handle deciding what to do with his mess. :P ) — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 23:39, 27 March 2026 (UTC)

==Mod/superconfirmed==

As you're a longtime wiki editor, and are obviously doing a lot of work on the Wiki, would you be interested in applying for mod/getting superconfirmed status? Might unlock some useful options etc., and I think you can probably be trusted given the effort you're already putting in! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:44, 27 March 2026 (UTC)

:I've never been a wiki mod before, so I'm not sure what it would entail exactly. It'd be nice if it were possible to be able to move files without an unnecessary redirect, though. Or at least spare a certain user's sanity and delete my own file redirects. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 23:43, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
::A wiki mod mainly involves making sure no vandalism is occurring and if there is, applying the necessary block to the offender (usually after a warning is ignored or not if there's clear malice intent). Regarding the file redirects, you do not have the "Leave a redirect behind" option above the "Watch source page and target page" button? [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 00:57, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
:::Thank you for the response. :)
:::I have never seen such an option displayed on the Special:MovePage (see [[:File:CRW move page - no disable redirect.png]]). This has always been the case for both the "Vector legacy (2010)" and "Vector (2022)" skins. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 01:23, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Only a mod has that button [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:01, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::I suspected as much, thank you for confirming. Guess I'd better find that application page because I know "no sane person wants to hit the delete button millions of times as Sojourna's slave". — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 20:52, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Hey, no worries about the application as Keith was offering the role, you are trusted with it.
::::::I gave you mod at the base level, and will momentarily add you to staff chat in Zulip.
::::::Do not worry about any moderation you do not wish to do but it will be good for you to have the perms.
::::::Welcome to staff! [[User:Christoph Howard|Christoph Howard]] ([[User talk:Christoph Howard|talk]]) 02:48, 30 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::Hmm. I'm only finding this: [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator applications]]. It also says "superconfirmed" can delete pages too, so I'm a bit confused. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 21:07, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::mod apps is the correct one [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:11, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::Basically, superconfirmed has a checkbox when moving to not leave redirs behind AND can delete whole pages with the delete button (as well as redirects, for that matter8 [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:12, 28 March 2026 (UTC)

==archiving websites behind cloudflare or any other blockers==

Hello,

wondering if there's a method to archive content behind a bot blocker (mostly cloudflare). I'm trying to archive #41 of [[Accellion data breach]] : https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2021cv01203/373802

I've thought that I could do something like pass the flare check on the browser, then save the site contents, then upload them somewhere and archive that.

Do you or any of the other moderators know if archiving protected sites is possible? Any help is appreciated. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 03:14, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

:I've thought about it a little more, maybe it would be a good idea to add a url status of blocked or something to denote that some sort of restriction on archival services is happening. That way if more effort is put into getting archives of blocked links, that they can be searchable. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 03:31, 3 May 2026 (UTC)
::actually, if you manually type this, it does actually work. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 03:33, 3 May 2026 (UTC)
:::here's a proof of concept for this: [[Alien Rides]]
:::I think a decent syntax would be: archive-blocked (captcha:<type>) where type could be:
:::cloudflare
:::recaptcha
:::anubis
:::go-away
:::unknown - if the blocker is "in house" or otherwise not apparent.
:::captcha is only really there to make it apparent to others that what's blocking the archive is some sort of verification system, editors might not know the specific name of a bot blocker but will understand that it is blocking the archive. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 03:44, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

User talk:Sojourna

2026-05-03T03:33:28Z

Left4Code: /* archiving websites behind cloudflare or any other blockers */ Reply

User talk:Sojourna

2026-05-03T03:31:27Z

Left4Code: /* archiving websites behind cloudflare or any other blockers */ Reply

User talk:Sojourna

2026-05-03T03:14:31Z

Left4Code: /* archiving websites behind cloudflare or any other blockers */ new section

==I've got a lotta work to do==

[[:Category:Articles with deletion requests]]. I've dealt with about 30 files so far. That took like 10 MINUTES. I've definitely got a lotta work to do. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:24, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

:I just remembered as I posted this there was a mass deletion tool that can make it super easy to delete everything made by a user. I didn't select everything, obviously, but I selected most. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:28, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
::WAIT THERE ARE STILL SOME? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:29, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
:::...Would it be bad at this time if I mentioned that combing through the entire upload log correcting bad/vague names while adding the license section is my long-term personal project? — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 06:31, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Wow. Makes sense! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:34, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

==umm==

From [[User:Sojourna]]:
<blockquote>Hello, I am Sojourna. I don't expect to be a huge contributor here and my visits likely infrequent, but I hope to help out in my own small way regardless.</blockquote>
That aged well.

HOW MUCH FREE TIME DO YOU HAVE?? I THOUGHT I HAD FREE TIME! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:18, 27 March 2026 (UTC)

:only 35 files this time, thats not many [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:19, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
::I'm caught up to July 2025 so far, so progress is (slowly) being made on the backlog! Once I'm caught up for the upload log, things ought to calm down for a bit. (Most of it is Louis' fault for that one mass upload; he can handle deciding what to do with his mess. :P ) — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 23:39, 27 March 2026 (UTC)

==Mod/superconfirmed==

As you're a longtime wiki editor, and are obviously doing a lot of work on the Wiki, would you be interested in applying for mod/getting superconfirmed status? Might unlock some useful options etc., and I think you can probably be trusted given the effort you're already putting in! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:44, 27 March 2026 (UTC)

:I've never been a wiki mod before, so I'm not sure what it would entail exactly. It'd be nice if it were possible to be able to move files without an unnecessary redirect, though. Or at least spare a certain user's sanity and delete my own file redirects. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 23:43, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
::A wiki mod mainly involves making sure no vandalism is occurring and if there is, applying the necessary block to the offender (usually after a warning is ignored or not if there's clear malice intent). Regarding the file redirects, you do not have the "Leave a redirect behind" option above the "Watch source page and target page" button? [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 00:57, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
:::Thank you for the response. :)
:::I have never seen such an option displayed on the Special:MovePage (see [[:File:CRW move page - no disable redirect.png]]). This has always been the case for both the "Vector legacy (2010)" and "Vector (2022)" skins. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 01:23, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Only a mod has that button [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:01, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::I suspected as much, thank you for confirming. Guess I'd better find that application page because I know "no sane person wants to hit the delete button millions of times as Sojourna's slave". — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 20:52, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Hey, no worries about the application as Keith was offering the role, you are trusted with it.
::::::I gave you mod at the base level, and will momentarily add you to staff chat in Zulip.
::::::Do not worry about any moderation you do not wish to do but it will be good for you to have the perms.
::::::Welcome to staff! [[User:Christoph Howard|Christoph Howard]] ([[User talk:Christoph Howard|talk]]) 02:48, 30 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::Hmm. I'm only finding this: [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator applications]]. It also says "superconfirmed" can delete pages too, so I'm a bit confused. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 21:07, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::mod apps is the correct one [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:11, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::Basically, superconfirmed has a checkbox when moving to not leave redirs behind AND can delete whole pages with the delete button (as well as redirects, for that matter8 [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:12, 28 March 2026 (UTC)

== archiving websites behind cloudflare or any other blockers ==

Hello,

wondering if there's a method to archive content behind a bot blocker (mostly cloudflare). I'm trying to archive #41 of [[Accellion data breach]] : https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2021cv01203/373802

I've thought that I could do something like pass the flare check on the browser, then save the site contents, then upload them somewhere and archive that.

Do you or any of the other moderators know if archiving protected sites is possible? Any help is appreciated. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 03:14, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

User:Left4Code

2026-04-30T02:57:34Z

Left4Code: updated time

Will probably use this for volunteer experience on a resume. Think Louis would let me put him down as a reference? (Only half-joking)

My website is [https://left4code.neocities.org left4code.neocities.org] if you want to get in contact. My [https://left4code.neocities.org/left4code_gpg.txt email and PGP key] are there.

<s>hCaptcha is ruining my life.</s> I have been blessed by Lord Keith and saved from the hCaptcha nightmare, thank you!

Time spent editing so far (people like numbers, right?) {HH:MM:SS}: 29:53:00

Stats table (Shamelessly stolen from Beanie)

{| class="wikitable"
|+Contribution Scores
!Score
!Pages
!Changes
|-
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|score}}
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|pages}}
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|changes}}
|}

Cisco anti-competitive practices lawsuits

2026-04-30T02:56:12Z

Left4Code: second half

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Cisco Systems, Inc.
|StartDate=2015
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Networking equipment
|Product=SmartNet
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Monopolistic Practice
|Description=Cisco has been the subject of multiple antitrust lawsuits alleging that it uses its dominant position in the after-market for services on its networking equipment to suppress competition from independent resellers.
}}

[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]] is one of the largest manufacturers of enterprise networking equipment in the world, with a long-standing dominant share of the United States and global markets for [[wikipedia:Network switch|Ethernet switches]] and [[wikipedia:Router (computing)|routers]]. Beginning in the mid-2010s, Cisco has been the subject of antitrust complaints alleging that it leverages its near-monopoly position in maintenance services for its own equipment, primarily through service contracts marketed under the "SmartNet" brand, to compel customers to purchase additional networking hardware and to discourage them from buying through independent resellers. Two lawsuits filed by independent resellers, ''Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.'' (E.D. Tex. 2022)<ref name="courtlistener-edtx">{{cite web |date=2022-04-27 |title=Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., 5:22-cv-00053 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63269284/dexon-computer-inc-v-cisco-systems-inc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430013545/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63269284/dexon-computer-inc-v-cisco-systems-inc/ |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |website=CourtListener |publisher=Free Law Project}}</ref> and ''Summit 360, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.'' (D. Minn. 2025),<ref name="Summit360Complaint">{{cite web |author=Summit 360, Inc. |date=2025-05-22 |title=Complaint, Summit 360, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., Case No. 0:25-cv-02202 |url=https://casefilingsalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cisco-Accused-of-Monopoly.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250623075535/https://casefilingsalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cisco-Accused-of-Monopoly.pdf |archive-date=2025-06-23 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota}}</ref> have characterized these tactics using a phrase allegedly common<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> within Cisco's own internal vocabulary: "fear, uncertainty, and doubt," or FUD. Earlier antitrust matters brought by Multiven (2008) and Arista Networks (2016) raised related concerns about how Cisco bundles software updates and other after-market services with its hardware sales.

==Background==

Cisco distributes its networking equipment primarily through what the ''Summit 360'' complaint describes as an "Authorized Channel" of contracted resellers and distributors, which the complaint states consists of more than 8,000 organizations in the United States.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> Alongside this authorized channel, an "Independent Channel" of resellers (sometimes referred to as the secondary or grey market) supplies new and used Cisco-branded equipment to end users, generally at lower prices and with shorter lead times than Cisco's authorized partners. Independent resellers also frequently sell equipment from Cisco's competitors, including Juniper Networks, Arista Networks, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.<ref name="computerworld-aftermarket">{{cite news |last=Cox |first=John |date=2007 |title=Cisco set to fight aftermarket sellers |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/1650570/cisco-set-to-fight-aftermarket-sellers.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430014150/https://www.computerworld.com/article/1650570/cisco-set-to-fight-aftermarket-sellers.html |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=2025-04-29 |work=Computerworld}}</ref><ref name="packetpushers-graymarket">{{cite web |last=Conran |first=Greg |date=January 26, 2024 |title=Aspects Of The Gray Market For IT Gear |url=https://packetpushers.net/blog/aspects-of-the-gray-market-for-it-gear/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205001926/https://packetpushers.net/blog/aspects-of-the-gray-market-for-it-gear/ |archive-date=2024-12-05 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Packet Pushers}}</ref><ref name="register-cdw">{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Dan |date=January 15, 2024 |title=CDW settles in lawsuit with rival reseller over Cisco sales |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/15/cdw_settles_in_lawsuit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260117004228/https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/15/cdw_settles_in_lawsuit/ |archive-date=2026-01-17 |access-date=2026-04-29 |work=The Register}}</ref>

Cisco has consistently held a dominant share of the U.S. and global markets for [[wikipedia:Network switch|Ethernet switches]] and [[wikipedia:Router (computing)|routers]] over the period at issue. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), Cisco's share of the worldwide Ethernet switch market exceeded 57% at the end of 2016<ref name="tadviser-idc-2016">{{cite web |title=Ethernet LAN Switches (Global Market) |url=https://tadviser.com/index.php/Article:Ethernet_LAN_Switches_(Global_Market) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430014713/https://tadviser.com/index.php/Article:Ethernet_LAN_Switches_(Global_Market) |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=TAdviser}}</ref> and stood at 47.1% in the second quarter of 2023, before declining as the market expanded with new entrants serving AI-driven demand for datacenter hardware.<ref name="idc-2q24">{{cite web |title=IDC Finds Mixed Results for Q2 2024 in the Worldwide Ethernet Switch and Router Markets |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240912150246/en/IDC-Finds-Mixed-Results-for-Q2-2024-in-the-Worldwide-Ethernet-Switch-and-Router-Markets |publisher=International Data Corporation |website=Business Wire |date=September 12, 2024 |access-date=April 30, 2026}}</ref>

Cisco's principal service contract for end users is marketed as "SmartNet." A SmartNet contract typically provides software updates, technical support, and hardware replacement for covered equipment.<ref name="cisco-smartnet-qa">{{cite web |title=Cisco SMARTnet Service Q&A |url=https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/das.ohio.gov/technology-strategy/next-generation-telephony-service/technical-implementation/service-details/Cisco%20Smartnet%20Service.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430015918/https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/das.ohio.gov/technology-strategy/next-generation-telephony-service/technical-implementation/service-details/Cisco%20Smartnet%20Service.pdf |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=Cisco Systems, Inc.}}</ref> The complaints state that customers without an active SmartNet contract may lose access to security and operational updates necessary for their equipment to continue functioning properly, leaving most enterprise customers effectively dependent on the contract.<ref name="law360-filing">{{cite news |last=Atkins |first=Dorothy |date=April 28, 2022 |title=Cisco Accused Of Using Coercion To Maintain Monopoly |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1488140/cisco-accused-of-using-coercion-to-maintain-monopoly |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722162939/https://www.law360.com/articles/1488140/cisco-accused-of-using-coercion-to-maintain-monopoly |archive-date=2025-07-22 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Law360}}</ref><ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

==Alleged practices==

===SmartNet as a coercive tool===

The ''Dexon'' complaint alleges that, after a customer has purchased and begun using a SmartNet contract for previously installed equipment, Cisco subsequently demanded that the customer either purchase new networking equipment or pay a "re-certification" fee on existing hardware as a condition of continued service under the contract.<ref name="law360-filing" /><ref name="bloomberglaw-mtd">{{cite news |last=Arcieri |first=Katie |date=April 3, 2023 |title=Dexon Wins Approval to Move Forward with Cisco Antitrust Case |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/antitrust/dexon-wins-approval-to-move-forward-with-cisco-antitrust-case |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725105229/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/web/20250725105229/https:/news.bloomberglaw.com/antitrust/dexon-wins-approval-to-move-forward-with-cisco-antitrust-case |archive-date=2025-07-25 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Bloomberg Law}}</ref> The complaint provides several Texas-based examples in which Cisco was alleged to have withheld or threatened to withhold maintenance services unless customers ceased purchasing equipment from Dexon, including a regional bank, an energy company, a local 911 emergency call center, an automobile dealership, and an independent school district.<ref name="texarkana-gazette">{{cite news |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Network provider Cisco accused of intimidation, monopoly |url=https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2022/apr/30/network-provider-cisco-accused-of-intimidation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722085326/https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2022/apr/30/network-provider-cisco-accused-of-intimidation/ |archive-date=2025-07-22 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Texarkana Gazette}}</ref><ref name="law360-filing" />

The ''Summit 360'' complaint describes a similar practice, alleging that Cisco's recertification fees can exceed the value of the equipment itself, leaving end users with no practical option other than to purchase entirely new hardware through the authorized channel.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

==='FUD' tactics===

A central allegation in both lawsuits is that Cisco trains and incentivizes its sales force and a designated "brand protection" team to deploy what the company's own employees reportedly refer to as FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) to discourage end users from purchasing equipment outside the authorized channel. The ''Summit 360'' complaint states that customer-facing materials prepared for this purpose suggest that equipment purchased through independent resellers may be counterfeit, unauthorized, or compromised by malware, and that Cisco representatives have communicated such concerns directly to customers, sometimes without supporting evidence.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> The ''Dexon'' complaint alleges that, in one instance, Cisco told a Maryland customer that line cards sold by Dexon contained malware, despite the components in question containing no software at all.<ref name="law360-filing" />

The ''Summit 360'' complaint provides an example in which a Cisco representative reportedly told a cargo airline that Summit 360 was "under investigation" while a large purchase order was pending, language the complaint characterizes as designed to interrupt the transaction.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

===Cisco–CDW conspiracy allegations===

The ''Dexon'' complaint named [[wikipedia:CDW|CDW Corporation]], one of Cisco's largest authorized resellers, as a co-defendant. Dexon alleged that the two companies had agreed to coordinate sales such that CDW would absorb business that customers had previously placed with Dexon, and that CDW would refuse to supply Dexon with Cisco products and SmartNet contracts.<ref name="law360-filing" /><ref name="register-cdw" /> The complaint cited an order from a Pennsylvania hospital system as a specific example, alleging that Cisco threatened to cancel the hospital's existing SmartNet coverage unless it cancelled an equipment order placed with Dexon, and that CDW subsequently filled the order at a higher price.<ref name="law360-filing" />

===Customer audits and IOS licensing changes===

The ''Summit 360'' complaint focuses on a set of practices that post-date the conduct alleged in ''Dexon''. According to the complaint, Cisco uses customer audits, conducted under the company's End User License Agreement, its successor "General Terms," or as part of voluntary "health check" programs, to identify equipment supplied through independent resellers and to charge customers re-certification or re-licensing fees on that equipment.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

The ''Summit 360'' complaint further alleges that Cisco's newer generation of switches and routers requires a software subscription that is tied to the original purchaser, restricting access to IOS updates for equipment that subsequently changes hands through the secondary market.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> The U.S. Department of Justice referenced what it described as "Cisco fatigue" arising from these licensing practices in its January 2025 complaint to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise's proposed acquisition of Juniper Networks.<ref name="DOJHPEJuniperCIS">{{cite web |date=July 10, 2025 |title=United States v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., et al.; Proposed Final Judgment and Competitive Impact Statement |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/10/2025-12887/united-states-v-hewlett-packard-enterprise-co-et-al-proposed-final-judgment-and-competitive-impact |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430020520/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/10/2025-12887/united-states-v-hewlett-packard-enterprise-co-et-al-proposed-final-judgment-and-competitive-impact |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=Federal Register, U.S. Department of Justice}}</ref>

===Cisco's response===

Throughout the ''Dexon'' litigation, Cisco maintained that the substantive dispute between the two companies was its own earlier-filed counterfeiting suit against Dexon in the Northern District of California, in which Cisco alleged that Dexon had trafficked in counterfeit Cisco products.<ref name="kellogghansen">{{cite web |date=January 31, 2024 |title=Cisco Systems Resolves Antitrust Allegations and Counterfeit-Trafficking Claims in Sweeping Settlement Agreement |url=https://kellogghansen.com/cisco-systems-resolves-antitrust-allegations-and-counterfeit-trafficking-claims-in-sweeping-settlement-agreement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260207140027/https://kellogghansen.com/cisco-systems-resolves-antitrust-allegations-and-counterfeit-trafficking-claims-in-sweeping-settlement-agreement/ |archive-date=2026-02-07 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick}}</ref> Cisco moved to transfer the Texas antitrust case to California and to dismiss the complaint, but the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas denied both motions in March 2023, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declined to issue a writ of mandamus directing transfer in July 2023.<ref name="dexon-mtd-order-2023">{{cite web |date=March 31, 2023 |title=Order Overruling Objections, Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 5:22-CV-00053-RWS-JBB (E.D. Tex. Mar. 31, 2023) |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/dexon-comput-v-cisco-929144568 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260207140027/https://kellogghansen.com/cisco-systems-resolves-antitrust-allegations-and-counterfeit-trafficking-claims-in-sweeping-settlement-agreement/ |archive-date=2026-02-07 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |website=vLex}}</ref><ref name="commlit-mandamus">{{cite news |date=2023-07-21 |title=5th Circuit Denies Cisco Mandamus Relief to Transfer Dexon's Antitrust Case to Northern Calif. |url=https://communicationslitigationtoday.com/article/2023/07/21/5th-circuit-denies-cisco-mandamus-relief-to-transfer-dexons-antitrust-case-to-northern-calif-2307200034 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430021140/https://communicationslitigationtoday.com/article/2023/07/21/5th-circuit-denies-cisco-mandamus-relief-to-transfer-dexons-antitrust-case-to-northern-calif-2307200034 |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Communications Litigation Today}}</ref> In October 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted Cisco a preliminary injunction barring Dexon from selling certain products that Cisco had identified as counterfeit.<ref name="law360-injunction">{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Gina |date=October 5, 2023 |title=Cisco Systems Blocks Dexon From Selling Knockoff Products |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1729870 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430022245/https://www.law360.com/articles/1729870 |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Law360}}</ref>

In a public statement following the global settlement of the two cases in January 2024, Cisco's lead trial counsel characterized the resolution as a successful outcome for the company's anti-counterfeiting enforcement program, citing terms under which Dexon agreed to cease unauthorized resales of Cisco products and to apply to join Cisco's authorized reseller program.<ref name="kellogghansen" /><ref name="haltomdoan">{{cite web |date=January 2024 |title=Dexon v. Cisco Agreed Joint Statement |url=https://www.haltomdoan.com/dexon-v-cisco-agreed-joint-statement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260125061211/https://www.haltomdoan.com/dexon-v-cisco-agreed-joint-statement/ |archive-date=2026-01-25 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=Haltom & Doan}}</ref>

==Lawsuits==

===Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.===

Dexon Computer, Inc., a Minnesota-based independent reseller, filed an antitrust complaint against Cisco and CDW in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on April 27, 2022.<ref name="courtlistener-edtx" /><ref name="law360-filing" /> The complaint asserted claims under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act, and a per se tying theory based on the alleged use of SmartNet contracts as a tying product for new equipment purchases.<ref name="unicourt">{{cite web |title=Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., et al. |url=https://unicourt.com/case/pc-db5-dexon-computer-inc-v-cisco-systems-inc-et-al-1187348 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430022602/https://unicourt.com/case/pc-db5-dexon-computer-inc-v-cisco-systems-inc-et-al-1187348 |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |website=UniCourt}}</ref> The dispute followed a 2020 lawsuit filed by Cisco against Dexon in the Northern District of California, in which Cisco alleged trademark infringement and counterfeit trafficking.<ref name="courtlistener-ndca">{{cite web |title=Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Dexon Computer, Inc., 3:20-cv-04926 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17373190/cisco-systems-inc-v-dexon-computer-inc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430022953/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17373190/cisco-systems-inc-v-dexon-computer-inc/ |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |website=CourtListener |publisher=Free Law Project}}</ref>

In a January 17, 2024 summary judgment ruling, the court dismissed Dexon's Sherman Act § 1 conspiracy and per se tying claims while allowing the monopolization claims under Section 2 to proceed to trial.<ref name="dexon-msj-order">{{cite web |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Order on Motions for Summary Judgment, Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 5:22-CV-00053-RWS-JBB (E.D. Tex. Jan. 17, 2024) |url=https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/65a9fae2f5042d01406bd1da |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430023219/https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/65a9fae2f5042d01406bd1da |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |website=Casemine}}</ref><ref name="law360-teedup">{{cite news |last=Koenig |first=Bryan |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Reseller's Antitrust Claims Against Cisco Teed Up For Trial |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1787028/reseller-s-antitrust-claims-against-cisco-teed-up-for-trial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118032852/https://www.law360.com/articles/1787028/reseller-s-antitrust-claims-against-cisco-teed-up-for-trial |archive-date=2024-01-18 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Law360}}</ref> CDW reached a separate settlement with Dexon shortly before trial.<ref name="register-cdw" /> Trial began in Texarkana, Texas on January 22, 2024.<ref name="reuters-trial-mirror">{{cite news |last=Scarcella |first=Mike |date=January 23, 2024 |title=Cisco battles reseller's antitrust lawsuit over network equipment |url=https://www.ciplawyer.com/articles/152656.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316185752/https://www.ciplawyer.com/articles/152656.html |archive-date=2025-03-16 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Reuters |publisher=Republished by China Intellectual Property Lawyers Network}}</ref>

On January 29, 2024, before the case reached the jury, Dexon and Cisco reached a global settlement that resolved both the Texas antitrust case and the parallel California counterfeit case without a verdict.<ref name="law360-drop">{{cite news |last=Foretek |first=Jared |date=January 29, 2024 |title=Reseller Drops Antitrust Countersuit Against Cisco Midtrial |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1791064/reseller-drops-antitrust-countersuit-against-cisco-midtrial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205223802/https://www.law360.com/articles/1791064/reseller-drops-antitrust-countersuit-against-cisco-midtrial |archive-date=2024-02-05 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Law360}}</ref><ref name="kellogghansen" /> A related insurance-coverage matter, ''Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America'', was decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in May 2024.<ref name="dexon-travelers-8th">{{cite web |title=Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America, No. 23-1328 (8th Cir. May 20, 2024) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca8/23-1328/23-1328-2024-05-20.html |website=Justia |date=May 20, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

===Summit 360, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.===

On May 22, 2025, Summit 360, Inc., another Minnesota-based independent reseller, filed an antitrust complaint against Cisco in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /><ref name="PYMNTS_CPI">{{cite news |date=May 25, 2025 |title=Cisco Faces Antitrust Lawsuit Over Alleged Monopoly Tactics in Networking Market |url=https://www.pymnts.com/cpi-posts/cisco-faces-antitrust-lawsuit-over-alleged-monopoly-tactics-in-networking-market/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723114210/https://www.pymnts.com/cpi-posts/cisco-faces-antitrust-lawsuit-over-alleged-monopoly-tactics-in-networking-market/ |archive-date=2025-07-23 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=PYMNTS / Competition Policy International}}</ref> The complaint asserts claims under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, the Minnesota Antitrust Law, and a state-law claim for tortious interference with prospective economic advantage.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> The complaint cites the January 2024 ''Dexon'' summary judgment ruling as authority that Cisco's FUD tactics may form part of an anticompetitive scheme.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

The Summit 360 complaint expands on the allegations made in ''Dexon'' by describing additional practices that the complaint characterizes as anticompetitive, including customer audits conducted under EULA and licensing terms, technological restrictions on IOS updates for newer Cisco hardware, and the use of counterfeit allegations against independent resellers.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> As of the date of this article, the case is pending.<ref name="MLex2025">{{cite web |date=May 2025 |title=Antitrust – Cisco – Summit 360 litigation over alleged monopolization of computer networking market (US) |url=https://www.mlex.com/mlex/case_files/683096ff7b5702e0a9486f86 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430023824/https://www.mlex.com/mlex/case_files/683096ff7b5702e0a9486f86 |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=MLex}}</ref>

===Earlier antitrust litigation===

Both the ''Dexon'' and ''Summit 360'' complaints reference earlier antitrust matters involving Cisco. In 2008, Multiven, Inc., a third-party network maintenance provider, filed an antitrust suit against Cisco alleging that Cisco's bundling of software bug fixes with its SmartNet maintenance contracts excluded competition in the after-market for service on Cisco equipment.<ref name="networkworld-multiven">{{cite news |last=McNamara |first=Paul |date=2008 |title=Net maintenance provider sues Cisco over allegedly monopolistic SMARTnet |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2233318/net-maintenance-provider-sues-cisco-over-allegedly-monopolistic-smartnet.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924130247/https://www.networkworld.com/article/2233318/net-maintenance-provider-sues-cisco-over-allegedly-monopolistic-smartnet.html |archive-date=2023-09-24 |access-date=2026-04-29 |work=Network World}}</ref> The case settled in August 2010.<ref name="computerworld-multiven">{{cite news |last=Lawson |first=Stephen |title=Cisco settles antitrust suit over software updates |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2519776/cisco-settles-antitrust-suit-over-software-updates.html |work=Computerworld |date=August 2010 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

In 2015, [[wikipedia:Arista Networks|Arista Networks, Inc.]] brought antitrust counterclaims against Cisco in the context of long-running patent litigation between the two companies, alleging that Cisco's pricing of SmartNet functioned as a charge on multivendor networks.<ref name="networkworld-arista">{{cite news |last=Duffy |first=Jim |date=2015 |title=Arista Countersues Cisco, Claiming Antitrust Violations |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/947364/arista-countersues-cisco-for-antitrust.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430024558/https://www.networkworld.com/article/947364/arista-countersues-cisco-for-antitrust.html |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=2026-04-29 |work=Network World}}</ref> The court denied Cisco's motion for summary judgment on the antitrust claims, ruling that the evidence was sufficient to proceed to trial.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> The two companies reached a comprehensive settlement in August 2018, under which Arista paid Cisco $400 million.<ref name="ReutersAristaSettle">{{cite news |author=Jan Wolfe |date=August 6, 2018 |title=Arista to pay $400 million to Cisco to resolve court fight |url=https://www.aol.com/arista-pay-400-million-cisco-resolve-court-fight-154704053--finance.html |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=Reuters (via AOL)}}</ref><ref name="BloombergLawArista">{{cite news |date=2018-08-06 |title=Arista to Pay Cisco $400M to Settle Patent, Antitrust Lawsuits |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/arista-to-pay-cisco-400m-to-settle-patent-antitrust-lawsuits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430025344/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/arista-to-pay-cisco-400m-to-settle-patent-antitrust-lawsuits/ |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Bloomberg Law}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[category:Cisco]]

Cisco anti-competitive practices lawsuits

2026-04-30T02:27:17Z

Left4Code: archives 1-18

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Cisco Systems, Inc.
|StartDate=2015
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Networking equipment
|Product=SmartNet
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Monopolistic Practice
|Description=Cisco has been the subject of multiple antitrust lawsuits alleging that it uses its dominant position in the after-market for services on its networking equipment to suppress competition from independent resellers.
}}

[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]] is one of the largest manufacturers of enterprise networking equipment in the world, with a long-standing dominant share of the United States and global markets for [[wikipedia:Network switch|Ethernet switches]] and [[wikipedia:Router (computing)|routers]]. Beginning in the mid-2010s, Cisco has been the subject of antitrust complaints alleging that it leverages its near-monopoly position in maintenance services for its own equipment, primarily through service contracts marketed under the "SmartNet" brand, to compel customers to purchase additional networking hardware and to discourage them from buying through independent resellers. Two lawsuits filed by independent resellers, ''Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.'' (E.D. Tex. 2022)<ref name="courtlistener-edtx">{{cite web |date=2022-04-27 |title=Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., 5:22-cv-00053 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63269284/dexon-computer-inc-v-cisco-systems-inc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430013545/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63269284/dexon-computer-inc-v-cisco-systems-inc/ |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |website=CourtListener |publisher=Free Law Project}}</ref> and ''Summit 360, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.'' (D. Minn. 2025),<ref name="Summit360Complaint">{{cite web |author=Summit 360, Inc. |date=2025-05-22 |title=Complaint, Summit 360, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., Case No. 0:25-cv-02202 |url=https://casefilingsalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cisco-Accused-of-Monopoly.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250623075535/https://casefilingsalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cisco-Accused-of-Monopoly.pdf |archive-date=2025-06-23 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota}}</ref> have characterized these tactics using a phrase allegedly common<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> within Cisco's own internal vocabulary: "fear, uncertainty, and doubt," or FUD. Earlier antitrust matters brought by Multiven (2008) and Arista Networks (2016) raised related concerns about how Cisco bundles software updates and other after-market services with its hardware sales.

==Background==

Cisco distributes its networking equipment primarily through what the ''Summit 360'' complaint describes as an "Authorized Channel" of contracted resellers and distributors, which the complaint states consists of more than 8,000 organizations in the United States.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> Alongside this authorized channel, an "Independent Channel" of resellers (sometimes referred to as the secondary or grey market) supplies new and used Cisco-branded equipment to end users, generally at lower prices and with shorter lead times than Cisco's authorized partners. Independent resellers also frequently sell equipment from Cisco's competitors, including Juniper Networks, Arista Networks, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.<ref name="computerworld-aftermarket">{{cite news |last=Cox |first=John |date=2007 |title=Cisco set to fight aftermarket sellers |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/1650570/cisco-set-to-fight-aftermarket-sellers.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430014150/https://www.computerworld.com/article/1650570/cisco-set-to-fight-aftermarket-sellers.html |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=2025-04-29 |work=Computerworld}}</ref><ref name="packetpushers-graymarket">{{cite web |last=Conran |first=Greg |date=January 26, 2024 |title=Aspects Of The Gray Market For IT Gear |url=https://packetpushers.net/blog/aspects-of-the-gray-market-for-it-gear/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205001926/https://packetpushers.net/blog/aspects-of-the-gray-market-for-it-gear/ |archive-date=2024-12-05 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Packet Pushers}}</ref><ref name="register-cdw">{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Dan |date=January 15, 2024 |title=CDW settles in lawsuit with rival reseller over Cisco sales |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/15/cdw_settles_in_lawsuit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260117004228/https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/15/cdw_settles_in_lawsuit/ |archive-date=2026-01-17 |access-date=2026-04-29 |work=The Register}}</ref>

Cisco has consistently held a dominant share of the U.S. and global markets for [[wikipedia:Network switch|Ethernet switches]] and [[wikipedia:Router (computing)|routers]] over the period at issue. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), Cisco's share of the worldwide Ethernet switch market exceeded 57% at the end of 2016<ref name="tadviser-idc-2016">{{cite web |title=Ethernet LAN Switches (Global Market) |url=https://tadviser.com/index.php/Article:Ethernet_LAN_Switches_(Global_Market) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430014713/https://tadviser.com/index.php/Article:Ethernet_LAN_Switches_(Global_Market) |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=TAdviser}}</ref> and stood at 47.1% in the second quarter of 2023, before declining as the market expanded with new entrants serving AI-driven demand for datacenter hardware.<ref name="idc-2q24">{{cite web |title=IDC Finds Mixed Results for Q2 2024 in the Worldwide Ethernet Switch and Router Markets |url=https://my.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS52590024 |publisher=International Data Corporation |date=September 12, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

Cisco's principal service contract for end users is marketed as "SmartNet." A SmartNet contract typically provides software updates, technical support, and hardware replacement for covered equipment.<ref name="cisco-smartnet-qa">{{cite web |title=Cisco SMARTnet Service Q&A |url=https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/das.ohio.gov/technology-strategy/next-generation-telephony-service/technical-implementation/service-details/Cisco%20Smartnet%20Service.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430015918/https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/das.ohio.gov/technology-strategy/next-generation-telephony-service/technical-implementation/service-details/Cisco%20Smartnet%20Service.pdf |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=Cisco Systems, Inc.}}</ref> The complaints state that customers without an active SmartNet contract may lose access to security and operational updates necessary for their equipment to continue functioning properly, leaving most enterprise customers effectively dependent on the contract.<ref name="law360-filing">{{cite news |last=Atkins |first=Dorothy |date=April 28, 2022 |title=Cisco Accused Of Using Coercion To Maintain Monopoly |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1488140/cisco-accused-of-using-coercion-to-maintain-monopoly |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722162939/https://www.law360.com/articles/1488140/cisco-accused-of-using-coercion-to-maintain-monopoly |archive-date=2025-07-22 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Law360}}</ref><ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

==Alleged practices==

===SmartNet as a coercive tool===

The ''Dexon'' complaint alleges that, after a customer has purchased and begun using a SmartNet contract for previously installed equipment, Cisco subsequently demanded that the customer either purchase new networking equipment or pay a "re-certification" fee on existing hardware as a condition of continued service under the contract.<ref name="law360-filing" /><ref name="bloomberglaw-mtd">{{cite news |last=Arcieri |first=Katie |date=April 3, 2023 |title=Dexon Wins Approval to Move Forward with Cisco Antitrust Case |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/antitrust/dexon-wins-approval-to-move-forward-with-cisco-antitrust-case |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725105229/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/web/20250725105229/https:/news.bloomberglaw.com/antitrust/dexon-wins-approval-to-move-forward-with-cisco-antitrust-case |archive-date=2025-07-25 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Bloomberg Law}}</ref> The complaint provides several Texas-based examples in which Cisco was alleged to have withheld or threatened to withhold maintenance services unless customers ceased purchasing equipment from Dexon, including a regional bank, an energy company, a local 911 emergency call center, an automobile dealership, and an independent school district.<ref name="texarkana-gazette">{{cite news |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Network provider Cisco accused of intimidation, monopoly |url=https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2022/apr/30/network-provider-cisco-accused-of-intimidation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722085326/https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2022/apr/30/network-provider-cisco-accused-of-intimidation/ |archive-date=2025-07-22 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Texarkana Gazette}}</ref><ref name="law360-filing" />

The ''Summit 360'' complaint describes a similar practice, alleging that Cisco's recertification fees can exceed the value of the equipment itself, leaving end users with no practical option other than to purchase entirely new hardware through the authorized channel.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

==='FUD' tactics===

A central allegation in both lawsuits is that Cisco trains and incentivizes its sales force and a designated "brand protection" team to deploy what the company's own employees reportedly refer to as FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) to discourage end users from purchasing equipment outside the authorized channel. The ''Summit 360'' complaint states that customer-facing materials prepared for this purpose suggest that equipment purchased through independent resellers may be counterfeit, unauthorized, or compromised by malware, and that Cisco representatives have communicated such concerns directly to customers, sometimes without supporting evidence.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> The ''Dexon'' complaint alleges that, in one instance, Cisco told a Maryland customer that line cards sold by Dexon contained malware, despite the components in question containing no software at all.<ref name="law360-filing" />

The ''Summit 360'' complaint provides an example in which a Cisco representative reportedly told a cargo airline that Summit 360 was "under investigation" while a large purchase order was pending, language the complaint characterizes as designed to interrupt the transaction.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

===Cisco–CDW conspiracy allegations===

The ''Dexon'' complaint named [[wikipedia:CDW|CDW Corporation]], one of Cisco's largest authorized resellers, as a co-defendant. Dexon alleged that the two companies had agreed to coordinate sales such that CDW would absorb business that customers had previously placed with Dexon, and that CDW would refuse to supply Dexon with Cisco products and SmartNet contracts.<ref name="law360-filing" /><ref name="register-cdw" /> The complaint cited an order from a Pennsylvania hospital system as a specific example, alleging that Cisco threatened to cancel the hospital's existing SmartNet coverage unless it cancelled an equipment order placed with Dexon, and that CDW subsequently filled the order at a higher price.<ref name="law360-filing" />

===Customer audits and IOS licensing changes===

The ''Summit 360'' complaint focuses on a set of practices that post-date the conduct alleged in ''Dexon''. According to the complaint, Cisco uses customer audits, conducted under the company's End User License Agreement, its successor "General Terms," or as part of voluntary "health check" programs, to identify equipment supplied through independent resellers and to charge customers re-certification or re-licensing fees on that equipment.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

The ''Summit 360'' complaint further alleges that Cisco's newer generation of switches and routers requires a software subscription that is tied to the original purchaser, restricting access to IOS updates for equipment that subsequently changes hands through the secondary market.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> The U.S. Department of Justice referenced what it described as "Cisco fatigue" arising from these licensing practices in its January 2025 complaint to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise's proposed acquisition of Juniper Networks.<ref name="DOJHPEJuniperCIS">{{cite web |date=July 10, 2025 |title=United States v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., et al.; Proposed Final Judgment and Competitive Impact Statement |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/10/2025-12887/united-states-v-hewlett-packard-enterprise-co-et-al-proposed-final-judgment-and-competitive-impact |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430020520/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/10/2025-12887/united-states-v-hewlett-packard-enterprise-co-et-al-proposed-final-judgment-and-competitive-impact |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=Federal Register, U.S. Department of Justice}}</ref>

===Cisco's response===

Throughout the ''Dexon'' litigation, Cisco maintained that the substantive dispute between the two companies was its own earlier-filed counterfeiting suit against Dexon in the Northern District of California, in which Cisco alleged that Dexon had trafficked in counterfeit Cisco products.<ref name="kellogghansen">{{cite web |date=January 31, 2024 |title=Cisco Systems Resolves Antitrust Allegations and Counterfeit-Trafficking Claims in Sweeping Settlement Agreement |url=https://kellogghansen.com/cisco-systems-resolves-antitrust-allegations-and-counterfeit-trafficking-claims-in-sweeping-settlement-agreement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260207140027/https://kellogghansen.com/cisco-systems-resolves-antitrust-allegations-and-counterfeit-trafficking-claims-in-sweeping-settlement-agreement/ |archive-date=2026-02-07 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick}}</ref> Cisco moved to transfer the Texas antitrust case to California and to dismiss the complaint, but the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas denied both motions in March 2023, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declined to issue a writ of mandamus directing transfer in July 2023.<ref name="dexon-mtd-order-2023">{{cite web |date=March 31, 2023 |title=Order Overruling Objections, Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 5:22-CV-00053-RWS-JBB (E.D. Tex. Mar. 31, 2023) |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/dexon-comput-v-cisco-929144568 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260207140027/https://kellogghansen.com/cisco-systems-resolves-antitrust-allegations-and-counterfeit-trafficking-claims-in-sweeping-settlement-agreement/ |archive-date=2026-02-07 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |website=vLex}}</ref><ref name="commlit-mandamus">{{cite news |date=2023-07-21 |title=5th Circuit Denies Cisco Mandamus Relief to Transfer Dexon's Antitrust Case to Northern Calif. |url=https://communicationslitigationtoday.com/article/2023/07/21/5th-circuit-denies-cisco-mandamus-relief-to-transfer-dexons-antitrust-case-to-northern-calif-2307200034 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430021140/https://communicationslitigationtoday.com/article/2023/07/21/5th-circuit-denies-cisco-mandamus-relief-to-transfer-dexons-antitrust-case-to-northern-calif-2307200034 |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Communications Litigation Today}}</ref> In October 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted Cisco a preliminary injunction barring Dexon from selling certain products that Cisco had identified as counterfeit.<ref name="law360-injunction">{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Gina |date=October 5, 2023 |title=Cisco Systems Blocks Dexon From Selling Knockoff Products |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1729870 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430022245/https://www.law360.com/articles/1729870 |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |work=Law360}}</ref>

In a public statement following the global settlement of the two cases in January 2024, Cisco's lead trial counsel characterized the resolution as a successful outcome for the company's anti-counterfeiting enforcement program, citing terms under which Dexon agreed to cease unauthorized resales of Cisco products and to apply to join Cisco's authorized reseller program.<ref name="kellogghansen" /><ref name="haltomdoan">{{cite web |date=January 2024 |title=Dexon v. Cisco Agreed Joint Statement |url=https://www.haltomdoan.com/dexon-v-cisco-agreed-joint-statement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260125061211/https://www.haltomdoan.com/dexon-v-cisco-agreed-joint-statement/ |archive-date=2026-01-25 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |publisher=Haltom & Doan}}</ref>

==Lawsuits==

===Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.===

Dexon Computer, Inc., a Minnesota-based independent reseller, filed an antitrust complaint against Cisco and CDW in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on April 27, 2022.<ref name="courtlistener-edtx" /><ref name="law360-filing" /> The complaint asserted claims under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act, and a per se tying theory based on the alleged use of SmartNet contracts as a tying product for new equipment purchases.<ref name="unicourt">{{cite web |title=Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., et al. |url=https://unicourt.com/case/pc-db5-dexon-computer-inc-v-cisco-systems-inc-et-al-1187348 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430022602/https://unicourt.com/case/pc-db5-dexon-computer-inc-v-cisco-systems-inc-et-al-1187348 |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=April 29, 2026 |website=UniCourt}}</ref> The dispute followed a 2020 lawsuit filed by Cisco against Dexon in the Northern District of California, in which Cisco alleged trademark infringement and counterfeit trafficking.<ref name="courtlistener-ndca">{{cite web |title=Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Dexon Computer, Inc., 3:20-cv-04926 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17373190/cisco-systems-inc-v-dexon-computer-inc/ |website=CourtListener |publisher=Free Law Project |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

In a January 17, 2024 summary judgment ruling, the court dismissed Dexon's Sherman Act § 1 conspiracy and per se tying claims while allowing the monopolization claims under Section 2 to proceed to trial.<ref name="dexon-msj-order">{{cite web |title=Order on Motions for Summary Judgment, Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 5:22-CV-00053-RWS-JBB (E.D. Tex. Jan. 17, 2024) |url=https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/65a9fae2f5042d01406bd1da |website=Casemine |date=January 17, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref><ref name="law360-teedup">{{cite news |last=Koenig |first=Bryan |title=Reseller's Antitrust Claims Against Cisco Teed Up For Trial |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1787028/reseller-s-antitrust-claims-against-cisco-teed-up-for-trial |work=Law360 |date=January 17, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref> CDW reached a separate settlement with Dexon shortly before trial.<ref name="register-cdw" /> Trial began in Texarkana, Texas on January 22, 2024.<ref name="reuters-trial-mirror">{{cite news |last=Scarcella |first=Mike |title=Cisco battles reseller's antitrust lawsuit over network equipment |url=https://www.ciplawyer.com/articles/152656.html |work=Reuters |publisher=Republished by China Intellectual Property Lawyers Network |date=January 23, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

On January 29, 2024, before the case reached the jury, Dexon and Cisco reached a global settlement that resolved both the Texas antitrust case and the parallel California counterfeit case without a verdict.<ref name="law360-drop">{{cite news |last=Foretek |first=Jared |title=Reseller Drops Antitrust Countersuit Against Cisco Midtrial |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1791064/reseller-drops-antitrust-countersuit-against-cisco-midtrial |work=Law360 |date=January 29, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref><ref name="kellogghansen" /> A related insurance-coverage matter, ''Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America'', was decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in May 2024.<ref name="dexon-travelers-8th">{{cite web |title=Dexon Computer, Inc. v. Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America, No. 23-1328 (8th Cir. May 20, 2024) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca8/23-1328/23-1328-2024-05-20.html |website=Justia |date=May 20, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

===Summit 360, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.===

On May 22, 2025, Summit 360, Inc., another Minnesota-based independent reseller, filed an antitrust complaint against Cisco in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /><ref name="PYMNTS_CPI">{{cite news |title=Cisco Faces Antitrust Lawsuit Over Alleged Monopoly Tactics in Networking Market |url=https://www.pymnts.com/cpi-posts/cisco-faces-antitrust-lawsuit-over-alleged-monopoly-tactics-in-networking-market/ |publisher=PYMNTS / Competition Policy International |date=May 25, 2025 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref> The complaint asserts claims under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, the Minnesota Antitrust Law, and a state-law claim for tortious interference with prospective economic advantage.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> The complaint cites the January 2024 ''Dexon'' summary judgment ruling as authority that Cisco's FUD tactics may form part of an anticompetitive scheme.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" />

The Summit 360 complaint expands on the allegations made in ''Dexon'' by describing additional practices that the complaint characterizes as anticompetitive, including customer audits conducted under EULA and licensing terms, technological restrictions on IOS updates for newer Cisco hardware, and the use of counterfeit allegations against independent resellers.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> As of the date of this article, the case is pending.<ref name="MLex2025">{{cite web |title=Antitrust – Cisco – Summit 360 litigation over alleged monopolization of computer networking market (US) |url=https://www.mlex.com/mlex/case_files/683096ff7b5702e0a9486f86 |publisher=MLex |date=May 2025 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

===Earlier antitrust litigation===

Both the ''Dexon'' and ''Summit 360'' complaints reference earlier antitrust matters involving Cisco. In 2008, Multiven, Inc., a third-party network maintenance provider, filed an antitrust suit against Cisco alleging that Cisco's bundling of software bug fixes with its SmartNet maintenance contracts excluded competition in the after-market for service on Cisco equipment.<ref name="networkworld-multiven">{{cite news |last=McNamara |first=Paul |title=Net maintenance provider sues Cisco over allegedly monopolistic SMARTnet |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2233318/net-maintenance-provider-sues-cisco-over-allegedly-monopolistic-smartnet.html |work=Network World |date=2008 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref> The case settled in August 2010.<ref name="computerworld-multiven">{{cite news |last=Lawson |first=Stephen |title=Cisco settles antitrust suit over software updates |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2519776/cisco-settles-antitrust-suit-over-software-updates.html |work=Computerworld |date=August 2010 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

In 2015, [[wikipedia:Arista Networks|Arista Networks, Inc.]] brought antitrust counterclaims against Cisco in the context of long-running patent litigation between the two companies, alleging that Cisco's pricing of SmartNet functioned as a charge on multivendor networks.<ref name="networkworld-arista">{{cite news |last=Duffy |first=Jim |title=Arista Countersues Cisco, Claiming Antitrust Violations |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/947364/arista-countersues-cisco-for-antitrust.html |work=Network World |date=2015 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref> The court denied Cisco's motion for summary judgment on the antitrust claims, ruling that the evidence was sufficient to proceed to trial.<ref name="Summit360Complaint" /> The two companies reached a comprehensive settlement in August 2018, under which Arista paid Cisco $400 million.<ref name="ReutersAristaSettle">{{cite news |title=Arista to pay $400 million to Cisco to resolve court fight |url=https://www.aol.com/arista-pay-400-million-cisco-resolve-court-fight-154704053--finance.html |publisher=Reuters (via AOL) |author=Jan Wolfe |date=August 6, 2018 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref><ref name="BloombergLawArista">{{cite news |title=Arista to Pay Cisco $400M to Settle Patent, Antitrust Lawsuits |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/arista-to-pay-cisco-400m-to-settle-patent-antitrust-lawsuits/ |publisher=Bloomberg Law |date=August 6, 2018 |access-date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[category:Cisco]]

User talk:Keith

2026-04-30T01:02:33Z

Left4Code: /* Bill JSON link merge issue for API */ Reply

[[User:Alexa|Alexa]] ([[User talk:Alexa|talk]]) 16 May 2025

Hello @[[User:Keith|Keith]],

I'm interested in helping with the wiki, and specifically I have real world example, but would like to check if it's a good fit here or not.

And I can't talk in discord, as it's forcing me to submit my email.

Is this a good place to start conversation on adding new company, and fitness of the case.

Thank you.

∼∼∼∼

Hi @[[User:Alexa|Alexa]]!

No problem at all - go ahead and let me know what your thought is and I'll give you my thoughts on whether/how it fits on the wiki!

[[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:03, 17 May 2025 (UTC)

[[User:Alexa|Alexa]] ([[User talk:Alexa|talk]]) 06:36, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

@[[User:Keith|Keith]],

There is company in California that offers indoor skydiving, and obviously they have waiver to sign (with arbitration 😃), but it's not the issue I found there, but that part of that waiver is "consent" to "grant exclusive permission" to take photo/video, and use it in their promotional materials, and there is no way to sign the waiver without consenting to that photo/video permission, online form doesn't allow you to proceed. And even when we went to the place itself, staff said that "corporate doesn't allow them to print out forms to fill out, anymore, and all waivers need to be filled in online", means we can't opt out from that photo/video consent. So my kid ended up not taking that "flight", because we couldn't sign the waiver without consenting to photos.

Thank you.

[[User:Alexa|Alexa]] ([[User talk:Alexa|talk]]) 17 May 2025

@[[User:Alexa|Alexa]]

I think that fits the bill - although it's a smaller company, it fits within the frame of modern consumer protection and demonstrates how draconian the terms for even something like that can be.
Go for it! I'd probably say that this is a case where a company article can be created, and the TOS issue can be neatly summarised within it, as opposed to being a seperate incident article.

Edit: actually, I might have got ahead of myself - is this something which has been covered or discussed annywhere other than by yourself? If not, it may fall foul of the No Original Research rule, although a very basic page which basically just lays out the facts which can be established from their website and TOS, and does not provide any commentary beyond this, might be ok.

[[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 07:55, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

==Re: CAT Documentation==
[[User:Keith|@Keith]] I've replied to your message at [[User talk:Travis]]. Let me know if you'd like to discuss further approaches to organizing the documentation. [[User:Travis|Travis]] ([[User talk:Travis|talk]]) 14:43, 17 January 2025 (UTC)

==Delegating tasks==

Hello Keith,

You said at the meetup that you found it easy to delegate.

This interests me because when I was in business, I found it difficult delegate: did not believe people could not do a good enough job and I would be still responsible for the results.

Is this topic of interest to you?

∼∼∼∼

[[User:Janosabel|Janosabel]] ([[User talk:Janosabel|talk]]) 22:48, 10 February 2025 (UTC)

:I think that in the context of wikis or any kind of community project, one needs to be able to trust others to get anywhere (perhaps with some verification too at times).
:I'm under absolutely no illusion that I can do all or even much of this by myself, and we have some really talented and great people on the team!
:There's no way of achieving the results we'd want without spreading the workload and decision-making responsibility. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 09:33, 11 February 2025 (UTC)
::I understand what you mean.
::Just realised, I was speaking about me half a century ago; and not being able to trust delegees cost me a burnout. Without delegation even if imperfect, what must be done cannot be done.
::Unfortunately I cannot help by contributing to the Wiki for lack of academic training in the required writing style, but put on my talk page a witness account how supermarkets expanding to local areas are killing independent small traders.
::PS. What is the difference between <edit source> and using the <reply> button? [[User:Janosabel|Janosabel]] ([[User talk:Janosabel|talk]]) 20:05, 11 February 2025 (UTC)
:::I think the reply button just opens up a small window of the editor, and applies the signature to the message automatically? I'll have a look at what you mentioned, but I'm not sure it quite fits the theme of the Wiki, as we're keeping it focused on anti-consumer activities, rather than general issues with corporate behaviour.
:::And yes, I'll be careful on burnout! I want to avoid the combination of this and my day job driving me mad... [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 23:02, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

==Thanks and silly questions==

Hi Keith,

thanks for adding me to the confirmed users. Total newbie here, i have no idea how to properly contribute. I tried to start a discussion in the Category Leagislation Africa, not sure if it was posted.

Should i ask it directly here? or keep it in that category?

Mika, Madagascar. [[User:Mikadago|Mikadago]] ([[User talk:Mikadago|talk]]) 11:42, 16 August 2025 (UTC)

:I'm happy to reply there, though it will take a few mins to put together an answer and provide some guidance on where best to include the information [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 13:28, 16 August 2025 (UTC)

==Is the main Miku article ready to have the stub removed?==

[[Miku]]

I've been working on getting to Miku article to a better place, is there anything else you think I should add to it before the stub is removed? [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 01:20, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

:Happy to remove the incomplete notice as it's defeinitely better sourced now, but I think it might be s good idea for you to have a look at how the controversies/incidents section is laid out on the [[Netflix]] article, as the way it's done in the Miku article is a little strange, especially with the 'this article sumarizes' bits at the start of paragraphs
:In any case, thank you for the good work! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:46, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

==Why was my page deleted?==

I also see no notices or notifications in regard to this. I thought the whole point of this was for transparency? [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 21:12, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

:From what I can tell you created the article with, other than the information from the form, just a couple of sentences containing an accusation without any citation or reference to support it. After around 12 hours, Mr Pollo added a deletion notice to the article, as there was virtually no information contained in the article. After a couple more days, as the article had not been edited or improved, it was deleted.
:I can't speak to the lack of notifications - usually whenever an article you've been involved in is edited, it will show up in your inbox in the top right of the screen. It's possible that the full deletion of the article resulted in it removing the notifications; I'm not exactly sure of how that interaction works [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 23:01, 17 August 2025 (UTC)
::Well I planned to add more details and citations when I had time. It can't be a draft/work in progress? You have to write everything in one go? [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 04:44, 18 August 2025 (UTC)
:::The wiki generally expects an article to have at least a few references and all of the template parts at least partially filled in within the first few days of an article's creation. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:59, 18 August 2025 (UTC)
:::I'll second what James said, and also add that it's possible to create draft pages within your user space. You do this by adding 'user:[yourname]/' to the start of the page name. This keeps it out of mainspace, meaning it is not searchable by the main search bar.
:::Currently this policy you've encountered is unwritten, so I'll add it to the moderator guidelines shortly. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:30, 18 August 2025 (UTC)
::::Noted. It would be great if there was a regular draft function like in almost every software. (So this doesn’t happen to other new users after their first contribution.) Honestly, after you deleted it, it felt like my contribution is unwanted. [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 04:31, 21 August 2025 (UTC)
:::::That's fair enough - we should add some more text to the article creation flow which explains how user space works, how to make a draft article, and what the policy for handling new articles is. If you'd like, I can get the text from the deleted article and put it on your user talk page or something so you can pick it up from where you left off? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 10:37, 21 August 2025 (UTC)
::::::Thank you that would be great. Looking forward to helping out! [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 18:32, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

==Interenet Archive stub notice seems badly placed==

Hi @[[User:Keith|Keith]], the stub notice on [[Internet Archive]] seems to be after the lead section and not before it. Can you please fix this? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:40, 19 August 2025 (UTC)

:Done! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:23, 19 August 2025 (UTC)

==Question about re-use of sources for LiveView Article==

Hey Keith,

I noticed that for the [[LiveView Technologies AI Surveillance]] article, the same source has been re-used multiple times but shows up with a different citation number. Namely the citations number 6,32, and 33 are duplicates of 4 (LVT Use Cases in Law Enforcement), 14 is a duplicate of 5 (AI-Driven Mobile Security for Every Threat), 35 is a duplicate of 8 (Fusion Centers), and 21 is a duplicate of 20 (Mobile cameras deployed at Monroe County Office Building amid security concerns)

Also the links are missing the archive URLs in the references and some don't have author first and last name or date where they are available on the site or the date is incorrect.

I have a version of the article which shrinks the list of references (citation 33 is now a re-use of citation 4 for that section for example) and also has the relevant archive links and names and dates for each reference where possible.

Should I commit the change? I know that this article may be looked at be people very soon and I'd rather get your approval to change it and have you ready to roll-back or append to it in case you don't like it. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 18:47, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

:I think I'm going to commit the change now, you're free to revert it or check it over in case I messed something up. In the event this article is mentioned at City hall on Thursday, I want it to be the best it can be.
:Thank you for helping with the wiki. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 19:03, 26 August 2025 (UTC)
::Thank you! and yeah, if you notice small formating issues (especially with an article louis has been working on :P ) just go ahead and make the change - that's the way of the wiki! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:41, 26 August 2025 (UTC)
:::Small formatting issues or other non-obvious things like referencing problems* [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:41, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

==Proposal to add a section for organized meetings. (might be a better name for this)==

Hey Keith, I hope I'm not posting here again too early.

I thought about how every time Louis wants to generate interest for a particular issue with regards to getting viewers to organize, most of the time he has to do a video on it and these calls for organization when fighting for a particular issue (such as LVT tomorrow) are based in the United States.

I don't know if this already exists on the wiki (if it does, i'd like to know where it is), but do you think it would be a good idea to create a page specifically for posting the dates and instructions for showing up to demonstrations or hearings for the purposes of pushing back against anti-consumer or anti-privacy related issues? (This could be world-wide).

If someone from the UK for example wanted to organize a demonstration or have people speak at or attend an open council meeting, they would edit a row of a wiki table and list the time of the demonstration, an additional page describing the instructions or requirements to attend, and the issue that will be talked about (similar to rossmanngroup.com/clippyone).

I feel that with something like this, organizing both members of the public and members of the wiki regardless of country would be much easier and could provide a centralized and updated list of upcoming events based on user submission and moderator approval.

Let me know what you think about something like this when you're free to reply, I'd like to hear your thoughts in addition to anyone else who sees this and wants to talk about it. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 17:11, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

:It's definitely on the edge of what makes sense here, but I think that it's worth considering as it could well be useful. Might be something that will end up being done through FULU though in the end... maybe some kind of 'events noticeboard' a bit like the moderator notice could work? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:25, 27 August 2025 (UTC)
::An "events noticeboard" in the way you describe it with moderation is exactly what I was thinking. You're right about how it should be done through FULU directly instead of the wiki, that's a better idea.
::Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. I was just wondering if it was a completely off-the-wall idea. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 23:16, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

==BT article==

Hello Keith, remember [[BT's Digital Voice service in the UK isn't good for the Elderly|this article]]? I pinged you 16 days ago but it seems that it didn’t work and I’ve forgotten about it since. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:27, 16 September 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks for the reminder! as we were both in agreement, I removed the article. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:48, 17 September 2025 (UTC)

==Privacy notice change==

Hello Keith, I was looking through things in the Mediawiki namespace to see how backend works, when I noticed the [[Mediawiki:Footer-privacy-notice]] page and it reminded me of [[Talk:Main Page#stating "Recently updated" not particularly helpful|this on the main page]]. Can we change it quickly or does it need to be done backend? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:37, 20 September 2025 (UTC)

:We're going to do a policy update and a full review of that stuff when we update the backend tomorrow, so I'll make sure it's handled [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:01, 20 September 2025 (UTC)

==Protect Template:Welcome==

Hello, am contacting you directly as I think it is the best way to make this happen, but PLEASE protect Template:Welcome, I doubt we'll get vandalism on there but if we do and it sends a message with it we're done for... [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:06, 13 October 2025 (UTC)

:Oh, also can you make the bot substitute (make the template not change on that page even after it gets updated) the templates for the sake of preservation of the page? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:08, 13 October 2025 (UTC)
::Thanks @[[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] for getting that first one!
::I think I get what you mean re. the substitution, but have no idea how to do it. Will look into it [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:30, 14 October 2025 (UTC)
:Done. Thanks for bringing it up! I'm not sure about your second question though, so I'll leave that to Keith. [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 18:26, 13 October 2025 (UTC)
::Second one is complicated, but the first one is the only important one. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:39, 13 October 2025 (UTC)

==Is it fine for me to get an alternate account?==

Edit: Have no clue why I'd need this in practice, so forget about it. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:33, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

:no worries. In answer to your question, as long as we're notified, and there are no sockpuppetry shenanigans, then the answer is yes. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 15:39, 22 October 2025 (UTC)

==Do you mind if I use AutoWikiBrowser on the CRW?==

Hello, I recently heard about a tool called [[wikipedia:WP:AWB|AutoWikiBrowser]] which is a semi-automated tool meant to help for repetitive smaller edits which I do a lot, do you mind if I use it and if you don't mind, should I use an alternate account for it (maybe with 'bot flag' even though it's not a bot so it doesn't show??) Edit: Also, the page to get this, [[Special:BotPasswords|BotPasswords]], lets you change grants for people/things with the password, so is it okay to let people/things with the password edit protected pages (for things like typo-fixing Project namespace pages)? It is risky if it is obtained.[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:23, 23 October 2025 (UTC)

:Happy for you to use that! sounds like a great tool. No strong opinions on whetehr you make a separate account for it [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:11, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
::On the passwords front, I'm not sure how exactly that works. Does it give you the ability to use your own account via API? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:14, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Yes, botpasswords is pretty much that. It lets you change permissions too, so I can give it only specific permissions for safety reasons. Also, as for the ‘seperate account thing’ Botpasswords (the one that I can use) gives me a new account anyway so there’s no reason for it, just me misunderstanding the usage. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 14:16, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
::::Cool, that sounds fine then! do you need me to do anything to get it set up? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:20, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::No, I’ll do it myself when I next get a chance on my PC (without any special perms as I don’t know why I’d need that!) [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 14:21, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

==Found Large Amount of 404 links for flock article==

Page link: [[Flock license plate readers]]

Hey Keith,

I was checking the sources in the above article and noticed that for a large section of it, the sources will lead directly to pages which either don't exist or result in 404. I really hope that this is just a problem on my end and isn't really the case. Below is the complete list of all sources I found that lead to 404'd pages. On the actual article page, I have also marked the following with the status of usurped for the time being.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ref #

!Title

!Issue

!Archive state

!Link

|-
|20
|"How Vehicle Fingerprint Technology Works"
|404
|no archive
|
https://www.flocksafety.com/resources/how-vehicle-fingerprint-technology-works
|-
|21
|
"License Plate Surveillance Company Can Now Capture Images of Vehicle Occupants' Faces"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.404media.co/flock-safety-can-now-capture-faces-of-vehicle-occupants/
|-
|
22
|
"Transforming Flock: Beyond License Plate Reading to Deliver Greater Insights for Solving Crime"
|
404
|
no archive
|

https://www.flocksafety.com/newsroom/transforming-flock-beyond-license-plate-reading-to-deliver-greater-insights-for-solving-crime/
|-
|
24
|
"Atlas of Surveillance: Flock Safety"
|
goes to deeplinks blog, but no article
|
no archive
|
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/04/atlas-surveillance-flock-safety
|-
|
25
|
"Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore Police Department"
|
404
|no archive
|

https://www.eff.org/cases/leaders-beautiful-struggle-v-baltimore-police-department
|-
|
26
|
"Carpenter and the Evolving Fourth Amendment"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.law.georgetown.edu/american-criminal-law-review/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/01/60-1-Carpenter-and-the-Evolving-Fourth-Amendment.pdf
|-
|
27
|
"Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore Police Department"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67689711/leaders-of-a-beautiful-struggle-v-baltimore-police-department/
|-
|28
|
"Illinois Compiled Statutes - Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act"
|
404
|
no archive
|

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3541&ChapterID=53
|-
|
29
|
"RSA 236:130 Automated License Plate Recognition"
|
potential 404
|
no archive
|
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXI/236/236-130.htm
|-
|
32
|
"Surveillance firm provided ICE access to license plate reader systems"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jul/15/flock-safety-ice-license-plate-reader
|-
|
33
|
"How Flock Safety is Building a Surveillance Network for ICE"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/03/flock-safety-and-ice
|-
|
34
|
"ICE Surveillance of Immigrants and Advocates"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://americanoversight.org/investigation/ice-surveillance-of-immigrants-and-advocates/
|-
|
35
|
"ACLU Obtains Records Showing ICE Using License Plate Readers in Sanctuary Cities"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.aclunc.org/news/aclu-obtains-records-showing-ice-using-license-plate-readers-sanctuary-cities
|-
|
36
|
"License Plate Readers Are Creating a US-Wide Database of More Than Just Cars"
|404
|no archive
|
https://www.vice.com/en/article/license-plate-readers-abortion-clinics-texas
|-
|37
|"Reproductive Surveillance in Post-Roe America"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.surveillancewatch.io/reproductive-surveillance-post-roe/
|-
|38
|"State Shield Laws and Reproductive Privacy"
|dead site
|no archive
|https://reproductiverights.gov/shield-laws/
|-
|39
|"Flock Safety Employees Caught Misusing Access to Surveillance Network"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.wired.com/story/flock-safety-employees-misuse-access/
|-
|40
|"Audit Reveals Hundreds of Flock Safety Privacy Violations"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.techdirt.com/2024/05/15/audit-reveals-hundreds-of-flock-safety-privacy-violations/
|-
|41
|"When License Plate Readers Become Tools for Stalking"
|404
|no archive
|https://apnews.com/article/license-plate-readers-police-misuse-stalking
|-
|42
|"Detroit Officer Fired for Using City Cameras to Track Ex-Wife"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2024/03/officer-fired-tracking-ex-wife/
|-
|43
|"Proactive Security Disclosure Q2 2025"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/proactive-security-disclosure-q2-2025
|}
If you discover no issues (or the formatting of this table turns out horrible and breaks your talk page), disregard this and remove my topic from your page. And revert the change I made to the article where I marked the mentioned links as usurped.

Hopefully if these sites really lead to nothing and it's not just me, then the table makes it easy for you to do something. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 02:52, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

:Had a bit of a dig and my suspicion, expecially since these references are all next to each other, is that there was probably some AI chicanery in the making of the article.
:Seem to be poitentially based on real pages, e.g. this one:
:https://www.eff.org/document/fourth-circuit-ruling-leaders-beautiful-struggle-v-baltimore-police-department
:is probably meant to be #25 instead of what is currently there
:I'd recommend sticking this table on the Flock talk page (if you haven't already) and letting people know they might need to look for what these links are meant to be [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:19, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
::I went ahead and added the table to the discussion tab. Should there be a notice at the top of the Flock page to make people aware? Or leave it as is? [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 17:42, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Nevermind about the notice. The references were small enough to not need them for the most part. I started working on fixing some of them [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 18:30, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

==Oversighted something==

Hello, Keith! I just wanted to let you know I just gave myself the 'suppressor' user right as I oversighted what I think could be your IP address for privacy reasons. The info is at [[Special:Diff/805]]. If it isn't your IP address, feel free to revert what I just did. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 11:32, 30 November 2025 (UTC)

:I think it might have been (though very good chance it was some temp VPN/mobile IP address). In any case, thank you for spotting it! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 12:09, 30 November 2025 (UTC)

==being able to edit Discussions==

hey so I just discovered I can edit discussions. not only mine but any1 elses. is this an oversight? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 20:23, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

:Not sure - might just be how wikis are (given that edit logs are public, it's pretty easy to combat anyone trying to abuse it, same as with article vandalism)
:I'll page in @[[User:UntoK|UntoK]] in case it's something that isn't how it should be [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 23:13, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
::Nah, that's MediaWiki. Nothing unusual there. Edit Source is actually the default way to edit discussions in MediaWiki, but the interface is changed by an extension (forgot the name), so that it shows as this instead of just the edit source button. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:37, 5 December 2025 (UTC)
:::dk y I didn't notice that b4. I've been on and off w contribs so thought smth changed since my last visit. anyhow thanks for clearing up the concern. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:00, 8 December 2025 (UTC)

=="fixing" recent changes==

since the introduction of [[Template:Welcome]], [[Special:RecentChanges]] has become a graveyard of User:Talks that I have to sift through in order to double check people's work. can we please block [[User:New_user_message]] from showing up on there?

edit: the bot bypasses the "Human (not bot) active filter
[[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 22:12, 26 December 2025 (UTC)

:yeah, that's a localsettings.php part that Keith can pass on to Unto. setting $wgNewUserSuppressRC to true should work. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 10:50, 1 January 2026 (UTC)
::as a temp fix, [https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Special:RecentChanges?hidebots=1&namespace=3&invert=1&limit=100&days=7&enhanced=1&urlversion=2 this] should work [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 10:54, 1 January 2026 (UTC)
:::legend. thank you [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:43, 1 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Hi @[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] - took a bit of a break over the holidays so sorry for not replying. I'll contact Unto and see if he can take a look [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:12, 5 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::Fair enough! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:49, 5 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::any update? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 17:55, 12 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::I've put Unto on it but no update. I'll chase him [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:30, 13 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Darth Sidious says "do it". [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:36, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::any update? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 23:08, 27 February 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::I think it's been fixed? I don't see New User Message clogging up the feed anymore [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:54, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::::I certainly remember that we tried to fix it, and I think it seemed to work [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:54, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::::oh... I was using ACRP's temp fix so I did not realize and thought it was still broken lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:06, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

==*sigh*==

Where are the projects (again)? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:04, 19 January 2026 (UTC)

:deja vu? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:42, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
::[[Consumer_Rights_Wiki_talk:Moderators%27_noticeboard#*sigh*|oh]] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:48, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
:::LOL, made me chuckle seeing your replies! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:55, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
::::hey as a wise man once said "if you are good at something, never do it for free". that'll be $5 my friend [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:05, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::yeah, replied on the noticeboard, but just adding here - I think an update must have broken it. have contacted Unto [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 01:07, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::@[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] @[[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] Fixed! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:52, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

==sorry for the ping==

I used the intro text from [[Texas Attorney General sues multiple TV makers over ACR user data collection]] to add to the Incidents section for each of the mentioned companies. In the edit summary I linked you. Ik that @ and [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 22:33, 21 January 2026 (UTC) ping the user but idk abt linking. regardless sorry abt the pings

:th happened here? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 22:34, 21 January 2026 (UTC)
::No worries! I don't think @s in edit summaries cause pings anyway [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:37, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

==alternative to Discord==

I don't use Discord. many members of the wiki don't use Discord. can't talk on their behalf but I can mine. if there was a Matrix or heck Signal gc (lol), I'd love to be a part of it. are there any plans for migration off Discord or perhaps providing w an alternative they'd be more comfortable with? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:32, 23 January 2026 (UTC)

:We're hoping to get a Zulip bridge with the Discord in the next couple of months. This would allow people to essentially join the Discord without joining the Discord, with the exception of a couple of features like bot commands and voice channels. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:19, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::lovely looking forward to it [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 09:44, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::is the Zulip bridge still under consideration following the impending age verification push in March? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 23:07, 27 February 2026 (UTC)
::::I've not heard of Zulip but it sounds like some sort of proxy? I'd prefer something like Matrix but that seems great too. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:44, 28 February 2026 (UTC)
:::::Zulip is a bit like a matrix/discord-y thing, and we'd use plugins to essentially crosspost everything that's sent to it to the discord and vice versa. It's still coming along but I've been crap and haven't got the server paid up yet. will try and do this next week and we can hopefully get it up shortly. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:45, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Just in case yous hadn't noticed it on the main page @[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] @[[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]], we're moving our monthly hangout meetings from discord to zoom so as to include more of the community, and you're both welcome to join! first one is at 20:00 UTC tomorrow. if you pop me an email over to help@consumerrights.wiki, I'll send you the zoom link (son't want to posted publicly for obvious reasons) [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:50, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::I've seen that, I'm not interested in joining though. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:21, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::oh I totally missed that. I'll shoot over an email and add it to my calendar but dk if I'll be able to join. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:09, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Apologies for not seeing this sooner - I'll send over a link just now! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:34, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Hi, any update on the Zulip bridge? Sorry for asking after such a short time but I'd really like to use it! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:24, 5 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] any update still? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 12:44, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Jake's on it - we've been going back and forth over whether to have a managed instance or self hosted - sry for the kerfuffle! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:34, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

==Can you help moving my page==

Sorry I said this 3 times or more, I got confused, can you move please, I moved it in wrong place, may I ask should I ask here instead of the pages I placed [[User:^&*|^&*]] ([[User talk:^&*|talk]]) 21:23, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

:Thank you but should I create it in the user page just to clarify [[User:^&*|^&*]] ([[User talk:^&*|talk]]) 21:34, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
::Don't want to be nuisance that all when doing my article [[User:^&*|^&*]] ([[User talk:^&*|talk]]) 21:35, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
:::I've replied on your user page - think it should be alright now? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:38, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
::::your user talk page* [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:38, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

==Adding categories==

Hello, please don't add categories in the visual editor as it doesn't work, instead simply type <code><nowiki>[[Category:CATEGORYNAME]]</nowiki></code> and replace CATEGORYNAME with the name of the category, otherwise it won't work. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:57, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

:Apologies, thank you! I usually use source but I think there I just hit 'edit' by accident as was trying to set it up quickly. just so you know, I've replied to stefan's questions on the page he moved - thank you for moving the page he created! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:31, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

==Regarding a recent article I created==

Hello, Keith! I have finally decided to become a contributor here. The article I've been working on is [[Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development|Happy Bar & Grill Biometric Surveillance]]. However, when someone I've sent the link to opens it, they see the version that was last updated before I created my profile. What could be causing this? I apologise for any lack of knowledge on my part. [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 18:23, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

:Unfortunately this is a problem with cloudflare's caching. If you wait a short while, or they log in, they should see the updated version. We've found a solution and will be shipping it with the next version of the wiki so that page edits are instantly reflected in cached versions of pages. Until then, it's just a case of waiting a while or logging in (logging in bypasses the cache as it needs to load user-specific elements). Great work on the article by the way! Just as a heads up, we're happy to have sources in non-english languages, so if you find any Bulgarian sources discussing it, those would be great to add to the article to demonstrate notability. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 18:42, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::Oops, apparently I was spreading misinformation on the internet regarding the exact reasons for it not being cached, but the gist is still the same, which is that logged-in users bypass the cache! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 18:48, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::Thank you for the swift reply and the explanation! It's so refreshing to see people working hard and helping others for a good cause. Also very happy to hear that you like how the article has turned out so far. I've extensively searched for any other sources regarding the issue, but found nothing. I guess someone has to start the discussion! :D
::Just to confirm: is the wiki English-only? I'd love to make the article more accessible to my compatriots, but I suppose I'll just tell them to use the automatic translation option on their browser. [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 21:05, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
:::The wiki is english only yeah, for moderation purposes (we don't have a team that's reliably able to check the quality of non-english articles). if you wanted, though, we'd be happy for you to put a bulgarian version in your user space (i.e. the page lives at consumerrights.wiki/w/User:Juuns/[pagename]) - just make sure to put a note in english at the top so that none of the mods mistake it for a spam article! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:48, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Hey there, thanks for the advice! Is that alright? https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Iw/User:Juuns/%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B2_Happy_Bar_%26_Grill_-_bg_translation_of_an_existing_article/&veaction=edit [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 08:35, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::Yep! The URL looks cursed written out like that lol but it's in the right place [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:24, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Hello again, Keith!
::::::I and the small team I've created have made huge progress regarding the surveillance situation at Happy Bar and Dinner. We posted the wiki on the r/bulgaria subreddit, and it topped the daily chart in less than three hours. People are outraged.
::::::I've managed to contact an advocate from the opposition here who agreed to share the wiki on her Facebook page (over 10,000 followers). She also agreed to work with me to make the topic go viral and will send this to other human rights and anti-mafia activists in Bulgaria. We've planned to create several videos in various forms regarding the issue.
::::::I am writing with a big request that would be extremely beneficial to my cause and the wiki: Could you contact Louis Rossmann and share the wiki with him? Alternatively, you could connect him to me so I can tell him more about it.
::::::I understand this is a big request, but I would be very thankful for your help :) [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 18:43, 11 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::That's great! I've passed the info on, and will let you know the response
:::::::This is exactly how I've been hoping to see the wiki be used, so I'm really excited that it's getting picked up! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:20, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Hello again, Keith. Things are spreading like wildfire and are getting very heated. An official position from Happy Bar & Grill has been released. They are aggressively denying the claims, but their statement actually contains several contradictions that validate my research rather than disprove it.
::::::::In their official position, Happy Bar & Grill claims to have already notified the wiki's administrators (you and Rossmann, I suppose), issuing what they describe as a "categorical demand" for the removal of all alleged misinformation within a 24-hour ultimatum. Could you confirm if such a notice was received? A corporation issuing a 24-hour take-down ultimatum to an independent documentation project before any independent audit or regulatory investigation has taken place is simply outrageous.
::::::::Some of the main points I wanted to cover:
::::::::First, there is a major timeline discrepancy. Happy claims they received an offer from GI Mobility Services (linked to IP Biometrix? I cannot find any information about them, and other people have come up with nothing as well) in 2023 and officially rejected it on 14 December 2023. However, my archived evidence from IP Biometrix's portfolio shows a screenshot dated 9 November 2024—almost a year after they claim to have rejected the proposal. If they truly rejected the system in 2023, why does the vendor's portfolio display active implementation data from late 2024? Why was the article on their page until 2026? Also, there was an image displaying logos of partner companies still on IP Biometrix's page until 11 March 2026. They took that down just a few hours! This suggests either the system was further tested despite the rejection, or their timeline is fabricated to cover ongoing processing. My main hypothesis right now is that GI Mobility Services is the old version of IP Biometrix. IP Biometrix is a very new company, established at the end of 2023, just around the time of the implied rejected proposal.
::::::::Second, their statement completely omits any mention of "Burrata Italiana," despite it being owned by the same group. Is this supposed to be implied? My evidence specifically identifies the biometric dashboard screenshots as originating from the Burrata Italiana location in Varna.
::::::::Third, the article on Boulevard Bulgaria (one of the most shared articles regarding the topic), in my eyes, appears to be paid or ordered content, mirroring Happy's language almost verbatim without independent verification. It is even on their top page (archived here: https://web.archive.org/web/20260312235007/https://boulevardbulgaria.bg/). Meanwhile, they are attempting to discredit consumerrights.wiki by calling it an unverified anonymous wiki. THIS ATTACKS THE INTEGRITY OF THE WHOLE PLATFORM! I must stand firm that I am NOT spreading misinformation; I am documenting archived vendor evidence and public records. For the past couple of hours, I have made as many archives as possible for any news articles, blogs, and information regarding this.
::::::::They are trying to suppress the discussion before it has begun, but I believe it's too late. Many people have already shared this on social media and are also quite sceptical of Happy's response. A deeper dive into IP Biometrix as a whole is needed to check whether other companies also use such a system. They are very shady; they have many other "partners." They are the main issue. I will try to update the page with their denial as soon as possible, but contextualise it with these contradictions so readers see the full picture.
::::::::For your reference, here are some of the key articles circulating regarding this situation:
::::::::Post in r/bulgaria: Where it all started. After this thread was made, this issue gained massive traction in no time, featuring thousands of views and hundreds of comments from concerned citizens, topping the weekly chart in less than 24 hours: https://www.reddit.com/r/bulgaria/comments/1rqxn90/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B2_%D1%85%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B8/
::::::::Boulevard Bulgaria: This article mirrors the official corporate release almost verbatim and lacks independent verification. It appears to be coordinated PR rather than journalism: https://boulevardbulgaria.bg/articles/happy-tvardeniyata-che-verigata-sledi-klientite-si-s-ai-kameri-sa-absolyutno-neverni
::::::::Mobile Bulgaria: General news coverage discussing the allegations and the company's response. https://mobilebulgaria.com/news/izpolzva-li-happy-bar-grill-litsevo-razpoznavane-s-ai-v-restorantite-si
::::::::Kaldata: Technical analysis and reporting on the AI camera systems in restaurants and the company's response. https://www.kaldata.com/it-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/ai-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7-650764.html
::::::::Other useful information:
::::::::IP Biometrix: Their current website shows no information or response regarding the events. https://ip-biometrix.com/
::::::::Confirmation that this is indeed "Burrata Italiana Varna" in Varna, Bulgaria: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Burrata+Italiana+Varna/@43.1962014,27.9154998,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x40a453f66ec877b1:0x1331c25a3c536926!8m2!3d43.1962014!4d27.9180747!16s%2Fg%2F11js3ffhz7?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D; [[:File:IP Biometrix AI surveillance dashboard.png]]
::::::::There are other outlets covering this as well, but these are the primary sources needed. I am disgusted by Happy's answer and Boulevard Bulgaria's PR-like article. Please inform Louis to check the email I've sent about this issue; I've formulated all the needed information there. I am furious. [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 01:15, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::Crucial note: While the filename indicates November 2024, this date relies on the vendor's naming convention and cannot be forensically verified. Additionally, there is another screenshot in the article from that same date (Screenshot-2024-11-09-121619.png), which may indicate that the screenshots were made when the article was posted rather than during live operation." [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 02:27, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::Unfortunately, I cannot dedicate unlimited time to maintaining and updating this page alone given the rapid developments. I would greatly appreciate any help regarding that. :) [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 02:34, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::yep, we've recieved it alright. I'm reworking the article a bit at the moment, to ensure that it's a bit more neutral, fits our editorial policies etc., and does not make any original claims beyond those contained in sources. My current understanding is that there is no evidence that the system has been deployed at scale, as such I'm moving/renaming the article and rewording some of the content.
:::::::::I'd appreciate if you could keep your bg translation up-to-date with the changes made to the english article (or find someone who is able to do so) to make sure that it's in-line as well. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 07:08, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::I've edited and added as much context as I could to both articles for now. I'm going to take a little break for the rest of the day. Thanks a lot for your support and dedication to this issue and the wiki as a whole. Talk to you soon! [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 09:56, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::::Lastly for now, could you move the translation to change the title? Разработка на биометричен инструмент за наблюдение на Happy Bar & Grill/Burrata. I suggest specifying Burrata in the English version as well, as we have implication from the company's response that the screenshot of the monitoring is real and not fabricated (pleas read their official response thoroughly before doing anything). [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 10:03, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::::update on the above - i fucked up my original edit I was referring to in the above comment, and for some reason it didn't get committed to the article. I've re-made it now. it basically walks back some of the claims where the article was making strong inferences and interpretations of what the sources were saying, to ensure that we're not speculating (given the nature of the site as a wiki, we should not generally be doing original interpretation of sources in articles, especially where they relate to practices carried out by a company)
::::::::::::I read a translation of the statement (seems like the full version is posted to MobileBulgaria) and have been basing my understanding on that. feel free to come back to me if I've misinterpreted it to a significant extent [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 07:47, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

==Stub Pains==

Hey Keith,

I'm way out of my depth here with these stub notices, I added a stub to two new articles I made not realizing they would literally prevent my ability to add any text to the article.

links: [[AirPods connection vulnerability]] | [[AirPods Max moisture issue]]

When I attempt to make a change to the article, I was getting a stub deletion error. If I did something wrong, would you be able to explain what exactly happened with this so it doesn't happen again? [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 06:55, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

:(IN CASE YOU COULDN'T NOTICE, I'M NOT KEITH!) This is a common issue that users have had for a very long time now. If you edit anywhere before or on the line of the stub notice, something called the abuse filter says "nope, lol, nice try" and blocks the edit. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 07:18, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
::Should work now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 07:20, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
:Ah, I think I did the same thing as ACRP, but the stub notices are now on their own line and not touching anything else, so there shouldn't be any further issues [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:30, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

==Publicising RfCs==

Hello, the RfCs you made haven't gotten any attention. Should we publicise them better? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:34, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

:Yeah, I'll set up some kind of hub that includes pages with the RfC category or something. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:23, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
::ok, I made a category for open and closed RfCs, transcluded them on a page, and linked to it from the policy index. idk if there's anywhere else it should be? I guess it's probably worth mentioning on some of the guide-y pages [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:44, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

==Arbys article weird ref issue==

[[Arby's]]

hey keith, when I look at the arby's article, it says in the references, ref goes here, but then when I try to edit it out, it goes away. is there any way to fix this? If you figure out a way, I'd love to know. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 16:09, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

:That ref is caused by [[Template:Ph-C-Int]]. Remove that and the ref will disappear as well. You can't delete the ref without deleting the box. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 09:39, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::Thank you for the help, I've replaced the box with a simple message to do the summary. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 02:46, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

==Bill JSON link merge issue for API==

[[Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption]] [low priority issue]

Some citations involving API requests and pulling JSON have the selector merged with the actual link, resulting in a direct click of the link returning a non-valid result.

Example: Ref #19 links: https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname), when everything after the question mark should be non-linked, and the original link should have everything after the question mark removed. Then click check should return valid JSON objects.

I've added the following string to all references where I believe this appears, I've only gone through half the list however: "!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!"

If there are any other instances of this happening, I'll make another minor edit, feel free to revert if there's actually no real problem and I'm going insane.

It really would be nice to do the JSON parsing within the actual link and have the API return the valid results, unfortunate. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 03:35, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

:Also, I can't seem to follow the instructions for reference #16 https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby/ [low priority issue]
:"To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Bill Search," enter "SB26-090" as the bill number, and select the 2025-2026 session. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026."
:My attempt to verify (results in error): "Bill/resolution number is invalid. Example: for bill number 12-002 enter as 002."
:#1: to go link in instructions
:#2: click search by bill number, land on https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby/SearchSubject.do
:#3: bill resolution: empty | session 2026 (also tried 2025) | bill resolution number (tried 26-090, 090, 90, SB26-090)
:If you or the original person referencing this page (I think Louis?) Knows how to actually return something that isn't red error text, I'd love to know. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 03:44, 29 April 2026 (UTC)
::Yeah, that was Louis - I'll prod him on it [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:38, 29 April 2026 (UTC)
::Ok, worked out the correct instructions for this one - you need to put 'senate bill' in the dropdown, 2026 in the session, and then 090 in the number. the name SB26-090 stands for 'Senate Bill 2026 - 090'.
::will add to the article in a sec [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:53, 29 April 2026 (UTC)
:::Hey Keith, I modified the instructions, hopefully it makes more sense now. I also noticed that the source for the recording of the hearing (ref #43): https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982 says the meeting has been deleted. I'm wondering if there's another link to the recording (and hopefully an archive)
:::I think this is one of the more important recordings, as it shows that the senator actually said what it quoted. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 01:02, 30 April 2026 (UTC)

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-30T00:57:39Z

Left4Code: Final archives

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |last=Monahan |first=Jack |date=2024 |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association)}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |author=Ashworth |first=Boone |date=2026-04-02 |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260426201220/https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |archive-date=2026-04-26 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Wired}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427021341/https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220622/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415102419/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB23-1011 |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801033011/https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2025-08-01 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220611/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260404184350/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb26-090 |archive-date=2026-04-04 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2013 |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427192633/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=The White House}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |date=August 2020 |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429025518/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=CISA}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260107192926/https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |archive-date=2026-01-07 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260328075554/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |archive-date=2026-03-28 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Search by Bill Number," enter "090" as the bill number, and select the 2026 session. Choose "Senate Bill" as Bill/Resolution Prefix. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429030955/https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105142527/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj/about_data |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>[https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?] $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code></ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code></ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260326053732/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |archive-date=2026-03-26 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |author=Chamberlain |first=Elizabeth |date=2026-04-01 |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403085840/https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=iFixit}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Page 26 of CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guideline recommends actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820180415/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-20 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency}}</ref>
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Table 2: Comparison of Maintenance and Operations Models''<ref name=":0" />
!Models
!Advantages
!Disadvantages
|-
|'''Vendor, including parts and labor'''
|
*Vendors understand the system and often provide a fast solution to any issues
*Agencies can learn from vendor solutions
*Agencies are under obligation to pay per contract terms; thus, the level of service is not affected by fiscal climate
|
*This is typically the highest-cost option
*Agencies have less control over the level of support and solution offered
*Agencies may rely on vendors and not learn how to effectively operate the system or troubleshoot any issue
|-
|'''In-house staff'''
|
*This is typically the lowest-cost option
*Agencies have the greatest control over the level of support and solution
*Agencies learn how to effectively operate the systems and troubleshoot any issues
|
*There is a steep learning curve for new systems
*Staff may not have the technical ability
*The level of maintenance can be affected by the agency’s fiscal climate
*There may be additional costs for parts and some labor
|-
|'''Third-party public agency'''
|
*There are typically high-quality technical staff
*This allows for efficient operations and potential cost-savings across enterprise-wide operations
*Knowledge is retained within the public agency
|
*This requires an IAA signed by leadership
*The primary agency has less control over level of support and solutions offered
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians to fix issues and agency does not learn how to effectively operate the system
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|-
|'''Third-party private entity'''
|
*Typically high-quality technical staff
*This is a good option if agency does not have knowledgeable staff to manage M&O
|
*This requires a separate service contract
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|}
Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260430005429/https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view |archive-date=2026-04-30 |access-date=2026-04-30}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260322213024/https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |archive-date=2026-03-22 |access-date=2026-04-30 |publisher=Texas Legislature Online}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-30T00:41:43Z

Left4Code: more SODA API fixes, if verify is broken revert this change

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |last=Monahan |first=Jack |date=2024 |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association)}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |author=Ashworth |first=Boone |date=2026-04-02 |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260426201220/https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |archive-date=2026-04-26 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Wired}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427021341/https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220622/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415102419/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB23-1011 |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801033011/https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2025-08-01 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220611/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260404184350/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb26-090 |archive-date=2026-04-04 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2013 |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427192633/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=The White House}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |date=August 2020 |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429025518/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=CISA}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260107192926/https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |archive-date=2026-01-07 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260328075554/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |archive-date=2026-03-28 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Search by Bill Number," enter "090" as the bill number, and select the 2026 session. Choose "Senate Bill" as Bill/Resolution Prefix. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429030955/https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105142527/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj/about_data |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>[https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?] $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code></ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code></ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |author=Chamberlain |first=Elizabeth |date=2026-04-01 |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403085840/https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=iFixit}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Page 26 of CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guideline recommends actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820180415/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-20 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency}}</ref>
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Table 2: Comparison of Maintenance and Operations Models''<ref name=":0" />
!Models
!Advantages
!Disadvantages
|-
|'''Vendor, including parts and labor'''
|
*Vendors understand the system and often provide a fast solution to any issues
*Agencies can learn from vendor solutions
*Agencies are under obligation to pay per contract terms; thus, the level of service is not affected by fiscal climate
|
*This is typically the highest-cost option
*Agencies have less control over the level of support and solution offered
*Agencies may rely on vendors and not learn how to effectively operate the system or troubleshoot any issue
|-
|'''In-house staff'''
|
*This is typically the lowest-cost option
*Agencies have the greatest control over the level of support and solution
*Agencies learn how to effectively operate the systems and troubleshoot any issues
|
*There is a steep learning curve for new systems
*Staff may not have the technical ability
*The level of maintenance can be affected by the agency’s fiscal climate
*There may be additional costs for parts and some labor
|-
|'''Third-party public agency'''
|
*There are typically high-quality technical staff
*This allows for efficient operations and potential cost-savings across enterprise-wide operations
*Knowledge is retained within the public agency
|
*This requires an IAA signed by leadership
*The primary agency has less control over level of support and solutions offered
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians to fix issues and agency does not learn how to effectively operate the system
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|-
|'''Third-party private entity'''
|
*Typically high-quality technical staff
*This is a good option if agency does not have knowledgeable staff to manage M&O
|
*This requires a separate service contract
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|}
Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-30T00:32:23Z

Left4Code: SODA API Changes, If verify queries don't work, revert!

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |last=Monahan |first=Jack |date=2024 |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association)}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |author=Ashworth |first=Boone |date=2026-04-02 |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260426201220/https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |archive-date=2026-04-26 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Wired}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427021341/https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220622/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415102419/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB23-1011 |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801033011/https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2025-08-01 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220611/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260404184350/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb26-090 |archive-date=2026-04-04 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2013 |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427192633/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=The White House}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |date=August 2020 |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429025518/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=CISA}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260107192926/https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |archive-date=2026-01-07 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260328075554/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |archive-date=2026-03-28 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Search by Bill Number," enter "090" as the bill number, and select the 2026 session. Choose "Senate Bill" as Bill/Resolution Prefix. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429030955/https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105142527/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj/about_data |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>[https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?] $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325000313/https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json $select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code></ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |author=Chamberlain |first=Elizabeth |date=2026-04-01 |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403085840/https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=iFixit}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Page 26 of CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guideline recommends actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820180415/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-20 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency}}</ref>
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Table 2: Comparison of Maintenance and Operations Models''<ref name=":0" />
!Models
!Advantages
!Disadvantages
|-
|'''Vendor, including parts and labor'''
|
*Vendors understand the system and often provide a fast solution to any issues
*Agencies can learn from vendor solutions
*Agencies are under obligation to pay per contract terms; thus, the level of service is not affected by fiscal climate
|
*This is typically the highest-cost option
*Agencies have less control over the level of support and solution offered
*Agencies may rely on vendors and not learn how to effectively operate the system or troubleshoot any issue
|-
|'''In-house staff'''
|
*This is typically the lowest-cost option
*Agencies have the greatest control over the level of support and solution
*Agencies learn how to effectively operate the systems and troubleshoot any issues
|
*There is a steep learning curve for new systems
*Staff may not have the technical ability
*The level of maintenance can be affected by the agency’s fiscal climate
*There may be additional costs for parts and some labor
|-
|'''Third-party public agency'''
|
*There are typically high-quality technical staff
*This allows for efficient operations and potential cost-savings across enterprise-wide operations
*Knowledge is retained within the public agency
|
*This requires an IAA signed by leadership
*The primary agency has less control over level of support and solutions offered
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians to fix issues and agency does not learn how to effectively operate the system
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|-
|'''Third-party private entity'''
|
*Typically high-quality technical staff
*This is a good option if agency does not have knowledgeable staff to manage M&O
|
*This requires a separate service contract
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|}
Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-29T23:43:26Z

Left4Code: [I think I fixed it Keith] + Archives

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |last=Monahan |first=Jack |date=2024 |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association)}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |author=Ashworth |first=Boone |date=2026-04-02 |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260426201220/https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |archive-date=2026-04-26 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Wired}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427021341/https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220622/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415102419/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB23-1011 |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801033011/https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2025-08-01 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220611/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260404184350/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb26-090 |archive-date=2026-04-04 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2013 |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427192633/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=The White House}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |date=August 2020 |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429025518/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=CISA}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260107192926/https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |archive-date=2026-01-07 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260328075554/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |archive-date=2026-03-28 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Search by Bill Number," enter "090" as the bill number, and select the 2026 session. Choose "Senate Bill" as Bill/Resolution Prefix. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |author=Chamberlain |first=Elizabeth |date=2026-04-01 |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403085840/https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=iFixit}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Page 26 of CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guideline recommends actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820180415/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-20 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency}}</ref>
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Table 2: Comparison of Maintenance and Operations Models''<ref name=":0" />
!Models
!Advantages
!Disadvantages
|-
|'''Vendor, including parts and labor'''
|
*Vendors understand the system and often provide a fast solution to any issues
*Agencies can learn from vendor solutions
*Agencies are under obligation to pay per contract terms; thus, the level of service is not affected by fiscal climate
|
*This is typically the highest-cost option
*Agencies have less control over the level of support and solution offered
*Agencies may rely on vendors and not learn how to effectively operate the system or troubleshoot any issue
|-
|'''In-house staff'''
|
*This is typically the lowest-cost option
*Agencies have the greatest control over the level of support and solution
*Agencies learn how to effectively operate the systems and troubleshoot any issues
|
*There is a steep learning curve for new systems
*Staff may not have the technical ability
*The level of maintenance can be affected by the agency’s fiscal climate
*There may be additional costs for parts and some labor
|-
|'''Third-party public agency'''
|
*There are typically high-quality technical staff
*This allows for efficient operations and potential cost-savings across enterprise-wide operations
*Knowledge is retained within the public agency
|
*This requires an IAA signed by leadership
*The primary agency has less control over level of support and solutions offered
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians to fix issues and agency does not learn how to effectively operate the system
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|-
|'''Third-party private entity'''
|
*Typically high-quality technical staff
*This is a good option if agency does not have knowledgeable staff to manage M&O
|
*This requires a separate service contract
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|}
Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-29T23:28:12Z

Left4Code: archives

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |last=Monahan |first=Jack |date=2024 |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association)}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |author=Ashworth |first=Boone |date=2026-04-02 |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260426201220/https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |archive-date=2026-04-26 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Wired}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427021341/https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220622/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415102419/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB23-1011 |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801033011/https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2025-08-01 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220611/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260404184350/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb26-090 |archive-date=2026-04-04 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2013 |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427192633/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=The White House}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |publisher=CISA |date=August 2020}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Bill Search," enter "SB26-090" as the bill number, and select the 2025-2026 session. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |author=Chamberlain |first=Elizabeth |date=2026-04-01 |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403085840/https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=iFixit}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Page 26 of CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guideline recommends actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820180415/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-20 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency}}</ref>
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Table 2: Comparison of Maintenance and Operations Models''<ref name=":0" />
!Models
!Advantages
!Disadvantages
|-
|'''Vendor, including parts and labor'''
|
*Vendors understand the system and often provide a fast solution to any issues
*Agencies can learn from vendor solutions
*Agencies are under obligation to pay per contract terms; thus, the level of service is not affected by fiscal climate
|
*This is typically the highest-cost option
*Agencies have less control over the level of support and solution offered
*Agencies may rely on vendors and not learn how to effectively operate the system or troubleshoot any issue
|-
|'''In-house staff'''
|
*This is typically the lowest-cost option
*Agencies have the greatest control over the level of support and solution
*Agencies learn how to effectively operate the systems and troubleshoot any issues
|
*There is a steep learning curve for new systems
*Staff may not have the technical ability
*The level of maintenance can be affected by the agency’s fiscal climate
*There may be additional costs for parts and some labor
|-
|'''Third-party public agency'''
|
*There are typically high-quality technical staff
*This allows for efficient operations and potential cost-savings across enterprise-wide operations
*Knowledge is retained within the public agency
|
*This requires an IAA signed by leadership
*The primary agency has less control over level of support and solutions offered
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians to fix issues and agency does not learn how to effectively operate the system
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|-
|'''Third-party private entity'''
|
*Typically high-quality technical staff
*This is a good option if agency does not have knowledgeable staff to manage M&O
|
*This requires a separate service contract
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|}
Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

User:Left4Code

2026-04-29T03:50:32Z

Left4Code: Time update

Will probably use this for volunteer experience on a resume. Think Louis would let me put him down as a reference? (Only half-joking)

My website is [https://left4code.neocities.org left4code.neocities.org] if you want to get in contact. My [https://left4code.neocities.org/left4code_gpg.txt email and PGP key] are there.

<s>hCaptcha is ruining my life.</s> I have been blessed by Lord Keith and saved from the hCaptcha nightmare, thank you!

Time spent editing so far (people like numbers, right?) {HH:MM:SS}: 26:40:00

Stats table (Shamelessly stolen from Beanie)

{| class="wikitable"
|+Contribution Scores
!Score
!Pages
!Changes
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|{{#cscore:Left4Code|score}}
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User talk:Keith

2026-04-29T03:44:55Z

Left4Code: /* Bill JSON link merge issue for API */ Reply

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-29T03:38:00Z

Left4Code: more for Keith, I may check the other references later, involving the tracer sos colorado links.

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |last=Monahan |first=Jack |date=2024 |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association)}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |author=Ashworth |first=Boone |date=2026-04-02 |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260426201220/https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |archive-date=2026-04-26 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Wired}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427021341/https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220622/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415102419/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB23-1011 |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801033011/https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2025-08-01 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |publisher=The White House |date=February 12, 2013}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |publisher=CISA |date=August 2020}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Bill Search," enter "SB26-090" as the bill number, and select the 2025-2026 session. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |author=Chamberlain |first=Elizabeth |date=2026-04-01 |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403085840/https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=iFixit}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Page 26 of CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guideline recommends actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820180415/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-20 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency}}</ref>
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Table 2: Comparison of Maintenance and Operations Models''<ref name=":0" />
!Models
!Advantages
!Disadvantages
|-
|'''Vendor, including parts and labor'''
|
*Vendors understand the system and often provide a fast solution to any issues
*Agencies can learn from vendor solutions
*Agencies are under obligation to pay per contract terms; thus, the level of service is not affected by fiscal climate
|
*This is typically the highest-cost option
*Agencies have less control over the level of support and solution offered
*Agencies may rely on vendors and not learn how to effectively operate the system or troubleshoot any issue
|-
|'''In-house staff'''
|
*This is typically the lowest-cost option
*Agencies have the greatest control over the level of support and solution
*Agencies learn how to effectively operate the systems and troubleshoot any issues
|
*There is a steep learning curve for new systems
*Staff may not have the technical ability
*The level of maintenance can be affected by the agency’s fiscal climate
*There may be additional costs for parts and some labor
|-
|'''Third-party public agency'''
|
*There are typically high-quality technical staff
*This allows for efficient operations and potential cost-savings across enterprise-wide operations
*Knowledge is retained within the public agency
|
*This requires an IAA signed by leadership
*The primary agency has less control over level of support and solutions offered
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians to fix issues and agency does not learn how to effectively operate the system
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|-
|'''Third-party private entity'''
|
*Typically high-quality technical staff
*This is a good option if agency does not have knowledgeable staff to manage M&O
|
*This requires a separate service contract
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|}
Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

User talk:Keith

2026-04-29T03:35:35Z

Left4Code: /* Bill JSON link merge issue for API */ new section

[[User:Alexa|Alexa]] ([[User talk:Alexa|talk]]) 16 May 2025

Hello @[[User:Keith|Keith]],

I'm interested in helping with the wiki, and specifically I have real world example, but would like to check if it's a good fit here or not.

And I can't talk in discord, as it's forcing me to submit my email.

Is this a good place to start conversation on adding new company, and fitness of the case.

Thank you.

∼∼∼∼

Hi @[[User:Alexa|Alexa]]!

No problem at all - go ahead and let me know what your thought is and I'll give you my thoughts on whether/how it fits on the wiki!

[[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:03, 17 May 2025 (UTC)

[[User:Alexa|Alexa]] ([[User talk:Alexa|talk]]) 06:36, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

@[[User:Keith|Keith]],

There is company in California that offers indoor skydiving, and obviously they have waiver to sign (with arbitration 😃), but it's not the issue I found there, but that part of that waiver is "consent" to "grant exclusive permission" to take photo/video, and use it in their promotional materials, and there is no way to sign the waiver without consenting to that photo/video permission, online form doesn't allow you to proceed. And even when we went to the place itself, staff said that "corporate doesn't allow them to print out forms to fill out, anymore, and all waivers need to be filled in online", means we can't opt out from that photo/video consent. So my kid ended up not taking that "flight", because we couldn't sign the waiver without consenting to photos.

Thank you.

[[User:Alexa|Alexa]] ([[User talk:Alexa|talk]]) 17 May 2025

@[[User:Alexa|Alexa]]

I think that fits the bill - although it's a smaller company, it fits within the frame of modern consumer protection and demonstrates how draconian the terms for even something like that can be.
Go for it! I'd probably say that this is a case where a company article can be created, and the TOS issue can be neatly summarised within it, as opposed to being a seperate incident article.

Edit: actually, I might have got ahead of myself - is this something which has been covered or discussed annywhere other than by yourself? If not, it may fall foul of the No Original Research rule, although a very basic page which basically just lays out the facts which can be established from their website and TOS, and does not provide any commentary beyond this, might be ok.

[[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 07:55, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

==Re: CAT Documentation==
[[User:Keith|@Keith]] I've replied to your message at [[User talk:Travis]]. Let me know if you'd like to discuss further approaches to organizing the documentation. [[User:Travis|Travis]] ([[User talk:Travis|talk]]) 14:43, 17 January 2025 (UTC)

==Delegating tasks==

Hello Keith,

You said at the meetup that you found it easy to delegate.

This interests me because when I was in business, I found it difficult delegate: did not believe people could not do a good enough job and I would be still responsible for the results.

Is this topic of interest to you?

∼∼∼∼

[[User:Janosabel|Janosabel]] ([[User talk:Janosabel|talk]]) 22:48, 10 February 2025 (UTC)

:I think that in the context of wikis or any kind of community project, one needs to be able to trust others to get anywhere (perhaps with some verification too at times).
:I'm under absolutely no illusion that I can do all or even much of this by myself, and we have some really talented and great people on the team!
:There's no way of achieving the results we'd want without spreading the workload and decision-making responsibility. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 09:33, 11 February 2025 (UTC)
::I understand what you mean.
::Just realised, I was speaking about me half a century ago; and not being able to trust delegees cost me a burnout. Without delegation even if imperfect, what must be done cannot be done.
::Unfortunately I cannot help by contributing to the Wiki for lack of academic training in the required writing style, but put on my talk page a witness account how supermarkets expanding to local areas are killing independent small traders.
::PS. What is the difference between <edit source> and using the <reply> button? [[User:Janosabel|Janosabel]] ([[User talk:Janosabel|talk]]) 20:05, 11 February 2025 (UTC)
:::I think the reply button just opens up a small window of the editor, and applies the signature to the message automatically? I'll have a look at what you mentioned, but I'm not sure it quite fits the theme of the Wiki, as we're keeping it focused on anti-consumer activities, rather than general issues with corporate behaviour.
:::And yes, I'll be careful on burnout! I want to avoid the combination of this and my day job driving me mad... [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 23:02, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

==Thanks and silly questions==

Hi Keith,

thanks for adding me to the confirmed users. Total newbie here, i have no idea how to properly contribute. I tried to start a discussion in the Category Leagislation Africa, not sure if it was posted.

Should i ask it directly here? or keep it in that category?

Mika, Madagascar. [[User:Mikadago|Mikadago]] ([[User talk:Mikadago|talk]]) 11:42, 16 August 2025 (UTC)

:I'm happy to reply there, though it will take a few mins to put together an answer and provide some guidance on where best to include the information [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 13:28, 16 August 2025 (UTC)

==Is the main Miku article ready to have the stub removed?==

[[Miku]]

I've been working on getting to Miku article to a better place, is there anything else you think I should add to it before the stub is removed? [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 01:20, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

:Happy to remove the incomplete notice as it's defeinitely better sourced now, but I think it might be s good idea for you to have a look at how the controversies/incidents section is laid out on the [[Netflix]] article, as the way it's done in the Miku article is a little strange, especially with the 'this article sumarizes' bits at the start of paragraphs
:In any case, thank you for the good work! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:46, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

==Why was my page deleted?==

I also see no notices or notifications in regard to this. I thought the whole point of this was for transparency? [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 21:12, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

:From what I can tell you created the article with, other than the information from the form, just a couple of sentences containing an accusation without any citation or reference to support it. After around 12 hours, Mr Pollo added a deletion notice to the article, as there was virtually no information contained in the article. After a couple more days, as the article had not been edited or improved, it was deleted.
:I can't speak to the lack of notifications - usually whenever an article you've been involved in is edited, it will show up in your inbox in the top right of the screen. It's possible that the full deletion of the article resulted in it removing the notifications; I'm not exactly sure of how that interaction works [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 23:01, 17 August 2025 (UTC)
::Well I planned to add more details and citations when I had time. It can't be a draft/work in progress? You have to write everything in one go? [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 04:44, 18 August 2025 (UTC)
:::The wiki generally expects an article to have at least a few references and all of the template parts at least partially filled in within the first few days of an article's creation. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:59, 18 August 2025 (UTC)
:::I'll second what James said, and also add that it's possible to create draft pages within your user space. You do this by adding 'user:[yourname]/' to the start of the page name. This keeps it out of mainspace, meaning it is not searchable by the main search bar.
:::Currently this policy you've encountered is unwritten, so I'll add it to the moderator guidelines shortly. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:30, 18 August 2025 (UTC)
::::Noted. It would be great if there was a regular draft function like in almost every software. (So this doesn’t happen to other new users after their first contribution.) Honestly, after you deleted it, it felt like my contribution is unwanted. [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 04:31, 21 August 2025 (UTC)
:::::That's fair enough - we should add some more text to the article creation flow which explains how user space works, how to make a draft article, and what the policy for handling new articles is. If you'd like, I can get the text from the deleted article and put it on your user talk page or something so you can pick it up from where you left off? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 10:37, 21 August 2025 (UTC)
::::::Thank you that would be great. Looking forward to helping out! [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 18:32, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

==Interenet Archive stub notice seems badly placed==

Hi @[[User:Keith|Keith]], the stub notice on [[Internet Archive]] seems to be after the lead section and not before it. Can you please fix this? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:40, 19 August 2025 (UTC)

:Done! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:23, 19 August 2025 (UTC)

==Question about re-use of sources for LiveView Article==

Hey Keith,

I noticed that for the [[LiveView Technologies AI Surveillance]] article, the same source has been re-used multiple times but shows up with a different citation number. Namely the citations number 6,32, and 33 are duplicates of 4 (LVT Use Cases in Law Enforcement), 14 is a duplicate of 5 (AI-Driven Mobile Security for Every Threat), 35 is a duplicate of 8 (Fusion Centers), and 21 is a duplicate of 20 (Mobile cameras deployed at Monroe County Office Building amid security concerns)

Also the links are missing the archive URLs in the references and some don't have author first and last name or date where they are available on the site or the date is incorrect.

I have a version of the article which shrinks the list of references (citation 33 is now a re-use of citation 4 for that section for example) and also has the relevant archive links and names and dates for each reference where possible.

Should I commit the change? I know that this article may be looked at be people very soon and I'd rather get your approval to change it and have you ready to roll-back or append to it in case you don't like it. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 18:47, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

:I think I'm going to commit the change now, you're free to revert it or check it over in case I messed something up. In the event this article is mentioned at City hall on Thursday, I want it to be the best it can be.
:Thank you for helping with the wiki. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 19:03, 26 August 2025 (UTC)
::Thank you! and yeah, if you notice small formating issues (especially with an article louis has been working on :P ) just go ahead and make the change - that's the way of the wiki! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:41, 26 August 2025 (UTC)
:::Small formatting issues or other non-obvious things like referencing problems* [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:41, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

==Proposal to add a section for organized meetings. (might be a better name for this)==

Hey Keith, I hope I'm not posting here again too early.

I thought about how every time Louis wants to generate interest for a particular issue with regards to getting viewers to organize, most of the time he has to do a video on it and these calls for organization when fighting for a particular issue (such as LVT tomorrow) are based in the United States.

I don't know if this already exists on the wiki (if it does, i'd like to know where it is), but do you think it would be a good idea to create a page specifically for posting the dates and instructions for showing up to demonstrations or hearings for the purposes of pushing back against anti-consumer or anti-privacy related issues? (This could be world-wide).

If someone from the UK for example wanted to organize a demonstration or have people speak at or attend an open council meeting, they would edit a row of a wiki table and list the time of the demonstration, an additional page describing the instructions or requirements to attend, and the issue that will be talked about (similar to rossmanngroup.com/clippyone).

I feel that with something like this, organizing both members of the public and members of the wiki regardless of country would be much easier and could provide a centralized and updated list of upcoming events based on user submission and moderator approval.

Let me know what you think about something like this when you're free to reply, I'd like to hear your thoughts in addition to anyone else who sees this and wants to talk about it. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 17:11, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

:It's definitely on the edge of what makes sense here, but I think that it's worth considering as it could well be useful. Might be something that will end up being done through FULU though in the end... maybe some kind of 'events noticeboard' a bit like the moderator notice could work? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:25, 27 August 2025 (UTC)
::An "events noticeboard" in the way you describe it with moderation is exactly what I was thinking. You're right about how it should be done through FULU directly instead of the wiki, that's a better idea.
::Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. I was just wondering if it was a completely off-the-wall idea. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 23:16, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

==BT article==

Hello Keith, remember [[BT's Digital Voice service in the UK isn't good for the Elderly|this article]]? I pinged you 16 days ago but it seems that it didn’t work and I’ve forgotten about it since. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:27, 16 September 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks for the reminder! as we were both in agreement, I removed the article. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:48, 17 September 2025 (UTC)

==Privacy notice change==

Hello Keith, I was looking through things in the Mediawiki namespace to see how backend works, when I noticed the [[Mediawiki:Footer-privacy-notice]] page and it reminded me of [[Talk:Main Page#stating "Recently updated" not particularly helpful|this on the main page]]. Can we change it quickly or does it need to be done backend? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:37, 20 September 2025 (UTC)

:We're going to do a policy update and a full review of that stuff when we update the backend tomorrow, so I'll make sure it's handled [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:01, 20 September 2025 (UTC)

==Protect Template:Welcome==

Hello, am contacting you directly as I think it is the best way to make this happen, but PLEASE protect Template:Welcome, I doubt we'll get vandalism on there but if we do and it sends a message with it we're done for... [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:06, 13 October 2025 (UTC)

:Oh, also can you make the bot substitute (make the template not change on that page even after it gets updated) the templates for the sake of preservation of the page? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:08, 13 October 2025 (UTC)
::Thanks @[[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] for getting that first one!
::I think I get what you mean re. the substitution, but have no idea how to do it. Will look into it [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:30, 14 October 2025 (UTC)
:Done. Thanks for bringing it up! I'm not sure about your second question though, so I'll leave that to Keith. [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 18:26, 13 October 2025 (UTC)
::Second one is complicated, but the first one is the only important one. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:39, 13 October 2025 (UTC)

==Is it fine for me to get an alternate account?==

Edit: Have no clue why I'd need this in practice, so forget about it. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:33, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

:no worries. In answer to your question, as long as we're notified, and there are no sockpuppetry shenanigans, then the answer is yes. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 15:39, 22 October 2025 (UTC)

==Do you mind if I use AutoWikiBrowser on the CRW?==

Hello, I recently heard about a tool called [[wikipedia:WP:AWB|AutoWikiBrowser]] which is a semi-automated tool meant to help for repetitive smaller edits which I do a lot, do you mind if I use it and if you don't mind, should I use an alternate account for it (maybe with 'bot flag' even though it's not a bot so it doesn't show??) Edit: Also, the page to get this, [[Special:BotPasswords|BotPasswords]], lets you change grants for people/things with the password, so is it okay to let people/things with the password edit protected pages (for things like typo-fixing Project namespace pages)? It is risky if it is obtained.[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:23, 23 October 2025 (UTC)

:Happy for you to use that! sounds like a great tool. No strong opinions on whetehr you make a separate account for it [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:11, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
::On the passwords front, I'm not sure how exactly that works. Does it give you the ability to use your own account via API? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:14, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Yes, botpasswords is pretty much that. It lets you change permissions too, so I can give it only specific permissions for safety reasons. Also, as for the ‘seperate account thing’ Botpasswords (the one that I can use) gives me a new account anyway so there’s no reason for it, just me misunderstanding the usage. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 14:16, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
::::Cool, that sounds fine then! do you need me to do anything to get it set up? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:20, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::No, I’ll do it myself when I next get a chance on my PC (without any special perms as I don’t know why I’d need that!) [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 14:21, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

==Found Large Amount of 404 links for flock article==

Page link: [[Flock license plate readers]]

Hey Keith,

I was checking the sources in the above article and noticed that for a large section of it, the sources will lead directly to pages which either don't exist or result in 404. I really hope that this is just a problem on my end and isn't really the case. Below is the complete list of all sources I found that lead to 404'd pages. On the actual article page, I have also marked the following with the status of usurped for the time being.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ref #

!Title

!Issue

!Archive state

!Link

|-
|20
|"How Vehicle Fingerprint Technology Works"
|404
|no archive
|
https://www.flocksafety.com/resources/how-vehicle-fingerprint-technology-works
|-
|21
|
"License Plate Surveillance Company Can Now Capture Images of Vehicle Occupants' Faces"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.404media.co/flock-safety-can-now-capture-faces-of-vehicle-occupants/
|-
|
22
|
"Transforming Flock: Beyond License Plate Reading to Deliver Greater Insights for Solving Crime"
|
404
|
no archive
|

https://www.flocksafety.com/newsroom/transforming-flock-beyond-license-plate-reading-to-deliver-greater-insights-for-solving-crime/
|-
|
24
|
"Atlas of Surveillance: Flock Safety"
|
goes to deeplinks blog, but no article
|
no archive
|
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/04/atlas-surveillance-flock-safety
|-
|
25
|
"Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore Police Department"
|
404
|no archive
|

https://www.eff.org/cases/leaders-beautiful-struggle-v-baltimore-police-department
|-
|
26
|
"Carpenter and the Evolving Fourth Amendment"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.law.georgetown.edu/american-criminal-law-review/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/01/60-1-Carpenter-and-the-Evolving-Fourth-Amendment.pdf
|-
|
27
|
"Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore Police Department"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67689711/leaders-of-a-beautiful-struggle-v-baltimore-police-department/
|-
|28
|
"Illinois Compiled Statutes - Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act"
|
404
|
no archive
|

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3541&ChapterID=53
|-
|
29
|
"RSA 236:130 Automated License Plate Recognition"
|
potential 404
|
no archive
|
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXI/236/236-130.htm
|-
|
32
|
"Surveillance firm provided ICE access to license plate reader systems"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jul/15/flock-safety-ice-license-plate-reader
|-
|
33
|
"How Flock Safety is Building a Surveillance Network for ICE"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/03/flock-safety-and-ice
|-
|
34
|
"ICE Surveillance of Immigrants and Advocates"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://americanoversight.org/investigation/ice-surveillance-of-immigrants-and-advocates/
|-
|
35
|
"ACLU Obtains Records Showing ICE Using License Plate Readers in Sanctuary Cities"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.aclunc.org/news/aclu-obtains-records-showing-ice-using-license-plate-readers-sanctuary-cities
|-
|
36
|
"License Plate Readers Are Creating a US-Wide Database of More Than Just Cars"
|404
|no archive
|
https://www.vice.com/en/article/license-plate-readers-abortion-clinics-texas
|-
|37
|"Reproductive Surveillance in Post-Roe America"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.surveillancewatch.io/reproductive-surveillance-post-roe/
|-
|38
|"State Shield Laws and Reproductive Privacy"
|dead site
|no archive
|https://reproductiverights.gov/shield-laws/
|-
|39
|"Flock Safety Employees Caught Misusing Access to Surveillance Network"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.wired.com/story/flock-safety-employees-misuse-access/
|-
|40
|"Audit Reveals Hundreds of Flock Safety Privacy Violations"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.techdirt.com/2024/05/15/audit-reveals-hundreds-of-flock-safety-privacy-violations/
|-
|41
|"When License Plate Readers Become Tools for Stalking"
|404
|no archive
|https://apnews.com/article/license-plate-readers-police-misuse-stalking
|-
|42
|"Detroit Officer Fired for Using City Cameras to Track Ex-Wife"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2024/03/officer-fired-tracking-ex-wife/
|-
|43
|"Proactive Security Disclosure Q2 2025"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/proactive-security-disclosure-q2-2025
|}
If you discover no issues (or the formatting of this table turns out horrible and breaks your talk page), disregard this and remove my topic from your page. And revert the change I made to the article where I marked the mentioned links as usurped.

Hopefully if these sites really lead to nothing and it's not just me, then the table makes it easy for you to do something. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 02:52, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

:Had a bit of a dig and my suspicion, expecially since these references are all next to each other, is that there was probably some AI chicanery in the making of the article.
:Seem to be poitentially based on real pages, e.g. this one:
:https://www.eff.org/document/fourth-circuit-ruling-leaders-beautiful-struggle-v-baltimore-police-department
:is probably meant to be #25 instead of what is currently there
:I'd recommend sticking this table on the Flock talk page (if you haven't already) and letting people know they might need to look for what these links are meant to be [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:19, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
::I went ahead and added the table to the discussion tab. Should there be a notice at the top of the Flock page to make people aware? Or leave it as is? [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 17:42, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Nevermind about the notice. The references were small enough to not need them for the most part. I started working on fixing some of them [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 18:30, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

==Oversighted something==

Hello, Keith! I just wanted to let you know I just gave myself the 'suppressor' user right as I oversighted what I think could be your IP address for privacy reasons. The info is at [[Special:Diff/805]]. If it isn't your IP address, feel free to revert what I just did. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 11:32, 30 November 2025 (UTC)

:I think it might have been (though very good chance it was some temp VPN/mobile IP address). In any case, thank you for spotting it! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 12:09, 30 November 2025 (UTC)

==being able to edit Discussions==

hey so I just discovered I can edit discussions. not only mine but any1 elses. is this an oversight? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 20:23, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

:Not sure - might just be how wikis are (given that edit logs are public, it's pretty easy to combat anyone trying to abuse it, same as with article vandalism)
:I'll page in @[[User:UntoK|UntoK]] in case it's something that isn't how it should be [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 23:13, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
::Nah, that's MediaWiki. Nothing unusual there. Edit Source is actually the default way to edit discussions in MediaWiki, but the interface is changed by an extension (forgot the name), so that it shows as this instead of just the edit source button. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:37, 5 December 2025 (UTC)
:::dk y I didn't notice that b4. I've been on and off w contribs so thought smth changed since my last visit. anyhow thanks for clearing up the concern. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:00, 8 December 2025 (UTC)

=="fixing" recent changes==

since the introduction of [[Template:Welcome]], [[Special:RecentChanges]] has become a graveyard of User:Talks that I have to sift through in order to double check people's work. can we please block [[User:New_user_message]] from showing up on there?

edit: the bot bypasses the "Human (not bot) active filter
[[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 22:12, 26 December 2025 (UTC)

:yeah, that's a localsettings.php part that Keith can pass on to Unto. setting $wgNewUserSuppressRC to true should work. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 10:50, 1 January 2026 (UTC)
::as a temp fix, [https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Special:RecentChanges?hidebots=1&namespace=3&invert=1&limit=100&days=7&enhanced=1&urlversion=2 this] should work [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 10:54, 1 January 2026 (UTC)
:::legend. thank you [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:43, 1 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Hi @[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] - took a bit of a break over the holidays so sorry for not replying. I'll contact Unto and see if he can take a look [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:12, 5 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::Fair enough! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:49, 5 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::any update? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 17:55, 12 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::I've put Unto on it but no update. I'll chase him [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:30, 13 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Darth Sidious says "do it". [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:36, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::any update? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 23:08, 27 February 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::I think it's been fixed? I don't see New User Message clogging up the feed anymore [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:54, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::::I certainly remember that we tried to fix it, and I think it seemed to work [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:54, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::::oh... I was using ACRP's temp fix so I did not realize and thought it was still broken lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:06, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

==*sigh*==

Where are the projects (again)? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:04, 19 January 2026 (UTC)

:deja vu? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:42, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
::[[Consumer_Rights_Wiki_talk:Moderators%27_noticeboard#*sigh*|oh]] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:48, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
:::LOL, made me chuckle seeing your replies! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:55, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
::::hey as a wise man once said "if you are good at something, never do it for free". that'll be $5 my friend [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:05, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::yeah, replied on the noticeboard, but just adding here - I think an update must have broken it. have contacted Unto [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 01:07, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::@[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] @[[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] Fixed! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:52, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

==sorry for the ping==

I used the intro text from [[Texas Attorney General sues multiple TV makers over ACR user data collection]] to add to the Incidents section for each of the mentioned companies. In the edit summary I linked you. Ik that @ and [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 22:33, 21 January 2026 (UTC) ping the user but idk abt linking. regardless sorry abt the pings

:th happened here? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 22:34, 21 January 2026 (UTC)
::No worries! I don't think @s in edit summaries cause pings anyway [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:37, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

==alternative to Discord==

I don't use Discord. many members of the wiki don't use Discord. can't talk on their behalf but I can mine. if there was a Matrix or heck Signal gc (lol), I'd love to be a part of it. are there any plans for migration off Discord or perhaps providing w an alternative they'd be more comfortable with? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:32, 23 January 2026 (UTC)

:We're hoping to get a Zulip bridge with the Discord in the next couple of months. This would allow people to essentially join the Discord without joining the Discord, with the exception of a couple of features like bot commands and voice channels. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:19, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::lovely looking forward to it [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 09:44, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::is the Zulip bridge still under consideration following the impending age verification push in March? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 23:07, 27 February 2026 (UTC)
::::I've not heard of Zulip but it sounds like some sort of proxy? I'd prefer something like Matrix but that seems great too. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:44, 28 February 2026 (UTC)
:::::Zulip is a bit like a matrix/discord-y thing, and we'd use plugins to essentially crosspost everything that's sent to it to the discord and vice versa. It's still coming along but I've been crap and haven't got the server paid up yet. will try and do this next week and we can hopefully get it up shortly. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:45, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Just in case yous hadn't noticed it on the main page @[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] @[[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]], we're moving our monthly hangout meetings from discord to zoom so as to include more of the community, and you're both welcome to join! first one is at 20:00 UTC tomorrow. if you pop me an email over to help@consumerrights.wiki, I'll send you the zoom link (son't want to posted publicly for obvious reasons) [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:50, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::I've seen that, I'm not interested in joining though. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:21, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::oh I totally missed that. I'll shoot over an email and add it to my calendar but dk if I'll be able to join. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:09, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Apologies for not seeing this sooner - I'll send over a link just now! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:34, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Hi, any update on the Zulip bridge? Sorry for asking after such a short time but I'd really like to use it! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:24, 5 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] any update still? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 12:44, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Jake's on it - we've been going back and forth over whether to have a managed instance or self hosted - sry for the kerfuffle! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:34, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

==Can you help moving my page==

Sorry I said this 3 times or more, I got confused, can you move please, I moved it in wrong place, may I ask should I ask here instead of the pages I placed [[User:^&*|^&*]] ([[User talk:^&*|talk]]) 21:23, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

:Thank you but should I create it in the user page just to clarify [[User:^&*|^&*]] ([[User talk:^&*|talk]]) 21:34, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
::Don't want to be nuisance that all when doing my article [[User:^&*|^&*]] ([[User talk:^&*|talk]]) 21:35, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
:::I've replied on your user page - think it should be alright now? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:38, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
::::your user talk page* [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:38, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

==Adding categories==

Hello, please don't add categories in the visual editor as it doesn't work, instead simply type <code><nowiki>[[Category:CATEGORYNAME]]</nowiki></code> and replace CATEGORYNAME with the name of the category, otherwise it won't work. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:57, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

:Apologies, thank you! I usually use source but I think there I just hit 'edit' by accident as was trying to set it up quickly. just so you know, I've replied to stefan's questions on the page he moved - thank you for moving the page he created! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:31, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

==Regarding a recent article I created==

Hello, Keith! I have finally decided to become a contributor here. The article I've been working on is [[Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development|Happy Bar & Grill Biometric Surveillance]]. However, when someone I've sent the link to opens it, they see the version that was last updated before I created my profile. What could be causing this? I apologise for any lack of knowledge on my part. [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 18:23, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

:Unfortunately this is a problem with cloudflare's caching. If you wait a short while, or they log in, they should see the updated version. We've found a solution and will be shipping it with the next version of the wiki so that page edits are instantly reflected in cached versions of pages. Until then, it's just a case of waiting a while or logging in (logging in bypasses the cache as it needs to load user-specific elements). Great work on the article by the way! Just as a heads up, we're happy to have sources in non-english languages, so if you find any Bulgarian sources discussing it, those would be great to add to the article to demonstrate notability. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 18:42, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::Oops, apparently I was spreading misinformation on the internet regarding the exact reasons for it not being cached, but the gist is still the same, which is that logged-in users bypass the cache! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 18:48, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::Thank you for the swift reply and the explanation! It's so refreshing to see people working hard and helping others for a good cause. Also very happy to hear that you like how the article has turned out so far. I've extensively searched for any other sources regarding the issue, but found nothing. I guess someone has to start the discussion! :D
::Just to confirm: is the wiki English-only? I'd love to make the article more accessible to my compatriots, but I suppose I'll just tell them to use the automatic translation option on their browser. [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 21:05, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
:::The wiki is english only yeah, for moderation purposes (we don't have a team that's reliably able to check the quality of non-english articles). if you wanted, though, we'd be happy for you to put a bulgarian version in your user space (i.e. the page lives at consumerrights.wiki/w/User:Juuns/[pagename]) - just make sure to put a note in english at the top so that none of the mods mistake it for a spam article! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:48, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Hey there, thanks for the advice! Is that alright? https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Iw/User:Juuns/%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B2_Happy_Bar_%26_Grill_-_bg_translation_of_an_existing_article/&veaction=edit [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 08:35, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::Yep! The URL looks cursed written out like that lol but it's in the right place [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:24, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Hello again, Keith!
::::::I and the small team I've created have made huge progress regarding the surveillance situation at Happy Bar and Dinner. We posted the wiki on the r/bulgaria subreddit, and it topped the daily chart in less than three hours. People are outraged.
::::::I've managed to contact an advocate from the opposition here who agreed to share the wiki on her Facebook page (over 10,000 followers). She also agreed to work with me to make the topic go viral and will send this to other human rights and anti-mafia activists in Bulgaria. We've planned to create several videos in various forms regarding the issue.
::::::I am writing with a big request that would be extremely beneficial to my cause and the wiki: Could you contact Louis Rossmann and share the wiki with him? Alternatively, you could connect him to me so I can tell him more about it.
::::::I understand this is a big request, but I would be very thankful for your help :) [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 18:43, 11 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::That's great! I've passed the info on, and will let you know the response
:::::::This is exactly how I've been hoping to see the wiki be used, so I'm really excited that it's getting picked up! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:20, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Hello again, Keith. Things are spreading like wildfire and are getting very heated. An official position from Happy Bar & Grill has been released. They are aggressively denying the claims, but their statement actually contains several contradictions that validate my research rather than disprove it.
::::::::In their official position, Happy Bar & Grill claims to have already notified the wiki's administrators (you and Rossmann, I suppose), issuing what they describe as a "categorical demand" for the removal of all alleged misinformation within a 24-hour ultimatum. Could you confirm if such a notice was received? A corporation issuing a 24-hour take-down ultimatum to an independent documentation project before any independent audit or regulatory investigation has taken place is simply outrageous.
::::::::Some of the main points I wanted to cover:
::::::::First, there is a major timeline discrepancy. Happy claims they received an offer from GI Mobility Services (linked to IP Biometrix? I cannot find any information about them, and other people have come up with nothing as well) in 2023 and officially rejected it on 14 December 2023. However, my archived evidence from IP Biometrix's portfolio shows a screenshot dated 9 November 2024—almost a year after they claim to have rejected the proposal. If they truly rejected the system in 2023, why does the vendor's portfolio display active implementation data from late 2024? Why was the article on their page until 2026? Also, there was an image displaying logos of partner companies still on IP Biometrix's page until 11 March 2026. They took that down just a few hours! This suggests either the system was further tested despite the rejection, or their timeline is fabricated to cover ongoing processing. My main hypothesis right now is that GI Mobility Services is the old version of IP Biometrix. IP Biometrix is a very new company, established at the end of 2023, just around the time of the implied rejected proposal.
::::::::Second, their statement completely omits any mention of "Burrata Italiana," despite it being owned by the same group. Is this supposed to be implied? My evidence specifically identifies the biometric dashboard screenshots as originating from the Burrata Italiana location in Varna.
::::::::Third, the article on Boulevard Bulgaria (one of the most shared articles regarding the topic), in my eyes, appears to be paid or ordered content, mirroring Happy's language almost verbatim without independent verification. It is even on their top page (archived here: https://web.archive.org/web/20260312235007/https://boulevardbulgaria.bg/). Meanwhile, they are attempting to discredit consumerrights.wiki by calling it an unverified anonymous wiki. THIS ATTACKS THE INTEGRITY OF THE WHOLE PLATFORM! I must stand firm that I am NOT spreading misinformation; I am documenting archived vendor evidence and public records. For the past couple of hours, I have made as many archives as possible for any news articles, blogs, and information regarding this.
::::::::They are trying to suppress the discussion before it has begun, but I believe it's too late. Many people have already shared this on social media and are also quite sceptical of Happy's response. A deeper dive into IP Biometrix as a whole is needed to check whether other companies also use such a system. They are very shady; they have many other "partners." They are the main issue. I will try to update the page with their denial as soon as possible, but contextualise it with these contradictions so readers see the full picture.
::::::::For your reference, here are some of the key articles circulating regarding this situation:
::::::::Post in r/bulgaria: Where it all started. After this thread was made, this issue gained massive traction in no time, featuring thousands of views and hundreds of comments from concerned citizens, topping the weekly chart in less than 24 hours: https://www.reddit.com/r/bulgaria/comments/1rqxn90/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B2_%D1%85%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B8/
::::::::Boulevard Bulgaria: This article mirrors the official corporate release almost verbatim and lacks independent verification. It appears to be coordinated PR rather than journalism: https://boulevardbulgaria.bg/articles/happy-tvardeniyata-che-verigata-sledi-klientite-si-s-ai-kameri-sa-absolyutno-neverni
::::::::Mobile Bulgaria: General news coverage discussing the allegations and the company's response. https://mobilebulgaria.com/news/izpolzva-li-happy-bar-grill-litsevo-razpoznavane-s-ai-v-restorantite-si
::::::::Kaldata: Technical analysis and reporting on the AI camera systems in restaurants and the company's response. https://www.kaldata.com/it-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/ai-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7-650764.html
::::::::Other useful information:
::::::::IP Biometrix: Their current website shows no information or response regarding the events. https://ip-biometrix.com/
::::::::Confirmation that this is indeed "Burrata Italiana Varna" in Varna, Bulgaria: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Burrata+Italiana+Varna/@43.1962014,27.9154998,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x40a453f66ec877b1:0x1331c25a3c536926!8m2!3d43.1962014!4d27.9180747!16s%2Fg%2F11js3ffhz7?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D; [[:File:IP Biometrix AI surveillance dashboard.png]]
::::::::There are other outlets covering this as well, but these are the primary sources needed. I am disgusted by Happy's answer and Boulevard Bulgaria's PR-like article. Please inform Louis to check the email I've sent about this issue; I've formulated all the needed information there. I am furious. [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 01:15, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::Crucial note: While the filename indicates November 2024, this date relies on the vendor's naming convention and cannot be forensically verified. Additionally, there is another screenshot in the article from that same date (Screenshot-2024-11-09-121619.png), which may indicate that the screenshots were made when the article was posted rather than during live operation." [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 02:27, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::Unfortunately, I cannot dedicate unlimited time to maintaining and updating this page alone given the rapid developments. I would greatly appreciate any help regarding that. :) [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 02:34, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::yep, we've recieved it alright. I'm reworking the article a bit at the moment, to ensure that it's a bit more neutral, fits our editorial policies etc., and does not make any original claims beyond those contained in sources. My current understanding is that there is no evidence that the system has been deployed at scale, as such I'm moving/renaming the article and rewording some of the content.
:::::::::I'd appreciate if you could keep your bg translation up-to-date with the changes made to the english article (or find someone who is able to do so) to make sure that it's in-line as well. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 07:08, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::I've edited and added as much context as I could to both articles for now. I'm going to take a little break for the rest of the day. Thanks a lot for your support and dedication to this issue and the wiki as a whole. Talk to you soon! [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 09:56, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::::Lastly for now, could you move the translation to change the title? Разработка на биометричен инструмент за наблюдение на Happy Bar & Grill/Burrata. I suggest specifying Burrata in the English version as well, as we have implication from the company's response that the screenshot of the monitoring is real and not fabricated (pleas read their official response thoroughly before doing anything). [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 10:03, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::::update on the above - i fucked up my original edit I was referring to in the above comment, and for some reason it didn't get committed to the article. I've re-made it now. it basically walks back some of the claims where the article was making strong inferences and interpretations of what the sources were saying, to ensure that we're not speculating (given the nature of the site as a wiki, we should not generally be doing original interpretation of sources in articles, especially where they relate to practices carried out by a company)
::::::::::::I read a translation of the statement (seems like the full version is posted to MobileBulgaria) and have been basing my understanding on that. feel free to come back to me if I've misinterpreted it to a significant extent [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 07:47, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

==Stub Pains==

Hey Keith,

I'm way out of my depth here with these stub notices, I added a stub to two new articles I made not realizing they would literally prevent my ability to add any text to the article.

links: [[AirPods connection vulnerability]] | [[AirPods Max moisture issue]]

When I attempt to make a change to the article, I was getting a stub deletion error. If I did something wrong, would you be able to explain what exactly happened with this so it doesn't happen again? [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 06:55, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

:(IN CASE YOU COULDN'T NOTICE, I'M NOT KEITH!) This is a common issue that users have had for a very long time now. If you edit anywhere before or on the line of the stub notice, something called the abuse filter says "nope, lol, nice try" and blocks the edit. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 07:18, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
::Should work now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 07:20, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
:Ah, I think I did the same thing as ACRP, but the stub notices are now on their own line and not touching anything else, so there shouldn't be any further issues [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:30, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

==Publicising RfCs==

Hello, the RfCs you made haven't gotten any attention. Should we publicise them better? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:34, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

:Yeah, I'll set up some kind of hub that includes pages with the RfC category or something. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:23, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
::ok, I made a category for open and closed RfCs, transcluded them on a page, and linked to it from the policy index. idk if there's anywhere else it should be? I guess it's probably worth mentioning on some of the guide-y pages [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:44, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

==Arbys article weird ref issue==

[[Arby's]]

hey keith, when I look at the arby's article, it says in the references, ref goes here, but then when I try to edit it out, it goes away. is there any way to fix this? If you figure out a way, I'd love to know. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 16:09, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

:That ref is caused by [[Template:Ph-C-Int]]. Remove that and the ref will disappear as well. You can't delete the ref without deleting the box. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 09:39, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::Thank you for the help, I've replaced the box with a simple message to do the summary. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 02:46, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

== Bill JSON link merge issue for API ==

[[Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption]] [low priority issue]

Some citations involving API requests and pulling JSON have the selector merged with the actual link, resulting in a direct click of the link returning a non-valid result.

Example: Ref #19 links: https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname), when everything after the question mark should be non-linked, and the original link should have everything after the question mark removed. Then click check should return valid JSON objects.

I've added the following string to all references where I believe this appears, I've only gone through half the list however: "!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!"

If there are any other instances of this happening, I'll make another minor edit, feel free to revert if there's actually no real problem and I'm going insane.

It really would be nice to do the JSON parsing within the actual link and have the API return the valid results, unfortunate. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 03:35, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-29T03:26:54Z

Left4Code: JSON selector errors for Keith.

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |last=Monahan |first=Jack |date=2024 |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422190215/https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |archive-date=2026-04-22 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association)}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |author=Ashworth |first=Boone |date=2026-04-02 |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260426201220/https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |archive-date=2026-04-26 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Wired}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260427021341/https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |archive-date=2026-04-27 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260402220622/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |archive-date=2026-04-02 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415102419/https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB23-1011 |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801033011/https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2025-08-01 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |publisher=The White House |date=February 12, 2013}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |publisher=CISA |date=August 2020}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Bill Search," enter "SB26-090" as the bill number, and select the 2025-2026 session. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |access-date=2026-04-03 |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code>

!!! JSON SELECTOR MERGED WITH LINK, RESULTS IN BROKEN CLICK !!!</ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code></ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |author=Chamberlain |first=Elizabeth |date=2026-04-01 |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403085840/https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=iFixit}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Page 26 of CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guideline recommends actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820180415/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-20 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency}}</ref>
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Table 2: Comparison of Maintenance and Operations Models''<ref name=":0" />
!Models
!Advantages
!Disadvantages
|-
|'''Vendor, including parts and labor'''
|
*Vendors understand the system and often provide a fast solution to any issues
*Agencies can learn from vendor solutions
*Agencies are under obligation to pay per contract terms; thus, the level of service is not affected by fiscal climate
|
*This is typically the highest-cost option
*Agencies have less control over the level of support and solution offered
*Agencies may rely on vendors and not learn how to effectively operate the system or troubleshoot any issue
|-
|'''In-house staff'''
|
*This is typically the lowest-cost option
*Agencies have the greatest control over the level of support and solution
*Agencies learn how to effectively operate the systems and troubleshoot any issues
|
*There is a steep learning curve for new systems
*Staff may not have the technical ability
*The level of maintenance can be affected by the agency’s fiscal climate
*There may be additional costs for parts and some labor
|-
|'''Third-party public agency'''
|
*There are typically high-quality technical staff
*This allows for efficient operations and potential cost-savings across enterprise-wide operations
*Knowledge is retained within the public agency
|
*This requires an IAA signed by leadership
*The primary agency has less control over level of support and solutions offered
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians to fix issues and agency does not learn how to effectively operate the system
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|-
|'''Third-party private entity'''
|
*Typically high-quality technical staff
*This is a good option if agency does not have knowledgeable staff to manage M&O
|
*This requires a separate service contract
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|}
Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-29T02:31:51Z

Left4Code: added 01 to reference source date for ref42, I think this is correct, couldn't find the day inside the pdf or on the site, metadata to the rescue.

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association) |date=2024}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |author=Boone Ashworth |publisher=Wired |date=April 2, 2026}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP |date=2024}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |publisher=The White House |date=February 12, 2013}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |publisher=CISA |date=August 2020}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Bill Search," enter "SB26-090" as the bill number, and select the 2025-2026 session. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code></ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code></ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |author=Elizabeth Chamberlain |publisher=iFixit |date=April 1, 2026}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Page 26 of CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guideline recommends actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820180415/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-20 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency}}</ref>
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Table 2: Comparison of Maintenance and Operations Models''<ref name=":0" />
!Models
!Advantages
!Disadvantages
|-
|'''Vendor, including parts and labor'''
|
*Vendors understand the system and often provide a fast solution to any issues
*Agencies can learn from vendor solutions
*Agencies are under obligation to pay per contract terms; thus, the level of service is not affected by fiscal climate
|
*This is typically the highest-cost option
*Agencies have less control over the level of support and solution offered
*Agencies may rely on vendors and not learn how to effectively operate the system or troubleshoot any issue
|-
|'''In-house staff'''
|
*This is typically the lowest-cost option
*Agencies have the greatest control over the level of support and solution
*Agencies learn how to effectively operate the systems and troubleshoot any issues
|
*There is a steep learning curve for new systems
*Staff may not have the technical ability
*The level of maintenance can be affected by the agency’s fiscal climate
*There may be additional costs for parts and some labor
|-
|'''Third-party public agency'''
|
*There are typically high-quality technical staff
*This allows for efficient operations and potential cost-savings across enterprise-wide operations
*Knowledge is retained within the public agency
|
*This requires an IAA signed by leadership
*The primary agency has less control over level of support and solutions offered
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians to fix issues and agency does not learn how to effectively operate the system
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|-
|'''Third-party private entity'''
|
*Typically high-quality technical staff
*This is a good option if agency does not have knowledgeable staff to manage M&O
|
*This requires a separate service contract
*This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians
*This may not include parts and labor costs
|}
Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-29T02:25:14Z

Left4Code: Ripped table from cisa guide, added it as a source (I still need to check in the references that it's not already been cited) and I added "Page 26 of" to the first bit, I don't know if this should be kept or if it could be added in a better way (unfortunately the PDF ToC for the document doesn't directly reference it to my knowledge)

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association) |date=2024}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |author=Boone Ashworth |publisher=Wired |date=April 2, 2026}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP |date=2024}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |publisher=The White House |date=February 12, 2013}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |publisher=CISA |date=August 2020}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Bill Search," enter "SB26-090" as the bill number, and select the 2025-2026 session. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code></ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code></ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |author=Elizabeth Chamberlain |publisher=iFixit |date=April 1, 2026}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Page 26 of CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guideline recommends actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07 |title=Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820180415/https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/July%202025%20Emergency%20Communications%20System%20Lifecycle%20Planning%20Guide_508c.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-20 |access-date=2026-04-29 |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency}}</ref>
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Table 2: Comparison of Maintenance and Operations Models''<ref name=":0" />
!Models
!Advantages
!Disadvantages
|-
|'''Vendor, including parts and labor'''
|
* Vendors understand the system and often provide a fast solution to any issues
* Agencies can learn from vendor solutions
* Agencies are under obligation to pay per contract terms; thus, the level of service is not affected by fiscal climate
|
* This is typically the highest-cost option
* Agencies have less control over the level of support and solution offered
* Agencies may rely on vendors and not learn how to effectively operate the system or troubleshoot any issue
|-
|'''In-house staff'''
|
* This is typically the lowest-cost option
* Agencies have the greatest control over the level of support and solution
* Agencies learn how to effectively operate the systems and troubleshoot any issues
|
* There is a steep learning curve for new systems
* Staff may not have the technical ability
* The level of maintenance can be affected by the agency’s fiscal climate
* There may be additional costs for parts and some labor
|-
|'''Third-party public agency'''
|
* There are typically high-quality technical staff
* This allows for efficient operations and potential cost-savings across enterprise-wide operations
* Knowledge is retained within the public agency
|
* This requires an IAA signed by leadership
* The primary agency has less control over level of support and solutions offered
* This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians to fix issues and agency does not learn how to effectively operate the system
* This may not include parts and labor costs
|-
|'''Third-party private entity'''
|
* Typically high-quality technical staff
* This is a good option if agency does not have knowledgeable staff to manage M&O
|
* This requires a separate service contract
* This may lead to over reliance on third-party technicians
* This may not include parts and labor costs
|}
Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-29T01:55:15Z

Left4Code: [some help for my dearest Louis 😘💕💕.] [I need to add the table, source, and grammar check before I consider this complete. Hopefully I'm on the right track]. If someone else wants to get in on this, let's make it better!

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association) |date=2024}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |author=Boone Ashworth |publisher=Wired |date=April 2, 2026}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP |date=2024}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |publisher=The White House |date=February 12, 2013}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |publisher=CISA |date=August 2020}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Bill Search," enter "SB26-090" as the bill number, and select the 2025-2026 session. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code></ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code></ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |author=Elizabeth Chamberlain |publisher=iFixit |date=April 1, 2026}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

CISA's Emergency Communications Lifecycle guidelines recommend actions which support the availability of parts and ability to repair, in order to keep critical infrastructure functioning, stating in their "best practices":<blockquote>
*'''Monitor''' M&O ticket items and repair requests managed by the vendor or the agency to inform future purchases (e.g., identify radios that are constantly in the shop or need to be repaired)

*'''Monitor''' repair costs as reported by the vendor or recorded by the agency (e.g., replacement parts, level of effort) to understand full cost of M&O program and to inform future decisions

*'''Continually communicate''' with the vendor on solutions available after M&O contracts have expired (e.g., will the vendor still support the system, will replacement parts be available)
*'''Stockpile spare parts''' while they are available (i.e., before the vendor stops supporting or discontinues manufacturing certain parts); this can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment
</blockquote>Additionally, the following table has been provided by CISA with emphasis on "Vendor, including parts and labor" and "Third-party public agency" which outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various lifecycle models when incorporating different equipment solutions.

Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-29T01:11:33Z

Left4Code: spelling

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] law (HB24-1121), which is a broad piece of right to repair legislation that implemented right to repair without the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association) |date=2024}}</ref>

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described the existing Colorado law as giving Colorado residents "the broadest repair rights in the country", and noted the potential for bill SB26-090 to roll back these rights.<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |author=Boone Ashworth |publisher=Wired |date=April 2, 2026}}</ref> Bill SB26-090 borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, and information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> The primary contention around the adoption of this definition relates to its scope, as the bill does not define "information technology equipment", which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't".<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's existing right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the wider right to repair movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. The act requires the manufacturers of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers and owners with parts, tools, documentation, and schematics on fair and reasonable terms.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP |date=2024}}</ref> "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider." The law also bans the use of [[parts pairing]] in ways which would reduce repairability or functionality.<ref name="proskauer" />

The act was sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as Senators Jeff Bridges and Nick Hinrichsen, passing the Colorado House by a vote of 39-18, and the Senate by a vote of 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction and energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, and internet/video/voice routers from its right to repair provisions,<ref name="proskauer" /> and treats violations as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. By way of comparison to other states, Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota's right to repair laws all contained exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start, whereas HB24-1121 contained no such exemptions.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> This meant that enterprise networking hardware, servers, and business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones and laptops, unless they independently fell within another exemption.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" />

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), and Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 and 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate and House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==Defining critical infrastructure==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |publisher=The White House |date=February 12, 2013}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The breadth of CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, and logistics, despite no formal change in definition.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |publisher=CISA |date=August 2020}}</ref> Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that using similar logic, it would be easy for manufacturers to greatly expand the range of devices classified as critical infrastructure <ref name="Rossmann">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwc5HKnOmGg |title=Colorado senators destroyed right to repair; please contact them and ask them not to |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-04-04 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google LLC |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref>.

The bill also does not provide an explicit definition of "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold and does not define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying on behalf of SB26-090==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support",<ref name="cisco-nep" /> despite the [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibiting manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the SB26-060, and has a general stance against the extension of right to repair to enterprise devices. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, and 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Bill Search," enter "SB26-090" as the bill number, and select the 2025-2026 session. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

Of the 40 supporting registrations, 20 come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill. <ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, and Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation (Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC).<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling and Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered themselves as lobbyists for both Cisco and the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced, and IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Since a lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced, consumer advocate Louis Rossmann noted that same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies could indicate that they both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed<ref name="Rossmann" />. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, and the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 and 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, and FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code></ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 and December 2025. In January 2026, the payment increased to $7,500.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 and February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies and Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors and committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code></ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM and the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, and NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists and firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors and five committee members between 2024 and early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors and committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), and Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Iman Jodeh received no donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" />

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations and bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), and TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three and matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

==Cybersecurity implications==

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, and schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the bill's hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Some cybersecurity researchers have directly disputed the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios, and threat researcher Andrew Brandt, spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |author=Elizabeth Chamberlain |publisher=iFixit |date=April 1, 2026}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger and founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Repair advocates have also made the argument that restricting independent repair can have the unintended consequence of making critical infrastructure less secure, due to the need for timely repairs which may not be available through manufacturer-approved technicians.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Misleading claim from bill sponsor about the Governor's stance===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>

However, Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> While the website for the Governor of Colorado's press release concerning House Bill 24-1121 originally stated " View the Governor’s signing statement" which would have customarily had a hyperlink to the signing statement, no hyperlink was included. Upon emailing the Governor's staff on 4-21-2026, the website was updated and the link corrected. The signing statement reads, in part: <blockquote>This bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, and I encourage stakeholders to continue conversations in the interim to ensure that the full list of exclusions is appropriate and exhaustive, and take into consideration concerns that were raised during the process. <ref>{{Cite web |title=HB24-1121 Signing Statement |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fftPj_EH5chO5Nh9huHz04M8D3YEyVP-/view}}</ref><ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>

==Similar attempts in other states==
In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 and effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices and heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Several states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, and Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state and passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:US legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson

2026-03-14T20:52:20Z

Left4Code: /* adding archive video to article */ Reply

{{User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson/Transcluded thingy}}

Hi! This is my user talk page. Just leave me a message and I’ll respond when I can. If you want a request for a moderator to do something, it is much better for you to go to the [[Project talk:Moderators' noticeboard|Moderators' noticeboard]], as it will be much quicker to get a response than here and I'm very active there too.
 '''If there is a message I haven't replied to in more than 5 days, then I'm completely fine with you spam pinging me until I do reply.'''
==Do you need a hand?==

I just saw your edit notes lol, but not sure exactly what you're trying? If you need a hand I can try and help/find someone who's around. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:43, 5 October 2025 (UTC)

:Lol thanks, I am trying to add userscripts and losing my mind trying. I am trying to upload from Wikipedia and into my common.js file which (on Wikipedia at least) automatically runs for you to do something, but it is completely failing. It probably isn’t possible and I am wasting my time to be honest. Thanks for asking! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:03, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
::Have looked into it with some of the technical folks, and we currently have user Javascript disabled for security reasons. I'll have them take a look and get back to you! But just wanted to let you know it wasn't a 'you' problem lol [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:48, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Ah okay! Time to use common.css (somehow??) [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:47, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Thinking about it, I am quite happy that you chose to disable Javascript! I hate that thing anyway because it is not secure and looks like a pain to program in anyway. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:48, 6 October 2025 (UTC)

==Wiki help==

Hi! I have a wiki on Miraheze that I created recently and was wondering if you're open to helping me out with some admin stuff? You seem to enjoy tinkering with CRW, so I was hoping we could work together for a bit on this new wiki. Is that something you'd be interested in? [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 17:57, 8 October 2025 (UTC)

:Sure! I actually have self-hosted mediawiki instances (on my own computer using something called XAMPP, you can’t look it up online) so I wouldn’t mind helping out! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:25, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:Also, how did you get the name ‘Beanie Bo’? I’ve been curious but never asked on your talk page. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:26, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::Nice! Can you email me via my user page and let me know your email so we can talk about it? The wiki is currently set to private but I'll open it so you can create a user account.
::As for my wiki name, well Beanie is just a throwaway that I use sometimes. It was a play on Mr. Bean lol, and the Bo part just randomly came to mind when I created this wiki account. I didn't expect to be so involved with CRW for this long but it turned out great! [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 19:44, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Sorry, I don’t use my main email for things like wikis, but I can attach a temporary email address if you want to talk via email. I used to use a temporary email address up until I thought it was an awful idea if I randomly got mail from it. Cool story on the name though! Did remind me of Mr. Bean. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:49, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::It's all good. I'll just link it here. Apparently you can create account even when it's set to private...? I'll verify you once it shows up for me. Also, I can't do much at the moment since I'm not at my desktop. The mobile theme is so broken lol.. maybe tomorrow we can discuss it more
[[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 20:04, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::You cannot create an account, I couldn’t find the create account button there so I went to [[Special:CreateAccount]] where it said you needed to be a member to create it. There is a setting in MediaWiki where you can make others be able to request an account and you can accept it, though. That is probably what you saw. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:22, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::I made it public. Should be good now (I hope!) [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 21:00, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Yeah, it works - going to create an account now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:12, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

==lmao what is going on with your commits==

im looking at the wiki commit log feed and you seem to be having a lot of fun with commit names such as "huh" and "WHAAT". very entertaining seeing you go. have a nice day :) [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 19:57, 19 October 2025 (UTC)

:Yeah, I love having fun in edit summaries lol. Especially as they generally aren’t seen (except when I go to [[Special:Random]] and go to page history). Glad someone enjoys them! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:01, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::Ive read through some of your stuff. You arent on discord so you dont know this, but on the wiki discord there is a channel that is just a big stream of commits with their summary. I love peeking through them and seeing what people are doing. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:03, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::LOL what??? That is insane… Thanks for telling me that, that is so funny! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:05, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::you can also go to [[Special:RecentChanges]] [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:08, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::Yeah, I have recently taken up a habit of patrolling that, but I don’t think many others (if any others at all) do that, so an entire channel dedicated to discord is a much bigger step up. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:09, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::person after my own heart lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:06, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==listen man you are awesome==

i dont know how you find the time to contribute this much to the wiki but man you are awesome. keep it up. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 03:58, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks! <s>the answer is I have no life</s> [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:05, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

==Congratulations!==

You won!!

For the first year of the Wiki, you've made more edits than anyone else! Louis doesn't count cause he cheated with bulk image import.

We'll be getting a proper awards/profile medal plugin in the next month or so, and you'll absolutely be getting a shiny gold one! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:34, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

:Nice! Glad about a new plugin coming, the current one does try but it doesn't get perfect results! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:40, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::The moment I saw it said 1000 articles I knew I had to immediately [https://web.archive.org/web/20260114171716/https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Main_Page archive it]. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:53, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
:::Nice! James was gutted last night because it was at 999, and then he created one, and then went to the front page, and saw that you had deleted two old ones so it went to 998! Looks like we're comfortably at/over 1000 now though. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:28, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Oh no! Well, I had to do what I had to do... [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:31, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

==SINEXTITAN THERE ARE MILLIONS==

wha? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:02, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

:what feels like millions of files you marked for deletion. im trying to find a way to delete all of them at once right now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:05, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::lmao pick up the pace buddy cuz I ain't done 😎 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::oh. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::hey a question, getting a "Warning: A file by that name has been deleted or moved.". do I ignore it? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:20, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::ignore, I've gotten that before out of nowhere too [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:21, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::yo dis what? [[File:Rainbow trout transparent.png]] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:44, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::for a very stupid import of Wikipedia ({{wplink|Template:Trout|this was where I got it from}}), so I'll delete it now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:45, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::lmao cool cool. I didn't even know of its existence. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:47, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==I'm fookin gutted m8==

hope you don't mind the prank lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:28, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

:no I don't lol [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:30, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::also you spelt my name wrong in the deletion log. it's spelt S i n e x T i t a n. please keep that in mind for the ''next'' time [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:36, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::okay cinekschichun [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::>:( fine AnotherConsumerButtPerson [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::hey so my shit disappeared from [[Special:ContributionScores]] lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 21:32, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::wait what [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::welp sorry [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::nah it's cool lmao. kinda enjoying myself being a ghost lol. I get to haunt #1. besides, in the grand scheme of things what's sm stupid binary? I already knows in my heart I'm #1, which's all that matters. <3 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 07:29, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::yay its fixed now! so much for haunting the leaderboards lmao [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:41, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

==disscussion in the disscussion :O==

hey so I started [[Chat Control]] a while back and today I checked it after seeing Mullvad's latest post on the Fediverse. It's pretty much in the same state as I last left it. I only know abt Chat Control as much as I've contributed and I currently don't have the time to further contribute. I couldn't figure out where to discuss this and didn't want to clog up [[Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard]], so I hope you don't mind. Is there a way we can further its development b4 the June deadline? The negotations have started recently so the lack of coverage could be excused, but I feel like this problem is one that mandates the wiki. People could link their reps this article for them to read and comprehend as to y this is a problem to be opposed. Alongside people that never heard of it, know little abt it or whatever their situation might be, can be further enlightened on the topic. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:35, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

:Sure, I haven't seen Mullvad's post yet though. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:02, 26 February 2026 (UTC)
::Can you provide a link to Mullvad's post? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:33, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::[https://mastodon.online/@mullvadnet/116137711661598894 here] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:04, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::I've added a bit, more to come soon (if I don't forget). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:25, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

==Hmmm==

You might wanna add the scoring template on my user page so I can see the numbers man ...... is it true!??? [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

:*from [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
I won't display it on my userpage, but I'll put it here. For licensing reasons, I'll say I got the table from [[User:Im8685]].
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
|+'''<big>Current Contribution Scores</big>'''
!Total Score||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson}}
|-
!Edited Pages||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|pages}}
|-
!Total Changes||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|changes}}
|} [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:06, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
{{Clear}}

==Psst==

we're not officially launching it yet (will probably do so on sunday or monday), but we're setting up the zulip now and want to get mods etc. onboarded. Expect a bit of jank while we do the setup!

https://zulip.consumerrights.wiki/ [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:42, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

:I'll log in now (with a temp email address). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:08, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] are temp email addresses allowed? I had to specifically get one with a gmail.com domain because the others are disallowed. Or is that a discord issue?? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:16, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::shouldn't be anything to do with discord - I'll pass it on to jake [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:41, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

==adding archive video to article==

hey,

wondering if it would be possible (and a good idea) to upload this instagram reel from this wiki article to the wiki: [[Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development#cite ref-12]] Citation #12, that way it's uploaded to the wiki and it's basically archived.

I unfortunately don't have an archive.org account otherwise I would've made a page for it and linked to it as an archive. I don't think wayback does backups for instagram pages.

Can't upload the video to the wiki, says it requires sysops priv.

The video is here if you or someone else would like to upload it and add it to the article: https://bin.nixnet.services/?175d0b8a39f3b062#HEoLUhyAiRUAJoyP5NqkzYBjbkMUxsPtuNfhwr6Li5Ac

it'll be valid for a month. Proceed how you like, it's your decision to use it or not.

Also, if there's a website that does video archives without an account, I'd love to know about it.

- L4C [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:20, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

:I've found this: https://imginn.com/reel/DSUYij0jLkY but it doesn't seem like an archival service. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:30, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::I'm not entirely sure of the copyright status of the video though, so I'm currently not sure if I should upload it or not in the first place. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:32, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::That's also a point, I'll see what I can do. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:36, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::[[:File:UNWE-unknown-face-alerts.png]]
:::the option is there. I just screenshotted from the reel. Copyright issues are still potentially there.
:::given the heat on the issue at the moment and the recent actions around it that could lead to problems, I won't be uploading anything to it. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:51, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::thanks for talking through it with me, I appreciate the help. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:52, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::interesting find, but I think you're right, it likely isn't an archive.
::The consumerrights wiki IPFS filestore grows in demand every day
::I'm going to try and take a capture of this frontend and see if it saves the video, that might be the ticket. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:36, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::got cloudflared, it might be better to just take some important screenshots off of the video and upload those instead. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:43, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson

2026-03-14T20:51:09Z

Left4Code: /* adding archive video to article */ Reply

{{User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson/Transcluded thingy}}

Hi! This is my user talk page. Just leave me a message and I’ll respond when I can. If you want a request for a moderator to do something, it is much better for you to go to the [[Project talk:Moderators' noticeboard|Moderators' noticeboard]], as it will be much quicker to get a response than here and I'm very active there too.
 '''If there is a message I haven't replied to in more than 5 days, then I'm completely fine with you spam pinging me until I do reply.'''
==Do you need a hand?==

I just saw your edit notes lol, but not sure exactly what you're trying? If you need a hand I can try and help/find someone who's around. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:43, 5 October 2025 (UTC)

:Lol thanks, I am trying to add userscripts and losing my mind trying. I am trying to upload from Wikipedia and into my common.js file which (on Wikipedia at least) automatically runs for you to do something, but it is completely failing. It probably isn’t possible and I am wasting my time to be honest. Thanks for asking! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:03, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
::Have looked into it with some of the technical folks, and we currently have user Javascript disabled for security reasons. I'll have them take a look and get back to you! But just wanted to let you know it wasn't a 'you' problem lol [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:48, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Ah okay! Time to use common.css (somehow??) [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:47, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Thinking about it, I am quite happy that you chose to disable Javascript! I hate that thing anyway because it is not secure and looks like a pain to program in anyway. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:48, 6 October 2025 (UTC)

==Wiki help==

Hi! I have a wiki on Miraheze that I created recently and was wondering if you're open to helping me out with some admin stuff? You seem to enjoy tinkering with CRW, so I was hoping we could work together for a bit on this new wiki. Is that something you'd be interested in? [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 17:57, 8 October 2025 (UTC)

:Sure! I actually have self-hosted mediawiki instances (on my own computer using something called XAMPP, you can’t look it up online) so I wouldn’t mind helping out! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:25, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:Also, how did you get the name ‘Beanie Bo’? I’ve been curious but never asked on your talk page. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:26, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::Nice! Can you email me via my user page and let me know your email so we can talk about it? The wiki is currently set to private but I'll open it so you can create a user account.
::As for my wiki name, well Beanie is just a throwaway that I use sometimes. It was a play on Mr. Bean lol, and the Bo part just randomly came to mind when I created this wiki account. I didn't expect to be so involved with CRW for this long but it turned out great! [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 19:44, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Sorry, I don’t use my main email for things like wikis, but I can attach a temporary email address if you want to talk via email. I used to use a temporary email address up until I thought it was an awful idea if I randomly got mail from it. Cool story on the name though! Did remind me of Mr. Bean. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:49, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::It's all good. I'll just link it here. Apparently you can create account even when it's set to private...? I'll verify you once it shows up for me. Also, I can't do much at the moment since I'm not at my desktop. The mobile theme is so broken lol.. maybe tomorrow we can discuss it more
[[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 20:04, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::You cannot create an account, I couldn’t find the create account button there so I went to [[Special:CreateAccount]] where it said you needed to be a member to create it. There is a setting in MediaWiki where you can make others be able to request an account and you can accept it, though. That is probably what you saw. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:22, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::I made it public. Should be good now (I hope!) [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 21:00, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Yeah, it works - going to create an account now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:12, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

==lmao what is going on with your commits==

im looking at the wiki commit log feed and you seem to be having a lot of fun with commit names such as "huh" and "WHAAT". very entertaining seeing you go. have a nice day :) [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 19:57, 19 October 2025 (UTC)

:Yeah, I love having fun in edit summaries lol. Especially as they generally aren’t seen (except when I go to [[Special:Random]] and go to page history). Glad someone enjoys them! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:01, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::Ive read through some of your stuff. You arent on discord so you dont know this, but on the wiki discord there is a channel that is just a big stream of commits with their summary. I love peeking through them and seeing what people are doing. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:03, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::LOL what??? That is insane… Thanks for telling me that, that is so funny! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:05, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::you can also go to [[Special:RecentChanges]] [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:08, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::Yeah, I have recently taken up a habit of patrolling that, but I don’t think many others (if any others at all) do that, so an entire channel dedicated to discord is a much bigger step up. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:09, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::person after my own heart lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:06, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==listen man you are awesome==

i dont know how you find the time to contribute this much to the wiki but man you are awesome. keep it up. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 03:58, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks! <s>the answer is I have no life</s> [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:05, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

==Congratulations!==

You won!!

For the first year of the Wiki, you've made more edits than anyone else! Louis doesn't count cause he cheated with bulk image import.

We'll be getting a proper awards/profile medal plugin in the next month or so, and you'll absolutely be getting a shiny gold one! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:34, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

:Nice! Glad about a new plugin coming, the current one does try but it doesn't get perfect results! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:40, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::The moment I saw it said 1000 articles I knew I had to immediately [https://web.archive.org/web/20260114171716/https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Main_Page archive it]. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:53, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
:::Nice! James was gutted last night because it was at 999, and then he created one, and then went to the front page, and saw that you had deleted two old ones so it went to 998! Looks like we're comfortably at/over 1000 now though. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:28, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Oh no! Well, I had to do what I had to do... [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:31, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

==SINEXTITAN THERE ARE MILLIONS==

wha? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:02, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

:what feels like millions of files you marked for deletion. im trying to find a way to delete all of them at once right now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:05, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::lmao pick up the pace buddy cuz I ain't done 😎 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::oh. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::hey a question, getting a "Warning: A file by that name has been deleted or moved.". do I ignore it? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:20, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::ignore, I've gotten that before out of nowhere too [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:21, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::yo dis what? [[File:Rainbow trout transparent.png]] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:44, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::for a very stupid import of Wikipedia ({{wplink|Template:Trout|this was where I got it from}}), so I'll delete it now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:45, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::lmao cool cool. I didn't even know of its existence. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:47, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==I'm fookin gutted m8==

hope you don't mind the prank lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:28, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

:no I don't lol [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:30, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::also you spelt my name wrong in the deletion log. it's spelt S i n e x T i t a n. please keep that in mind for the ''next'' time [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:36, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::okay cinekschichun [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::>:( fine AnotherConsumerButtPerson [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::hey so my shit disappeared from [[Special:ContributionScores]] lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 21:32, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::wait what [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::welp sorry [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::nah it's cool lmao. kinda enjoying myself being a ghost lol. I get to haunt #1. besides, in the grand scheme of things what's sm stupid binary? I already knows in my heart I'm #1, which's all that matters. <3 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 07:29, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::yay its fixed now! so much for haunting the leaderboards lmao [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:41, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

==disscussion in the disscussion :O==

hey so I started [[Chat Control]] a while back and today I checked it after seeing Mullvad's latest post on the Fediverse. It's pretty much in the same state as I last left it. I only know abt Chat Control as much as I've contributed and I currently don't have the time to further contribute. I couldn't figure out where to discuss this and didn't want to clog up [[Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard]], so I hope you don't mind. Is there a way we can further its development b4 the June deadline? The negotations have started recently so the lack of coverage could be excused, but I feel like this problem is one that mandates the wiki. People could link their reps this article for them to read and comprehend as to y this is a problem to be opposed. Alongside people that never heard of it, know little abt it or whatever their situation might be, can be further enlightened on the topic. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:35, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

:Sure, I haven't seen Mullvad's post yet though. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:02, 26 February 2026 (UTC)
::Can you provide a link to Mullvad's post? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:33, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::[https://mastodon.online/@mullvadnet/116137711661598894 here] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:04, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::I've added a bit, more to come soon (if I don't forget). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:25, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

==Hmmm==

You might wanna add the scoring template on my user page so I can see the numbers man ...... is it true!??? [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

:*from [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
I won't display it on my userpage, but I'll put it here. For licensing reasons, I'll say I got the table from [[User:Im8685]].
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
|+'''<big>Current Contribution Scores</big>'''
!Total Score||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson}}
|-
!Edited Pages||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|pages}}
|-
!Total Changes||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|changes}}
|} [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:06, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
{{Clear}}

==Psst==

we're not officially launching it yet (will probably do so on sunday or monday), but we're setting up the zulip now and want to get mods etc. onboarded. Expect a bit of jank while we do the setup!

https://zulip.consumerrights.wiki/ [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:42, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

:I'll log in now (with a temp email address). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:08, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] are temp email addresses allowed? I had to specifically get one with a gmail.com domain because the others are disallowed. Or is that a discord issue?? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:16, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::shouldn't be anything to do with discord - I'll pass it on to jake [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:41, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

==adding archive video to article==

hey,

wondering if it would be possible (and a good idea) to upload this instagram reel from this wiki article to the wiki: [[Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development#cite ref-12]] Citation #12, that way it's uploaded to the wiki and it's basically archived.

I unfortunately don't have an archive.org account otherwise I would've made a page for it and linked to it as an archive. I don't think wayback does backups for instagram pages.

Can't upload the video to the wiki, says it requires sysops priv.

The video is here if you or someone else would like to upload it and add it to the article: https://bin.nixnet.services/?175d0b8a39f3b062#HEoLUhyAiRUAJoyP5NqkzYBjbkMUxsPtuNfhwr6Li5Ac

it'll be valid for a month. Proceed how you like, it's your decision to use it or not.

Also, if there's a website that does video archives without an account, I'd love to know about it.

- L4C [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:20, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

:I've found this: https://imginn.com/reel/DSUYij0jLkY but it doesn't seem like an archival service. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:30, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::I'm not entirely sure of the copyright status of the video though, so I'm currently not sure if I should upload it or not in the first place. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:32, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::That's also a point, I'll see what I can do. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:36, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::[[:File:UNWE-unknown-face-alerts.png]]
:::the option is there. I just screenshotted from the reel. Copyright issues are still potentially there.
:::given the heat on the issue at the moment and the recent actions around it that could lead to problems, I won't be uploading anything to it. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:51, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::interesting find, but I think you're right, it likely isn't an archive.
::The consumerrights wiki IPFS filestore grows in demand every day
::I'm going to try and take a capture of this frontend and see if it saves the video, that might be the ticket. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:36, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::got cloudflared, it might be better to just take some important screenshots off of the video and upload those instead. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:43, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

File:UNWE-unknown-face-alerts.png

2026-03-14T20:48:43Z

Left4Code: Photo displaying the face alerts for UNWE. Captured as a screenshot from the original instagram reel

== Summary ==
Photo displaying the face alerts for UNWE. Captured as a screenshot from the original instagram reel
== Licensing ==
{{Stolen}}

User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson

2026-03-14T20:43:42Z

Left4Code: /* adding archive video to article */ Reply

{{User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson/Transcluded thingy}}

Hi! This is my user talk page. Just leave me a message and I’ll respond when I can. If you want a request for a moderator to do something, it is much better for you to go to the [[Project talk:Moderators' noticeboard|Moderators' noticeboard]], as it will be much quicker to get a response than here and I'm very active there too.
 '''If there is a message I haven't replied to in more than 5 days, then I'm completely fine with you spam pinging me until I do reply.'''
==Do you need a hand?==

I just saw your edit notes lol, but not sure exactly what you're trying? If you need a hand I can try and help/find someone who's around. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:43, 5 October 2025 (UTC)

:Lol thanks, I am trying to add userscripts and losing my mind trying. I am trying to upload from Wikipedia and into my common.js file which (on Wikipedia at least) automatically runs for you to do something, but it is completely failing. It probably isn’t possible and I am wasting my time to be honest. Thanks for asking! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:03, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
::Have looked into it with some of the technical folks, and we currently have user Javascript disabled for security reasons. I'll have them take a look and get back to you! But just wanted to let you know it wasn't a 'you' problem lol [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:48, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Ah okay! Time to use common.css (somehow??) [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:47, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Thinking about it, I am quite happy that you chose to disable Javascript! I hate that thing anyway because it is not secure and looks like a pain to program in anyway. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:48, 6 October 2025 (UTC)

==Wiki help==

Hi! I have a wiki on Miraheze that I created recently and was wondering if you're open to helping me out with some admin stuff? You seem to enjoy tinkering with CRW, so I was hoping we could work together for a bit on this new wiki. Is that something you'd be interested in? [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 17:57, 8 October 2025 (UTC)

:Sure! I actually have self-hosted mediawiki instances (on my own computer using something called XAMPP, you can’t look it up online) so I wouldn’t mind helping out! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:25, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:Also, how did you get the name ‘Beanie Bo’? I’ve been curious but never asked on your talk page. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:26, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::Nice! Can you email me via my user page and let me know your email so we can talk about it? The wiki is currently set to private but I'll open it so you can create a user account.
::As for my wiki name, well Beanie is just a throwaway that I use sometimes. It was a play on Mr. Bean lol, and the Bo part just randomly came to mind when I created this wiki account. I didn't expect to be so involved with CRW for this long but it turned out great! [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 19:44, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Sorry, I don’t use my main email for things like wikis, but I can attach a temporary email address if you want to talk via email. I used to use a temporary email address up until I thought it was an awful idea if I randomly got mail from it. Cool story on the name though! Did remind me of Mr. Bean. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:49, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::It's all good. I'll just link it here. Apparently you can create account even when it's set to private...? I'll verify you once it shows up for me. Also, I can't do much at the moment since I'm not at my desktop. The mobile theme is so broken lol.. maybe tomorrow we can discuss it more
[[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 20:04, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::You cannot create an account, I couldn’t find the create account button there so I went to [[Special:CreateAccount]] where it said you needed to be a member to create it. There is a setting in MediaWiki where you can make others be able to request an account and you can accept it, though. That is probably what you saw. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:22, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::I made it public. Should be good now (I hope!) [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 21:00, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Yeah, it works - going to create an account now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:12, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

==lmao what is going on with your commits==

im looking at the wiki commit log feed and you seem to be having a lot of fun with commit names such as "huh" and "WHAAT". very entertaining seeing you go. have a nice day :) [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 19:57, 19 October 2025 (UTC)

:Yeah, I love having fun in edit summaries lol. Especially as they generally aren’t seen (except when I go to [[Special:Random]] and go to page history). Glad someone enjoys them! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:01, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::Ive read through some of your stuff. You arent on discord so you dont know this, but on the wiki discord there is a channel that is just a big stream of commits with their summary. I love peeking through them and seeing what people are doing. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:03, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::LOL what??? That is insane… Thanks for telling me that, that is so funny! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:05, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::you can also go to [[Special:RecentChanges]] [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:08, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::Yeah, I have recently taken up a habit of patrolling that, but I don’t think many others (if any others at all) do that, so an entire channel dedicated to discord is a much bigger step up. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:09, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::person after my own heart lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:06, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==listen man you are awesome==

i dont know how you find the time to contribute this much to the wiki but man you are awesome. keep it up. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 03:58, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks! <s>the answer is I have no life</s> [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:05, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

==Congratulations!==

You won!!

For the first year of the Wiki, you've made more edits than anyone else! Louis doesn't count cause he cheated with bulk image import.

We'll be getting a proper awards/profile medal plugin in the next month or so, and you'll absolutely be getting a shiny gold one! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:34, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

:Nice! Glad about a new plugin coming, the current one does try but it doesn't get perfect results! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:40, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::The moment I saw it said 1000 articles I knew I had to immediately [https://web.archive.org/web/20260114171716/https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Main_Page archive it]. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:53, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
:::Nice! James was gutted last night because it was at 999, and then he created one, and then went to the front page, and saw that you had deleted two old ones so it went to 998! Looks like we're comfortably at/over 1000 now though. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:28, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Oh no! Well, I had to do what I had to do... [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:31, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

==SINEXTITAN THERE ARE MILLIONS==

wha? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:02, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

:what feels like millions of files you marked for deletion. im trying to find a way to delete all of them at once right now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:05, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::lmao pick up the pace buddy cuz I ain't done 😎 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::oh. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::hey a question, getting a "Warning: A file by that name has been deleted or moved.". do I ignore it? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:20, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::ignore, I've gotten that before out of nowhere too [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:21, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::yo dis what? [[File:Rainbow trout transparent.png]] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:44, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::for a very stupid import of Wikipedia ({{wplink|Template:Trout|this was where I got it from}}), so I'll delete it now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:45, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::lmao cool cool. I didn't even know of its existence. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:47, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==I'm fookin gutted m8==

hope you don't mind the prank lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:28, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

:no I don't lol [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:30, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::also you spelt my name wrong in the deletion log. it's spelt S i n e x T i t a n. please keep that in mind for the ''next'' time [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:36, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::okay cinekschichun [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::>:( fine AnotherConsumerButtPerson [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::hey so my shit disappeared from [[Special:ContributionScores]] lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 21:32, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::wait what [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::welp sorry [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::nah it's cool lmao. kinda enjoying myself being a ghost lol. I get to haunt #1. besides, in the grand scheme of things what's sm stupid binary? I already knows in my heart I'm #1, which's all that matters. <3 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 07:29, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::yay its fixed now! so much for haunting the leaderboards lmao [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:41, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

==disscussion in the disscussion :O==

hey so I started [[Chat Control]] a while back and today I checked it after seeing Mullvad's latest post on the Fediverse. It's pretty much in the same state as I last left it. I only know abt Chat Control as much as I've contributed and I currently don't have the time to further contribute. I couldn't figure out where to discuss this and didn't want to clog up [[Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard]], so I hope you don't mind. Is there a way we can further its development b4 the June deadline? The negotations have started recently so the lack of coverage could be excused, but I feel like this problem is one that mandates the wiki. People could link their reps this article for them to read and comprehend as to y this is a problem to be opposed. Alongside people that never heard of it, know little abt it or whatever their situation might be, can be further enlightened on the topic. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:35, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

:Sure, I haven't seen Mullvad's post yet though. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:02, 26 February 2026 (UTC)
::Can you provide a link to Mullvad's post? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:33, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::[https://mastodon.online/@mullvadnet/116137711661598894 here] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:04, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::I've added a bit, more to come soon (if I don't forget). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:25, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

==Hmmm==

You might wanna add the scoring template on my user page so I can see the numbers man ...... is it true!??? [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

:*from [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
I won't display it on my userpage, but I'll put it here. For licensing reasons, I'll say I got the table from [[User:Im8685]].
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
|+'''<big>Current Contribution Scores</big>'''
!Total Score||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson}}
|-
!Edited Pages||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|pages}}
|-
!Total Changes||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|changes}}
|} [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:06, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
{{Clear}}

==Psst==

we're not officially launching it yet (will probably do so on sunday or monday), but we're setting up the zulip now and want to get mods etc. onboarded. Expect a bit of jank while we do the setup!

https://zulip.consumerrights.wiki/ [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:42, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

:I'll log in now (with a temp email address). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:08, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] are temp email addresses allowed? I had to specifically get one with a gmail.com domain because the others are disallowed. Or is that a discord issue?? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:16, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::shouldn't be anything to do with discord - I'll pass it on to jake [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:41, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

==adding archive video to article==

hey,

wondering if it would be possible (and a good idea) to upload this instagram reel from this wiki article to the wiki: [[Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development#cite ref-12]] Citation #12, that way it's uploaded to the wiki and it's basically archived.

I unfortunately don't have an archive.org account otherwise I would've made a page for it and linked to it as an archive. I don't think wayback does backups for instagram pages.

Can't upload the video to the wiki, says it requires sysops priv.

The video is here if you or someone else would like to upload it and add it to the article: https://bin.nixnet.services/?175d0b8a39f3b062#HEoLUhyAiRUAJoyP5NqkzYBjbkMUxsPtuNfhwr6Li5Ac

it'll be valid for a month. Proceed how you like, it's your decision to use it or not.

Also, if there's a website that does video archives without an account, I'd love to know about it.

- L4C [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:20, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

:I've found this: https://imginn.com/reel/DSUYij0jLkY but it doesn't seem like an archival service. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:30, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::I'm not entirely sure of the copyright status of the video though, so I'm currently not sure if I should upload it or not in the first place. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:32, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::That's also a point, I'll see what I can do. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:36, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::interesting find, but I think you're right, it likely isn't an archive.
::The consumerrights wiki IPFS filestore grows in demand every day
::I'm going to try and take a capture of this frontend and see if it saves the video, that might be the ticket. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:36, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::got cloudflared, it might be better to just take some important screenshots off of the video and upload those instead. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:43, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson

2026-03-14T20:36:44Z

Left4Code: /* adding archive video to article */ Reply

{{User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson/Transcluded thingy}}

Hi! This is my user talk page. Just leave me a message and I’ll respond when I can. If you want a request for a moderator to do something, it is much better for you to go to the [[Project talk:Moderators' noticeboard|Moderators' noticeboard]], as it will be much quicker to get a response than here and I'm very active there too.
 '''If there is a message I haven't replied to in more than 5 days, then I'm completely fine with you spam pinging me until I do reply.'''
==Do you need a hand?==

I just saw your edit notes lol, but not sure exactly what you're trying? If you need a hand I can try and help/find someone who's around. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:43, 5 October 2025 (UTC)

:Lol thanks, I am trying to add userscripts and losing my mind trying. I am trying to upload from Wikipedia and into my common.js file which (on Wikipedia at least) automatically runs for you to do something, but it is completely failing. It probably isn’t possible and I am wasting my time to be honest. Thanks for asking! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:03, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
::Have looked into it with some of the technical folks, and we currently have user Javascript disabled for security reasons. I'll have them take a look and get back to you! But just wanted to let you know it wasn't a 'you' problem lol [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:48, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Ah okay! Time to use common.css (somehow??) [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:47, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Thinking about it, I am quite happy that you chose to disable Javascript! I hate that thing anyway because it is not secure and looks like a pain to program in anyway. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:48, 6 October 2025 (UTC)

==Wiki help==

Hi! I have a wiki on Miraheze that I created recently and was wondering if you're open to helping me out with some admin stuff? You seem to enjoy tinkering with CRW, so I was hoping we could work together for a bit on this new wiki. Is that something you'd be interested in? [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 17:57, 8 October 2025 (UTC)

:Sure! I actually have self-hosted mediawiki instances (on my own computer using something called XAMPP, you can’t look it up online) so I wouldn’t mind helping out! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:25, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:Also, how did you get the name ‘Beanie Bo’? I’ve been curious but never asked on your talk page. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:26, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::Nice! Can you email me via my user page and let me know your email so we can talk about it? The wiki is currently set to private but I'll open it so you can create a user account.
::As for my wiki name, well Beanie is just a throwaway that I use sometimes. It was a play on Mr. Bean lol, and the Bo part just randomly came to mind when I created this wiki account. I didn't expect to be so involved with CRW for this long but it turned out great! [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 19:44, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Sorry, I don’t use my main email for things like wikis, but I can attach a temporary email address if you want to talk via email. I used to use a temporary email address up until I thought it was an awful idea if I randomly got mail from it. Cool story on the name though! Did remind me of Mr. Bean. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:49, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::It's all good. I'll just link it here. Apparently you can create account even when it's set to private...? I'll verify you once it shows up for me. Also, I can't do much at the moment since I'm not at my desktop. The mobile theme is so broken lol.. maybe tomorrow we can discuss it more
[[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 20:04, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::You cannot create an account, I couldn’t find the create account button there so I went to [[Special:CreateAccount]] where it said you needed to be a member to create it. There is a setting in MediaWiki where you can make others be able to request an account and you can accept it, though. That is probably what you saw. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:22, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::I made it public. Should be good now (I hope!) [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 21:00, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Yeah, it works - going to create an account now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:12, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

==lmao what is going on with your commits==

im looking at the wiki commit log feed and you seem to be having a lot of fun with commit names such as "huh" and "WHAAT". very entertaining seeing you go. have a nice day :) [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 19:57, 19 October 2025 (UTC)

:Yeah, I love having fun in edit summaries lol. Especially as they generally aren’t seen (except when I go to [[Special:Random]] and go to page history). Glad someone enjoys them! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:01, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::Ive read through some of your stuff. You arent on discord so you dont know this, but on the wiki discord there is a channel that is just a big stream of commits with their summary. I love peeking through them and seeing what people are doing. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:03, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::LOL what??? That is insane… Thanks for telling me that, that is so funny! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:05, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::you can also go to [[Special:RecentChanges]] [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:08, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::Yeah, I have recently taken up a habit of patrolling that, but I don’t think many others (if any others at all) do that, so an entire channel dedicated to discord is a much bigger step up. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:09, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::person after my own heart lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:06, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==listen man you are awesome==

i dont know how you find the time to contribute this much to the wiki but man you are awesome. keep it up. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 03:58, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks! <s>the answer is I have no life</s> [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:05, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

==Congratulations!==

You won!!

For the first year of the Wiki, you've made more edits than anyone else! Louis doesn't count cause he cheated with bulk image import.

We'll be getting a proper awards/profile medal plugin in the next month or so, and you'll absolutely be getting a shiny gold one! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:34, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

:Nice! Glad about a new plugin coming, the current one does try but it doesn't get perfect results! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:40, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::The moment I saw it said 1000 articles I knew I had to immediately [https://web.archive.org/web/20260114171716/https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Main_Page archive it]. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:53, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
:::Nice! James was gutted last night because it was at 999, and then he created one, and then went to the front page, and saw that you had deleted two old ones so it went to 998! Looks like we're comfortably at/over 1000 now though. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:28, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Oh no! Well, I had to do what I had to do... [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:31, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

==SINEXTITAN THERE ARE MILLIONS==

wha? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:02, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

:what feels like millions of files you marked for deletion. im trying to find a way to delete all of them at once right now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:05, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::lmao pick up the pace buddy cuz I ain't done 😎 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::oh. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::hey a question, getting a "Warning: A file by that name has been deleted or moved.". do I ignore it? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:20, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::ignore, I've gotten that before out of nowhere too [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:21, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::yo dis what? [[File:Rainbow trout transparent.png]] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:44, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::for a very stupid import of Wikipedia ({{wplink|Template:Trout|this was where I got it from}}), so I'll delete it now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:45, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::lmao cool cool. I didn't even know of its existence. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:47, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==I'm fookin gutted m8==

hope you don't mind the prank lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:28, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

:no I don't lol [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:30, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::also you spelt my name wrong in the deletion log. it's spelt S i n e x T i t a n. please keep that in mind for the ''next'' time [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:36, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::okay cinekschichun [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::>:( fine AnotherConsumerButtPerson [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::hey so my shit disappeared from [[Special:ContributionScores]] lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 21:32, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::wait what [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::welp sorry [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::nah it's cool lmao. kinda enjoying myself being a ghost lol. I get to haunt #1. besides, in the grand scheme of things what's sm stupid binary? I already knows in my heart I'm #1, which's all that matters. <3 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 07:29, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::yay its fixed now! so much for haunting the leaderboards lmao [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:41, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

==disscussion in the disscussion :O==

hey so I started [[Chat Control]] a while back and today I checked it after seeing Mullvad's latest post on the Fediverse. It's pretty much in the same state as I last left it. I only know abt Chat Control as much as I've contributed and I currently don't have the time to further contribute. I couldn't figure out where to discuss this and didn't want to clog up [[Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard]], so I hope you don't mind. Is there a way we can further its development b4 the June deadline? The negotations have started recently so the lack of coverage could be excused, but I feel like this problem is one that mandates the wiki. People could link their reps this article for them to read and comprehend as to y this is a problem to be opposed. Alongside people that never heard of it, know little abt it or whatever their situation might be, can be further enlightened on the topic. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:35, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

:Sure, I haven't seen Mullvad's post yet though. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:02, 26 February 2026 (UTC)
::Can you provide a link to Mullvad's post? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:33, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::[https://mastodon.online/@mullvadnet/116137711661598894 here] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:04, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::I've added a bit, more to come soon (if I don't forget). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:25, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

==Hmmm==

You might wanna add the scoring template on my user page so I can see the numbers man ...... is it true!??? [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

:*from [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
I won't display it on my userpage, but I'll put it here. For licensing reasons, I'll say I got the table from [[User:Im8685]].
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
|+'''<big>Current Contribution Scores</big>'''
!Total Score||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson}}
|-
!Edited Pages||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|pages}}
|-
!Total Changes||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|changes}}
|} [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:06, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
{{Clear}}

==Psst==

we're not officially launching it yet (will probably do so on sunday or monday), but we're setting up the zulip now and want to get mods etc. onboarded. Expect a bit of jank while we do the setup!

https://zulip.consumerrights.wiki/ [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:42, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

:I'll log in now (with a temp email address). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:08, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] are temp email addresses allowed? I had to specifically get one with a gmail.com domain because the others are disallowed. Or is that a discord issue?? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:16, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::shouldn't be anything to do with discord - I'll pass it on to jake [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:41, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

==adding archive video to article==

hey,

wondering if it would be possible (and a good idea) to upload this instagram reel from this wiki article to the wiki: [[Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development#cite ref-12]] Citation #12, that way it's uploaded to the wiki and it's basically archived.

I unfortunately don't have an archive.org account otherwise I would've made a page for it and linked to it as an archive. I don't think wayback does backups for instagram pages.

Can't upload the video to the wiki, says it requires sysops priv.

The video is here if you or someone else would like to upload it and add it to the article: https://bin.nixnet.services/?175d0b8a39f3b062#HEoLUhyAiRUAJoyP5NqkzYBjbkMUxsPtuNfhwr6Li5Ac

it'll be valid for a month. Proceed how you like, it's your decision to use it or not.

Also, if there's a website that does video archives without an account, I'd love to know about it.

- L4C [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:20, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

:I've found this: https://imginn.com/reel/DSUYij0jLkY but it doesn't seem like an archival service. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:30, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::I'm not entirely sure of the copyright status of the video though, so I'm currently not sure if I should upload it or not in the first place. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:32, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::That's also a point, I'll see what I can do. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:36, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::interesting find, but I think you're right, it likely isn't an archive.
::The consumerrights wiki IPFS filestore grows in demand every day
::I'm going to try and take a capture of this frontend and see if it saves the video, that might be the ticket. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:36, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson

2026-03-14T20:36:03Z

Left4Code: /* adding archive video to article */ Reply

{{User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson/Transcluded thingy}}

Hi! This is my user talk page. Just leave me a message and I’ll respond when I can. If you want a request for a moderator to do something, it is much better for you to go to the [[Project talk:Moderators' noticeboard|Moderators' noticeboard]], as it will be much quicker to get a response than here and I'm very active there too.
 '''If there is a message I haven't replied to in more than 5 days, then I'm completely fine with you spam pinging me until I do reply.'''
==Do you need a hand?==

I just saw your edit notes lol, but not sure exactly what you're trying? If you need a hand I can try and help/find someone who's around. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:43, 5 October 2025 (UTC)

:Lol thanks, I am trying to add userscripts and losing my mind trying. I am trying to upload from Wikipedia and into my common.js file which (on Wikipedia at least) automatically runs for you to do something, but it is completely failing. It probably isn’t possible and I am wasting my time to be honest. Thanks for asking! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:03, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
::Have looked into it with some of the technical folks, and we currently have user Javascript disabled for security reasons. I'll have them take a look and get back to you! But just wanted to let you know it wasn't a 'you' problem lol [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:48, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Ah okay! Time to use common.css (somehow??) [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:47, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Thinking about it, I am quite happy that you chose to disable Javascript! I hate that thing anyway because it is not secure and looks like a pain to program in anyway. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:48, 6 October 2025 (UTC)

==Wiki help==

Hi! I have a wiki on Miraheze that I created recently and was wondering if you're open to helping me out with some admin stuff? You seem to enjoy tinkering with CRW, so I was hoping we could work together for a bit on this new wiki. Is that something you'd be interested in? [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 17:57, 8 October 2025 (UTC)

:Sure! I actually have self-hosted mediawiki instances (on my own computer using something called XAMPP, you can’t look it up online) so I wouldn’t mind helping out! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:25, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:Also, how did you get the name ‘Beanie Bo’? I’ve been curious but never asked on your talk page. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:26, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::Nice! Can you email me via my user page and let me know your email so we can talk about it? The wiki is currently set to private but I'll open it so you can create a user account.
::As for my wiki name, well Beanie is just a throwaway that I use sometimes. It was a play on Mr. Bean lol, and the Bo part just randomly came to mind when I created this wiki account. I didn't expect to be so involved with CRW for this long but it turned out great! [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 19:44, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Sorry, I don’t use my main email for things like wikis, but I can attach a temporary email address if you want to talk via email. I used to use a temporary email address up until I thought it was an awful idea if I randomly got mail from it. Cool story on the name though! Did remind me of Mr. Bean. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:49, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::It's all good. I'll just link it here. Apparently you can create account even when it's set to private...? I'll verify you once it shows up for me. Also, I can't do much at the moment since I'm not at my desktop. The mobile theme is so broken lol.. maybe tomorrow we can discuss it more
[[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 20:04, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::You cannot create an account, I couldn’t find the create account button there so I went to [[Special:CreateAccount]] where it said you needed to be a member to create it. There is a setting in MediaWiki where you can make others be able to request an account and you can accept it, though. That is probably what you saw. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:22, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::I made it public. Should be good now (I hope!) [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 21:00, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Yeah, it works - going to create an account now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:12, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

==lmao what is going on with your commits==

im looking at the wiki commit log feed and you seem to be having a lot of fun with commit names such as "huh" and "WHAAT". very entertaining seeing you go. have a nice day :) [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 19:57, 19 October 2025 (UTC)

:Yeah, I love having fun in edit summaries lol. Especially as they generally aren’t seen (except when I go to [[Special:Random]] and go to page history). Glad someone enjoys them! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:01, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::Ive read through some of your stuff. You arent on discord so you dont know this, but on the wiki discord there is a channel that is just a big stream of commits with their summary. I love peeking through them and seeing what people are doing. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:03, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::LOL what??? That is insane… Thanks for telling me that, that is so funny! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:05, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::you can also go to [[Special:RecentChanges]] [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:08, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::Yeah, I have recently taken up a habit of patrolling that, but I don’t think many others (if any others at all) do that, so an entire channel dedicated to discord is a much bigger step up. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:09, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::person after my own heart lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:06, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==listen man you are awesome==

i dont know how you find the time to contribute this much to the wiki but man you are awesome. keep it up. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 03:58, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks! <s>the answer is I have no life</s> [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:05, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

==Congratulations!==

You won!!

For the first year of the Wiki, you've made more edits than anyone else! Louis doesn't count cause he cheated with bulk image import.

We'll be getting a proper awards/profile medal plugin in the next month or so, and you'll absolutely be getting a shiny gold one! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:34, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

:Nice! Glad about a new plugin coming, the current one does try but it doesn't get perfect results! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:40, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::The moment I saw it said 1000 articles I knew I had to immediately [https://web.archive.org/web/20260114171716/https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Main_Page archive it]. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:53, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
:::Nice! James was gutted last night because it was at 999, and then he created one, and then went to the front page, and saw that you had deleted two old ones so it went to 998! Looks like we're comfortably at/over 1000 now though. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:28, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Oh no! Well, I had to do what I had to do... [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:31, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

==SINEXTITAN THERE ARE MILLIONS==

wha? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:02, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

:what feels like millions of files you marked for deletion. im trying to find a way to delete all of them at once right now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:05, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::lmao pick up the pace buddy cuz I ain't done 😎 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::oh. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::hey a question, getting a "Warning: A file by that name has been deleted or moved.". do I ignore it? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:20, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::ignore, I've gotten that before out of nowhere too [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:21, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::yo dis what? [[File:Rainbow trout transparent.png]] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:44, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::for a very stupid import of Wikipedia ({{wplink|Template:Trout|this was where I got it from}}), so I'll delete it now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:45, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::lmao cool cool. I didn't even know of its existence. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:47, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==I'm fookin gutted m8==

hope you don't mind the prank lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:28, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

:no I don't lol [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:30, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::also you spelt my name wrong in the deletion log. it's spelt S i n e x T i t a n. please keep that in mind for the ''next'' time [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:36, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::okay cinekschichun [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::>:( fine AnotherConsumerButtPerson [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::hey so my shit disappeared from [[Special:ContributionScores]] lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 21:32, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::wait what [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::welp sorry [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::nah it's cool lmao. kinda enjoying myself being a ghost lol. I get to haunt #1. besides, in the grand scheme of things what's sm stupid binary? I already knows in my heart I'm #1, which's all that matters. <3 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 07:29, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::yay its fixed now! so much for haunting the leaderboards lmao [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:41, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

==disscussion in the disscussion :O==

hey so I started [[Chat Control]] a while back and today I checked it after seeing Mullvad's latest post on the Fediverse. It's pretty much in the same state as I last left it. I only know abt Chat Control as much as I've contributed and I currently don't have the time to further contribute. I couldn't figure out where to discuss this and didn't want to clog up [[Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard]], so I hope you don't mind. Is there a way we can further its development b4 the June deadline? The negotations have started recently so the lack of coverage could be excused, but I feel like this problem is one that mandates the wiki. People could link their reps this article for them to read and comprehend as to y this is a problem to be opposed. Alongside people that never heard of it, know little abt it or whatever their situation might be, can be further enlightened on the topic. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:35, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

:Sure, I haven't seen Mullvad's post yet though. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:02, 26 February 2026 (UTC)
::Can you provide a link to Mullvad's post? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:33, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::[https://mastodon.online/@mullvadnet/116137711661598894 here] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:04, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::I've added a bit, more to come soon (if I don't forget). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:25, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

==Hmmm==

You might wanna add the scoring template on my user page so I can see the numbers man ...... is it true!??? [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

:*from [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
I won't display it on my userpage, but I'll put it here. For licensing reasons, I'll say I got the table from [[User:Im8685]].
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
|+'''<big>Current Contribution Scores</big>'''
!Total Score||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson}}
|-
!Edited Pages||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|pages}}
|-
!Total Changes||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|changes}}
|} [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:06, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
{{Clear}}

==Psst==

we're not officially launching it yet (will probably do so on sunday or monday), but we're setting up the zulip now and want to get mods etc. onboarded. Expect a bit of jank while we do the setup!

https://zulip.consumerrights.wiki/ [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:42, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

:I'll log in now (with a temp email address). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:08, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] are temp email addresses allowed? I had to specifically get one with a gmail.com domain because the others are disallowed. Or is that a discord issue?? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:16, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::shouldn't be anything to do with discord - I'll pass it on to jake [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:41, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

==adding archive video to article==

hey,

wondering if it would be possible (and a good idea) to upload this instagram reel from this wiki article to the wiki: [[Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development#cite ref-12]] Citation #12, that way it's uploaded to the wiki and it's basically archived.

I unfortunately don't have an archive.org account otherwise I would've made a page for it and linked to it as an archive. I don't think wayback does backups for instagram pages.

Can't upload the video to the wiki, says it requires sysops priv.

The video is here if you or someone else would like to upload it and add it to the article: https://bin.nixnet.services/?175d0b8a39f3b062#HEoLUhyAiRUAJoyP5NqkzYBjbkMUxsPtuNfhwr6Li5Ac

it'll be valid for a month. Proceed how you like, it's your decision to use it or not.

Also, if there's a website that does video archives without an account, I'd love to know about it.

- L4C [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:20, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

:I've found this: https://imginn.com/reel/DSUYij0jLkY but it doesn't seem like an archival service. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:30, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::I'm not entirely sure of the copyright status of the video though, so I'm currently not sure if I should upload it or not in the first place. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:32, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::interesting find, but I think you're right, it likely isn't an archive.
::The consumerrights wiki IPFS filestore grows in demand every day
::I'm going to try and take a capture of this frontend and see if it saves the video, that might be the ticket. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:36, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

User:Left4Code

2026-03-14T20:30:16Z

Left4Code: page links

Will probably use this for volunteer experience on a resume. Think Louis would let me put him down as a reference? (Only half-joking)

My website is [https://left4code.neocities.org left4code.neocities.org] if you want to get in contact. My [https://left4code.neocities.org/left4code_gpg.txt email and PGP key] are there.

<s>hCaptcha is ruining my life.</s> I have been blessed by Lord Keith and saved from the hCaptcha nightmare, thank you!

Time spent editing so far (people like numbers, right?) {HH:MM:SS}: 24:57:04

Stats table (Shamelessly stolen from Beanie)

{| class="wikitable"
|+Contribution Scores
!Score
!Pages
!Changes
|-
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|score}}
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|pages}}
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|changes}}
|}

User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson

2026-03-14T20:20:19Z

Left4Code: /* adding archive video to article */ new section

{{User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson/Transcluded thingy}}

Hi! This is my user talk page. Just leave me a message and I’ll respond when I can. If you want a request for a moderator to do something, it is much better for you to go to the [[Project talk:Moderators' noticeboard|Moderators' noticeboard]], as it will be much quicker to get a response than here and I'm very active there too.
 '''If there is a message I haven't replied to in more than 5 days, then I'm completely fine with you spam pinging me until I do reply.'''
==Do you need a hand?==

I just saw your edit notes lol, but not sure exactly what you're trying? If you need a hand I can try and help/find someone who's around. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:43, 5 October 2025 (UTC)

:Lol thanks, I am trying to add userscripts and losing my mind trying. I am trying to upload from Wikipedia and into my common.js file which (on Wikipedia at least) automatically runs for you to do something, but it is completely failing. It probably isn’t possible and I am wasting my time to be honest. Thanks for asking! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:03, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
::Have looked into it with some of the technical folks, and we currently have user Javascript disabled for security reasons. I'll have them take a look and get back to you! But just wanted to let you know it wasn't a 'you' problem lol [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:48, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Ah okay! Time to use common.css (somehow??) [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:47, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Thinking about it, I am quite happy that you chose to disable Javascript! I hate that thing anyway because it is not secure and looks like a pain to program in anyway. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:48, 6 October 2025 (UTC)

==Wiki help==

Hi! I have a wiki on Miraheze that I created recently and was wondering if you're open to helping me out with some admin stuff? You seem to enjoy tinkering with CRW, so I was hoping we could work together for a bit on this new wiki. Is that something you'd be interested in? [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 17:57, 8 October 2025 (UTC)

:Sure! I actually have self-hosted mediawiki instances (on my own computer using something called XAMPP, you can’t look it up online) so I wouldn’t mind helping out! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:25, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:Also, how did you get the name ‘Beanie Bo’? I’ve been curious but never asked on your talk page. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:26, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::Nice! Can you email me via my user page and let me know your email so we can talk about it? The wiki is currently set to private but I'll open it so you can create a user account.
::As for my wiki name, well Beanie is just a throwaway that I use sometimes. It was a play on Mr. Bean lol, and the Bo part just randomly came to mind when I created this wiki account. I didn't expect to be so involved with CRW for this long but it turned out great! [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 19:44, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Sorry, I don’t use my main email for things like wikis, but I can attach a temporary email address if you want to talk via email. I used to use a temporary email address up until I thought it was an awful idea if I randomly got mail from it. Cool story on the name though! Did remind me of Mr. Bean. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:49, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::It's all good. I'll just link it here. Apparently you can create account even when it's set to private...? I'll verify you once it shows up for me. Also, I can't do much at the moment since I'm not at my desktop. The mobile theme is so broken lol.. maybe tomorrow we can discuss it more
[[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 20:04, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::You cannot create an account, I couldn’t find the create account button there so I went to [[Special:CreateAccount]] where it said you needed to be a member to create it. There is a setting in MediaWiki where you can make others be able to request an account and you can accept it, though. That is probably what you saw. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:22, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::I made it public. Should be good now (I hope!) [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 21:00, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Yeah, it works - going to create an account now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:12, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

==lmao what is going on with your commits==

im looking at the wiki commit log feed and you seem to be having a lot of fun with commit names such as "huh" and "WHAAT". very entertaining seeing you go. have a nice day :) [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 19:57, 19 October 2025 (UTC)

:Yeah, I love having fun in edit summaries lol. Especially as they generally aren’t seen (except when I go to [[Special:Random]] and go to page history). Glad someone enjoys them! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:01, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::Ive read through some of your stuff. You arent on discord so you dont know this, but on the wiki discord there is a channel that is just a big stream of commits with their summary. I love peeking through them and seeing what people are doing. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:03, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::LOL what??? That is insane… Thanks for telling me that, that is so funny! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:05, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::you can also go to [[Special:RecentChanges]] [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 20:08, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::Yeah, I have recently taken up a habit of patrolling that, but I don’t think many others (if any others at all) do that, so an entire channel dedicated to discord is a much bigger step up. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:09, 19 October 2025 (UTC)
::::::person after my own heart lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:06, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==listen man you are awesome==

i dont know how you find the time to contribute this much to the wiki but man you are awesome. keep it up. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 03:58, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks! <s>the answer is I have no life</s> [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:05, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

==Congratulations!==

You won!!

For the first year of the Wiki, you've made more edits than anyone else! Louis doesn't count cause he cheated with bulk image import.

We'll be getting a proper awards/profile medal plugin in the next month or so, and you'll absolutely be getting a shiny gold one! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:34, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

:Nice! Glad about a new plugin coming, the current one does try but it doesn't get perfect results! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:40, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::The moment I saw it said 1000 articles I knew I had to immediately [https://web.archive.org/web/20260114171716/https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Main_Page archive it]. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:53, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
:::Nice! James was gutted last night because it was at 999, and then he created one, and then went to the front page, and saw that you had deleted two old ones so it went to 998! Looks like we're comfortably at/over 1000 now though. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:28, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Oh no! Well, I had to do what I had to do... [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:31, 14 January 2026 (UTC)

==SINEXTITAN THERE ARE MILLIONS==

wha? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:02, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

:what feels like millions of files you marked for deletion. im trying to find a way to delete all of them at once right now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:05, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::lmao pick up the pace buddy cuz I ain't done 😎 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::oh. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::hey a question, getting a "Warning: A file by that name has been deleted or moved.". do I ignore it? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:20, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::ignore, I've gotten that before out of nowhere too [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:21, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::yo dis what? [[File:Rainbow trout transparent.png]] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:44, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::for a very stupid import of Wikipedia ({{wplink|Template:Trout|this was where I got it from}}), so I'll delete it now [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:45, 15 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::lmao cool cool. I didn't even know of its existence. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:47, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

==I'm fookin gutted m8==

hope you don't mind the prank lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:28, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

:no I don't lol [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:30, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::also you spelt my name wrong in the deletion log. it's spelt S i n e x T i t a n. please keep that in mind for the ''next'' time [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:36, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::okay cinekschichun [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::>:( fine AnotherConsumerButtPerson [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:37, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::hey so my shit disappeared from [[Special:ContributionScores]] lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 21:32, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::wait what [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::welp sorry [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:59, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::nah it's cool lmao. kinda enjoying myself being a ghost lol. I get to haunt #1. besides, in the grand scheme of things what's sm stupid binary? I already knows in my heart I'm #1, which's all that matters. <3 [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 07:29, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::yay its fixed now! so much for haunting the leaderboards lmao [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:41, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

==disscussion in the disscussion :O==

hey so I started [[Chat Control]] a while back and today I checked it after seeing Mullvad's latest post on the Fediverse. It's pretty much in the same state as I last left it. I only know abt Chat Control as much as I've contributed and I currently don't have the time to further contribute. I couldn't figure out where to discuss this and didn't want to clog up [[Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard]], so I hope you don't mind. Is there a way we can further its development b4 the June deadline? The negotations have started recently so the lack of coverage could be excused, but I feel like this problem is one that mandates the wiki. People could link their reps this article for them to read and comprehend as to y this is a problem to be opposed. Alongside people that never heard of it, know little abt it or whatever their situation might be, can be further enlightened on the topic. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:35, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

:Sure, I haven't seen Mullvad's post yet though. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:02, 26 February 2026 (UTC)
::Can you provide a link to Mullvad's post? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:33, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::[https://mastodon.online/@mullvadnet/116137711661598894 here] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:04, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::I've added a bit, more to come soon (if I don't forget). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:25, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

==Hmmm==

You might wanna add the scoring template on my user page so I can see the numbers man ...... is it true!??? [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

:*from [[User:Im8685|Im8685]] ([[User talk:Im8685|talk]]) 08:11, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
I won't display it on my userpage, but I'll put it here. For licensing reasons, I'll say I got the table from [[User:Im8685]].
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
|+'''<big>Current Contribution Scores</big>'''
!Total Score||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson}}
|-
!Edited Pages||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|pages}}
|-
!Total Changes||{{#cscore:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|changes}}
|} [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:06, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
{{Clear}}

==Psst==

we're not officially launching it yet (will probably do so on sunday or monday), but we're setting up the zulip now and want to get mods etc. onboarded. Expect a bit of jank while we do the setup!

https://zulip.consumerrights.wiki/ [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:42, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

:I'll log in now (with a temp email address). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:08, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] are temp email addresses allowed? I had to specifically get one with a gmail.com domain because the others are disallowed. Or is that a discord issue?? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:16, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
:::shouldn't be anything to do with discord - I'll pass it on to jake [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:41, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

== adding archive video to article ==

hey,

wondering if it would be possible (and a good idea) to upload this instagram reel from this wiki article to the wiki: [[Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development#cite ref-12]] Citation #12, that way it's uploaded to the wiki and it's basically archived.

I unfortunately don't have an archive.org account otherwise I would've made a page for it and linked to it as an archive. I don't think wayback does backups for instagram pages.

Can't upload the video to the wiki, says it requires sysops priv.

The video is here if you or someone else would like to upload it and add it to the article: https://bin.nixnet.services/?175d0b8a39f3b062#HEoLUhyAiRUAJoyP5NqkzYBjbkMUxsPtuNfhwr6Li5Ac

it'll be valid for a month. Proceed how you like, it's your decision to use it or not.

Also, if there's a website that does video archives without an account, I'd love to know about it.

- L4C [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 20:20, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development

2026-03-14T19:49:53Z

Left4Code: Answering Louis's request. I'll see what I can do about archiving that reel.

Happy Bar & Grill, a Bulgarian restaurant chain, faced public backlash surrounding the discovery of a vendor product page for an AI facial recognition system which had been developed by IP Biometrix, that biometrically profiles customers and had been designed for use in Happy Bar & Grill restaurants. The system appeared to have the capability to track physical attributes, infers ethnicity categories, and analyses emotional states of customers, as well as monitor the amount of time employees spent smiling.<ref name="ip-biometrix" /> Narru, the parent company of Happy Bar & Grill, later acknowledged considering procurement of the system in late 2023 before rejecting it on 14 December 2023, and asserted that the system was never deployed in any of their restaurants.<ref name="mobilebulgaria" />

==Background==
Happy Bar & Grill is a Bulgarian restaurant chain operating multiple locations across Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.<ref name="happy-bg" /> According to an official statement released in 12 March 2026, the chain received an offer for an AI-powered facial recognition system from Bulgarian security vendor IP Biometrix in 2023. The company stated the system was assessed between September and December 2023<ref name="burrata-bg" /> before being officially rejected on 14 December 2023.<ref name="happy-statement" /> Archived evidence from IP Biometrix's portfolio displays data seemingly taken from a restaurant, though whether this represents live deployment or the use of prerecorded training data is unknown. <ref name="ip-biometrix" />

==Biometric surveillance capabilities==
[[File:Customer Analysis Report.png|thumb|300px|''Demographic Data (Age and Gender distribution) generated by the AI facial recognition system'']]
IP Biometrix's portfolio page describes the system processing both employees and customers. A sample image shows multiple individuals labelled as "Subject 6053," "6054," and "6055" with extensive biometric attributes tracked. Displayed percentages (e.g., ethnicity scores) appear to represent AI confidence levels regarding specific selected individuals, rather than aggregate counts of demographics within the venue.<ref name="ip-biometrix" /> Tracked attributes include:

*Physical features: glasses, dark glasses, beard, moustache, blink, mouth open, mask presence, "face quality"
*Ethnicity classifications: white, black, Asian, Hispanic, Indian, Arabian
*Emotional states: neutral, anger, contempt, disgust, fear, and others

IP Biometrix's portfolio page was captured by the Internet Archive on 2 January 2026. Demonstration images within the portfolio contain filenames dated to at least 9 November 2024 (e.g., "Screenshot-2024-11-09-120029.png"), however the images may have been prepared at an earlier time.<ref name="ip-biometrix" />

Patrons entering Happy Bar & Grill received no visible signage at entrances or within dining areas informing them that their facial biometrics were being captured, analysed, or stored during the testing period{{CitationNeeded}}. Happy's published privacy policy makes no mention of facial recognition, biometric processing, or AI surveillance systems in restaurants.<ref name="happy-privacy" /> This is consistent with their representation that the system has never been deployed.

[[File:AI Surveillance Dashboard.png|thumb|center|500px|''Real-Time Biometric Profiling of Customers (Subjects 6053–6055), Including Ethnicity Inference and Emotion Detection (Burrata Italiana Varna, Varna, Bulgaria)'']]
==Legal context==
Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), facial recognition constitutes processing of biometric data—a "special category" of personal data requiring explicit consent or another narrow legal basis under Article 9.<ref name="gdpr-article9" /> Inferring ethnicity and emotional states triggers additional restrictions as these reveal "racial or ethnic origin" and constitute sensitive psychological profiling. The absence of transparent notice before data collection violates GDPR Articles 13–14, while processing customers' biometrics for staff performance monitoring lacks a proportionate legal basis under Articles 6 and 9.<ref name="gdpr-article9" /> Under Bulgarian national guidance, the Commission for Personal Data Protection (CPDP) has stated that processing biometric data in shops and restaurants for the purpose of analyzing customer behavior, gender, or age cannot be based on "legitimate interest." The CPDP emphasizes that placing information signs is insufficient to achieve "explicit consent."<ref name="cpdp-opinion" />

==Abuse report==
On 12 March 2026, Happy Bar & Grill filed an abuse complaint against Consumer Rights Wiki, attempting to pull down the website. Some have criticized the decision, believing that the controversy [[wikipedia:Streisand_effect|could create more publicity]] over their business practises.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-03-13 |title=Someone Submitted an Abuse Report to the Consumer Rights Wiki's Host |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D7hdJF2AwU |access-date=14 Mar 2026}}</ref>

==Company's response==
On 12 March 2026, Happy Bar & Grill issued an official statement addressing the allegations. The company categorically denied current use of the system, stating that no such software or technology is currently used in Happy restaurants. They acknowledged receiving an offer from GI Mobility Services (linked to IP Biometrix) in 2023 and confirmed testing occurred between September and December 2023. The company stated they officially rejected the proposal on 14 December 2023, stating that the solution was unnecessary for their operations.<ref name="happy-statement" />

Narra contacted the administrators and hosting provider of the Consumer Rights Wiki, requesting a complete removal and retraction of the article<ref name="mobilebulgaria" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-03-13 |title=Nice try... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D7hdJF2AwU |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=YouTube}}</ref>. The article initially stated that evidence supported that widespread implementation of the system had occurred, however this has since been changed. IP Biometrix removed the portfolio page showcasing the Happy Bar & Grill implementation during a site renovation prior to March 2026. The content is now preserved through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine capture from 2 January 2026.<ref name="ip-biometrix" />

==Community response==
Consumer awareness of the surveillance system gained traction on 11 March 2026, following a post on the subreddit r/bulgaria featuring the wiki page{{cite web|title=Biometric data collection cameras in Happy|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/bulgaria/comments/1rqxn90/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B2_%D1%85%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B8/|access-date=14 March 2026}}, and the publication of a number of news articles<ref name="mobilebulgaria" /><ref name="happy-statement" /><ref name="kaldata" />. Much of the community response reflects the initial statements by this article that widespread deployment of the system had occurred.

Additional concerns have been raised following scrutiny of IP Biometrix's other projects, including camera systems at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) which shared the implementation on their Instagram account<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Dec 2025 |title=📣🎓Students be wary‼️ 🆔checks from this session |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSUYij0jLkY |url-status=live |access-date=14 Mar 2026 |website=Instagram}}</ref>, and their list of partners, which was removed from their website{{CitationNeeded}}.
==References==
<references>
<ref name="ip-biometrix">{{Cite web |title=Face recognition solution for Happy Bar & Grill |url=https://ip-biometrix.com/portfolio/happy-face-recognition/ |website=IP Biometrix |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260102224149/https://ip-biometrix.com/portfolio/happy-face-recognition/ |archive-date=2 January 2026 |access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="happy-bg">{{Cite web |title=Happy Bar & Grill |url=https://happy.bg/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313192141/https://happy.bg/ |archive-date=2026-03-13 |access-date=4 March 2026 |website=happy.bg}}</ref>
<ref name="happy-privacy">{{Cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://happy.bg/en/privacy_policy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313193023/https://happy.bg/en/privacy_policy |archive-date=2026-03-13 |access-date=4 March 2026 |website=happy.bg}}</ref>
<ref name="happy-statement">{{Cite web |title=Official Statement regarding AI camera allegations |url=https://boulevardbulgaria.bg/articles/happy-tvardeniyata-che-verigata-sledi-klientite-si-s-ai-kameri-sa-absolyutno-neverni |archive-url=https://archive.ph/zdiAC |archive-date= 13 March 2026 |website=Boulevard Bulgaria |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="gdpr-article9">{{Cite web |title=Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Article 9 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/art_9/oj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313212753/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/art_9/oj |archive-date=2026-03-13 |access-date=4 March 2026 |website=Regulation - 2016/679 - EN - gdpr - EUR-Lex |publisher=EUR-Lex}}</ref>
<ref name="cpdp-opinion">{{Cite web |title=Statement of the CPDP regarding the use of video surveillance with biometric data |url=https://cpdp.bg/%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%89%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BA%D0%B7%D0%BB%D0%B4-%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313192533/https://cpdp.bg/%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%89%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BA%D0%B7%D0%BB%D0%B4-%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-2/ |archive-date=2026-03-13 |access-date=11 March 2026 |website=cpdp.bg}}</ref>
<ref name="burrata-bg">{{Cite web |title=Burrata Italiana - About |url=https://burrata.bg/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313204746/https://burrata.bg/about |archive-date=2026-03-13 |access-date=11 March 2026 |website=burrata.bg}}</ref>
<ref name="kaldata">{{Cite web |author=Zhelev |first=Svetlin |date=12 March 2026 |title=AI cameras in restaurants? A facial recognition and emotion analysis system in a popular Bulgarian chain raises serious questions |url=https://www.kaldata.com/it-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/ai-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7-650764.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260312220545/https://www.kaldata.com/it-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/ai-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7-650764.html |archive-date=2026-03-12 |access-date=13 March 2026 |website=kaldata.com}}</ref>
<ref name="mobilebulgaria">{{Cite web |title=Facial recognition with AI monitors customers and employees in Happy restaurants? (Updated with an opinion from the company) |url=https://mobilebulgaria.com/news/izpolzva-li-happy-bar-grill-litsevo-razpoznavane-s-ai-v-restorantite-si |author=Behar, Mikhail |date=12 March 2026 |website=mobilebulgaria.com |access-date=13 March 2026}}</ref>
</references>
[[Category:2026 incidents]]

User talk:Keith

2026-03-14T02:46:59Z

Left4Code: /* Arbys article weird ref issue */ Reply

[[User:Alexa|Alexa]] ([[User talk:Alexa|talk]]) 16 May 2025

Hello @[[User:Keith|Keith]],

I'm interested in helping with the wiki, and specifically I have real world example, but would like to check if it's a good fit here or not.

And I can't talk in discord, as it's forcing me to submit my email.

Is this a good place to start conversation on adding new company, and fitness of the case.

Thank you.

∼∼∼∼

Hi @[[User:Alexa|Alexa]]!

No problem at all - go ahead and let me know what your thought is and I'll give you my thoughts on whether/how it fits on the wiki!

[[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:03, 17 May 2025 (UTC)

[[User:Alexa|Alexa]] ([[User talk:Alexa|talk]]) 06:36, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

@[[User:Keith|Keith]],

There is company in California that offers indoor skydiving, and obviously they have waiver to sign (with arbitration 😃), but it's not the issue I found there, but that part of that waiver is "consent" to "grant exclusive permission" to take photo/video, and use it in their promotional materials, and there is no way to sign the waiver without consenting to that photo/video permission, online form doesn't allow you to proceed. And even when we went to the place itself, staff said that "corporate doesn't allow them to print out forms to fill out, anymore, and all waivers need to be filled in online", means we can't opt out from that photo/video consent. So my kid ended up not taking that "flight", because we couldn't sign the waiver without consenting to photos.

Thank you.

[[User:Alexa|Alexa]] ([[User talk:Alexa|talk]]) 17 May 2025

@[[User:Alexa|Alexa]]

I think that fits the bill - although it's a smaller company, it fits within the frame of modern consumer protection and demonstrates how draconian the terms for even something like that can be.
Go for it! I'd probably say that this is a case where a company article can be created, and the TOS issue can be neatly summarised within it, as opposed to being a seperate incident article.

Edit: actually, I might have got ahead of myself - is this something which has been covered or discussed annywhere other than by yourself? If not, it may fall foul of the No Original Research rule, although a very basic page which basically just lays out the facts which can be established from their website and TOS, and does not provide any commentary beyond this, might be ok.

[[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 07:55, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

==Re: CAT Documentation==
[[User:Keith|@Keith]] I've replied to your message at [[User talk:Travis]]. Let me know if you'd like to discuss further approaches to organizing the documentation. [[User:Travis|Travis]] ([[User talk:Travis|talk]]) 14:43, 17 January 2025 (UTC)

==Delegating tasks==

Hello Keith,

You said at the meetup that you found it easy to delegate.

This interests me because when I was in business, I found it difficult delegate: did not believe people could not do a good enough job and I would be still responsible for the results.

Is this topic of interest to you?

∼∼∼∼

[[User:Janosabel|Janosabel]] ([[User talk:Janosabel|talk]]) 22:48, 10 February 2025 (UTC)

:I think that in the context of wikis or any kind of community project, one needs to be able to trust others to get anywhere (perhaps with some verification too at times).
:I'm under absolutely no illusion that I can do all or even much of this by myself, and we have some really talented and great people on the team!
:There's no way of achieving the results we'd want without spreading the workload and decision-making responsibility. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 09:33, 11 February 2025 (UTC)
::I understand what you mean.
::Just realised, I was speaking about me half a century ago; and not being able to trust delegees cost me a burnout. Without delegation even if imperfect, what must be done cannot be done.
::Unfortunately I cannot help by contributing to the Wiki for lack of academic training in the required writing style, but put on my talk page a witness account how supermarkets expanding to local areas are killing independent small traders.
::PS. What is the difference between <edit source> and using the <reply> button? [[User:Janosabel|Janosabel]] ([[User talk:Janosabel|talk]]) 20:05, 11 February 2025 (UTC)
:::I think the reply button just opens up a small window of the editor, and applies the signature to the message automatically? I'll have a look at what you mentioned, but I'm not sure it quite fits the theme of the Wiki, as we're keeping it focused on anti-consumer activities, rather than general issues with corporate behaviour.
:::And yes, I'll be careful on burnout! I want to avoid the combination of this and my day job driving me mad... [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 23:02, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

==Thanks and silly questions==

Hi Keith,

thanks for adding me to the confirmed users. Total newbie here, i have no idea how to properly contribute. I tried to start a discussion in the Category Leagislation Africa, not sure if it was posted.

Should i ask it directly here? or keep it in that category?

Mika, Madagascar. [[User:Mikadago|Mikadago]] ([[User talk:Mikadago|talk]]) 11:42, 16 August 2025 (UTC)

:I'm happy to reply there, though it will take a few mins to put together an answer and provide some guidance on where best to include the information [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 13:28, 16 August 2025 (UTC)

==Is the main Miku article ready to have the stub removed?==

[[Miku]]

I've been working on getting to Miku article to a better place, is there anything else you think I should add to it before the stub is removed? [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 01:20, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

:Happy to remove the incomplete notice as it's defeinitely better sourced now, but I think it might be s good idea for you to have a look at how the controversies/incidents section is laid out on the [[Netflix]] article, as the way it's done in the Miku article is a little strange, especially with the 'this article sumarizes' bits at the start of paragraphs
:In any case, thank you for the good work! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:46, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

==Why was my page deleted?==

I also see no notices or notifications in regard to this. I thought the whole point of this was for transparency? [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 21:12, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

:From what I can tell you created the article with, other than the information from the form, just a couple of sentences containing an accusation without any citation or reference to support it. After around 12 hours, Mr Pollo added a deletion notice to the article, as there was virtually no information contained in the article. After a couple more days, as the article had not been edited or improved, it was deleted.
:I can't speak to the lack of notifications - usually whenever an article you've been involved in is edited, it will show up in your inbox in the top right of the screen. It's possible that the full deletion of the article resulted in it removing the notifications; I'm not exactly sure of how that interaction works [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 23:01, 17 August 2025 (UTC)
::Well I planned to add more details and citations when I had time. It can't be a draft/work in progress? You have to write everything in one go? [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 04:44, 18 August 2025 (UTC)
:::The wiki generally expects an article to have at least a few references and all of the template parts at least partially filled in within the first few days of an article's creation. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:59, 18 August 2025 (UTC)
:::I'll second what James said, and also add that it's possible to create draft pages within your user space. You do this by adding 'user:[yourname]/' to the start of the page name. This keeps it out of mainspace, meaning it is not searchable by the main search bar.
:::Currently this policy you've encountered is unwritten, so I'll add it to the moderator guidelines shortly. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:30, 18 August 2025 (UTC)
::::Noted. It would be great if there was a regular draft function like in almost every software. (So this doesn’t happen to other new users after their first contribution.) Honestly, after you deleted it, it felt like my contribution is unwanted. [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 04:31, 21 August 2025 (UTC)
:::::That's fair enough - we should add some more text to the article creation flow which explains how user space works, how to make a draft article, and what the policy for handling new articles is. If you'd like, I can get the text from the deleted article and put it on your user talk page or something so you can pick it up from where you left off? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 10:37, 21 August 2025 (UTC)
::::::Thank you that would be great. Looking forward to helping out! [[User:Slab Man|Slab Man]] ([[User talk:Slab Man|talk]]) 18:32, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

==Interenet Archive stub notice seems badly placed==

Hi @[[User:Keith|Keith]], the stub notice on [[Internet Archive]] seems to be after the lead section and not before it. Can you please fix this? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:40, 19 August 2025 (UTC)

:Done! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:23, 19 August 2025 (UTC)

==Question about re-use of sources for LiveView Article==

Hey Keith,

I noticed that for the [[LiveView Technologies AI Surveillance]] article, the same source has been re-used multiple times but shows up with a different citation number. Namely the citations number 6,32, and 33 are duplicates of 4 (LVT Use Cases in Law Enforcement), 14 is a duplicate of 5 (AI-Driven Mobile Security for Every Threat), 35 is a duplicate of 8 (Fusion Centers), and 21 is a duplicate of 20 (Mobile cameras deployed at Monroe County Office Building amid security concerns)

Also the links are missing the archive URLs in the references and some don't have author first and last name or date where they are available on the site or the date is incorrect.

I have a version of the article which shrinks the list of references (citation 33 is now a re-use of citation 4 for that section for example) and also has the relevant archive links and names and dates for each reference where possible.

Should I commit the change? I know that this article may be looked at be people very soon and I'd rather get your approval to change it and have you ready to roll-back or append to it in case you don't like it. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 18:47, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

:I think I'm going to commit the change now, you're free to revert it or check it over in case I messed something up. In the event this article is mentioned at City hall on Thursday, I want it to be the best it can be.
:Thank you for helping with the wiki. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 19:03, 26 August 2025 (UTC)
::Thank you! and yeah, if you notice small formating issues (especially with an article louis has been working on :P ) just go ahead and make the change - that's the way of the wiki! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:41, 26 August 2025 (UTC)
:::Small formatting issues or other non-obvious things like referencing problems* [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:41, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

==Proposal to add a section for organized meetings. (might be a better name for this)==

Hey Keith, I hope I'm not posting here again too early.

I thought about how every time Louis wants to generate interest for a particular issue with regards to getting viewers to organize, most of the time he has to do a video on it and these calls for organization when fighting for a particular issue (such as LVT tomorrow) are based in the United States.

I don't know if this already exists on the wiki (if it does, i'd like to know where it is), but do you think it would be a good idea to create a page specifically for posting the dates and instructions for showing up to demonstrations or hearings for the purposes of pushing back against anti-consumer or anti-privacy related issues? (This could be world-wide).

If someone from the UK for example wanted to organize a demonstration or have people speak at or attend an open council meeting, they would edit a row of a wiki table and list the time of the demonstration, an additional page describing the instructions or requirements to attend, and the issue that will be talked about (similar to rossmanngroup.com/clippyone).

I feel that with something like this, organizing both members of the public and members of the wiki regardless of country would be much easier and could provide a centralized and updated list of upcoming events based on user submission and moderator approval.

Let me know what you think about something like this when you're free to reply, I'd like to hear your thoughts in addition to anyone else who sees this and wants to talk about it. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 17:11, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

:It's definitely on the edge of what makes sense here, but I think that it's worth considering as it could well be useful. Might be something that will end up being done through FULU though in the end... maybe some kind of 'events noticeboard' a bit like the moderator notice could work? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:25, 27 August 2025 (UTC)
::An "events noticeboard" in the way you describe it with moderation is exactly what I was thinking. You're right about how it should be done through FULU directly instead of the wiki, that's a better idea.
::Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. I was just wondering if it was a completely off-the-wall idea. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 23:16, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

==BT article==

Hello Keith, remember [[BT's Digital Voice service in the UK isn't good for the Elderly|this article]]? I pinged you 16 days ago but it seems that it didn’t work and I’ve forgotten about it since. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:27, 16 September 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks for the reminder! as we were both in agreement, I removed the article. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 06:48, 17 September 2025 (UTC)

==Privacy notice change==

Hello Keith, I was looking through things in the Mediawiki namespace to see how backend works, when I noticed the [[Mediawiki:Footer-privacy-notice]] page and it reminded me of [[Talk:Main Page#stating "Recently updated" not particularly helpful|this on the main page]]. Can we change it quickly or does it need to be done backend? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:37, 20 September 2025 (UTC)

:We're going to do a policy update and a full review of that stuff when we update the backend tomorrow, so I'll make sure it's handled [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:01, 20 September 2025 (UTC)

==Protect Template:Welcome==

Hello, am contacting you directly as I think it is the best way to make this happen, but PLEASE protect Template:Welcome, I doubt we'll get vandalism on there but if we do and it sends a message with it we're done for... [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:06, 13 October 2025 (UTC)

:Oh, also can you make the bot substitute (make the template not change on that page even after it gets updated) the templates for the sake of preservation of the page? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:08, 13 October 2025 (UTC)
::Thanks @[[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] for getting that first one!
::I think I get what you mean re. the substitution, but have no idea how to do it. Will look into it [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:30, 14 October 2025 (UTC)
:Done. Thanks for bringing it up! I'm not sure about your second question though, so I'll leave that to Keith. [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 18:26, 13 October 2025 (UTC)
::Second one is complicated, but the first one is the only important one. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:39, 13 October 2025 (UTC)

==Is it fine for me to get an alternate account?==

Edit: Have no clue why I'd need this in practice, so forget about it. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:33, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

:no worries. In answer to your question, as long as we're notified, and there are no sockpuppetry shenanigans, then the answer is yes. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 15:39, 22 October 2025 (UTC)

==Do you mind if I use AutoWikiBrowser on the CRW?==

Hello, I recently heard about a tool called [[wikipedia:WP:AWB|AutoWikiBrowser]] which is a semi-automated tool meant to help for repetitive smaller edits which I do a lot, do you mind if I use it and if you don't mind, should I use an alternate account for it (maybe with 'bot flag' even though it's not a bot so it doesn't show??) Edit: Also, the page to get this, [[Special:BotPasswords|BotPasswords]], lets you change grants for people/things with the password, so is it okay to let people/things with the password edit protected pages (for things like typo-fixing Project namespace pages)? It is risky if it is obtained.[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:23, 23 October 2025 (UTC)

:Happy for you to use that! sounds like a great tool. No strong opinions on whetehr you make a separate account for it [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:11, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
::On the passwords front, I'm not sure how exactly that works. Does it give you the ability to use your own account via API? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:14, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Yes, botpasswords is pretty much that. It lets you change permissions too, so I can give it only specific permissions for safety reasons. Also, as for the ‘seperate account thing’ Botpasswords (the one that I can use) gives me a new account anyway so there’s no reason for it, just me misunderstanding the usage. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 14:16, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
::::Cool, that sounds fine then! do you need me to do anything to get it set up? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:20, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
:::::No, I’ll do it myself when I next get a chance on my PC (without any special perms as I don’t know why I’d need that!) [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 14:21, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

==Found Large Amount of 404 links for flock article==

Page link: [[Flock license plate readers]]

Hey Keith,

I was checking the sources in the above article and noticed that for a large section of it, the sources will lead directly to pages which either don't exist or result in 404. I really hope that this is just a problem on my end and isn't really the case. Below is the complete list of all sources I found that lead to 404'd pages. On the actual article page, I have also marked the following with the status of usurped for the time being.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ref #

!Title

!Issue

!Archive state

!Link

|-
|20
|"How Vehicle Fingerprint Technology Works"
|404
|no archive
|
https://www.flocksafety.com/resources/how-vehicle-fingerprint-technology-works
|-
|21
|
"License Plate Surveillance Company Can Now Capture Images of Vehicle Occupants' Faces"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.404media.co/flock-safety-can-now-capture-faces-of-vehicle-occupants/
|-
|
22
|
"Transforming Flock: Beyond License Plate Reading to Deliver Greater Insights for Solving Crime"
|
404
|
no archive
|

https://www.flocksafety.com/newsroom/transforming-flock-beyond-license-plate-reading-to-deliver-greater-insights-for-solving-crime/
|-
|
24
|
"Atlas of Surveillance: Flock Safety"
|
goes to deeplinks blog, but no article
|
no archive
|
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/04/atlas-surveillance-flock-safety
|-
|
25
|
"Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore Police Department"
|
404
|no archive
|

https://www.eff.org/cases/leaders-beautiful-struggle-v-baltimore-police-department
|-
|
26
|
"Carpenter and the Evolving Fourth Amendment"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.law.georgetown.edu/american-criminal-law-review/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/01/60-1-Carpenter-and-the-Evolving-Fourth-Amendment.pdf
|-
|
27
|
"Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore Police Department"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67689711/leaders-of-a-beautiful-struggle-v-baltimore-police-department/
|-
|28
|
"Illinois Compiled Statutes - Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act"
|
404
|
no archive
|

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3541&ChapterID=53
|-
|
29
|
"RSA 236:130 Automated License Plate Recognition"
|
potential 404
|
no archive
|
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXI/236/236-130.htm
|-
|
32
|
"Surveillance firm provided ICE access to license plate reader systems"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jul/15/flock-safety-ice-license-plate-reader
|-
|
33
|
"How Flock Safety is Building a Surveillance Network for ICE"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/03/flock-safety-and-ice
|-
|
34
|
"ICE Surveillance of Immigrants and Advocates"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://americanoversight.org/investigation/ice-surveillance-of-immigrants-and-advocates/
|-
|
35
|
"ACLU Obtains Records Showing ICE Using License Plate Readers in Sanctuary Cities"
|
404
|
no archive
|
https://www.aclunc.org/news/aclu-obtains-records-showing-ice-using-license-plate-readers-sanctuary-cities
|-
|
36
|
"License Plate Readers Are Creating a US-Wide Database of More Than Just Cars"
|404
|no archive
|
https://www.vice.com/en/article/license-plate-readers-abortion-clinics-texas
|-
|37
|"Reproductive Surveillance in Post-Roe America"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.surveillancewatch.io/reproductive-surveillance-post-roe/
|-
|38
|"State Shield Laws and Reproductive Privacy"
|dead site
|no archive
|https://reproductiverights.gov/shield-laws/
|-
|39
|"Flock Safety Employees Caught Misusing Access to Surveillance Network"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.wired.com/story/flock-safety-employees-misuse-access/
|-
|40
|"Audit Reveals Hundreds of Flock Safety Privacy Violations"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.techdirt.com/2024/05/15/audit-reveals-hundreds-of-flock-safety-privacy-violations/
|-
|41
|"When License Plate Readers Become Tools for Stalking"
|404
|no archive
|https://apnews.com/article/license-plate-readers-police-misuse-stalking
|-
|42
|"Detroit Officer Fired for Using City Cameras to Track Ex-Wife"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2024/03/officer-fired-tracking-ex-wife/
|-
|43
|"Proactive Security Disclosure Q2 2025"
|404
|no archive
|https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/proactive-security-disclosure-q2-2025
|}
If you discover no issues (or the formatting of this table turns out horrible and breaks your talk page), disregard this and remove my topic from your page. And revert the change I made to the article where I marked the mentioned links as usurped.

Hopefully if these sites really lead to nothing and it's not just me, then the table makes it easy for you to do something. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 02:52, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

:Had a bit of a dig and my suspicion, expecially since these references are all next to each other, is that there was probably some AI chicanery in the making of the article.
:Seem to be poitentially based on real pages, e.g. this one:
:https://www.eff.org/document/fourth-circuit-ruling-leaders-beautiful-struggle-v-baltimore-police-department
:is probably meant to be #25 instead of what is currently there
:I'd recommend sticking this table on the Flock talk page (if you haven't already) and letting people know they might need to look for what these links are meant to be [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:19, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
::I went ahead and added the table to the discussion tab. Should there be a notice at the top of the Flock page to make people aware? Or leave it as is? [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 17:42, 26 October 2025 (UTC)
:::Nevermind about the notice. The references were small enough to not need them for the most part. I started working on fixing some of them [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 18:30, 26 October 2025 (UTC)

==Oversighted something==

Hello, Keith! I just wanted to let you know I just gave myself the 'suppressor' user right as I oversighted what I think could be your IP address for privacy reasons. The info is at [[Special:Diff/805]]. If it isn't your IP address, feel free to revert what I just did. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 11:32, 30 November 2025 (UTC)

:I think it might have been (though very good chance it was some temp VPN/mobile IP address). In any case, thank you for spotting it! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 12:09, 30 November 2025 (UTC)

==being able to edit Discussions==

hey so I just discovered I can edit discussions. not only mine but any1 elses. is this an oversight? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 20:23, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

:Not sure - might just be how wikis are (given that edit logs are public, it's pretty easy to combat anyone trying to abuse it, same as with article vandalism)
:I'll page in @[[User:UntoK|UntoK]] in case it's something that isn't how it should be [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 23:13, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
::Nah, that's MediaWiki. Nothing unusual there. Edit Source is actually the default way to edit discussions in MediaWiki, but the interface is changed by an extension (forgot the name), so that it shows as this instead of just the edit source button. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:37, 5 December 2025 (UTC)
:::dk y I didn't notice that b4. I've been on and off w contribs so thought smth changed since my last visit. anyhow thanks for clearing up the concern. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:00, 8 December 2025 (UTC)

=="fixing" recent changes==

since the introduction of [[Template:Welcome]], [[Special:RecentChanges]] has become a graveyard of User:Talks that I have to sift through in order to double check people's work. can we please block [[User:New_user_message]] from showing up on there?

edit: the bot bypasses the "Human (not bot) active filter
[[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 22:12, 26 December 2025 (UTC)

:yeah, that's a localsettings.php part that Keith can pass on to Unto. setting $wgNewUserSuppressRC to true should work. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 10:50, 1 January 2026 (UTC)
::as a temp fix, [https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Special:RecentChanges?hidebots=1&namespace=3&invert=1&limit=100&days=7&enhanced=1&urlversion=2 this] should work [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 10:54, 1 January 2026 (UTC)
:::legend. thank you [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:43, 1 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Hi @[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] - took a bit of a break over the holidays so sorry for not replying. I'll contact Unto and see if he can take a look [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:12, 5 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::Fair enough! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:49, 5 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::any update? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 17:55, 12 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::I've put Unto on it but no update. I'll chase him [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:30, 13 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Darth Sidious says "do it". [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:36, 14 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::any update? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 23:08, 27 February 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::I think it's been fixed? I don't see New User Message clogging up the feed anymore [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:54, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::::I certainly remember that we tried to fix it, and I think it seemed to work [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:54, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::::oh... I was using ACRP's temp fix so I did not realize and thought it was still broken lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:06, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

==*sigh*==

Where are the projects (again)? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:04, 19 January 2026 (UTC)

:deja vu? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:42, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
::[[Consumer_Rights_Wiki_talk:Moderators%27_noticeboard#*sigh*|oh]] [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:48, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
:::LOL, made me chuckle seeing your replies! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:55, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
::::hey as a wise man once said "if you are good at something, never do it for free". that'll be $5 my friend [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:05, 19 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::yeah, replied on the noticeboard, but just adding here - I think an update must have broken it. have contacted Unto [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 01:07, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::@[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] @[[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] Fixed! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:52, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

==sorry for the ping==

I used the intro text from [[Texas Attorney General sues multiple TV makers over ACR user data collection]] to add to the Incidents section for each of the mentioned companies. In the edit summary I linked you. Ik that @ and [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 22:33, 21 January 2026 (UTC) ping the user but idk abt linking. regardless sorry abt the pings

:th happened here? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 22:34, 21 January 2026 (UTC)
::No worries! I don't think @s in edit summaries cause pings anyway [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:37, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

==alternative to Discord==

I don't use Discord. many members of the wiki don't use Discord. can't talk on their behalf but I can mine. if there was a Matrix or heck Signal gc (lol), I'd love to be a part of it. are there any plans for migration off Discord or perhaps providing w an alternative they'd be more comfortable with? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 19:32, 23 January 2026 (UTC)

:We're hoping to get a Zulip bridge with the Discord in the next couple of months. This would allow people to essentially join the Discord without joining the Discord, with the exception of a couple of features like bot commands and voice channels. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:19, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
::lovely looking forward to it [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 09:44, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
:::is the Zulip bridge still under consideration following the impending age verification push in March? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 23:07, 27 February 2026 (UTC)
::::I've not heard of Zulip but it sounds like some sort of proxy? I'd prefer something like Matrix but that seems great too. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:44, 28 February 2026 (UTC)
:::::Zulip is a bit like a matrix/discord-y thing, and we'd use plugins to essentially crosspost everything that's sent to it to the discord and vice versa. It's still coming along but I've been crap and haven't got the server paid up yet. will try and do this next week and we can hopefully get it up shortly. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:45, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Just in case yous hadn't noticed it on the main page @[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] @[[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]], we're moving our monthly hangout meetings from discord to zoom so as to include more of the community, and you're both welcome to join! first one is at 20:00 UTC tomorrow. if you pop me an email over to help@consumerrights.wiki, I'll send you the zoom link (son't want to posted publicly for obvious reasons) [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:50, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::I've seen that, I'm not interested in joining though. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:21, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::oh I totally missed that. I'll shoot over an email and add it to my calendar but dk if I'll be able to join. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 16:09, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Apologies for not seeing this sooner - I'll send over a link just now! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:34, 1 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Hi, any update on the Zulip bridge? Sorry for asking after such a short time but I'd really like to use it! [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:24, 5 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] any update still? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 12:44, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Jake's on it - we've been going back and forth over whether to have a managed instance or self hosted - sry for the kerfuffle! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:34, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

==Can you help moving my page==

Sorry I said this 3 times or more, I got confused, can you move please, I moved it in wrong place, may I ask should I ask here instead of the pages I placed [[User:^&*|^&*]] ([[User talk:^&*|talk]]) 21:23, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

:Thank you but should I create it in the user page just to clarify [[User:^&*|^&*]] ([[User talk:^&*|talk]]) 21:34, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
::Don't want to be nuisance that all when doing my article [[User:^&*|^&*]] ([[User talk:^&*|talk]]) 21:35, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
:::I've replied on your user page - think it should be alright now? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:38, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
::::your user talk page* [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:38, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

==Adding categories==

Hello, please don't add categories in the visual editor as it doesn't work, instead simply type <code><nowiki>[[Category:CATEGORYNAME]]</nowiki></code> and replace CATEGORYNAME with the name of the category, otherwise it won't work. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:57, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

:Apologies, thank you! I usually use source but I think there I just hit 'edit' by accident as was trying to set it up quickly. just so you know, I've replied to stefan's questions on the page he moved - thank you for moving the page he created! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:31, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

==Regarding a recent article I created==

Hello, Keith! I have finally decided to become a contributor here. The article I've been working on is [[Happy Bar & Grill Biometric Surveillance]]. However, when someone I've sent the link to opens it, they see the version that was last updated before I created my profile. What could be causing this? I apologise for any lack of knowledge on my part. [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 18:23, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

:Unfortunately this is a problem with cloudflare's caching. If you wait a short while, or they log in, they should see the updated version. We've found a solution and will be shipping it with the next version of the wiki so that page edits are instantly reflected in cached versions of pages. Until then, it's just a case of waiting a while or logging in (logging in bypasses the cache as it needs to load user-specific elements). Great work on the article by the way! Just as a heads up, we're happy to have sources in non-english languages, so if you find any Bulgarian sources discussing it, those would be great to add to the article to demonstrate notability. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 18:42, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::Oops, apparently I was spreading misinformation on the internet regarding the exact reasons for it not being cached, but the gist is still the same, which is that logged-in users bypass the cache! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 18:48, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::Thank you for the swift reply and the explanation! It's so refreshing to see people working hard and helping others for a good cause. Also very happy to hear that you like how the article has turned out so far. I've extensively searched for any other sources regarding the issue, but found nothing. I guess someone has to start the discussion! :D
::Just to confirm: is the wiki English-only? I'd love to make the article more accessible to my compatriots, but I suppose I'll just tell them to use the automatic translation option on their browser. [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 21:05, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
:::The wiki is english only yeah, for moderation purposes (we don't have a team that's reliably able to check the quality of non-english articles). if you wanted, though, we'd be happy for you to put a bulgarian version in your user space (i.e. the page lives at consumerrights.wiki/w/User:Juuns/[pagename]) - just make sure to put a note in english at the top so that none of the mods mistake it for a spam article! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 22:48, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Hey there, thanks for the advice! Is that alright? https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Iw/User:Juuns/%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B2_Happy_Bar_%26_Grill_-_bg_translation_of_an_existing_article/&veaction=edit [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 08:35, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::Yep! The URL looks cursed written out like that lol but it's in the right place [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:24, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::Hello again, Keith!
::::::I and the small team I've created have made huge progress regarding the surveillance situation at Happy Bar and Dinner. We posted the wiki on the r/bulgaria subreddit, and it topped the daily chart in less than three hours. People are outraged.
::::::I've managed to contact an advocate from the opposition here who agreed to share the wiki on her Facebook page (over 10,000 followers). She also agreed to work with me to make the topic go viral and will send this to other human rights and anti-mafia activists in Bulgaria. We've planned to create several videos in various forms regarding the issue.
::::::I am writing with a big request that would be extremely beneficial to my cause and the wiki: Could you contact Louis Rossmann and share the wiki with him? Alternatively, you could connect him to me so I can tell him more about it.
::::::I understand this is a big request, but I would be very thankful for your help :) [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 18:43, 11 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::That's great! I've passed the info on, and will let you know the response
:::::::This is exactly how I've been hoping to see the wiki be used, so I'm really excited that it's getting picked up! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:20, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::Hello again, Keith. Things are spreading like wildfire and are getting very heated. An official position from Happy Bar & Grill has been released. They are aggressively denying the claims, but their statement actually contains several contradictions that validate my research rather than disprove it.
::::::::In their official position, Happy Bar & Grill claims to have already notified the wiki's administrators (you and Rossmann, I suppose), issuing what they describe as a "categorical demand" for the removal of all alleged misinformation within a 24-hour ultimatum. Could you confirm if such a notice was received? A corporation issuing a 24-hour take-down ultimatum to an independent documentation project before any independent audit or regulatory investigation has taken place is simply outrageous.
::::::::Some of the main points I wanted to cover:
::::::::First, there is a major timeline discrepancy. Happy claims they received an offer from GI Mobility Services (linked to IP Biometrix? I cannot find any information about them, and other people have come up with nothing as well) in 2023 and officially rejected it on 14 December 2023. However, my archived evidence from IP Biometrix's portfolio shows a screenshot dated 9 November 2024—almost a year after they claim to have rejected the proposal. If they truly rejected the system in 2023, why does the vendor's portfolio display active implementation data from late 2024? Why was the article on their page until 2026? Also, there was an image displaying logos of partner companies still on IP Biometrix's page until 11 March 2026. They took that down just a few hours! This suggests either the system was further tested despite the rejection, or their timeline is fabricated to cover ongoing processing. My main hypothesis right now is that GI Mobility Services is the old version of IP Biometrix. IP Biometrix is a very new company, established at the end of 2023, just around the time of the implied rejected proposal.
::::::::Second, their statement completely omits any mention of "Burrata Italiana," despite it being owned by the same group. Is this supposed to be implied? My evidence specifically identifies the biometric dashboard screenshots as originating from the Burrata Italiana location in Varna.
::::::::Third, the article on Boulevard Bulgaria (one of the most shared articles regarding the topic), in my eyes, appears to be paid or ordered content, mirroring Happy's language almost verbatim without independent verification. It is even on their top page (archived here: https://web.archive.org/web/20260312235007/https://boulevardbulgaria.bg/). Meanwhile, they are attempting to discredit consumerrights.wiki by calling it an unverified anonymous wiki. THIS ATTACKS THE INTEGRITY OF THE WHOLE PLATFORM! I must stand firm that I am NOT spreading misinformation; I am documenting archived vendor evidence and public records. For the past couple of hours, I have made as many archives as possible for any news articles, blogs, and information regarding this.
::::::::They are trying to suppress the discussion before it has begun, but I believe it's too late. Many people have already shared this on social media and are also quite sceptical of Happy's response. A deeper dive into IP Biometrix as a whole is needed to check whether other companies also use such a system. They are very shady; they have many other "partners." They are the main issue. I will try to update the page with their denial as soon as possible, but contextualise it with these contradictions so readers see the full picture.
::::::::For your reference, here are some of the key articles circulating regarding this situation:
::::::::Post in r/bulgaria: Where it all started. After this thread was made, this issue gained massive traction in no time, featuring thousands of views and hundreds of comments from concerned citizens, topping the weekly chart in less than 24 hours: https://www.reddit.com/r/bulgaria/comments/1rqxn90/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B2_%D1%85%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B8/
::::::::Boulevard Bulgaria: This article mirrors the official corporate release almost verbatim and lacks independent verification. It appears to be coordinated PR rather than journalism: https://boulevardbulgaria.bg/articles/happy-tvardeniyata-che-verigata-sledi-klientite-si-s-ai-kameri-sa-absolyutno-neverni
::::::::Mobile Bulgaria: General news coverage discussing the allegations and the company's response. https://mobilebulgaria.com/news/izpolzva-li-happy-bar-grill-litsevo-razpoznavane-s-ai-v-restorantite-si
::::::::Kaldata: Technical analysis and reporting on the AI camera systems in restaurants and the company's response. https://www.kaldata.com/it-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/ai-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7-650764.html
::::::::Other useful information:
::::::::IP Biometrix: Their current website shows no information or response regarding the events. https://ip-biometrix.com/
::::::::Confirmation that this is indeed "Burrata Italiana Varna" in Varna, Bulgaria: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Burrata+Italiana+Varna/@43.1962014,27.9154998,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x40a453f66ec877b1:0x1331c25a3c536926!8m2!3d43.1962014!4d27.9180747!16s%2Fg%2F11js3ffhz7?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D; [[:File:AI Surveillance Dashboard.png]]
::::::::There are other outlets covering this as well, but these are the primary sources needed. I am disgusted by Happy's answer and Boulevard Bulgaria's PR-like article. Please inform Louis to check the email I've sent about this issue; I've formulated all the needed information there. I am furious. [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 01:15, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::Crucial note: While the filename indicates November 2024, this date relies on the vendor's naming convention and cannot be forensically verified. Additionally, there is another screenshot in the article from that same date (Screenshot-2024-11-09-121619.png), which may indicate that the screenshots were made when the article was posted rather than during live operation." [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 02:27, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::Unfortunately, I cannot dedicate unlimited time to maintaining and updating this page alone given the rapid developments. I would greatly appreciate any help regarding that. :) [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 02:34, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::yep, we've recieved it alright. I'm reworking the article a bit at the moment, to ensure that it's a bit more neutral, fits our editorial policies etc., and does not make any original claims beyond those contained in sources. My current understanding is that there is no evidence that the system has been deployed at scale, as such I'm moving/renaming the article and rewording some of the content.
:::::::::I'd appreciate if you could keep your bg translation up-to-date with the changes made to the english article (or find someone who is able to do so) to make sure that it's in-line as well. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 07:08, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::I've edited and added as much context as I could to both articles for now. I'm going to take a little break for the rest of the day. Thanks a lot for your support and dedication to this issue and the wiki as a whole. Talk to you soon! [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 09:56, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::::Lastly for now, could you move the translation to change the title? Разработка на биометричен инструмент за наблюдение на Happy Bar & Grill/Burrata. I suggest specifying Burrata in the English version as well, as we have implication from the company's response that the screenshot of the monitoring is real and not fabricated (pleas read their official response thoroughly before doing anything). [[User:Juuns|Juuns]] ([[User talk:Juuns|talk]]) 10:03, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

==Stub Pains==

Hey Keith,

I'm way out of my depth here with these stub notices, I added a stub to two new articles I made not realizing they would literally prevent my ability to add any text to the article.

links: [[AirPods Connection Vulnerability]] | [[AirPods Max Moisture Issue]]

When I attempt to make a change to the article, I was getting a stub deletion error. If I did something wrong, would you be able to explain what exactly happened with this so it doesn't happen again? [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 06:55, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

:(IN CASE YOU COULDN'T NOTICE, I'M NOT KEITH!) This is a common issue that users have had for a very long time now. If you edit anywhere before or on the line of the stub notice, something called the abuse filter says "nope, lol, nice try" and blocks the edit. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 07:18, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
::Should work now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 07:20, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
:Ah, I think I did the same thing as ACRP, but the stub notices are now on their own line and not touching anything else, so there shouldn't be any further issues [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 14:30, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

==Publicising RfCs==

Hello, the RfCs you made haven't gotten any attention. Should we publicise them better? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:34, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

:Yeah, I'll set up some kind of hub that includes pages with the RfC category or something. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:23, 6 March 2026 (UTC)
::ok, I made a category for open and closed RfCs, transcluded them on a page, and linked to it from the policy index. idk if there's anywhere else it should be? I guess it's probably worth mentioning on some of the guide-y pages [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:44, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

==Arbys article weird ref issue==

[[Arby's]]

hey keith, when I look at the arby's article, it says in the references, ref goes here, but then when I try to edit it out, it goes away. is there any way to fix this? If you figure out a way, I'd love to know. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 16:09, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

:That ref is caused by [[Template:Ph-C-Int]]. Remove that and the ref will disappear as well. You can't delete the ref without deleting the box. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 09:39, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::Thank you for the help, I've replaced the box with a simple message to do the summary. [[User:Left4Code|Left4Code]] ([[User talk:Left4Code|talk]]) 02:46, 14 March 2026 (UTC)

Arby's

2026-03-14T02:45:38Z

Left4Code: removed the arby's box, ref goes here should be gone.

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1964-07-23
|Industry=Food
|Logo=Arby's logo.png
|ParentCompany=Inspire Brands
|Type=Private
|Website=http://arbys.com/
}}Summary of Arby's is supposed to go here!

[[wikipedia:Arby's#|Arby's IP Holder, LLC]] is a company. =)

==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]].

===2017 Data Breach===
Through a non-publicized report sent by PSCU to its bank members, it was discovered that between October 25, 2016 till January 19, an un-named restaurant retailer was involved in a data breach leaking 355,000 customers debit and credit card information.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freedman |first=Linn |date=2 March 2017 |title=Arby’s Hit with Multiple Class Action Suits over Data Breach |url=https://www.dataprivacyandsecurityinsider.com/2017/03/arbys-hit-with-multiple-class-action-suits-over-data-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251207131551/https://www.dataprivacyandsecurityinsider.com/2017/03/arbys-hit-with-multiple-class-action-suits-over-data-breach/ |archive-date=2025-12-07 |access-date=8 March 2026 |website=Robinson+Cole}}</ref> Arby’s became aware of the situation in January after being informed by industry partners and PSCU, resulting in an investigation with law enforcement and security experts that determined malware was used to target Arby’s point of sales systems during the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seals |first=Tara |date=10 Feb 2026 |title=Arby's Gets Roasted in Breach of 300K Payment Cards |url=https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/arbys-gets-roasted-in-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250822052101/https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/arbys-gets-roasted-in-breach |archive-date=2025-08-22 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=InfoSecurity Magazine}}</ref>

Arby’s didn’t immediately disclose the breach until February due to a request from the FBI, however in a public statement from a spokesman announced that the malware has been removed, and it’s collaborating with law enforcement, however the company refused to give explicit details on the exact date of the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 Feb 2017 |title=Fast Food Chain Arby’s Acknowledges Breach |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/02/fast-food-chain-arbys-acknowledges-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251208230530/https://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/02/fast-food-chain-arbys-acknowledges-breach/ |archive-date=2025-12-08 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=KrebsonSecurity}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 Feb 2017 |title=Fast Food Chain Arby’s Acknowledges Breach |url=https://network-securitas.com/security-news/fast-food-chain-arbys-acknowledges-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006201839/https://network-securitas.com/security-news/fast-food-chain-arbys-acknowledges-breach |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=8 March 2026 |website=Network Securitas}}</ref><blockquote>“Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG) was recently provided with information that prompted it to launch an investigation of its payment card systems. Upon learning of the incident, ARG immediately notified law enforcement and enlisted the expertise of leading security experts, including Mandiant. While the investigation is ongoing, ARG quickly took measures to contain this incident and eradicate the malware from systems at restaurants that were impacted.” <ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Feb 2017 |title=Arby's investigates credit card security breach at hundreds of restaurants |url=https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/arbys-investigates-credit-card-security-breach-at-hundreds-of-restaurants |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251012215247/https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/arbys-investigates-credit-card-security-breach-at-hundreds-of-restaurants |archive-date=2025-10-12 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=Fox News |publisher=Fox News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paganini |first=Pierluigi |date=2017-02-10 |title=Arby’s Restaurant Group confirmed a massive card breach hit its stores |url=https://securityaffairs.com/56149/data-breach/arbys-restaurant-group-card-breach.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260122034125/https://securityaffairs.com/56149/data-breach/arbys-restaurant-group-card-breach.html |archive-date=2026-01-22 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=SecurityAffairs}}</ref></blockquote>On March 2, 2017, a lawsuit was filed against Arby’s for failure to implement security practices, however the case reached a $2 million settlement on June 6, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2017 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ATLANTA DIVISION |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/mcclellan-v-arbys.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909173605/https://www.classaction.org/media/mcclellan-v-arbys.pdf |archive-date=2022-09-09 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=ClassAction}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-21 |title=Arby’s Data Breach Class Action Settlement |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/arbys-data-breach-class-action-settlement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260311165257/https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/arbys-data-breach-class-action-settlement/ |archive-date=2026-03-11 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=Top Class Actions}}</ref>

===Providing less meat than advertised===
{{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
Joseph Alongi filed a class action lawsuits against Arby's on September 5, 2023 over the company advertisement misrepresenting the amount of meat contents, usually resulting in getting half the meat as advertised. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucher |first=Anne |date=11 September 2023 |title=Arby’s class action alleges advertisements overstate amount of meat in sandwiches |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/food/arbys-class-action-alleges-advertisements-overstate-amount-of-meat-in-sandwiches/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=Top Class Actions}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2023 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/alongis-v-arbys-restaurant-group-inc.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420170937/https://www.classaction.org/media/alongis-v-arbys-restaurant-group-inc.pdf |archive-date=2025-04-20 |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=ClassAction}}</ref> In response, Arby's filed an motion to dismiss the case, claiming the photos provided "amounted to non-actionable puffery", however the dismissal was denied on September 29, 2025, stating it doesn't contain "subject statements of opinion"..<ref>{{Cite web |last=Italiano |first=Eric |date=14 October 2025 |title=Arby’s Losses Motion To Dismiss False Advertising Lawsuit Claiming They Misled Customers With Sandwich Size/Meat Quality |url=https://brobible.com/culture/article/arbys-false-advertising-lawsuit/ |url-status= |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=brobible}}</ref> The case is still evolving as of January 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2026 |title=Arby’s Lawsuit Claim 2026. Deceptive Advertising Case Status, Eligibility, and Filing Updates |url=https://allaboutlawyer.com/arbys-lawsuit-claim-2026-deceptive-advertising-case-status-eligibility-and-filing-updates/#what-the-arbys-lawsuit-alleges-active-2026-status |url-status= |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=All About Lawyer}}</ref>
==Products==
https://assets.ctfassets.net/o19mhvm9a2cm/6CB6H0WpemQoxpD05es0lb/c6124058a65e68822e8f6e42caba2de1/Arbys_Menu_Items_and_Ingredients_SEPT_2025.pdf<nowiki/>{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==

*[[Subway]]
*[[Firehouse]]
*[[McDonald's]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Arby's

2026-03-14T02:44:48Z

Left4Code: Undo revision 43230 by Left4Code (talk)

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1964-07-23
|Industry=Food
|Logo=Arby's logo.png
|ParentCompany=Inspire Brands
|Type=Private
|Website=http://arbys.com/
}}
{{Ph-C-Int}}

[[wikipedia:Arby's#|Arby's IP Holder, LLC]] is a company. =)

==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]].

===2017 Data Breach===
Through a non-publicized report sent by PSCU to its bank members, it was discovered that between October 25, 2016 till January 19, an un-named restaurant retailer was involved in a data breach leaking 355,000 customers debit and credit card information.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freedman |first=Linn |date=2 March 2017 |title=Arby’s Hit with Multiple Class Action Suits over Data Breach |url=https://www.dataprivacyandsecurityinsider.com/2017/03/arbys-hit-with-multiple-class-action-suits-over-data-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251207131551/https://www.dataprivacyandsecurityinsider.com/2017/03/arbys-hit-with-multiple-class-action-suits-over-data-breach/ |archive-date=2025-12-07 |access-date=8 March 2026 |website=Robinson+Cole}}</ref> Arby’s became aware of the situation in January after being informed by industry partners and PSCU, resulting in an investigation with law enforcement and security experts that determined malware was used to target Arby’s point of sales systems during the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seals |first=Tara |date=10 Feb 2026 |title=Arby's Gets Roasted in Breach of 300K Payment Cards |url=https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/arbys-gets-roasted-in-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250822052101/https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/arbys-gets-roasted-in-breach |archive-date=2025-08-22 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=InfoSecurity Magazine}}</ref>

Arby’s didn’t immediately disclose the breach until February due to a request from the FBI, however in a public statement from a spokesman announced that the malware has been removed, and it’s collaborating with law enforcement, however the company refused to give explicit details on the exact date of the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 Feb 2017 |title=Fast Food Chain Arby’s Acknowledges Breach |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/02/fast-food-chain-arbys-acknowledges-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251208230530/https://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/02/fast-food-chain-arbys-acknowledges-breach/ |archive-date=2025-12-08 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=KrebsonSecurity}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 Feb 2017 |title=Fast Food Chain Arby’s Acknowledges Breach |url=https://network-securitas.com/security-news/fast-food-chain-arbys-acknowledges-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006201839/https://network-securitas.com/security-news/fast-food-chain-arbys-acknowledges-breach |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=8 March 2026 |website=Network Securitas}}</ref><blockquote>“Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG) was recently provided with information that prompted it to launch an investigation of its payment card systems. Upon learning of the incident, ARG immediately notified law enforcement and enlisted the expertise of leading security experts, including Mandiant. While the investigation is ongoing, ARG quickly took measures to contain this incident and eradicate the malware from systems at restaurants that were impacted.” <ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Feb 2017 |title=Arby's investigates credit card security breach at hundreds of restaurants |url=https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/arbys-investigates-credit-card-security-breach-at-hundreds-of-restaurants |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251012215247/https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/arbys-investigates-credit-card-security-breach-at-hundreds-of-restaurants |archive-date=2025-10-12 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=Fox News |publisher=Fox News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paganini |first=Pierluigi |date=2017-02-10 |title=Arby’s Restaurant Group confirmed a massive card breach hit its stores |url=https://securityaffairs.com/56149/data-breach/arbys-restaurant-group-card-breach.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260122034125/https://securityaffairs.com/56149/data-breach/arbys-restaurant-group-card-breach.html |archive-date=2026-01-22 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=SecurityAffairs}}</ref></blockquote>On March 2, 2017, a lawsuit was filed against Arby’s for failure to implement security practices, however the case reached a $2 million settlement on June 6, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2017 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ATLANTA DIVISION |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/mcclellan-v-arbys.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909173605/https://www.classaction.org/media/mcclellan-v-arbys.pdf |archive-date=2022-09-09 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=ClassAction}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-21 |title=Arby’s Data Breach Class Action Settlement |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/arbys-data-breach-class-action-settlement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260311165257/https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/arbys-data-breach-class-action-settlement/ |archive-date=2026-03-11 |access-date=10 March 2026 |website=Top Class Actions}}</ref>

===Providing less meat than advertised===
{{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
Joseph Alongi filed a class action lawsuits against Arby's on September 5, 2023 over the company advertisement misrepresenting the amount of meat contents, usually resulting in getting half the meat as advertised. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucher |first=Anne |date=11 September 2023 |title=Arby’s class action alleges advertisements overstate amount of meat in sandwiches |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/food/arbys-class-action-alleges-advertisements-overstate-amount-of-meat-in-sandwiches/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=Top Class Actions}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2023 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/alongis-v-arbys-restaurant-group-inc.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420170937/https://www.classaction.org/media/alongis-v-arbys-restaurant-group-inc.pdf |archive-date=2025-04-20 |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=ClassAction}}</ref> In response, Arby's filed an motion to dismiss the case, claiming the photos provided "amounted to non-actionable puffery", however the dismissal was denied on September 29, 2025, stating it doesn't contain "subject statements of opinion"..<ref>{{Cite web |last=Italiano |first=Eric |date=14 October 2025 |title=Arby’s Losses Motion To Dismiss False Advertising Lawsuit Claiming They Misled Customers With Sandwich Size/Meat Quality |url=https://brobible.com/culture/article/arbys-false-advertising-lawsuit/ |url-status= |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=brobible}}</ref> The case is still evolving as of January 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2026 |title=Arby’s Lawsuit Claim 2026. Deceptive Advertising Case Status, Eligibility, and Filing Updates |url=https://allaboutlawyer.com/arbys-lawsuit-claim-2026-deceptive-advertising-case-status-eligibility-and-filing-updates/#what-the-arbys-lawsuit-alleges-active-2026-status |url-status= |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=All About Lawyer}}</ref>
==Products==
https://assets.ctfassets.net/o19mhvm9a2cm/6CB6H0WpemQoxpD05es0lb/c6124058a65e68822e8f6e42caba2de1/Arbys_Menu_Items_and_Ingredients_SEPT_2025.pdf<nowiki/>{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==

*[[Subway]]
*[[Firehouse]]
*[[McDonald's]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Arby's

2026-03-14T02:42:35Z

Left4Code: reference test to try and remove ref goes here

Nothing

2026-03-14T02:40:59Z

Left4Code: linked to google

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2020
|Industry=Electronics
|Logo=Nothing_logo.svg
|Type=Private
|Website=https://nothing.tech
|Description=They specialize is Consumer Tech products such as smartphones, Headphones, TWS and smartwatches, known for their design and software experience.
}}

Founded in 2020, '''Nothing Technology Limited''' (stylised as '''NOTHING''') is a British consumer electronics company headquartered in London. They manufacture consumer tech products such as smartphones, smartwatches, headphones, TWS. They are well known for their unique product designs, often featuring transparent hardware and ''Glyph Interface'', a set of LEDs that light up in various patterns to display information on the rear of their smartphones.

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

===User Freedom:===
All nothing phone comes with pre-installed software that isn't allowed to uninstall. As it is being funded by [[Google]] via Google Ventures<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_(company) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260128122624/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_(company) Archived])</ref> to keep google apps on [[wikipedia:Nothing_OS|NothingOS]] 

==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]].
===Introducing Ads and Bloatware to its lower end phones===
Nothing OS 4.0 (based on android 16) added Lock Glimpses/Ads and Pre-installed Apps (Bloatware) on their lower end phones, like the Phone 3a series which includes Phone (3a) Lite, (3a), the (3a) Pro and CMF Phones.<ref>[https://nothing.community/d/45348-lock-glimpse-future-plans "Lock Glimpse & Future Plans"] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260109212706/https://nothing.community/d/45348-lock-glimpse-future-plans Archived])</ref> This move is being heavily criticized by consumers as they previously claimed to provide a bloat-free experience on their devices.

The introduction of Essential Search does not permit the users to perform local searches on the device without forcing them to [[:File:Essential Search Terms of Service.png|Terms and Conditions]] and a [[:File:Essential Search Privacy Policy.png|Privacy policy]].

Following this update the company also refuses to provide with a simple alternative for the user to downgrade the device to a previous working state, without the user paying for the repair even under warranty.

===Bluetooth doesn't work===
{{Main|Nothing Phone (1)}}
Several users have reported a recurring issue with the Nothing Phone (1) where the Bluetooth functionality becomes inoperable. Affected devices are unable to activate Bluetooth, with the toggle permanently greyed out or failing to switch on. This malfunction has been described as rendering the feature "completely broken," making it impossible to pair headphones, speakers, or other accessories.<ref name="reddit1">[https://www.reddit.com/r/NothingTech/comments/vytvol/bluetooth_connectivity_issues_on_the_nothing/ "Bluetooth connectivity issues on the Nothing Phone (1)" – Reddit thread] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20220714114747/https://old.reddit.com/r/NothingTech/comments/vytvol/bluetooth_connectivity_issues_on_the_nothing/ Archived])</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/NothingTech/comments/1c9rsqa/bluetooth_not_turning_on_on_my_phone_1/ "Bluetooth not turning on on my phone (1)" – Reddit thread]</ref>

==Products==

*Phone (3) (July 1st, 2025<ref>https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2156428 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250630154725/https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2156428 Archived])</ref>): Nothing advertized it's product as a '[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flagship Flagship]' to hype the product up. The product originally came with a built-in app called 'Nothing Chats', Which was advertized as end-to-end encrypted, Although it is not.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blake |first=Alex |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Nothing tried to outdo Apple’s RCS; instead it created a privacy disaster |url=https://www.techradar.com/phones/nothing-phones/nothing-tried-to-outdo-apples-rcs-instead-it-created-a-privacy-disaster |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917220328/https://www.techradar.com/phones/nothing-phones/nothing-tried-to-outdo-apples-rcs-instead-it-created-a-privacy-disaster |archive-date=September 17, 2025 |work=tech radar}}</ref> The change has since been reverted it seems in newer software releases. Additionally the phone has an 'Essential Space' button which triggers the build-in AI app, the button can be disabled and customized but requires tinkering with ADB

==See also==
[https://us.nothing.tech/ Nothing's Website]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Nothing

2026-03-14T02:40:35Z

Left4Code: capitalization

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2020
|Industry=Electronics
|Logo=Nothing_logo.svg
|Type=Private
|Website=https://nothing.tech
|Description=They specialize is Consumer Tech products such as smartphones, Headphones, TWS and smartwatches, known for their design and software experience.
}}

Founded in 2020, '''Nothing Technology Limited''' (stylised as '''NOTHING''') is a British consumer electronics company headquartered in London. They manufacture consumer tech products such as smartphones, smartwatches, headphones, TWS. They are well known for their unique product designs, often featuring transparent hardware and ''Glyph Interface'', a set of LEDs that light up in various patterns to display information on the rear of their smartphones.

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

===User Freedom:===
All nothing phone comes with pre-installed software that isn't allowed to uninstall. As it is being funded by Google via Google Ventures<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_(company) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260128122624/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_(company) Archived])</ref> to keep google apps on [[wikipedia:Nothing_OS|NothingOS]] 

==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]].
===Introducing Ads and Bloatware to its lower end phones===
Nothing OS 4.0 (based on android 16) added Lock Glimpses/Ads and Pre-installed Apps (Bloatware) on their lower end phones, like the Phone 3a series which includes Phone (3a) Lite, (3a), the (3a) Pro and CMF Phones.<ref>[https://nothing.community/d/45348-lock-glimpse-future-plans "Lock Glimpse & Future Plans"] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260109212706/https://nothing.community/d/45348-lock-glimpse-future-plans Archived])</ref> This move is being heavily criticized by consumers as they previously claimed to provide a bloat-free experience on their devices.

The introduction of Essential Search does not permit the users to perform local searches on the device without forcing them to [[:File:Essential Search Terms of Service.png|Terms and Conditions]] and a [[:File:Essential Search Privacy Policy.png|Privacy policy]].

Following this update the company also refuses to provide with a simple alternative for the user to downgrade the device to a previous working state, without the user paying for the repair even under warranty.

===Bluetooth doesn't work===
{{Main|Nothing Phone (1)}}
Several users have reported a recurring issue with the Nothing Phone (1) where the Bluetooth functionality becomes inoperable. Affected devices are unable to activate Bluetooth, with the toggle permanently greyed out or failing to switch on. This malfunction has been described as rendering the feature "completely broken," making it impossible to pair headphones, speakers, or other accessories.<ref name="reddit1">[https://www.reddit.com/r/NothingTech/comments/vytvol/bluetooth_connectivity_issues_on_the_nothing/ "Bluetooth connectivity issues on the Nothing Phone (1)" – Reddit thread] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20220714114747/https://old.reddit.com/r/NothingTech/comments/vytvol/bluetooth_connectivity_issues_on_the_nothing/ Archived])</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/NothingTech/comments/1c9rsqa/bluetooth_not_turning_on_on_my_phone_1/ "Bluetooth not turning on on my phone (1)" – Reddit thread]</ref>

==Products==

*Phone (3) (July 1st, 2025<ref>https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2156428 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250630154725/https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2156428 Archived])</ref>): Nothing advertized it's product as a '[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flagship Flagship]' to hype the product up. The product originally came with a built-in app called 'Nothing Chats', Which was advertized as end-to-end encrypted, Although it is not.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blake |first=Alex |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Nothing tried to outdo Apple’s RCS; instead it created a privacy disaster |url=https://www.techradar.com/phones/nothing-phones/nothing-tried-to-outdo-apples-rcs-instead-it-created-a-privacy-disaster |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917220328/https://www.techradar.com/phones/nothing-phones/nothing-tried-to-outdo-apples-rcs-instead-it-created-a-privacy-disaster |archive-date=September 17, 2025 |work=tech radar}}</ref> The change has since been reverted it seems in newer software releases. Additionally the phone has an 'Essential Space' button which triggers the build-in AI app, the button can be disabled and customized but requires tinkering with ADB

==See also==
[https://us.nothing.tech/ Nothing's Website]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Arby's

2026-03-11T17:43:07Z

Left4Code: links to subway and firehouse

User:Left4Code

2026-03-11T17:39:35Z

Left4Code: Time update

Will probably use this for volunteer experience on a resume. Think Louis would let me put him down as a reference? (Only half-joking)

My website is left4code.neocities.org if you want to get in contact. My email and PGP key are there.

<s>hCaptcha is ruining my life.</s> I have been blessed by Lord Keith and saved from the hCaptcha nightmare, thank you!

Time spent editing so far (people like numbers, right?) {HH:MM:SS}: 24:57:04

Stats table (Shamelessly stolen from Beanie)

{| class="wikitable"
|+Contribution Scores
!Score
!Pages
!Changes
|-
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|score}}
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|pages}}
|{{#cscore:Left4Code|changes}}
|}

DMCA Section 1201

2026-03-11T17:38:05Z

Left4Code: remove this if it's not a good idea, but maybe a productcargo should be added here.

{{StubNotice}}

Section 1201 of the DMCA is a section in the [[DMCA]] which prevents users from

{{ProductCargo}}

breaking digital locks.<ref> {{Cite web |last=Copyright.gov |date=2018 |title=Section 1201 Exemptions to Prohibition Against Circumvention of Technological Measures Protecting Copyrighted Works |url=https://www.copyright.gov/1201/2018/ |access-date=5 March 2026 |website=U.S. Copyright Office}}</ref><ref> {{Cite web |last=Law.cornell.edu |title=17 U.S. Code § 1201 - Circumvention of copyright protection systems |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1201 |access-date=5 March 2026 |website=Cornell Law School}}</ref> This law was created to combat piracy, but instead allows for the ransom of smart devices.

==Why this is problematic==
The law is problematic as it prevents users from being able to break a digital lock, because of this law, manufacturers can remotely modify user’s devices in order to force a subscription or encourage the user to buy a new device. Usually the remote modifications of devices are performed over the internet which is why manufacturers require the devices to be connected at all times.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=William |date=6 Aug 2026 |title=Why Smart Device Bricking Fuels the Push for Offline Options and Open IoT Standards |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/hardware-and-devices/why-smart-device-bricking-fuels-the-push-for-offline-options-and-open-iot-standards/ar-AA1IyZsA |access-date=6 March 2026 |website=Msn}}</ref>

This law is also why [https://bounties.fulu.org/ FULU Bounty] winners cannot share their solutions legally in the United States.

==Examples==
With the assurance of DMCA Section 1201 preventing owners of devices from breaking digital locks, manufacturers intentionally create digital locks on their products to generate higher profits.
===Echelon bike firmware update===
''Main article: [[Echelon fitness firmware lockout]]''

Echelon remotely changed the firmware on its bikes in order to gain money from subscriptions. Echelon also removed third-party applications that granted users more features.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=25 Jul 2025 |title=FULU Foundation offers $20,000 bounty to unbrick echelon bikes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=2zayHD4kfcA |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |website=Youtube}}</ref>

===Nest Thermostat losing features===
''Main article: [[Google Nest thermostat smart features disabled]]''

Nest Thermostats have had their smart feature disabled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=6 Nov 2025 |title=This thermostat's about to leave the nest :D |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QVbUdvuSt50 |access-date=10 Mar 2026 |website=Youtube}}</ref>

===Futurehome Subscription===

''Main article: [[Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee]]''

Futurehome had forced a subscription upon 30,000 their customers in order to use a product that they had purchased.<ref> {{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=23 Jul 2025 |title=Futurehome was subsidized by taxpayers before ransomwaring 30,000 customers w/ bankruptcy scam 🤦 |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sN4dGCjg-Y8 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |website=Youtube}}</ref>

===John Deere’s Tractors===

John Deere’s tractors use digital locks to prevent farmers and independent repair technicians from repairing the equipment. John Deere’s motivation for this practice is to send in their own repair technicians so that they can secure the profit from the repair.<ref> {{Cite web |last=Hogg |first=Luke |date=8 Jan 2024 |title=How John Deere Hijacked Copyright Law To Keep You From Tinkering With Your Tractor |url=https://www.thefai.org/posts/how-john-deere-hijacked-copyright-law-to-keep-you-from-tinkering-with-your-tractor |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=FAI}}</ref><ref> {{Cite web |last=Compton |first=Sophia |date=6 Sep 2025 |title=American farmer demands right to repair own equipment amid soaring costs: 'Money is tight' |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/american-farmer-demands-right-repair-own-equipment-soaring-costs-money-tight |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Fox Business}}</ref>

===HP printer firmware’s DRM===

''Main article: [[HP systemic DRM and firmware lockouts]]''

HP uses DRM to force users to pay for certified HP ink rather than cheaper aftermarket ink, hindering competition.<ref> {{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=28 May 2023 |title=HP printer with ink DRM gets "environmentally friendly" stamp of approval 😞 |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oVWk9Zh82O4 |access-date=7 Mar 2026 |website=Youtube}} </ref><ref> {{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=9 Jan 2024 |title=HP sued (again) for blocking third-party ink from printers, accused of monopoly |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/01/hp-sued-again-for-blocking-third-party-ink-from-printers-accused-of-monopoly/ |access-date=7 Mar 2026 |website=Arstechnica}}</ref>

==See Also==
*[[DMCA]]
*[[Digital rights management]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:US legislation]]

Digital Millennium Copyright Act

2026-03-11T17:36:22Z

Left4Code: product cargo removed, probably a bad idea

{{StubNotice}}

The '''[[wikipedia:Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act|Digital Millenium Copyright Act]]''' (DMCA) is a copyright law passed in 1998 to amend Title 17 of the United States Code.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-10-28 |title=Digital Millennium Copyright Act |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ304/pdf/PLAW-105publ304.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260125064622/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ304/pdf/PLAW-105publ304.pdf |archive-date=2026-01-25 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=GovInfo}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1998-10-08 |title=H.R.2281 - Digital Millennium Copyright Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2281 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260201003346/https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2281 |archive-date=2026-02-01 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Congress.gov}}</ref> Among its provisions are criminalizing the production and dissemination of information intended to circumvent copy protections

that protect intellectual property, such as those considered digital rights management. It was later amended in 1998 to shield from liability ISPs that consumers may use to gain access to such information.

The law also provides that the Library of Congress issue exemptions from the prohibition when it is shown that access-control technology has had a substantial adverse effect on the ability of people to make non-infringing uses of copyrighted works. These exemptions are not granted in perpetuity. They are revised every 3 years, and existing exemptions must be resubmitted for the next rulemaking cycle alongside any new ones.

This law is one of the earliest to address the digital multimedia era, where previous law was deemed insufficient with the technology of the time period (even though its effect covers all digital information). Although the law is meant to supplement intellectual property rights, there are concerns that it conflicts with consumers' interests. This is due to the specific text of the law, as well as its interpretation being used to attack activity by consumers that would otherwise be permitted. Concerns over Right to Repair, Fair Use, and an overall lack of valid paths to refute or redress accusations of violating the law remain.

==Section 1201==
{{main|DMCA Section 1201}}
===Anti-Circumvention rule===
The DMCA prohibits breaking any digital lock that "effectively controls access" to a copyrighted material.<ref name=":0" /> Initially created under the premise of preventing internet piracy, critics have been apt to point out the ways that corporations have abused this legal restriction. Cory Doctorow argues that the rule prevents competition and "the creation of legitimate, otherwise legal technologies."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=2015-12-01 |title=I Can’t Let You Do That, Dave |url=https://cacm.acm.org/opinion/i-cant-let-you-do-that-dave/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911054401/https://cacm.acm.org/opinion/i-cant-let-you-do-that-dave/ |archive-date=2025-09-11 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Communications of the ACM}}</ref>

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:US legislation]]

Digital Millennium Copyright Act

2026-03-11T17:34:50Z

Left4Code: remove this if it's not a good idea, but maybe a productcargo should be added here.

{{StubNotice}}

The '''[[wikipedia:Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act|Digital Millenium Copyright Act]]''' (DMCA) is a copyright law passed in 1998 to amend Title 17 of the United States Code.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-10-28 |title=Digital Millennium Copyright Act |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ304/pdf/PLAW-105publ304.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260125064622/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ304/pdf/PLAW-105publ304.pdf |archive-date=2026-01-25 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=GovInfo}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1998-10-08 |title=H.R.2281 - Digital Millennium Copyright Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2281 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260201003346/https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2281 |archive-date=2026-02-01 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Congress.gov}}</ref> Among its provisions are criminalizing the production and dissemination of information intended to circumvent copy protections

{{ProductCargo}}

that protect intellectual property, such as those considered digital rights management. It was later amended in 1998 to shield from liability ISPs that consumers may use to gain access to such information.

The law also provides that the Library of Congress issue exemptions from the prohibition when it is shown that access-control technology has had a substantial adverse effect on the ability of people to make non-infringing uses of copyrighted works. These exemptions are not granted in perpetuity. They are revised every 3 years, and existing exemptions must be resubmitted for the next rulemaking cycle alongside any new ones.

This law is one of the earliest to address the digital multimedia era, where previous law was deemed insufficient with the technology of the time period (even though its effect covers all digital information). Although the law is meant to supplement intellectual property rights, there are concerns that it conflicts with consumers' interests. This is due to the specific text of the law, as well as its interpretation being used to attack activity by consumers that would otherwise be permitted. Concerns over Right to Repair, Fair Use, and an overall lack of valid paths to refute or redress accusations of violating the law remain.

==Section 1201==
{{main|DMCA Section 1201}}
===Anti-Circumvention rule===
The DMCA prohibits breaking any digital lock that "effectively controls access" to a copyrighted material.<ref name=":0" /> Initially created under the premise of preventing internet piracy, critics have been apt to point out the ways that corporations have abused this legal restriction. Cory Doctorow argues that the rule prevents competition and "the creation of legitimate, otherwise legal technologies."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=2015-12-01 |title=I Can’t Let You Do That, Dave |url=https://cacm.acm.org/opinion/i-cant-let-you-do-that-dave/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911054401/https://cacm.acm.org/opinion/i-cant-let-you-do-that-dave/ |archive-date=2025-09-11 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Communications of the ACM}}</ref>

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:US legislation]]

Cuisinart

2026-03-11T17:31:49Z

Left4Code: added link to potential incident, needs more research

{{StubNotice}}{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1971
|Industry=Kitchenware
|Logo=Cuisinart Logo.svg
|ParentCompany=Conair Corporation
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website="https://www.cuisinart.com/,https://www.cuisinart.ca/"
|Description=Kitchen Appliance Manufacturer. Purchased by Conair in 1989.
}}'''Cuisinart''' is a kitchen appliance manufacturer. They began by introducing a food processor in 1973 and has since offered Coffee Makers, Percolators, Kettles, Cutlery, Toasters, Air Fryers and many other types of appliances and utensils. They were purchased by ''Conair'' in 1989<ref>{{Cite web |date=1989-12-28 |title=Conair Buys Cuisinart Line |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/28/business/conair-buys-cuisinart-line.html |access-date=2026-02-19 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241211201343/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/28/business/conair-buys-cuisinart-line.html |archive-date=11 Dec 2024}}</ref>.

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

*'''Dispute Resolution:''' Cuisinart forces binding arbitration between the plaintiff and Conair for dispute resolution. Arbitration is 'opt-out' and a letter must be mailed to Conair. The arbitrator cannot consolidate more than one person's claims (such as Class-Action). The terms of use also require that the plaintiff forfeits trail by jury.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-22 |title=Terms of Use |url=https://www.cuisinart.com/terms-of-use.html?srsltid=AfmBOopzCK8Pr2kg1pt-facLDyMiAha8wTctowcJt0XmFIUbqWG3ffq3 |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=cuisinart.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223035646/https://www.cuisinart.com/terms-of-use.html?srsltid=AfmBOopzCK8Pr2kg1pt-facLDyMiAha8wTctowcJt0XmFIUbqWG3ffq3 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>
*'''Part Purchasing:''' Cuisinart sells parts for a subset of its appliances.

==Incidents==
maybe we could do something about this? Is there more evidence that this is widespread? - L4C

https://www.reddit.com/r/BreadMachines/comments/1ai4wlx/cuisinart_bread_machine_and_leaking_pan_shafts/<nowiki/>{{Ph-C-Inc}}

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

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

==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Bosch cloud dishwasher incident

2026-03-11T17:29:58Z

Left4Code: added photo, need to add all of the other details too

{{SloppyAI}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Bosch
|StartDate=
|EndDate=
|Status=
|ProductLine=
|Product=
|ArticleType=
|Type=Cloud
|Description=
}}
Home Connect is [[Bosch]]'s cloud based smart home control system used in select

{{ProductCargo|Logo=Bosch-dishwasher-good.png}}

Bosch dishwashers, notably the Bosch 500 series. This system mandates that users connect their dishwasher to Wi‑Fi and register for a Home Connect account in order to access essential functions—such as rinse cycles, eco mode, and delay start—that were previously available directly via physical controls.<ref name="jeff_geerling">{{Cite web |url=https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/i-wont-connect-my-dishwasher-your-stupid-cloud |title=I won't connect my dishwasher to your stupid cloud |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116115029/https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/i-wont-connect-my-dishwasher-your-stupid-cloud/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026}}</ref> The user cannot access these features unless they download the app and connect their dishwasher to a Wi-Fi network.

==Background==
After the premature failure of his GE Amana dishwasher—an example of [[planned obsolescence]] marked by recurring power issues and deteriorating components—tech blogger Jeff Geerling was forced to replace it. Acting on Consumer Reports' recommendations and local availability, he purchased a Bosch 500 series dishwasher. The installation was generally straightforward; the design featured a plastic base for smooth positioning and improved routing for hoses and wiring. However, the new unit also introduced an unexpected drawback: many of its advanced functions are locked behind a mandatory cloud service.

==Feature Restrictions and Cloud Dependency==
With the Bosch 500 series dishwasher, several key functions are accessible only through the Home Connect app:
*'''Advanced Wash Settings''': Functions such as rinse, machine care (self-cleaning), half-load, eco mode, and delay start are not available on the built-in control panel but require activation via the Home Connect app.
*'''Touch Sensor Controls''': Replacing the tactile buttons of older models, the new touch sensors often require multiple resets and a longer boot-up period.
*'''Mandatory Wi‑Fi Connectivity''': To utilize these features, users must connect the appliance to Wi‑Fi and set up a cloud account, thus permitting remote control and access over the Internet.<ref name="jeff_geerling" />

==Criticism and Controversy==
The dependence on cloud connectivity for core dishwasher functions has drawn widespread criticism:
*'''Loss of Direct Control''': Essential operations that were once managed via physical buttons now require navigation through an app.
*'''Planned Obsolescence Concerns''': The integration of cloud-based controls suggests a future where support for these services might be discontinued or shifted to a subscription model, potentially shortening the appliance’s effective lifespan.
*'''Certain features rely on an online service:''' if the Bosch Home connect servers are ever inaccessible or get shutdown users may no longer be able to use certain features of their dishwasher.
*'''Privacy and Security Risks''': Forcing an Internet connection onto a household appliance expands the attack surface of home networks, raising concerns about data security.
*'''User Experience Frustrations''': The extra steps needed to activate everyday functions—such as running a simple rinse cycle—have been described as unnecessarily complicated and counterintuitive.

==Community Response and Workarounds==
In light of the frustration over Home Connect's limitations, users have explored several alternatives:
*'''Bypassing Cloud Features''': Some consumers choose to ignore the app-based functionalities, operating the dishwasher solely via its limited native controls despite sacrificing advanced functions.
*'''Network Segregation''': Technically adept users have attempted to mitigate security risks by isolating the dishwasher on a dedicated IoT VLAN, although this is not a viable solution for most.
*'''Third-Party Solutions''': Early efforts have been made to reverse engineer the Home Connect API (such as through projects like [https://github.com/osresearch/hcpy HCPY]), yet these methods require significant technical know-how and lack official support.

==Conclusion==
The controversy surrounding the Bosch Home Connect system highlights a broader debate about the role of cloud connectivity in everyday appliances. Critics argue that essential functions should remain accessible locally, with cloud services offered only as an optional convenience. Jeff Geerling’s vocal disapproval encapsulates a consumer-first sentiment that demands robust, offline functionality and transparency from appliance manufacturers.<ref name="jeff_geerling" />

==References==

[[Category:Bosch]]
[[Category:Bosch 500 series dishwashers]]
<references />

File:Bosch-dishwasher-good.png

2026-03-11T17:29:15Z

Left4Code: 500 Series Dishwasher 24'' Stainless Steel Anti-fingerprint SHX65DM5N https://www.bosch-home.com/us/en/product/dishwashers/top-controls/SHX65DM5N

== Summary ==
500 Series Dishwasher 24'' Stainless Steel Anti-fingerprint
SHX65DM5N

https://www.bosch-home.com/us/en/product/dishwashers/top-controls/SHX65DM5N
== Licensing ==
{{No license}}

Bosch cloud dishwasher incident

2026-03-11T17:22:04Z

Left4Code: template, looking for a dw to put in the logo

{{SloppyAI}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Bosch
|StartDate=
|EndDate=
|Status=
|ProductLine=
|Product=
|ArticleType=
|Type=Cloud
|Description=
}}
Home Connect is [[Bosch]]'s cloud based smart home control system used in select

{{ProductCargo}}

Bosch dishwashers, notably the Bosch 500 series. This system mandates that users connect their dishwasher to Wi‑Fi and register for a Home Connect account in order to access essential functions—such as rinse cycles, eco mode, and delay start—that were previously available directly via physical controls.<ref name="jeff_geerling">{{Cite web |url=https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/i-wont-connect-my-dishwasher-your-stupid-cloud |title=I won't connect my dishwasher to your stupid cloud |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116115029/https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/i-wont-connect-my-dishwasher-your-stupid-cloud/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026}}</ref> The user cannot access these features unless they download the app and connect their dishwasher to a Wi-Fi network.

==Background==
After the premature failure of his GE Amana dishwasher—an example of [[planned obsolescence]] marked by recurring power issues and deteriorating components—tech blogger Jeff Geerling was forced to replace it. Acting on Consumer Reports' recommendations and local availability, he purchased a Bosch 500 series dishwasher. The installation was generally straightforward; the design featured a plastic base for smooth positioning and improved routing for hoses and wiring. However, the new unit also introduced an unexpected drawback: many of its advanced functions are locked behind a mandatory cloud service.

==Feature Restrictions and Cloud Dependency==
With the Bosch 500 series dishwasher, several key functions are accessible only through the Home Connect app:
*'''Advanced Wash Settings''': Functions such as rinse, machine care (self-cleaning), half-load, eco mode, and delay start are not available on the built-in control panel but require activation via the Home Connect app.
*'''Touch Sensor Controls''': Replacing the tactile buttons of older models, the new touch sensors often require multiple resets and a longer boot-up period.
*'''Mandatory Wi‑Fi Connectivity''': To utilize these features, users must connect the appliance to Wi‑Fi and set up a cloud account, thus permitting remote control and access over the Internet.<ref name="jeff_geerling" />

==Criticism and Controversy==
The dependence on cloud connectivity for core dishwasher functions has drawn widespread criticism:
*'''Loss of Direct Control''': Essential operations that were once managed via physical buttons now require navigation through an app.
*'''Planned Obsolescence Concerns''': The integration of cloud-based controls suggests a future where support for these services might be discontinued or shifted to a subscription model, potentially shortening the appliance’s effective lifespan.
*'''Certain features rely on an online service:''' if the Bosch Home connect servers are ever inaccessible or get shutdown users may no longer be able to use certain features of their dishwasher.
*'''Privacy and Security Risks''': Forcing an Internet connection onto a household appliance expands the attack surface of home networks, raising concerns about data security.
*'''User Experience Frustrations''': The extra steps needed to activate everyday functions—such as running a simple rinse cycle—have been described as unnecessarily complicated and counterintuitive.

==Community Response and Workarounds==
In light of the frustration over Home Connect's limitations, users have explored several alternatives:
*'''Bypassing Cloud Features''': Some consumers choose to ignore the app-based functionalities, operating the dishwasher solely via its limited native controls despite sacrificing advanced functions.
*'''Network Segregation''': Technically adept users have attempted to mitigate security risks by isolating the dishwasher on a dedicated IoT VLAN, although this is not a viable solution for most.
*'''Third-Party Solutions''': Early efforts have been made to reverse engineer the Home Connect API (such as through projects like [https://github.com/osresearch/hcpy HCPY]), yet these methods require significant technical know-how and lack official support.

==Conclusion==
The controversy surrounding the Bosch Home Connect system highlights a broader debate about the role of cloud connectivity in everyday appliances. Critics argue that essential functions should remain accessible locally, with cloud services offered only as an optional convenience. Jeff Geerling’s vocal disapproval encapsulates a consumer-first sentiment that demands robust, offline functionality and transparency from appliance manufacturers.<ref name="jeff_geerling" />

==References==

[[Category:Bosch]]
[[Category:Bosch 500 series dishwashers]]
<references />

Bosch

2026-03-11T17:20:57Z

Left4Code: citeneeded

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Missing sections|Issue 2=Needs additional references}}{{CompanyCargo
|Description=German engineering company.
|Founded=1886
|Industry=Automotive, Electronics, Technology
|Logo=Bosch.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.bosch.com/
}}
'''{{wplink|Bosch (company)|Robert Bosch GmbH}}''', commonly known as '''Bosch''' (styled '''BOSCH'''), is a German multinational engineering and technology company founded in 1886 by Robert Bosch.

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User freedom
* User privacy
* Business model
* Market control}}

==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]].
===E-bike batteries===
Only the e-bike batteries from Bosch themselves can be used on the modern e-bikes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peace |first=Richard |date=23 Feb 2023 |title=Replacement Electric Bike Batteries Guide |url=https://electricbikereport.com/replacement-electric-bike-batteries/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325202127/https://electricbikereport.com/replacement-electric-bike-batteries/ |archive-date=25 Mar 2023 |access-date=21 Jun 2025 |website=Electric Bike Report |quote=Only Bosch manufactured batteries will be used on any new Bosch e-bike – this has always been the case and so it makes advice on interchangeability a little more straightforward than with the likes of Shimano and Brose who have both allowed the use of third party batteries with their mid-drive motor systems.}}</ref>

Many e-bikes, like those of Bosch or Shimano, have their own proprietary systems, making it complicated for third-parties to provide spare parts, which would also void the warranty of the e-bike. [[Right to repair]] legislation would make it easier to provide spare batteries for these e-bikes, which the industry is against by claiming it would be unsafe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grist |last2=Stone |first2=Maddie |date=10 Aug 2023 |title=E-bike companies are fighting to be exempted from right-to-repair laws |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90935615/e-bike-companies-are-fighting-to-be-exempted-from-right-to-repair-laws |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811193642/https://www.fastcompany.com/90935615/e-bike-companies-are-fighting-to-be-exempted-from-right-to-repair-laws |archive-date=11 Aug 2023 |access-date=21 Jun 2025 |website=Fast Company}}</ref>

===Dishwasher with home connect system===
{{Main|Bosch Cloud Dishwasher Incident}}
The home connect system mandates that users connect their dishwasher to Wi‑Fi and register for a Home Connect account in order to access essential functions—such as rinse cycles, eco mode, and delay start—that were previously available directly via physical controls.{{CitationNeeded|reason=I'm seeing some em's, if it's AI, we're going to need a citation}}

===Washing Machine planned obsolescence===
Recent models now have a sealed drum which prevent replacing the bearing or drum spider independently. Additionally the whole drum assembly replacement is sold at a price making it's replacement prohibitive.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-11-14 |title=The Truth About SEALED Drums: Naming & Shaming |url=https://youtu.be/crzZEvFf_L4?si=DkgU7zG2lSyuh8nK&t=50 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=crzZEvFf_L4 |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Refrigerator cameras deactivated===
Bosch announced that cameras in smart fridges would lose their function on March 31st, 2026. The company worded this as ''"adjusting digital features inside the Home-Connect environment"'' ''("die digitalen Funktionen innerhalb der Home-Connect-Umgebung anzupassen")'' and cites low market demand and unspecified technological advancements as the reasons. In 2022, Bosch had already restricted features to analyse the refrigerator content to get tips for ideal placement of items and recipes for using up leftovers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pakalski |first=Ingo |date=2026-02-25 |title=Bosch deaktiviert Innenkameras in verkauften Kühlschränken [Bosch deactivates interior cameras in refrigerators that have already been sold] |url=https://www.golem.de/news/smart-home-bosch-deaktiviert-innenkameras-in-verkauften-kuehlschraenken-2602-205832.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfAGL |archive-date=2026-02-25 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Golem}}</ref>

==Products==

*[[Bosch Spexor]] (2019)
*Bosch 500 series dishwasher
*Bosch Series 4, Series 6 washing machines (check specific model numbers in video description of <ref name=":0" />)
*Bosch GLM 50 C

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Home appliance companies]]

Burger King

2026-03-11T17:19:16Z

Left4Code: removed template, added the text if someone wants to hammer at it

{{Incomplete}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=23 July 1953
|Industry=Food
|Logo=Burger King logo 2020.webp
|ParentCompany=Restaurant Brands International
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.bk.com/
}}

'''{{Wplink|Burger King|Burger King Corporation}}''' was founded in 1953 and is a subsidiary of [[Restaurant Brands International]] due to a $12.5 Billion merger with [[Tim Hortons]]. The company specializes in products such as their {{Wplink|Whopper}} and French fries, along with their own mobile app.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*User Freedom:
*User Privacy:
*Business Model:
*Market Control:

==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]].

===The German TV investigation (''2022'')===
A German TV show going by Team Wallraff released the episode "Disgust, Exploitation, and Scandals", on 10 October 2022, highlighting the company's several health violations, including:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kostolni |first=Isabella |title=The 10 Worst Scandals In Burger King History |url=https://www.chowhound.com/1836670/worst-burger-king-scandals/ |website=chowhound |date=21 Apr 2025 |access-date=4 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250421201812/https://www.chowhound.com/1836670/worst-burger-king-scandals/ |archive-date=21 Apr 2025}}</ref>

*Customers were served moldy bread, usually up to 3 months old, and were partially cooked so customers wouldn't notice
*Employees didn't wash their hands after smoking, taking out trash, or using the bathroom
*One Restaurant was infected with Mice
*Expired contents in Sauce bottles were added with new sauce without being washed.
*Pushed back expiry dates on products until sold

After the episode aired, Burger King shut down all of the locations aired on the episode and released a public statement via their website, announcing plans to remodel over 100 restaurants, leadership changes with human resources director, and setting up a whistleblower hotline for any staff-related concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Grace |title=Some German Burger King restaurants served out-of-date bacon, had mouse infestations, and sold vegan burgers contaminated by meat, according to an undercover investigation |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-expired-food-vegan-products-mice-maggots-hygiene-germany-2022-10 |website=Business Insider |date=10 Oct 2022 |access-date=4 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012101031/https://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-expired-food-vegan-products-mice-maggots-hygiene-germany-2022-10 |archive-date=12 Oct 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=
|title=Statement Burger King® zur aktuellen Berichterstattung |trans-title=Burger King® statement regarding current media coverage |url=https://www.burgerking.de/presse |website=Burger King |date=29 Sep 2022 |access-date=4 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0305-1349-46/https://www.burgerking.de:443/presse |archive-date=5 Mar 2026 |lang=de}}</ref>
<blockquote>"clear training and operating standards are a top priority. Whenever we see an example of our strict standards not being followed, we accept the accountability of needing to train better and manage more thoroughly." -- Heather McIntyre [[File:Burger King Advertisement Product.png|thumb|Burger King Advertisement Product]][[File:Burger King Actual Burger Product.png|thumb|Burger King Actual Burger Product]]</blockquote>

===Whopper advertisement lawsuit (''2022—'')===
On 28 March 2022, Walter Coleman, Marco DiLeonardo, Matthew Fox and Madelyn Salzman, and several other customers filed a lawsuit against Burger King for allegedly false advertising by showing their burgers to appear 35% larger than the actual product. On 5 May 2025, U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman allowed the case to proceed, citing enough justification for it to not be a "mere exaggeration".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Jessy |title=Court won’t dismiss Burger King’s Whopper ad lawsuit |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/food/burger-king-class-action-alleges-burger-size-grossly-exaggerated-in-ads/ |website=Top Class Actions |date=16 May 2025 |access-date=4 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305045839/https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/food/burger-king-class-action-alleges-burger-size-grossly-exaggerated-in-ads/ |archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref>

A Burger King spokesman responded that "the plaintiffs claims are false. The flame-grilled beef patties portrayed in our advertising are the same patties used in the millions of burgers we serve to Guests across the U.S.".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lavietes |first=Matt |title=Judge allows lawsuit over Burger King's Whopper ads to move forward |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/judge-allows-lawsuit-burger-kings-whopper-ads-move-forward-rcna205304 |website=NBC News |date=7 May 2025 |access-date=4 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250507143219/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/judge-allows-lawsuit-burger-kings-whopper-ads-move-forward-rcna205304 |archive-date=7 May 2025}}</ref>

On 2 December 2025, Judge Altman ruled that the plaintiffs' lawsuit would not be granted class-action status due to the claims being too dissimilar to be joined into a single case.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milovanovic |first=Stefan |title=Burger King wins major victory in Whopper lawsuit |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/burger-king-wins-major-victory-in-whopper-lawsuit/ar-AA1RztfG |website=MSN |date=2 Dec 2025 |access-date=4 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305052714/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/burger-king-wins-major-victory-in-whopper-lawsuit/ar-AA1RztfG |archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref>

==Products==
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Burger_King_products

Whopper (Release Date): Summary of incidents

Example (Release): Summary of incidents
==See also==
*[[McDonald's]]
*[[Wendy's]]
*[[Arby's]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]