Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Splice

2026-05-16T19:06:37Z

Matt78: Added logo.

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2013
|Industry=Music technology, Software, Digital media
|Type=Private
|Website=https://splice.com/
|Description=Cloud-based music creation platform offering a subscription sample library, plugin rent-to-own, and AI music tools.
|Logo=Splice.svg}}

'''[https://splice.com/ Splice]''' is an American cloud-based music creation platform founded in 2013 by Matt Aimonetti and Steve Martocci.<ref name="wikipedia">{{cite web |title=Splice (platform) |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splice_(platform) |website=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref> Its primary service, Splice Sounds, is a subscription-based marketplace offering royalty-free audio samples, loops, and presets for music producers. The platform also operates a rent-to-own scheme for music software plugins and previously offered a free cloud-based collaboration feature called Studio. Splice has raised over $150 million in venture capital funding and was valued at approximately $500 million as of 2021.<ref name="wikipedia-funding">{{cite web |title=Splice (platform) |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splice_(platform) |website=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref>

Splice has attracted criticism for several anti-consumer practices, including a subscription-locked credit system that causes users to forfeit accumulated paid credits upon cancellation, an internet-dependent [[digital rights management|digital-rights management (DRM)]] requirement on rented plugins, the abrupt discontinuation of its founding collaboration feature, and the use of a [[DMCA|Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)]] copyright strike to suppress a consumer-facing review of its own terms of service.

==Consumer impact summary==

===Credit forfeiture upon subscription cancellation===

Splice Sounds subscriptions grant users a monthly allocation of credits, which are spent to download individual audio samples. According to Splice's own support documentation, unused credits expire 28 days after the end of a subscriber's final billing period.<ref name="splice-cancel-credits">{{cite web |title=If I cancel my subscription, do I lose my samples and credits? |url=https://support.splice.com/en/articles/8652638-if-i-cancel-my-subscription-do-i-lose-my-samples-and-credits |website=Splice Help Center |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref> Users who have accumulated large credit balances over months or years of paid subscription therefore face a choice between continuing to pay indefinitely or forfeiting the monetary value of those accumulated credits.

This issue has generated a substantial volume of consumer complaints. The [[Better Business Bureau|Better Business Bureau (BBB)]] has documented multiple complaints from users who reported losing significant credit balances upon cancellation or after financial hardship prevented timely payment.<ref name="bbb">{{cite web |title=Splice complaints |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/new-york/profile/music-distribution-companies/splice-0121-170420/complaints |website=Better Business Bureau |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref> One documented complaint describes a user whose account was cancelled after two months of missed payments due to job loss, resulting in the complete loss of their credit balance as well as access to previously rented software plugins.<ref name="bbb" />

Splice's terms of service state that virtual items and in-app consumables are "final and non-refundable", and that users "will not receive any refund or compensation for unused Virtual Items" when their account is suspended or terminated for any reason.<ref name="splice-tos">{{cite web |title=Terms of Use |url=https://splice.com/terms |website=Splice |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref>

===Rent-to-own plugin DRM and internet dependency===

Splice offers a rent-to-own (RTO) scheme for music production software plugins, under which users pay a recurring monthly fee until the full purchase price of a plugin is reached. However, until full payment is made, plugins licensed through this scheme require an active internet connection and a running Splice desktop client to function.

The Splice client deposits a temporary licence file on the user's computer, which the plugin reads to verify the licence. This file expires if the Splice client is not run and authenticated approximately every three days.<ref name="xfer-forum">{{cite web |title=Help!! Rent-To-Own Issues |url=https://xferrecords.com/forums/general/help-rent-to-own-issues |website=XferRecords.com Forums |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref> Users have reported plugin failures at live performances and recording sessions due to expired licence files or connectivity issues.<ref name="xfer-forum" /> The internet dependency is removed only once the plugin's full purchase price has been paid in its entirety.

After cancelling a subscription, users also lose the ability to load new tracks using premium Splice Instrument presets, and cannot re-download that content if it is deleted from their system.<ref name="splice-cancel-plan">{{cite web |title=How do I cancel my Splice plan? |url=https://support.splice.com/en/articles/8652611-how-do-i-cancel-my-splice-plan |website=Splice Help Center |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref>

===Discontinuation of Splice Studio===

When Splice launched in 2013–2014, its central offering was Studio, a free cloud-based collaboration and project backup tool that integrated with popular [[digital audio workstation|digital audio workstation (DAW)]] software including Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, FL Studio, GarageBand, and Studio One. Users relied on Studio to maintain version histories of projects, share files with collaborators, and keep cloud backups of their work.

In March 2023, CEO Kakul Srivastava announced that Studio would be shut down, stating that "this feature hasn't been a focus for us since 2017."<ref name="splice-studio-shutdown">{{cite web |last=Srivastava |first=Kakul |title=Our journey to make Splice better: A letter from our CEO |url=https://splice.com/blog/studio-shutdown/ |website=Splice Blog |date=2023-03-09 |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref> The feature was closed in stages, with final removal of project sync occurring in June 2023, giving users approximately two to three months to retrieve stored project files.<ref name="splice-studio-shutdown" /> No data export tooling or migration support was provided.

Srivastava stated that "keeping it functional has actually slowed us down from delivering more value, faster."<ref name="splice-studio-shutdown" /> The platform subsequently directed development resources toward the Splice Sounds marketplace and the rent-to-own plugin business, both of which generate subscription revenue, unlike the free Studio feature. Community responses described the situation as a loss of stored creative work, with users who had built long-term collaborative workflows around Studio left without access to their archived projects after the shutdown.<ref name="syncmuse">{{cite web |title=Splice Studio Alternative |url=https://syncmuse.co/splice-studio-alternative |website=SyncMuse |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref>

===DMCA copyright strike against terms-of-service reviewer===

In July 2024, entertainment attorney Miss Krystle, who operates the ''Top Music Attorney'' YouTube channel, published a video analysing Splice's terms of service as part of an ongoing series reviewing the contracts of music industry platforms.<ref name="techdirt">{{cite web |last=Geigner |first=Timothy |title=Sample Library Company Copyright Strikes YouTuber Over Showing Their ToS |url=https://www.techdirt.com/2024/07/18/sample-library-company-copyright-strikes-youtuber-over-showing-their-tos/ |website=Techdirt |date=2024-07-18 |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref> Following the publication, Splice's legal department issued a cease-and-desist letter. Miss Krystle participated in a telephone call with Splice's legal team, which she stated concluded with Splice agreeing to update its terms to address the issues she had identified.<ref name="techdirt" />

The following day, her YouTube channel received a DMCA copyright strike from Splice, asserting that her on-screen display of Splice's own terms of service text constituted copyright infringement.<ref name="techdirt" /> A YouTube channel receives a permanent ban upon accumulating three copyright strikes within 90 days.

The incident received coverage from Techdirt and MusicTech, among other outlets.<ref name="techdirt" /><ref name="musictech">{{cite web |title=Splice responds to Top Music Attorney copyright strike: "We fundamentally support the rights of creators to express themselves" |url=https://musictech.com/news/music/splice-issues-copyright-strike-to-content-creator-internet-reacts |website=MusicTech |date=2024-07-17 |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref> Consumer rights advocate Louis Rossmann also covered the event.<ref name="rossmann">{{cite web |title=Louis Rossmann Reacted To My Copyright Strike From Splice |url=https://management7.podbean.com/e/louis-rossmann-reacted-to-my-copyright-strike-from-splice |website=Top Music Attorney Podcast |date=2024-08-02 |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref> Splice subsequently removed the copyright strike and issued a statement that it "fundamentally supports the rights of creators to express themselves."<ref name="musictech" /> The incident drew additional public scrutiny to Splice's contractual terms, including provisions on credit retention upon account termination and the scope of rights users grant to Splice over their own uploaded audio content.

==="Sounds are licensed, not sold"===

Splice's terms of service explicitly state that "sounds are licensed, not sold, to you."<ref name="splice-tos" /> While Splice grants users a perpetual right to use downloaded sounds within completed musical works, the licence is non-exclusive and non-transferable. The app licence itself is described in Splice's terms as "limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, [and] revocable."<ref name="splice-tos" />

The terms additionally allow Splice to "manage, regulate, change, or remove Virtual Items at any time at our sole discretion," and grant Splice the unilateral right to assign these terms without user consent.<ref name="splice-tos" /> This structure means users hold no ownership over the credits or digital goods they purchase, and limits their recourse in the event that Splice alters terms, removes content, or terminates accounts.

===Automatic subscription renewals and cancellation difficulties===

The BBB has documented multiple complaints involving automatic billing following free trial periods, with users stating they did not receive clear notification of the transition to a paid subscription.<ref name="bbb" /> Several complaints describe difficulty cancelling due to inconsistent account states across devices, where the web interface and desktop application displayed conflicting subscription information simultaneously.<ref name="bbb" /> Splice does not offer telephone support for billing disputes.<ref name="donotpay">{{cite web |title=How to Cancel Splice Subscription |url=https://donotpay.com/learn/how-to-cancel-splice-subscription/ |website=DoNotPay |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Enshittification]]
*[[Dark pattern]]
*[[Digital rights management]]
*[[Subscription trap]]
*[[Click-to-cancel]]
*[[End-user license agreement]]
*[[DMCA]]

==References==

<references />

[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Digital Rights Management]]
[[Category:Enshittification]]

File:Splice.svg

2026-05-16T19:05:21Z

Matt78: SVG of the Splice logo.

== Summary ==
SVG of the Splice logo.

Nvidia buys stake in Intel

2026-05-14T19:14:56Z

Matt78: Added start date in incident cargo, added "See also" section.

{{Irrelevant}}
{{StubNotice}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Nvidia, Intel
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Intel GPUs
|ArticleType=Incident
|Type=Anti-competitive Behavior
|Description=Nvidia invests into their competitor Intel, rising doubts on the future of Intel's GPU offerings
|StartDate=2025-09-18}}

On 18 September, 2025, [[Nvidia]] and [[Intel]] jointly announced in a press release, Nvidia's $5,000,000,000 USD investment into Intel stock.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-18 |title=NVIDIA and Intel to Develop AI Infrastructure and Personal Computing Products |url=https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-and-intel-to-develop-ai-infrastructure-and-personal-computing-products |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/20251105000000/https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-and-intel-to-develop-ai-infrastructure-and-personal-computing-products |archive-date=2025-11-05 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=NVIDIA Newsroom}}</ref> Finalized on December 29, 2025, Nvidia purchased 214.8 million Intel shares at $23.28 per share.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Shannon |date=Dec 29, 2025 |title=Nvidia’s $5 billion Intel bet just became official |url=https://qz.com/nvidia-intel-5-billion-deal-done-ai-partnership |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260102013658/https://qz.com/nvidia-intel-5-billion-deal-done-ai-partnership |archive-date=Jan 2, 2026 |access-date=Jan 7, 2026 |work=Quartz}}</ref> Both Nvidia and Intel develop GPUs for consumer and enterprise applications, making them competitors. In both sectors Nvidia holds the highest market share, dwarfing both [[AMD]] and [[Intel]] by magnitudes. As a result many have developed concerns over the persistence of Intel's GPU offerings and have branded the investment as Nvidia's attempt at furthering their monopoly by investing in their competitor.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commision (FTC) announced in a notice that U.S. antitrust agencies cleared the investment,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bajwa |first=Arsheeya |date=2025-12-29 |editor-last=D'Silva |editor-first=Anil |title="Nvidia takes $5 billion stake in Intel under September agreement" |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/nvidia-takes-5-billion-stake-intel-under-september-agreement-2025-12-29/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-07 |work=Reuters}}</ref> despite this being anti-consumer and making Nvidia a monopoly.

==Background==
{{Wplink|Nvidia|Nvidia Corporation}} is an American technology company that designs and sells computer components such as {{wplink|Graphics processing units|graphics processing units}} (GPUs) for both commercial and enterprise use. It was founded on April 5, 1993, by current CEO (as of 2026) {{wplink|Jensen Huang|Jensen Huang}}, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem. The company is the largest providers of GPUs for both consumer and enterprise.

{{wplink|Intel|Intel Corporation}} is an American technology company that designs, manufactures and sells computer components and related products. It was founded on July 18, 1968 by Gordon Moore (of {{wplink|Moore's law}}), Robert Noyce, and investor Arthur Rock. The company is one of the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturers.

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

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

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

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

== See also ==
[[AMD]]

[[Intel CPUs stability issue]]

[[Nvidia threatens GamersNexus]]

[[Qualcomm]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Nvidia]]
[[Category:Intel]]

TCL

2026-05-14T18:48:59Z

Matt78: Added see also section, removed redlink to website in citation.

{{Incomplete}}
{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1981
| Industry = Electronics,Phones,TVs,Home appliances,Finance
| Logo = Logo of the TCL Corporation.svg
| Type = Public
| Website = https://www.tcl.com/
| CompanyAlias = TCL,TCL Technology Group Corp,TCL Corporation,TCL Technology
}}
'''[[wikipedia:TCL_Technology|TCL Technology]] Group Corp''' is a Chinese partially [[wikipedia:State-owned_enterprise|state-owned]] electronics company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong province. TCL develops, manufactures, and sells consumer electronics like television sets, mobile phones, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, and small electrical appliances.

==Consumer-impact summary==
*'''User freedom''': Many TCL [[List of phones that do not allow bootloader unlock|phones have perma-locked bootloaders]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lost-Entrepreneur439 |date=2024-11-18 |title=Bootloader Unlock Wall of Shame: TCL / BlackBerry |url=https://github.com/zenfyrdev/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame/blob/aa5ba6136153440d6f45509dfa67d79682800b2c/brands/tcl/README.md |url-status=live |website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref>
*'''User privacy''': According to their privacy policy, they will share some telemetry with 3rd-parties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TCL Privacy Notice for Business Customers and Partners |url=https://www.tcl.com/global/en/commercial-display/privacy-notice#disclosure-of-your-information-to-third-parties |url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''User experience''': Some of their electronic products, especially [[Android]] phones, have many [[wikipedia:Software_bug|bugs]].<ref name=":0" /> Some bugs are very disruptive, such as screens "randomly" turning off when brightness is low.<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Rudxain |date=2026-03-22 |title=TCL 505 here, still Android 14. You're right about bugs, the screen "randomly" turns off when the brightness is "low" (even 50% is considered low). It's coded to turn off the backlight when the hardware (not Android) brightness goes below 0, and it's also coded to decrease the brightness if the image is "dark". A black image with small white spots is considered "darker" than a pitch black image, so I can't watch some 3blue1brown videos in peace 🥲

TCL is a scam, worse than zamzung, I'd dare to say. I'm gonna boycott them till I die or they get sued |url=https://reddit.com/r/nxtpaper/comments/1nckzv5/comment/obv34b6}}</ref>
*'''Market control''': In 2010, it was the world's 25th-largest consumer electronics producer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=David |date=2019-11-24 |title=TCL Set To Be A Major Global CE & Smartphone Brand, Roadmap Revealed |url=https://www.channelnews.com.au/tcl-set-to-be-a-major-global-ce-smartphone-brand-roadmap-revealed/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was the second-largest television manufacturer by market share in 2022 and 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pr |first=Ani |date=2024-03-13 |title=TCL Ranked as Global Top 2 TV Brand and No. 1 in 98 TV Category for Two Consecutive Years |url=https://theprint.in/ani-press-releases/tcl-ranked-as-global-top-2-tv-brand-and-no-1-in-98-tv-category-for-two-consecutive-years/1999228/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

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

===Misleading marketing of QLED TVs (2026)===
<blockquote>The second-largest TV maker has to stop calling its QLED TV sets that, as [[Samsung]] cries foul. The misleading advertising claims that TCL TVs use quantum dot technology, but the courts disagree.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zlatev |first=Daniel |date=2026-03-05 |title=TCL can't advertise TVs as QLED since they lack in quantum dots and color accuracy |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/TCL-can-t-advertise-TVs-as-QLED-since-they-lack-in-quantum-dots-and-color-accuracy.1243552.0.html |url-status=live |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref></blockquote>

===Broken promises of software updates===
For several years, TCL has failed to fulfill their promise of upgrading many Android phones. So much so that they're blatantly lying about the [[wikipedia:Estimated_time_of_arrival|ETA]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=u/SoheilBalini |date=2025-09-09 |title=TCL update policy |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/nxtpaper/comments/1nckzv5/tcl_update_policy |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Non-compliance with software licenses===
TCL refuses to make most of its firmware publicly available. This breaks a [[Google]] contract, and may violate [[wikipedia:GNU_General_Public_License|GPL]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-10 |title=TCL has been actively ignoring my firmware requests |url=https://reddit.com/r/Android/comments/vvnuq6/tcl_has_been_actively_ignoring_my_firmware |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

== See also ==
[[LG Television sale of personal data]]

[[Samsung]]

[[Samsung TVs]]

[[Vizio]]

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

Brother printers causing issues with third party inks

2026-05-14T18:09:24Z

Matt78: Properly formatted some references.

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Brother Industries Ltd.
|StartDate=
|EndDate=
|Status=
|ProductLine=
|Product=
|ArticleType=
|Type=Third-party
|Description=
}}
[[Brother Industries Ltd.|'''Brother''']] is a printer company that has allowed the use of third-party toner cartridges with their printer devices. Recent firmware updates have changed this practice by displaying an error message when consumers attempt to install their third-party toner that was previously allowed. When using the Brother printer with the toner of their choice, some users report a significant decrease in print quality, functionally disabling the printer unless OEM toner is installed.<ref name="reddit" />

==Relevant practices==
*'''Post-Sale Function Removal''' – Firmware updates retroactively remove previously available features, such as automatic color registration, for users using non-OEM toner.<ref name="reddit">[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/s9b2eg Brother MFC firmware update - non-genuine toner now disables critical features.]</ref><ref name="reddit-2">[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/w60687/brother_mfcl3370cdw_firmware_downgrade_needed/ Brother MFC-L3370CDW Firmware Downgrade needed]</ref>
*'''Vendor lock-in via DRM''' – Printers continue to function with third-party toner but print at lower quality unless OEM toner is installed.
*'''Anti-consumer software practices''' – Firmware updates cannot be easily rolled back, preventing consumers from restoring lost functionality.<ref name="github-fwupd">[https://github.com/sedrubal/brother_printer_fwupd/issues/9 Brother printer firmware downgrade discussion.]</ref>
*'''Deceptive practices''' – Printers do not reject third-party toner but intentionally cause a toner failure, which discourages use of third party toners.<ref name="hackernews">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-24 |title=Tell HN: Brother printers now locking out non-OEM paraphernalia |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31860131 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260117124632/https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31860131 |archive-date=2026-01-17 |website=Hacker News}}</ref><ref name="reddit-2" />

==How it works==
1. Consumers purchase a Brother laser printer that previously accepted third-party toner.

2. A firmware update (e.g., W1.56) is pushed and does not notify users of any major changes in core functionality.

3. After updating, users report:

*Color registration fails by default, causing misaligned prints.<ref name="cups">{{Cite web |title=CUPS/Printer-specific problems |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/CUPS/Printer-specific_problems#Updating_the_firmware |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260514170614/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/CUPS/Printer-specific_problems#Updating_the_firmware |archive-date=2026-05-14 |website=ArchWiki}}</ref>
4. Brother support acknowledges that installing OEM toner will immediately resolve the issue.<ref name="hackernews" />
*Older firmware versions are removed from Brother’s servers, preventing firmware downgrades that would fix the issue while also allowing consumers to use their preferred toner.<ref name="github-ohbrother">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-07 |title=Possible to add an option to revert to a previous firmware version #30 ⸱ CauldronDevelopmentLLC/oh-brother |url=https://github.com/CauldronDevelopmentLLC/oh-brother/issues/30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260514174728/https://github.com/CauldronDevelopmentLLC/oh-brother/issues/30 |archive-date=2026-05-14 |website=GitHub}}</ref>

==Impact on consumer protection==
*Consumers may no longer use the ink provider of their choice without compromising the functionality of their printer.
*Consumers previously able to save money by purchasing third-party toner are now required to purchase OEM toner at a higher cost to maintain printer functionality.
*No prior warning of change in the printer's core functionality had been given before these firmware updates were installed.
*Workarounds tend to involve blocking the firmware updates or attempting downgrading the firmware, both of which Brother actively discourages.
==User evidence & reports==
===Hacker News Discussion (2022)===
*Users have noticed that Brother's printers do accept third-party toner instead of outright rejection. This leads some to suspect the consequential loss of print quality may be a deliberate act. One user stated:
<blockquote>''Brother seems to be apparently accepting the ink, but then purposefully making the print quality poorer.''<ref name="hackernews" /></blockquote>
===Free Software Foundation===
*FSF has listed this incident under the "Installing, deleting or disabling programs" in "Proprietary Back Doors" chapter<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-14 |title=Proprietary Back Doors |url=https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html#install-delete |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218062339/https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html |archive-date=2025-12-18 |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=GNU Operating System}}</ref>:
<blockquote>When connected to the internet, some Brother printers suffer a firmware downgrade that degrades the printing quality when using third-party toner. This proves that these printers have a back door which lets Brother control them.

As a general precaution, users should make sure their printer can't connect to the manufacturer's server, for example by shielding it from the internet by a firewall. This will not restore the ability of printers to use third-party toner if they have already lost it, but will prevent any future downgrades. All printer manufacturers are concerned, not only Brother.</blockquote>

===Reddit reports (r/printers)===
*A firmware update on the Brother MFC-3750 disabled automatic color registration when third-party toner was detected.<ref name="reddit" />
*A Brother support agent confirmed that installing OEM toner would "fix" the issue instantly, supporting user claims that the printer was being artificially restricted.

===GitHub developer investigation===
*A project analyzing Brother firmware updates discovered that older firmware versions were removed from Brother’s servers, making it impossible for users to roll back to a working version.<ref name="github-fwupd" />
*Another GitHub discussion showed that Brother firmware updates continue to lock out more non-Brother toner cartridges with each update.<ref name="github-ohbrother" />
*This is similar to [[HP Dynamic Security]], which blocks non-OEM cartridges.

===Quality example===
[[File:Brother HL-L9310CDW 1.69 1.32 before registration deleted.png|alt=Brother HL-L9310CDW 1.69 1.32, before deletion of colour registration.|none|thumb|800x800px|Brother HL-L9310CDW 1.69 1.32, before deletion of color registration.]]

==Brother's response==
On March 5th 2025, following the publication of a video on the Louis Rossmann YouTube channel, Brother addressed the issue in a response given to Ars Technica and stated the following: <ref name="ars-response">{{Cite news |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2025-03-05 |title=Brother denies using firmware updates to brick printers with third-party ink |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/brother-denies-using-firmware-updates-to-brick-printers-with-third-party-ink/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260506074336/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/brother-denies-using-firmware-updates-to-brick-printers-with-third-party-ink/ |archive-date=2026-05-06 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
<blockquote>
"We are aware of the recent false claims suggesting that a Brother firmware update may have restricted the use of third-party ink cartridges. Please be assured that Brother firmware updates do not block the use of third-party ink in our machines."
</blockquote>
They also detailed that:
<blockquote>
"Brother printers do not intentionally degrade print quality based on whether a Brother Genuine or non-genuine ink/ toner cartridge is used. Brother cannot verify the quality of printing that will result when using a third-party compatible with a Brother printer."
</blockquote>
In their conclusion, they've attributed consumers' confusion and frustration to the following:
<blockquote>
"Brother encourages the use of Brother Genuine ink and toner for optimal performance and reliability, and it is standard practice that we perform a Brother Genuine check when troubleshooting a Brother printer. Compatible supplies may range in quality, and in order to verify that a printer is working properly, we like to troubleshoot with Brother Genuine supplies. We believe this check in the process may have led to a misunderstanding[,] but as we confirmed, the firmware update would not be responsible for the degradation of quality or removal of printer features."
</blockquote>While Brother's response indicates a simple issue with compatibility, the previous acceptance of third-party cartridges indicates a software-based compatibility issue rather than hardware-based. This implies that a software update has the potential to fix the compatibility issue and allow users to return to their previously accepted cartridges.

==Comparison to other industry decisions==
Other printer companies such as HP, Epson, and Canon have similar errors that actively promote more purchases of OEM cartridges even if the core issue is unrelated:
{| class="wikitable"
!Company!!Tactic Used
|-
|'''HP'''||"Dynamic Security" firmware updates blocking non-OEM ink
|-
|'''Epson'''||Ink expiration DRM, even when cartridges are full
|-
|'''Canon'''||Firmware updates that disable scanning when ink is low
|-
|'''Brother'''||Print degradation for non-OEM toner users
|}
==Mitigations available to users==
#'''Avoid Firmware Updates''' – Disable auto-updates to prevent forced function removal. This may, however, lead to security risks.
#'''Attempt to downgrade''' – Some users have managed to roll back firmware, though this is becoming increasingly difficult.<ref name="github-ohbrother" />
#'''HL-L9310CDW (with firmware main 1.69, sub 1.31):''' On the menu of the printer, delete the color registration to improve quality by reducing the misalignment of the individual colors. However, the best solution is to have a configuration option to set the offset individual (X, Y) for each color with the smallest possible increment, perhaps through an external (CUPS) printer driver.

==See also==

*[[HP Dynamic Security|HP Dynamic Security]]
*[[Brother DCP-L3550CDW aftermarket toner failure]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Brother]]
[[Category:Digital restrictions]]
[[Category:Vendor lock-in]]
[[Category:Post-sale firmware lockouts]]

2026-05-12T16:57:38Z

Matt78: Fixed spelling mistake

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Professional networking platform owned by Microsoft.
|Founded=2002
|Industry=Social Media
|Logo=LinkedIn.png
|ParentCompany=Microsoft
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://linkedin.com/
}}
[[wikipedia:LinkedIn|'''LinkedIn''']] is a social-media platform for professional networking, founded in 2002.

==Summary==

*It has been known for its [[dark patterns]].

*Users register on LinkedIn with an email, which LinkedIn then scrapes their contacts list and uploads this information to LinkedIn.<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a545600/what-people-can-see-on-your-profile#:~:text=Contact%20and%20personal%20information%20that%20you%E2%80%99ve%20provided%20in%20the%20Contact%20Info%20section%20of%20your%20profile%20is%20only%20visible%20to%20your%201st-degree%20connections What People Can See on Your Profile]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20251205200135/https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a545600/what-people-can-see-on-your-profile Archived] 2025-12-05</ref>

*LinkedIn also makes it difficult to cancel their free trial membership, likely targeting users that have forgotten or are unable to locate the cancel page.<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a545578 Cancel LinkedIn Premium subscription] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260221041357/https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a545578 Archived])</ref>

*LinkedIn has a habit of restricting accounts stating a need to verify identity, this disables the ability to navigate to the cancel membership page and can lead to being charged.

*LinkedIn's membership price has also quintupled from $10 per month in 2018 to $50 in 2024.

==Data Privacy==
LinkedIn automatically opts you into their program named "Data for Generative AI Improvement", or "GAI", which automatically says you agree to "Use my data for training content creation models."<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-collecting-data-generative-ai-improvement-brian-sykes-wyjme LinkedIn collecting ‘Data for Generative AI Improvement’] - linkedin.com ([https://web.archive.org/web/20240926163201/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-collecting-data-generative-ai-improvement-brian-sykes-wyjme/ Archived])</ref> This comes with fine print which states, "This setting controls the training of generative AI models used to create content. When this setting is on LinkedIn and its affiliates may use your personal data and content you create on LinkedIn for that purpose." 

This automatically gives LinkedIn the license to use your personal data and the content you create to train their models. Even if you opt out, the personal data and content the platform has already used will not be deleted.<ref name="linkedin-faq">[https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a5538339 LinkedIn and generative AI (GAI) FAQs] - linkedin.com - 29 Jan 2025. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250124150439/https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a5538339 Archived] 24 Jan 2025.</ref>

As of 29 January 2025, LinkedIn FAQ mentions that it does <i>"not currently train content-generating AI models on data from members located in Canada, the EU, EEA, UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, or Mainland China."</i><ref name="linkedin-faq" />

As of 19 September 2025, LinkedIn banner announcement was sent to logged in users saying ''"Update to our terms and data use"'' ''"Starting November 3, 2025, we'll use some of your Linkedln data to improve the content-generating AI that enhances your experience, unless you opt out in your [https://www.linkedin.com/mypreferences/d/settings/data-for-ai-improvement/ settings]. We're also updating our terms. See what's new and how to manage your data. [https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a8059228/ Learn more] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251122030430/https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a8059228 Archived])"''. Specifically mentioned regions are Canada, the EU, EEA, UK, Switzerland and Hong Kong. Announcement described how previously excluded regions would now be included in the "Data for Generative AI Improvement".[[File:LinkedIn - Update to our Terms and data use 2025.png|thumb|411x411px|Screenshot of [https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a8059228/ Terms of service update] at 19th Sep 2025]]
===Account Verification===

Verifying a LinkedIn account (i.e. acquiring a blue checkmark) requires sending a full copy of the user's passport to a third party service provider, [[Persona]]. Biometric data of several kinds such as typing patterns are also collected by Persona. The company then retains the right to store the information, share it with third party data brokers and train AI on the passport and the passport photo. <ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2026-02-16 |title=I Verified My LinkedIn Identity. Here's What I Actually Handed Over. |url=https://thelocalstack.eu/posts/linkedin-identity-verification-privacy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260405141228/https://thelocalstack.eu/posts/linkedin-identity-verification-privacy/ |archive-date=5 Apr 2026 |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=TheLocalStack}}</ref>

For users outside the United States, this also means that their personal and biometric data is sent to US servers, where they are accessible to US authorities.

==Account Deletion==
Some users have reported that the browser LinkedIn version disables the "Done" button at the end of the "Delete your account" flow.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Why won’t LinkedIn let you delete your account? It's like they've disabled the close account button. |url=https://www.quora.com/Why-won-t-LinkedIn-let-you-delete-your-account-Its-like-theyve-disabled-the-close-account-button |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0406-0148-57/https://www.quora.com:443/Why-won-t-LinkedIn-let-you-delete-your-account-Its-like-theyve-disabled-the-close-account-button |archive-date=5 Apr 2026 |website=Quora}}</ref> They had to modify source HTML via Source Inspector to close their account.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Jun 2025 |title=LinkedIn Account Deletion button disabled |url=https://youtu.be/497YdWlDsAw |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=497YdWlDsAw |archive-date=5 Apr 2026 |access-date=2 Apr 2026 |website=Youtube}}</ref> Users that reported this error also reported that it exists since 2022, and it hasn't been fixed since then.

Potential solutions:

#Modifying HTML, removing the "disabled" attribute from the button.
#Some users reported that typing their password by hand helped make the button work. Others have appealed that it didn't work anyways.<ref name=":0" />
#Some users reported that using the phone app to close your account worked, even if you created yours through the browser version.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2024 |title=Impossible to close Linkedin account |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/linkedin/comments/1d0a4ah/impossible_to_close_linkedin_account/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220223136/https://old.reddit.com/r/linkedin/comments/1d0a4ah/impossible_to_close_linkedin_account/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

==Browser scanning and personal data mining==
Fairlinked e.V. have discovered data mining operation from within your browser when visiting LinkedIn. [https://browsergate.eu/ BrowserGate] exposes Microsoft's LinkedIn for allegedly conducting a massive, undisclosed spying operation by injecting malicious [[JavaScript]] into users' browsers to secretly scan and detect over 6,222 installed browser extensions without consent, in violation of the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA). It reveals how LinkedIn builds detailed individual and organizational profiles based on extensions indicating sensitive information such as political opinions, religious beliefs, disabilities, neurodivergence, job-seeking status, and even mapping which organizations use which competitor products, then aggregates this data while matching it to users' names, employers, and job titles.<ref>{{Cite web |author=digital fairness e.V. |title=LinkedIn Is Illegally Searching Your Computer |url=https://browsergate.eu/ |website=Browsergate.eu |date=6 Mar 2026 |access-date=13 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/FlBoq |archive-date=2 Apr 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fadilpašić |first=Sead |title=One of the largest corporate espionage and data breach scandals in digital history': New "BrowserGate" report claims LinkedIn secretly scans user browsers for installed extensions and collects device data |url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/one-of-the-largest-corporate-espionage-and-data-breach-scandals-in-digital-history-new-browsergate-report-claims-linkedin-secretly-scans-user-browsers-for-installed-extensions-and-collects-device-data |website=Techradar |date=6 Apr 2026 |access-date=13 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260406163425/https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/one-of-the-largest-corporate-espionage-and-data-breach-scandals-in-digital-history-new-browsergate-report-claims-linkedin-secretly-scans-user-browsers-for-installed-extensions-and-collects-device-data |archive-date=6 Apr 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Lawrence |title=LinkedIn secretly scans for 6,000+ Chrome extensions, collects data |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/linkedin-secretly-scans-for-6-000-plus-chrome-extensions-collects-data/ |website=Bleeping Computer |date=3 Apr 2026 |access-date=13 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260405000141/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/linkedin-secretly-scans-for-6-000-plus-chrome-extensions-collects-data/ |archive-date=5 Apr 2026}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:LinkedIn Corporation]]

Honda requires connection of the car to the internet and creating an account to be able to download offline map updates.

2026-05-12T01:05:58Z

Matt78: Changed format of "Honda's response" section title to heading from sub-heading 1.

{{#seo:
|description=Honda requires vehicle internet connection and account creation on its navigation portal to download offline map updates, despite already having the VIN.
}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Honda
|StartDate=2023-09
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=
|Product=
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Forced Account Creation,Privacy
|Description=Requires car internet connection and account creation to download offline map updates despite already having the VIN
}}
[[Honda]] owners who purchased vehicles with built-in navigation systems can't download offline map updates without first connecting the car to the internet, activating Online Services to transmit the vehicle's VIN to [[HERE Technologies]], and creating an account on the Honda Navigation Store.<ref name="honda-faq">{{Cite web |title=Honda FAQ & Troubleshooting Guide |url=https://hondanavi.navigation.com/static/WFS/Shop-HondaNA-Site/-/Shop-HondaNA/en_US/Documents/Honda-FAQ-and-Troubleshooting-Guide.pdf |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Honda Navigation Store |publisher=HERE Technologies}}</ref><ref name="honda-navi-store">{{Cite web |title=Honda Navigation System GPS Map Update |url=https://hondanavi.navigation.com/home/en_US/HondaNA/USD |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Honda Navigation Store |publisher=HERE Technologies}}</ref> Honda already has the VIN for each vehicle and sends owners personalized emails with that VIN to notify them of available updates, but the download process still requires the vehicle to independently transmit the same VIN through Online Services and the owner to register on the HERE Technologies portal before the update can be downloaded.<ref name="honda-faq" />

==Background==

[[Honda]] sells several vehicle models with infotainment systems that include built-in navigation maps. The map data is provided by HERE Technologies, a mapping and location data company that operates the Honda Navigation Store at hondanavi.navigation.com.<ref name="honda-navi-store" /> Honda's MapCare program provides free map updates for a limited period after new vehicle purchase, after which owners must pay for a subscription renewal.<ref name="honda-faq" />

To update their maps, owners must register an account on the Honda Navigation Store, enter their vehicle model, model year, VIN, and current database version, then download the update to a USB drive on a Windows or Mac computer.<ref name="honda-faq" /><ref name="honda-navi-store" /> The update cannot be downloaded to a phone, tablet, or Chromebook. The USB drive is then inserted into the vehicle to install the update, a process that takes roughly 40 minutes.<ref name="piloteers-nav-response">{{Cite web |title=Your Complimentary Map Update Is Now Available! |url=https://www.piloteers.org/threads/your-complimentary-map-update-is-now-available.183448/ |date=2023-09-20 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Honda Pilot Forums (piloteers.org)}}</ref>

==Online Services and account requirement==

Downloading a map update requires two separate gatekeeping steps: the vehicle must have Online Services activated, and the owner must create an account on the Honda Navigation Store portal operated by HERE Technologies.<ref name="honda-navi-store" /> The portal prompts users to register with an email address and password before proceeding.<ref name="honda-navi-store" />

Honda's own FAQ states that Online Services must be turned on because "this is the only way HERE Technologies gets a feed of the vehicle VIN in able to recognize it on the MapCare portal."<ref name="honda-faq" /> The FAQ adds that Online Services "should remain on while you complete a map update download or Wi-Fi update."<ref name="honda-faq" />

Honda owners on automotive forums have pointed out a contradiction in this process. Honda sends owners personalized emails containing their VIN to notify them of available updates.<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" /> If Honda has the VIN in its own database and can associate it with the owner's email address, the VIN could be transmitted to HERE Technologies without requiring the vehicle to establish an independent internet connection. The download itself happens on a separate computer, not on the vehicle.<ref name="honda-faq" />

Multiple Honda Pilot owners have reported that activating Online Services fails despite functional internet connections. One 2024 Pilot Elite owner reported getting a "no internet connection" error even though Android Auto and HondaLink were connected and working.<ref name="piloteers-online-services">{{Cite web |title=2024 Pilot "connect to on-line services" for map update |url=https://www.piloteers.org/threads/2024-pilot-connect-to-on-line-services-for-map-update.185445/ |date=2024-03-20 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Honda Pilot Forums (piloteers.org)}}</ref> Another owner activated Online Services successfully but received an error stating the subscription "expired in 1972" on a brand-new 2024 vehicle; customer service told them to purchase a subscription.<ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

The only workaround some owners have found is connecting to the vehicle's free three-month trial AT&T hotspot, which enables the Online Services connection. Once that trial expires, the vehicle loses its internet connection and further map updates require a paid cellular subscription or an alternative connection method.<ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

== Honda's response ==
Honda Navigation Center, when asked by an owner about updating maps without Online Services, responded: "Unfortunately, you have to have online services connected in order for the map updates to work."<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" /> The owner had noted that Honda already had their VIN, as Honda had sent them an email containing it. Honda did not address why the VIN needed to be transmitted a second time through the vehicle.

HERE Technologies, which provides third-party support for the Honda Navigation Store, has been unable to resolve the issue for owners who contact them directly. One owner reported spending over two hours on the phone with Honda and HERE without resolution, describing both support teams as reading from information binders with no ability to troubleshoot the underlying problem.<ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

== Related enforcement actions ==
In March 2025, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) announced a settlement requiring Honda to pay $632,500 and change its business practices for violating the [[California Consumer Privacy Act]] (CCPA).<ref name="cppa-honda">{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Honda Settles With CPPA Over Privacy Violations |url=https://cppa.ca.gov/announcements/2025/20250312.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260423140943/https://cppa.ca.gov/announcements/2025/20250312.html |archive-date=23 April 2026 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=California Privacy Protection Agency}}</ref> The CPPA found that Honda required consumers to "verify themselves and provide excessive personal information" to exercise privacy rights such as opting out of data sales. Honda also shared consumer data with advertising companies without producing contracts containing the necessary terms to protect privacy.<ref name="cppa-honda" />

The settlement arose from the CPPA's investigation into data privacy practices by connected vehicle manufacturers in the state of California.<ref name="cppa-honda" />

==Consumer response==

Honda Pilot owners on automotive forums have documented persistent frustration with the map update process. Common complaints include VIN verification failures on the Honda Navigation Store despite using the VIN from Honda's own notification emails, "no internet connection" errors when attempting to activate Online Services, and dealerships that are unable to assist with the process.<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" /><ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

Several owners have abandoned Honda's built-in navigation entirely, opting to use Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay instead.<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" /> One owner described the built-in navigation as "worthless" and "a complete waste of time."<ref name="piloteers-nav-response" />

The issue affects Honda vehicles with newer HERE Technologies-based infotainment systems, beginning with certain 2023 model year vehicles such as the Pilot. Some Honda models continued using Garmin-based navigation through 2024.<ref name="piloteers-online-services" />

==See also==

*[[Forced account]]
*[[Forced cloud]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Honda requires connection of the car to the internet and creating an account to be able to download offline map updates}}
[[Category:Honda]]
[[Category:Forced Account Creation]]
[[Category:Privacy]]

Arbitration Clauses

2026-05-07T22:41:35Z

Matt78: Redirected to List of products and services with forced arbitration via Special:SearchDigest

#REDIRECT [[List of products and services with forced arbitration]]

Canonical

2026-05-07T19:12:22Z

Matt78: Added "Systemd adds age indication ahead of schedule" to See also section.

{{Stub}}{{CompanyCargo
|Description=British software company known for developing Ubuntu.
|Founded=2004
|Industry=Computing
|Logo=Canonical logo 2023.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.canonical.com/
}}

'''{{Wplink|Canonical (company)|Canonical}}''' is a software company best known for creating {{Wplink|Ubuntu}}, an operating system based on {{Wplink|Linux kernel|Linux}}. It is largely funded by South African billionaire {{Wplink|Mark Shuttleworth}}.

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

==Positives==
===Upstreaming in the Linux ecosystem===
Alongside Red Hat and [[Google]], Canonical makes up a substantial portion of upstream security patches in the Linux ecosystem. They maintain AppArmor,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=AppArmor |url=https://apparmor.net/ |website=AppArmor |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316220151/https://apparmor.net/ |archive-date=16 Mar 2025}}</ref> a Linux security system that proactively manages threats, Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=The app store for Linux |url=https://snapcraft.io/ |website=Snapcraft |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316210326/https://snapcraft.io/ |archive-date=16 Mar 2025}}</ref> a Linux appstore with sandbox support, and Livepatch,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Livepatch |url=https://docs.kernel.org/livepatch/livepatch.html |website=Livepatch |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250403104219/https://docs.kernel.org/livepatch/livepatch.html |archive-date=3 Apr 2025}}</ref> a system to patch the Linux kernel without needing to reboot.

==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]].

===Tracking===
Canonical collects user telemetry from Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Snap Store metrics |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/snap-store-metrics |website=Snapcraft |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305174544/https://snapcraft.io/docs/snap-store-metrics |archive-date=5 Mar 2025}}</ref> which is shipped by default in Ubuntu.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Installing snap on Ubuntu |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-ubuntu |website=Snapcraft |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303224655/https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-ubuntu |archive-date=3 Mar 2025}}</ref>

Previously, Canonical sent local file search queries to their own servers, which were used to recommend ads on [[Amazon]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stallman |first=Richard |title=Ubuntu Spyware: What to do? |url=https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do |website=Free Software Foundation |date=12 Jul 2012 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317144129/https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do |archive-date=17 Mar 2025}}</ref> In 2014, this feature was removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |title=Ubuntu’s Unity 8 desktop will remove the Amazon search ‘spyware’ |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/436097/ubuntus-unity-8-desktop-removes-the-amazon-search-spyware.html |website=PCWorld |date=29 Oct 2014 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311164248/https://www.pcworld.com/article/436097/ubuntus-unity-8-desktop-removes-the-amazon-search-spyware.html |archive-date=11 Mar 2025}}</ref>

In 2018, telemetry tracking for hardware components, software configuration, and crashes were added in an opt-out model.<ref>{{Cite web |author=allo |title=How to opt-out usage data collection in Ubuntu 18.04 (bionic)? |url=https://superuser.com/questions/1311588/how-to-opt-out-usage-data-collection-in-ubuntu-18-04-bionic |website=superuser |date=6 Apr 2018 |access-date=24 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406230212/https://superuser.com/questions/1311588/how-to-opt-out-usage-data-collection-in-ubuntu-18-04-bionic |archive-date=6 Apr 2018}}</ref>

===Ad for Ubuntu Pro when using APT (''2022—'')===
[[File:Ubuntu terminal ad for Pro.png|thumb|alt=Running APT update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro.|Running APT update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro.]]
In September 2022, Canonical started adding opt-out<ref>{{Cite web |author=Scotty_Trees |title=How to get rid of Ubuntu Pro advertisement when updating apt? |url=https://askubuntu.com/questions/1434512/how-to-get-rid-of-ubuntu-pro-advertisement-when-updating-apt |website=Ask Ubuntu |date=9 Oct 2022 |access-date=24 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009180059/https://askubuntu.com/questions/1434512/how-to-get-rid-of-ubuntu-pro-advertisement-when-updating-apt |archive-date=9 Oct 2022}}</ref> ads for their Ubuntu Pro service when using APT.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneddon |first=Joey |title=Ubuntu's New Terminal 'Ad' is Angering Users |url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/10/ubuntu-pro-terminal-ad |website=OMG! Ubuntu |date=26 Jan 2023 |access-date=24 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013141920/https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/10/ubuntu-pro-terminal-ad |archive-date=13 Oct 2022}}</ref>

==Products==
*Ubuntu

==See also==
[[Systemd adds age indication ahead of schedule]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Software companies]]
[[Category:Linux]]

Microsoft Office 365

2026-05-04T16:55:26Z

Matt78: Changed category to "Microsoft Office".

{{Incomplete|Issue 1= Lack of citations and references| Issue 2=Bottom section needs to be reworked to fit within wiki standards }}
{{ToneWarning}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Software
|Company=Microsoft
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=Microsoft 365 logo (2022).png
|ReleaseYear=2010
|Website=https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365
|Description=Productivity software-as-a-service suite introduced by Microsoft in 2010
}}

'''{{Wplink|Microsoft 365}}''' (sold as '''Office 365''' from 2010 to 2020) is a suite of productivity software applications that includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint. The addition of "365" to the product's name was introduced in 2010 to distinguish the company's new subscription-based [[software as a service]] offering (and other related hosted services such as Office on the Web) that was promoted to customers as the replacement for the stand-alone, perpetually-licensed products of the flagship Microsoft Office suite it had sold since 1990.

In March 2020, a rebranding effort that began in 2017, seeking to unify Microsoft's personal and small-to-medium business product lines with its enterprise offerings, was completed, and it was announced that all existing Office 365 products and subscriptions would be renamed Microsoft 365.<ref name="ms-rebrand">{{Cite web |author= |title=Microsoft Office 365 is a part of Microsoft 365 |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/office-365 |website=[[Microsoft]] |date= |access-date=10 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022030805if_/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/office-365 |archive-date=22 Oct 2020}}</ref>

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

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

===General===
====Forced telemetry (diagnostic data) transmission====
The only editions of the Microsoft 365 desktop apps that expose controls over the amount of telemetry data they regularly transmit back to Microsoft are the highly-priced "E" (Enterprise) or the Microsoft 365 for Education plans that require a minimum purchase of 300 or more individual user licenses; users of all other tiers are not furnished with an opt-out control, as was possible in previous years. Even for those volume-licensed editions with the controls, no option is provided to fully deactivate the sharing of telemetry data; moreover, the controls they have access to are configured at the lowest user privacy level by default.

The Office transmits data on an estimated 23,000–25,000 types of events (other reports related to the German BSI audit identified over 30,000 types of events) to Microsoft.<ref name="nas">{{Cite web |last=Nas |first=Sjoera |title=Impact assessment shows privacy risks Microsoft Office ProPlus Enterprise |url=https://www.privacycompany.eu/blog/impact-assessment-shows-privacy-risks-microsoft-office-proplus-enterprise |website=Privacy Company |date=13 Nov 2018 |access-date=10 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240414110632if_/https://www.privacycompany.eu/blog/impact-assessment-shows-privacy-risks-microsoft-office-proplus-enterprise |archive-date=14 Apr 2024}}</ref> Microsoft can adjust the level of detail transmitted remotely, even to the point of recording every single keystroke and mouse event as a log to be uploaded to Microsoft servers in the background, with no notice to the user.

Experts in computing security now generally advise all users that it cannot reasonably be assumed that any data entered into or any interaction with a Microsoft 365 application will remain private unless the system is "air gapped," or completely disconnected from the internet. This has led to loud concerns about evolving norms regarding user consent, especially given that even highly trusted institutions, such as hospitals, in countries outside the industrialized First World frequently opt to run consumer versions of Microsoft software as a cost-saving measure.{{Citation needed}}

===Copilot===
====Microsoft Copilot is on by default====
After a round of opt-in pre-release testing, Microsoft's new AI agent — named [[Microsoft Copilot|Copilot]] — was announced as an "opt-out" (on by default) feature enhancement for Microsoft 365 subscribers on 22 January 2025.<ref name="hoffman">{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |title=Copilot AI comes to Microsoft 365 plans: Everything you need to know |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3806855/copilot-ai-microsoft-365.html |website=ComputerWorld |date=22 Jan 2025 |access-date=10 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210012231if_/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3806855/copilot-ai-microsoft-365.html |archive-date=10 Feb 2025}}</ref>

===Copilot upsell (''2024—'')===
[[File:MS365Scam.png|thumb|400px|alt=Microsoft's e-mail informing customers their Microsoft 365 plan was increasing in price and getting AI "features".|Microsoft's email informing customers that their Microsoft 365 plan was increasing in price and getting AI "features".]]
Microsoft has been accused of misleading customers since around October 2024 by suggesting they had to move to higher-priced Microsoft 365 personal and family plans that included Copilot.<ref name="kumar">{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Sneha |title=Australia sues Microsoft over AI-linked subscription price hikes |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-takes-microsoft-court-says-it-misled-27-million-customers-2025-10-26/ |website=Reuters |date=27 Oct 2025 |access-date=10 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/xlhzD
|archive-date=6 Mar 2026}}</ref><ref name="video-explanation">{{Cite web |author=Atomic Shrimp |title=Microsoft’s Sneaky Forced-Upsell to 365 Users; If You Don’t Need/Want Copilot, Don’t Pay for It |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss |website=[[YouTube]] |date=25 Jan 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss
|archive-date=25 Jan 2025}}</ref> The upsell was phrased to give consumers the impression they were staying on the same plan, but the price was increasing with no way to opt out of the new AI features.

In January 2025, YouTuber Atomic Shrimp reported that Microsoft had enacted a "forced up-sell" of 365's new AI Copilot feature.<ref name="video-explanation" /> Users with basic accounts (now called "Classic"), such as Shrimp himself, had been informed that their subscription fee was going up, but that they would enjoy new features, including Copilot. In his efforts to disable Copilot, Shrimp subsequently discovered that Microsoft now offered "Classic" plans identical to the old basic plans, both in features and subscription fees. The option to downgrade to Classic, however, was only clearly visible to enterprise users, not to personal users. In essence, Microsoft upgraded users' plans without their consent and hid the option to downgrade. While Atomic Shrimp's video suggested contacting support to revert to the "Classic" plan, you can downgrade a personal account on the website via the cancellation process.

In October 2025, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) sued Microsoft over the change, accusing it of misleading about 2.7 million customers:<ref name="kumar" />
<blockquote>The ACCC alleges that since 31 October 2024, Microsoft has told subscribers of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans with auto-renewal enabled that to maintain their subscription, they must accept the integration of Copilot and pay higher prices for their plan, or, alternatively, cancel their subscription. The ACCC alleges this information provided to subscribers was false or misleading because there was an undisclosed third option, the Microsoft 365 Personal or Family Classic plans, which allowed subscribers to retain the features of their existing plan, without Copilot, at the previous lower price.<ref name="accc">{{Cite web |author= |title=Microsoft in court for allegedly misleading millions of Australians over Microsoft 365 subscriptions
|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/microsoft-in-court-for-allegedly-misleading-millions-of-australians-over-microsoft-365-subscriptions |website=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission |date=27 Oct 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216025233if_/https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/microsoft-in-court-for-allegedly-misleading-millions-of-australians-over-microsoft-365-subscriptions |archive-date=16 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref name="healy">{{Cite web |last=Healy |first=Jane |title=ACCC V Microsoft Concise Statement |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/accc-v-microsoft-concise-statement-27-october-2025.pdf |website=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission |date=27 Oct 2025
|access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114100116if_/https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/accc-v-microsoft-concise-statement-27-october-2025.pdf
|archive-date=14 Nov 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref></blockquote>

===OneDrive===
====OneDrive sharing====
Guest access, a common collaboration feature in other cloud storage providers' ''free'' plans that allows users to invite others to anonymously upload files to a designated folder in their account (e.g., group vacation photos), is now restricted for subscribers to the personal tier to other logged-in Microsoft account holders, eliminating the anonymity aspect. Users who wish to continue inviting others to contribute files to their OneDrive storage without logging in with a Microsoft account must now upgrade to the more expensive OneDrive for Business. The ubiquity of the anonymous guest access model across other major cloud storage services, particularly established providers such as Dropbox, Google, and Proton, has proved an unwelcome surprise to both new and existing subscribers and has made OneDrive a less-attractive option in that sector by comparison.{{Citation needed|date=10 Apr 2026}}

====Obfuscation of local storage in favor of OneDrive====
Since the introduction of Office 365, saving files locally has become more difficult due to Microsoft's preference for [[OneDrive]], its cloud-based storage service. When saving a file previously, the user would encounter a save dialog with a pop-up to browse their computer and choose a file storage location. This is now multiple clicks away, making it harder to avoid saving the file on OneDrive.{{Citation needed|date=10 Apr 2026}}

Files on one's computer are also automatically uploaded to OneDrive by default, causing numerous issues (such as synchronization errors and duplicate files). Turning off this automatic backup is not user-friendly, as the user must navigate multiple settings to disable this option.

The user can go into Options → Save → Set the check mark on "save locally as default". This still requires multiple clicks to save a file, but the cloud options are marginally less intrusive.

===Automatically saving Word documents to the cloud (''2025'')===
In its company blog, Microsoft announced that Word would, by default, create documents and save auto-save information to Microsoft servers. This setting can be manually reconfigured to use the local computer.<ref name="munoz">{{Cite web |last=Munoz |first=Raoul |title=Save new files automatically to the cloud in Word for Windows |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/save-new-files-automatically-to-the-cloud-in-word-for-windows/4445216 |website=[[Microsoft]] |date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131230010/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/save-new-files-automatically-to-the-cloud-in-word-for-windows/4445216 |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref>

This means all information in the document is uploaded to Microsoft servers before a user has a chance to select local storage when first saving the document.

===Microsoft Publisher===
====Removal from Microsoft 365 computers (''2026'')====
In October 2026, Microsoft will remove Publisher from computers running Microsoft 365 as part of its "end of support" for the application.<ref name="poremsky">{{Cite web |last=Poremsky
|first=Diane |title=Can people keep using Microsoft Publisher unsupported after the end of support date in October 2026 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5389573/can-people-keep-using-microsoft-publisher-unsuppor |website=[[Microsoft]] |date=31 Mar 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251124135927if_/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5389573/can-people-keep-using-microsoft-publisher-unsuppor |archive-date=24 Nov 2025}}</ref> Those with a perpetual license for Publisher, such as the Long-Term Service Channel (LTSC) edition, will still be able to install and use the application, even though it is no longer supported.<ref name="publisher-eol">{{Cite web |author= |title=Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7 |website=[[Microsoft]] |date=2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307165545if_/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7 |archive-date=7 Mar 2025}}</ref>

==Avoiding price increases on Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions==
[[File:Microsoft 365 Personal Classic how-to.jpg|thumb|right|440px|Screenshot of the cancellation page for Microsoft 365 Personal plan subscribers, showing the reduced price offer.]]
On 14 February 2025, Microsoft increased the cost of its entry-level subscription plan, Microsoft 365 Personal, from US$69.99/year to $99.99/year, as part of an announcement that it was adding access to its Copilot AI tool to the tier, which had previously been an optional add-on. In the same announcement, information was provided about a new Classic plan, which would be the spiritual successor to the former Personal plan, offering the same features at the old price. Still, it lacked details on how existing subscribers could switch to it and avoid the forced upgrade. Since March 2025, a mechanism has been in place on the Microsoft website to intercept subscribers on that tier who attempt to cancel their subscription, presenting them instead with an option to switch to a hardly-publicized "Personal Classic" plan instead, which is priced at the former rate of US$69.99/year (see image at right). The Classic plan provides an identical feature set, except for the monthly allotment of Copilot AI access tokens, making it a drop-in replacement for those who aren't interested in the new features and simply want to continue at the original price. Microsoft has stated that the Personal Classic plan is not an official tier on its product roadmap but rather a user-retention tool. Some users who switched to the Classic plan shortly after the price increase have already reported an inability to renew it for a second year at the reduced price.{{Citation needed|date=10 Apr 2026}}

==See also==
*[[Dark pattern]]
*[[Microsoft]]
*[[Software as a service]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Microsoft Office]]
[[Category:Subscription-based services]]

Creality

2026-05-03T20:54:26Z

Matt78:

{{CompanyCargo
|Logo=Creality logo.svg
|Website=https://www.creality.com/
|Founded=2014|Industry=Technology
|Type=Private
|Description=Creality is a Chinese company that manufactures 3D printers and scanners.
}}

'''{{Wplink|Creality}}''' is a Chinese technology company headquartered in Shenzhen which manufactures 3D printers and 3D scanners<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scanners |url=https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129133218/https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Creality}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
*'''User freedom:''' Creality silently disabled the root access toggle for K1 series printers, making root access unavailable without using a computer. Creality forced an update to their Creality Scan smartphone app for their 3D scanners that removes the ability to plug the scanner into a phone to use features such as scanning with a phone link without a $369–$459 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
*'''Business model:''' Creality sells 3D printers and scanners. Creality has also paywalled features on their 3D scanners, requiring a $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
*'''Market control:''' Creality has extensive competition, with other 3D printer brands such as [[Bambu Lab]], Prusa Research, and Ultimaker.

==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]].

===Creality disables root access toggle on K1 series 3D printers===
Creality silently disabled the ability to root 3D printers which were advertised as having a toggle to gain root access to them.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Wiki for Creality Helper Script |url=https://guilouz.github.io/Creality-Helper-Script-Wiki/ |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Wiki for Creality Helper Script}}</ref> Creality does not disclose this on their product page, despite nearly every review citing this as a feature. Creality also will not provide support for root-related failures.

There is currently a community bash script that exposes SSH and root access<ref name=":0" />, but doesn't have much use due to being incompatible with Klipper packages as of now.{{Citation needed}}

Models affected:
*K1
*K1C 2025<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Root Disclaimer and Risk Warning |url=https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260131114944/https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |archive-date=2026-01-31 |access-date=2026-04-28 |website=Creality Wiki |quote=K1 series 2025 models (such as: K1 C 2025 & K1 Max 2025) do not support Root access}}</ref>
*K1 Max 2025<ref name=":1" />

===Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners===
{{Main|Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners}}

Creality's 3D scanners (Otter, Ferret, Raptor, RaptorX) were advertised that they would feature the ability to scan with a wired connection to a phone. Creality added this feature, but later forced an update to the Creality Scan smartphone app that locked access to the previously available features such as scanning with a phone link from their 3D scanners behind a paywall by requiring users to buy the Creality Scan Bridge, a proprietary device which costs $369–$459 USD<ref>{{Cite web |title=Creality Scan Bridge for CR-Scan Otter 3D Scanner, Wireless Scanning Kit for iPhone, Android and Mirror Screen |url=https://www.amazon.com/Creality-CR-Scan-Otter-Wireless-Scanning/dp/B0FD9QG1JL?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xo1uhXwNWmpzj6vlxwxFSBfzh_BHJJnzD8o4U0CMN5hD4scHqRci6V4O4dl0-_y_-jbXb7K4YTX2ukcUM0Au7cRwdIfsIO6Lizk1KuFzqtz8KxXCVkjW8vPUdvdOkCV2ftmvlaWR66zt2_vebG5hUSXogTCKeXNWccFHScRzqr0gtNyxjnELlj_IwDjQpSb2v9UQDEsJeKtNyDPFx1ufQdxQNemAmNuReBtOY7ED0F4.tFmjAPhOXYX3BdnIeMKBpuhozjiBrDY1lZa-IY7qdbk&dib_tag=se |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=Amazon.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Creality Scan Bridge for Raptor, Raptor Pro and Sermoon S1 3D Scanner, Wireless Scanning Kit for iPhone, Android and Mirror Screen for Windows, Mac |url=https://www.amazon.com/Creality-CR-Scan-Raptor-Wireless-Scanning/dp/B0DKFGS458?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xo1uhXwNWmpzj6vlxwxFSBfzh_BHJJnzD8o4U0CMN5hD4scHqRci6V4O4dl0-_y_-jbXb7K4YTX2ukcUM0Au7cRwdIfsIO6Lizk1KuFzqtz8KxXCVkjW8vPUdvdOkCV2ftmvlaWR66zt2_vebG5hUSXogTCKeXNWccFHScRzqr0gtNyxjnELlj_IwDjQpSb2v9UQDEsJeKtNyDPFx1ufQdxQNemAmNuReBtOY7ED0F4.tFmjAPhOXYX3BdnIeMKBpuhozjiBrDY1lZa-IY7qdbk&dib_tag=se |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=Amazon.com}}</ref>. The update is forced by updating the software as soon as the user has a stable internet connection and opens the Creality Scan 4 software. There is no option to opt-out, only the chance to install the update. Creality's reasoning for this update was that scanning with a USB cable could overload the phone's motherboard and reduce the battery life overtime.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CR-Scan Otter FAQ and Troubleshooting |url=https://wiki.creality.com/en/3d-scanner/cr-scan-otter/troubleshooting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260211061438/https://wiki.creality.com/en/3d-scanner/cr-scan-otter/troubleshooting |archive-date=2026-02-11 |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Creality Wiki |quote=This could overload your phone’s motherboard and seriously reduce battery life over time.}}</ref> 

==See also==
*[[Bambu Lab]]
*[[MakerBot]]
*[[Formlabs]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Creality]]

Arbitration agreements

2026-04-29T02:26:47Z

Matt78: Redirected to Forced arbitration via Special:SearchDigest

#REDIRECT [[Forced arbitration]]

Graphene

2026-04-24T21:39:25Z

Matt78: Redirected to GrapheneOS via Special:SearchDigest

#REDIRECT [[GrapheneOS]]

Adblock

2026-04-24T21:34:08Z

Matt78: Redirected to Ad block via Special:SearchDigest

#REDIRECT [[Ad block]]

Systemd

2026-04-24T21:32:07Z

Matt78: Redirected to Systemd adds age indication ahead of schedule via Special:SearchDigest

#REDIRECT [[Systemd adds age indication ahead of schedule]]

Ad block

2026-04-16T21:13:31Z

Matt78: Mostly added and archived references.

{{Stub}}
'''Ad blocking''' is the practice of blocking advertisements, typically through automated means. Typical goals for doing this are reducing distractions, lowering the extent of data collection, decreasing resource usage (battery, network traffic, memory) and avoiding security threats that leverage advertising networks<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |date=2022-12-22 |title=FBI Recommends Installing An Ad Blocker To Dodge Scammers |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/fbi-recommends-installing-an-ad-blocker-to-dodge-scammers |url-status=live}}</ref>.

==Consumer impact summary==
Ad blocking is the crux of one of the most prominent conflicts around [[Right to own|right of ownership]], where users feel justified in deciding what their devices do or don't, while platforms that rely on advertising, especially those that offer free services to users, argue that advertisements sustain the platform and must remain untouched. Some platforms [[Ad block#Ad block Countermeasures|even actively detect ad blocking]] in order to display a relevant notice or to degrade functions of a service. This has turned into an arms race between advertisers and consumers.

Advertisements are increasingly showing up in devices (e.g., [[Samsung ads in refrigerators|refrigerators]], [[Stellantis in-car advertisements|cars]], televisions) built right into their system software, making ad blocking difficult.

There are efforts to use copyright law (e.g., DMCA/Spotify/Revanced, and German court case) to force consumers to play ads or run other programs on devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Claburn |first=Thomas |date=2025-08-15 |title=No more Blocktoberfest? German court throws book at ad blockers |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/15/german_court_ruling_ad_blocking/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113010801/https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/15/german_court_ruling_ad_blocking/ |archive-date=13 Jan 2026|website=The Register}}</ref>

Lea Verou claims that ad-blocking is theft,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verou |first=Lea |date=2014-02-02 |title=Excellent points by @codepo8 against Adblock: christianheilmann.co... Btw I’ve always said myself that using adblock is a bit like stealing. |url=https://xcancel.com/LeaVerou/status/430039668134920192 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/2fWiJ |archive-date=2026-04-16 |website=XCancel ([[Twitter]]/[[X]])}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Verou |first=Lea |date=2014-10-03 |title=.@branmovic On websites whose business model is primarily selling ad space, AdBlock is morally equivalent to theft IMO. |url=https://xcancel.com/LeaVerou/status/518154828166725632 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/wv1kN |archive-date=2026-04-16 |website=XCancel ([[Twitter]]/[[X]])}}</ref> and Linus Sebastian claims it's [[wikipedia:Online_piracy|piracy]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sebastian |first=Linus |date=2022-01-28 |title=Linus Tech Tips (@LinusTech): "Online websites and creators are supported by ads. I thought that was pretty common knowledge? Ad blocking is the exact same thing as piracy. Literally the exact same thing. Ppl will still do it and I've been guilty of it at times, but we just need to be aware of the impact- LS |url=https://nitter.net/LinusTech/status/1486925588199718912#m |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/asEtn |archive-date=2026-04-16 |access-date=2026-04-16 |website=Nitter ([[Twitter]]/[[X]])}}</ref>. Christian Heilmann<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heilmann |first=Christian |date=2014-02-02 |title=Why “just use Adblock” should never be a professional answer |url=https://christianheilmann.com/2014/02/02/why-just-use-adblock-should-never-be-a-professional-answer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216181653/https://christianheilmann.com/2014/02/02/why-just-use-adblock-should-never-be-a-professional-answer/ |archive-date=2026-02-16 |website=Christian Heilmann Blog}}</ref> and Doc Searls<ref>{{Cite web |last=Searls |first=Doc |date=2015-08-12 |title=Separating advertising’s wheat and chaff |url=https://doc.searls.com/2015/08/12/separating-advertisings-wheat-and-chaff/ |url-status=live |website=Doc Searls Weblog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Searls |first=Doc |date=2015-08-12 |title=Separating advertising’s wheat and chaff |url=https://dsearls.medium.com/separating-advertisings-wheat-and-chaff-47858adfcb20 |url-status=live |website=[[Medium]]}}</ref> say that [https://adblockplus.org/acceptable-ads acceptable] and non-tracking (de-personalized) ads should be incentivized in order to reduce intrusive ads.

==Technologies==
Diversity of advertisements has prompted the use of diverse technologies to block them.

===Web browsers===
Web browser extensions that block ads are some of the most popular extensions,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top rated extensions |url=https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search/?promoted=recommended&sort=rating&type=extension |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Add-ons for Firefox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top charts |url=https://chromewebstore.google.com/top-charts/popular |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Chrome Web Store}}</ref> some browsers even have ad blocking built in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vivaldi Browser Features |url=https://vivaldi.com/features/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Vivaldi Browser}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=uazo/cromite |url=https://github.com/uazo/cromite |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=GitHub}}</ref> This is likely in response to [[advertising overload]] that has made the Web difficult to use prior to their inception. Obtrusive advertising has remained to be a problem to this day, and continuous evolution of ad blocking in web browsers in response has produced what is probably the most prolific ad blocking culture today, leveraging openness of the web platform.

Web's openness, however, is threatened by Google's dominance in the web browser market. A change to browser extension interfaces in Google Chrome browser, broadly known as "Manifest V3", and support for older interfaces phased out across 2024-2025<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=David |date=2023-11-16 |title=Resuming the transition to Manifest V3 |url=https://developer.chrome.com/blog/resuming-the-transition-to-mv3#the_phase-out_timeline |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260412231934/https://developer.chrome.com/blog/resuming-the-transition-to-mv3#the_phase-out_timeline |archive-date=2026-04-12 |website=Chrome for Developers |at=The phase-out timeline}}</ref>, has made Chrome incompatible with [https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock uBlock Origin], one of the most popular ad blockers for the web, as well as hindering functionality of numerous other browser extensions. This act prompted the creators of uBlock Origin to develop '''uBlock Origin Lite''' with less comprehensive blocking features, but compatible with Chrome's new extension interface.<ref>{{Cite web |title=uBlock Origin - Free, open-source ad blocker extension |url=https://ublockorigin.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260412070805/https://ublockorigin.com/ |archive-date=2026-04-12 |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=uBlock Origin}}</ref> The Electronic Frontier Foundation considers this change "another example of the inherent conflict of interest that comes from Google controlling both the dominant web browser and one of the largest internet advertising networks" and "outright harmful to privacy efforts".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnett |first=Daly |date=2021-12-09 |title=Chrome Users Beware: Manifest V3 is Deceitful and Threatening |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/12/chrome-users-beware-manifest-v3-deceitful-and-threatening |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416025017/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/12/chrome-users-beware-manifest-v3-deceitful-and-threatening |archive-date=2026-04-16 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref> The regular, fully featured version of uBlock Origin remains available and in active development for other web browsers such as Firefox<ref>{{Cite web |title=uBlock Origin – Get this Extension for 🦊 Firefox (en-US) |url=https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415030716/https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/ |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-04-16 |website=Add-ons for Firefox (en-US)}}</ref> and Opera<ref>{{Cite web |title=uBlock Origin extension |url=https://addons.opera.com/en/extensions/details/ublock/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260413021756/https://addons.opera.com/en/extensions/details/ublock/ |archive-date=2026-04-13 |access-date=2026-04-16 |website=Opera add-ons}}</ref>.

===Network level===
Installed by a network's administrator or into a device's operating system, such solutions provide access to the internet through a filter that blocks communication with ad platforms, forcing them to function as if access to the internet is unavailable. This typically prevents them from functioning, as ads have to be downloaded from the internet in order to be displayed.

This technology makes it possible to block ads even on devices where software does not allow this function, but does connect to the internet through means provided by the user. Control over the means of internet access is what makes this possible.

For example, [[wikipedia:Pi-hole|Pi-hole]] and [https://adguard.com/en/adguard-home/overview.html AdGuard Home] are installed as DNS servers for the local network (typically a single router at home), while [[wikipedia:AdGuard|AdGuard]] and [https://rethinkdns.com/ RethinkDNS] provide a similar effect on one device (and not the rest of the local network) where users can install applications of their choice.

It's not a perfect solution as it is only able to detect and block ads that are served through infrastructure that is separate from the rest of the application or service. Implementing it this way makes it easier to integrate ads into software, which is why this is often the case and a reason why this technique is effective.

===Application specific===
Some ad blocking technologies are limited to specific applications.

One of the most popular examples of this is [https://sponsor.ajay.app/ Sponsorblock for YouTube], which combats "ad integrations": advertising segments embedded by authors of the content directly into their YouTube videos, which makes ad detection (and consequently blocking) difficult.

Another technique, available where users are able to install applications of their choice, is partial reverse-engineering and modification of applications that include advertising functionality, to block or remove that functionality. This technique is strongly associated with piracy, since the same method can be used to force a commercial application to function without a license through removal of a license check.

==Ad Blocker Examples==
Some of the add-ons / extensions / plug-ins below are not necessarily ad-blocking software but do contribute to blocking advertisements or reduce or eliminate the amount of data you share online.

===<big>Internet Browsers</big>===
A for Android, i for iOS, L for Linux, W for Windows

Browser base: C for Chromium, F for Firefox

If a browser is not listed "officially" for an add-on in the table below but shares the "Based on" attribute with a browser that is, it may (but is not guaranteed to) work with that browser.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Based on
!"Do Not Track" feature
!DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials
![[wikipedia:Noscript|NoScript]]
![[wikipedia:Privacy_Badger|Privacy Badger]]
![[wikipedia:UBlock_Origin|uBlock Origin]]
|-
|'''[[Brave browser|Brave]]'''
|C
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''[[Google Chrome|Chrome]]'''
|C
|
|
|L, W
|
|
|-
|'''[[wikipedia:DuckDuckGo_Private_Browser|DuckDuckGo]]'''
|C
|A
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''[[Microsoft Edge|Edge]]'''
|C
|
|
|L, W
|
|
|-
|'''[[Firefox]]'''
|F
|A, L, W
|A, L, W
|A, L, W
|A, L, W
|A, L, W
|-
|'''[https://www.firefox.com/an/channel/desktop/developer/ Firefox Developer Edition]'''
|F
|L, W
|L, W
|L, W
|L, W
|L, W
|-
|'''[[Mullvad]] Browser'''
|F
|L, W
|
|L, W
|
|L, W
|-
|'''[[Opera]]'''
|C
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''[[wikipedia:Safari_(web_browser)|Safari]]'''
| -
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[wikipedia:Tor_(network)#Tor_Browser|'''Tor Browser''']]
|F
|A, L, W
|
|A, L, W
|
|
|-
|'''[[wikipedia:Vivaldi_(web_browser)|Vivaldi]]'''
|C
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''[[wikipedia:Waterfox|Waterfox]]'''
|F
|L, W
|L, W
|L, W
|L, W
|L, W
|}

==Ad block Countermeasures==

===Dishonest countermeasures===

====1. Purposefully taking longer to load/not loading CSS portions of a website to shift the blame onto the ad blocker====

====2. Utilizing pop-ups & overlays to deter ad block usage====
Owners & developers of domains & websites can detect ad blockers & make it significantly harder to access content by putting in countermeasures such as Pop-Ups & Overlays. Sometimes they go as far as using techniques that somewhat resemble the [[Consent-or-pay]] method in order to encourage others to disable their ad filtering tool.
[[File:Ad blocker warning example.png|thumb|Example of an anti-adblock pop-up resembling the "Consent-or-pay" tactic.]]

==See also==
*[[Bloatware]]

==Further Reading==

*[[Advertising overload]]
*[[wikipedia:Ad_blocking|Ad blocking]] on Wikipedia

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]

Avid Technology

2026-04-16T18:18:46Z

Matt78: Mostly added and archived references.

{{Incomplete}}

Avid Technology Inc. is an American-based multimedia and technology company formed in 1987 that specializes in providing solutions for the professional audio, video, and media markets.

Avid Technology is owned by the parent private equity group Symphony Technology Group (STG) as of 2023.

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1987
|Industry=Audio, Music, Video
|Logo=Pure Purple AVID Logo.png
|ParentCompany=Symphony Technology Group
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.avid.com
|Description=Multimedia company specializing in providing industry tools for pro audio, video, and media workflows.
}}
==Consumer-impact summary==
Avid Technology has implemented several policies that negatively impact their customers:

*All Avid software solutions run on a Subscription or Perpetual + Support Plan model; Software + Support Plans typically only offer 1-3 years of support before needing to be purchased again.
*Requiring customers to purchase an Avid Support Code (ASC) or be under an active product Subscription or Software Updates + Support Plan to receive direct ticketing support using Avid's helpdesk. Phone support is only offered on an ASC code usage or a higher Support Plan.
*Usage of Avid designed hardware require the use of an "advanced" tier of their software products in order to provide full functionality and/or control.
*Avid designed hardware have a fixed 5-year term for hardware and software support when the product reaches its declared End of Sale date. After that point, all support for the product will cease officially.

==Controversies==

===Avid removes Perpetual Plan options for Pro Tools users (April 2022)===
Avid in April of 2022 removed the option for customers to buy new or Software Updates + Support Plan contracts for existing perpetual Pro Tools users. Following considerable industry backlash, Avid reinstated Perpetual licenses and Support Plan contract renewals through authorized 3rd party resellers in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holt |first=Kris |date=27 April 2022 |title=Pro Tools is now only available as a subscription service |url=https://www.engadget.com/pro-tools-subscription-service-perpetual-license-160010247.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109140342/https://www.engadget.com/pro-tools-subscription-service-perpetual-license-160010247.html |archive-date=9 Nov 2024 |access-date=29 Jun 2025 |website=Engadget}}</ref>

===Avid is Acquired by an Affiliate of STG for USD $1.4B (Nov 2023)===
Avid Technology was acquired by an affiliate of [https://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_Technology_Group STG (Symphony Technology Group)] for 1.4 billion dollars on November 7, 2023 in a cash-only deal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 Nov 2023 |title=STG Completes Acquisition of Avid Technology |url=https://stg.com/news/stg-completes-acquisition-of-avid-technology/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260307073724/https://stg.com/news/stg-completes-acquisition-of-avid-technology/ |archive-date=7 Mar 2026 |access-date=16 Apr 2026 |website=STG}}</ref> This delisted Avid from the NYSE and returned its status as a private entity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avid Technology (AVID) - Stock split history |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/avid-technology/stock-splits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416175443/https://companiesmarketcap.com/avid-technology/stock-splits/ |archive-date=16 Apr 2026 |access-date=16 Apr 2026 |website=CompaniesMarketCap.com |quote=This company appears to have been delisted Reason: Acquired by Private Equity Firm STG Last recorded trade on: January 9, 2024}}</ref> Subsequently, some of Avid's product development was outsourced to STG asset offices in India.

==Products==

===Pro Tools===
A Digital Audio Workstation used by many studios and installations for music composition, recording, music production, and video post-production.

===Sibelius===
A music notation and engraving software used by score composers for general and film scoring.

===Media Composer===
A non-linear editor (NLE) for post-production video work for TV and film workflows.

===MediaCentral===
A suite of unified tools for newsroom events and live broadcast productions combining scriptwriting, automation, ingest, delivery, and collaboration in a single package.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Technology companies]]

Accellion data breach

2026-04-16T17:16:02Z

Matt78: Archived references.

{{Cleanup}}{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Accellion, Kroger, Shell, Trillium, Qualys, Singtel, CSX
|StartDate=2020-12
|EndDate=2021-02
|Status=Resolved
|Type=Security
|Description=A security breach affecting over 25 companies, medical institutions and schools.
}}Around Mid December in 2020, several hacker group going by the names FIN11, UNC2546, and CLOP, infiltrated [[wikipedia:Kiteworks|Accellion]] systems using [[wikipedia:SQL_injection|SQL injection,]] affecting organizations delving to various aspects of education, medicine, and finance, leaking over 9 million customers and employees personal information.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Monica |date=2025-10-31 |title=Accellion Data Breach |url=https://www.huntress.com/threat-library/data-breach/accellion-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260306051955/https://www.huntress.com/threat-library/data-breach/accellion-data-breach |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=[[Huntress]]}}</ref> This later turn into a lawsuit that reached a $8.1 million settlement on 20 January 2022.

==Background==
A financially motivated hacker group going by FIN11 has conducted malware and ransomware attacks against financial, retail, and medical related organizations since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stark |first=Genevieve |last2=Moore |first2=Andrew |last3=Cannon |first3=Vincent |last4=Leary |first4=Jacqueline |last5=Fraser |first5=Nalani |last6=Goody |first6=Kimberly |date=14 October 2020 |title=Threat Research FIN11: Widespread Email Campaigns as Precursor for Ransomware and Data Theft |url=https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/fin11-email-campaigns-precursor-for-ransomware-data-theft.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017221743/https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/fin11-email-campaigns-precursor-for-ransomware-data-theft.html |archive-date=17 October 2020 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Fire Eye}}</ref> It shares close ties to [[wikipedia:Clop_(hacker_group)#GoAnywhere_MFT_attack_(2023)|CLOP]], a hacker group that since 2016 has ran phishing campaigns and malware distributions<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brubaker |first=Nathan |last2=Zafra |first2=Daniel |last3=Lunden |first3=Keith |last4=Proska |first4=Ken |last5=Hildebrandt |first5=Corey |date=15 July 2020 |title=Financially Motivated Actors Are Expanding Access Into OT: Analysis of Kill Lists That Include OT Processes Used With Seven Malware Families |url=https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/07/financially-motivated-actors-are-expanding-access-into-ot.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716090918/https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/07/financially-motivated-actors-are-expanding-access-into-ot.html |archive-date=16 July 2020 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Fire Eye}}</ref>, and UNC2546, an unknown hacker group that been shown to conduct malware attacks and SQL injection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ropek |first=Lucas |date=2021-02-23 |title=What We Know About the Hackers Behind the Accellion Data Breach |url=https://gizmodo.com/what-we-know-about-the-hackers-behind-the-accellion-dat-1846316990 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723040100/https://gizmodo.com/what-we-know-about-the-hackers-behind-the-accellion-dat-1846316990 |archive-date=2025-07-23 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=[[Gizmodo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Jeff |date=2021-02-22 |title=FireEye IDs hacking group suspected in Accellion, Kroger breach |url=https://cyberscoop.com/fireeye-ids-hacking-group-suspected-in-accellion-kroger-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118200149/https://cyberscoop.com/fireeye-ids-hacking-group-suspected-in-accellion-kroger-breach/ |archive-date=2026-01-18 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=[[Cyberscoop]]}}</ref>

Founded in 1999, Accellion is a file sharing service provider that later rebranded into Kiteworks.

==The Attack==
Around Mid December, FIN11 targeted Accellion 20 year legacy {{Wplink|File transfer|File Transfer Appliance}} (FTA), deploying two {{Wplink|Zero-day vulnerability|zero-day-vulnerabilities}} that granted access to installation of a custom [[wikipedia:Web_shell|web shell]] named DEWMODE<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-23 |title=Accellion Compromise Impacts Many Targets Including Healthcare Organizations |url=https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/accellion-analyst-note.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116150510/https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/accellion-analyst-note.pdf |archive-date=2025-01-16 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=[[Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3)]]}}</ref>, allowing for SQL injection into Accellion systems. On 16 December, Accellion became aware of the vulnerability after a customer reported the vulnerability, and shorty after releasing a patch within 72 hours on 20 and 23 of December 2020.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Neill |first=Rob |date=3 March 2021 |title=Accellion hack: timeline clarifies when and how customers were notified |url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/1261917/accellion-hack-timeline-clarifies-when-and-how-customers-were-notified.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722084059/https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/1261917/accellion-hack-timeline-clarifies-when-and-how-customers-were-notified.html |archive-date=22 July 2025 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=ARN}}</ref> On 12 January, the company released a statement announcing the attack and urging customers to update to their newely released communication platform kiteworks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 January 2021 |title=Press Release Accellion Responds to Recent FTA Security Incident |url=https://www.kiteworks.com/company/press-releases/accellion-responds-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118203606/https://www.kiteworks.com/company/press-releases/accellion-responds-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |archive-date=18 January 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Kiteworks}}</ref> On 20 January, hackers conducted more attacks after finding new vulnerabilities that included 2 more [[wikipedia:Zero-day_vulnerability|zero-day-vulnerabilities]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1 March 2021 |title=ACCELLION, INC. FILE TRANSFER APPLIANCE (FTA) SECURITY ASSESSMENT |url=https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/trust-center/accellion-fta-attack-mandiant-report-full.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128204658/https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/trust-center/accellion-fta-attack-mandiant-report-full.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2021 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Kiteworks}}</ref>, however after the vulnerability were noticed by Accellion customer service on 22 January, they were shortly patched three days later.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />Around late January, victims started receiving ransom emails that threatens to publish the stolen data. If the victim didn't respond, they would receive several more warnings messages urging the victim to respond.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ilascu |first=Ionut |date=22 February 2021 |title=Global Accellion data breaches linked to Clop ransomware gang |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/global-accellion-data-breaches-linked-to-clop-ransomware-gang/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118094624/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/global-accellion-data-breaches-linked-to-clop-ransomware-gang/ |archive-date=18 January 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref> The company would implement another patch on 28 January that enhanced the security of the 23 December patch. On 01 February, Accellion released an statement detailing the attack and adding no new vulnerabilities were detect at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2021 |title=Press Release Accellion Provides Update to Recent FTA Security Incident |url=https://www.accellion.com/company/press-releases/accellion-provides-update-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202020120/https://www.accellion.com/company/press-releases/accellion-provides-update-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |archive-date=2 February 2021 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Accellion}}</ref> A last patch was implemented on 01 March in collaboration with [[wikipedia:Mandiant|Mandiant]] (subsidiary to [[Google]]) that fixed two additional vulnerabilities.<ref name=":2" /> Accellion would announce termination of its 20 year legacy [[wikipedia:File_transfer|File Transfer Appliance]], giving customers till 30 April to make any changes to their licensing agreements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2026 |title=Accellion |url=https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/resources/fta-eol.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125042927/https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/resources/fta-eol.pdf |archive-date=25 January 2022 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Kiteworks}}</ref>
[[File:Accellion breach hacker group ransom demand message.png|thumb|alt=Hackers' ransom demand message.|Hackers' ransom demand message.]]
[[File:Accellion breach hacker group last warning message.png|thumb|alt=Hacker group's last warning message.|Hacker group's last warning message.]]

==List of responses from affected organizations==
Companies began being informed of the breach around January through March, later releasing statments about the incident. Several companies decided to terminate their agreements with Accellion and collaborate with law enforcement and other companies, while also reach out to potentially affected customers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Panettieri |first=Joe |date=14 January 2022 |title=Accellion Vulnerabilities, Cyberattacks, Victims, Lawsuits: Customer List and Status Updates |url=https://www.msspalert.com/news/accellion-vulnerabilities-victim-list |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250711215300/https://www.msspalert.com/news/accellion-vulnerabilities-victim-list |archive-date=11 July 2025 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=MSSP Alert}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Firch |first=Jason |date=14 May 2024 |title=Accellion Data Breach: What Happened & Who Was Impacted? |url=https://purplesec.us/breach-report/accellion-data-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416041503/https://purplesec.us/breach-report/accellion-data-breach/ |archive-date=16 April 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Purplesec}}</ref>

===Singtel===
In 11 February 2021, Singtel released a statement announcing a investigation in collaborations with security experts and Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and made plans to cease operation of Accellion systems.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2021 |title=Media Statement relating to Accellion’s FTA Security Incident |url=https://www.singtel.com/about-us/media-centre/news-releases/media-statement-relating-to-accellion-fta-security-incident |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118170931/https://www.singtel.com/about-us/media-centre/news-releases/media-statement-relating-to-accellion-fta-security-incident |archive-date=18 January 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Singtel}}</ref> On 17 February, Singtel released another statement detailing the results of their investigation, concluding that around 129,000 customers name, date of birth, mobile number, and home address was leaked, along with employees and staff financial information. The company highlighted plans to contact affected customers, and issuing an apology.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2021 |title=Singtel addresses data breach, moves to support affected stakeholders |url=https://www.singtel.com/about-us/media-centre/news-releases/singtel-addresses-data-breach-moves-to-support-affected-stakeholders |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116181632mp_/https://www.singtel.com/about-us/media-centre/news-releases/singtel-addresses-data-breach-moves-to-support-affected-stakeholders |archive-date=16 January 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Singtel}}</ref> <blockquote>''"While this data theft was committed by unknown parties, I’m very sorry this has happened to our customers and apologise unreservedly to everyone impacted. Data privacy is paramount, we have disappointed our stakeholders and not met the standards we have set for ourselves"''</blockquote>

===[[Kroger]]===
On 23 January, [[Kroger]] was notified of the vulnerability after being informed by Accellion, resulting in the company conducting an investigation. Around February, Kroger issued a statement that sought discontinuation of Accellion systems as well as mention 1% of customers had pharmacy records, money services being affected in the attack. Additionally, it highlighted plans to inform affected consumers.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Information About the Accellion Incident |url=https://www.kroger.com/i/accellion-incident |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219235325/https://www.kroger.com/i/accellion-incident |archive-date=19 February 2021 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Kroger}}</ref>

===Qualys===
Starting on 03 March till 02 April, Qualys made a series of statement and updates after being alerted about the attack around December 2020. In collaboration with Accellion, FireEye, and Mandiant, a investigation pursued that found and contacted customers with leaked online and real life names, email addresses, job titles, and office addresses. Additionally, it found no impact or effect on its systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carr |first=Ben |date=3 March 2021 |title=Qualys Update on Accellion FTA Security Incident |url=https://blog.qualys.com/vulnerabilities-threat-research/2021/04/02/qualys-update-on-accellion-fta-security-incident |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250713022054/https://blog.qualys.com/vulnerabilities-threat-research/2021/04/02/qualys-update-on-accellion-fta-security-incident |archive-date=13 July 2025 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Qualys}}</ref>

===City of Toronto===
On 22 January, the city was first alerted of the incident by unknown sources, however the city issued a response on April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 April 2021 |title=Toronto hit by ‘potential cyber breach’ from Accellion file transfer software |url=https://databreaches.net/2021/04/30/toronto-hit-by-potential-cyber-breach-from-accellion-file-transfer-software/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251209022024/https://databreaches.net/2021/04/30/toronto-hit-by-potential-cyber-breach-from-accellion-file-transfer-software/ |archive-date=9 December 2025 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=DataBreaches.Net}}</ref> When asked, a spokesperson responded by claiming "“It takes time to reach any sort of conclusion in view of the legacy system that was breached and the extent of investigation required." it was reported that around 35,000 citizens information was affected in the attack, however the city didn't receive a ransom email, leading to some speculation in the community of the meaning of the silence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Jon |date=30 December 2021 |title=Toronto feared 35,000 citizens' data would be made public after cyberattack: documents |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/toronto-feared-35000-citizens-data-would-be-made-public-after-cyberattack-documents/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416042729/https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/toronto-feared-35000-citizens-data-would-be-made-public-after-cyberattack-documents/ |archive-date=16 April 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=CTV News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adriano |first=Lyle |date=3 May 2021 |title=Toronto reveals potential cyber breach |url=https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/cyber/toronto-reveals-potential-cyber-breach-253921.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416043216/https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/cyber/toronto-reveals-potential-cyber-breach-253921.aspx |archive-date=16 April 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Insurance Business}}</ref>

===CXS===
On 02 May, CXS made a statement highlighting the incident only leaking current and past employees personal information. The company didn't provide much details surrounding the incident in regards to customers or specific type of information, only saying “''To date, this incident has had no impact on business operations or our ability to serve our customers''".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2021 |title=CSX probes ‘security incident’ as hackers leak data |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-probes-security-incident-as-hackers-leak-data |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216050403/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-probes-security-incident-as-hackers-leak-data |archive-date=16 February 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=FreightWaves}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lester |first=David |date=3 March 2021 |title=CSX suffers data exposure by hackers |url=https://www.rtands.com/freight/csx-suffers-data-exposure-by-hackers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930080445/https://www.rtands.com/freight/csx-suffers-data-exposure-by-hackers/ |archive-date=30 September 2024 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=RT&S}}</ref>

===Centene===
{{Incomplete section}}

===Trillium===
The Company became aware of the attack on 25 January, and a month later released a statement, declaring customers address, date of birth, insurance ID number, and health information has been leaked and posted online. As compensation, the company gave 1 year credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to affected customers on 26 February.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dissent |date=2021-03-07 |title=Trillium Community Health Plan members impacted by Accellion breach |url=https://databreaches.net/2021/03/07/trillium-community-health-plan-members-impacted-by-accellion-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008135925/https://databreaches.net/2021/03/07/trillium-community-health-plan-members-impacted-by-accellion-breach/ |archive-date=2025-10-08 |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=[[DataBreaches.Net]]}}</ref> The company discussed plans to move and remove all data from Accellion systems, review files and sharing data practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2021 |title=Trillium vendor reports a Data Security Incident |url=https://www.trilliumohp.com/newsroom/trillium-vendor-reports-a-data-security-incident.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260214042648/https://www.trilliumohp.com/newsroom/trillium-vendor-reports-a-data-security-incident.html |archive-date=14 February 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Trillium}}</ref>
===Morgan Stanley===
[[wikipedia:Morgan_Stanley|Morgan Stanley]] third party vendor Guidehouse, a company that delivers account maintenance services, notified Morgan Stanely of the breach on 20 May 2021 after discovering the breach in March and finding information containing names, addresses, date of birth and social security numbers about Morgan Stanley clients in March.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley reports data breach after vendor Accellion hack |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/morgan-stanley-reports-data-breach-after-vendor-accellion-hack/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250722154012/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/morgan-stanley-reports-data-breach-after-vendor-accellion-hack/ |archive-date=22 July 2025 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley discloses data breach that resulted from Accellion FTA hacks |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/07/morgan-stanley-discloses-data-breach-that-resulted-from-accellion-fta-hacks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009115845/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/07/morgan-stanley-discloses-data-breach-that-resulted-from-accellion-fta-hacks/ |archive-date=9 October 2025 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paganini |first=Pierluigi |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley discloses data breach after the hack of a third-party vendor |url=https://securityaffairs.com/119865/data-breach/morgan-stanley-data-breach.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251214005437/https://securityaffairs.com/119865/data-breach/morgan-stanley-data-breach.html |archive-date=14 December 2025 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=SecurityAffairs}}</ref> Morgan Stanley sent emails to affected victims on 08 June and later on 02 July, sending a email to the attorney general office located in concord informing them of the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=8 July 2021 |title=morgan-stanley-bc-20210702 |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20985259-morgan-stanley-bc-20210702/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918045209/https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20985259-morgan-stanley-bc-20210702 |archive-date=2024-09-18 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=[[DocumentCloud]]}}</ref>

===HealthNet===
On 24 March, [[wikipedia:Health_Net|Healthnet]], an American health care insurance provider, released a statement that declared customers addresses, date of birth, insurance ID number, and health information such as medical conditions and treatment information, was compromised. The company stated it started collaraborationg with law enforcement and cease operation of Accellion services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2021 |title=Health Net received information that one of our business partners was a victim of a cyber-attack |url=https://www.healthnet.com/content/healthnet/en_us/news-center/news-releases/cyber-accellion.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406205107/https://www.healthnet.com/content/healthnet/en_us/news-center/news-releases/cyber-accellion.html |archive-date=6 April 2021 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=Health Net}}</ref>

===The Reserve Bank of New Zealand===
{{Incomplete section}}
https://web.archive.org/web/20210111063645/https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/news/2021/01/reserve-bank-response-to-illegal-breach-of-data-system

https://web.archive.org/web/20210115022125/https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/our-response-to-data-breach<nowiki/>'

https://www.interest.co.nz/banking/109058/reserve-banks-says-it-working-directly-stakeholders-determine-how-many-people-have

https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/reserve-bank-new-zealand-investigates-data-breach-a-15737

===Flagstar Bank===
Around March, Flagstar bank posted a post on its website alerting users that its been apart in a cybersecurity attack relating to one of their vendors Accellion. The company declared discontinuation of Accellion services and creating a calling center for affected individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2026 |title=Accellion Incident Information Center |url=https://www.flagstar.com/customer-support/accellion-information-center.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308111846/https://www.flagstar.com/customer-support/accellion-information-center.html |archive-date=8 March 2021 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=Flagstar Bank}}</ref>

===Trinity Health===
On 05 April, Trinity Health would declare customers personal and medical information was access and leaked online. The company announced plans to inform affected customers and create a headline to affected customers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 April 2021 |title=Trinity Health Announces Response to Accellion Data Event |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trinity-health-announces-response-to-accellion-data-event-301262364.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113154146/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trinity-health-announces-response-to-accellion-data-event-301262364.html |archive-date=13 November 2025 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=PR Newswire}}</ref><blockquote>Trinity Health determined file(s) were present on the appliance at the time of this event. The files contained certain protected health information, including a combination of demographic, clinical and financial information such as your name, address, email, date of birth, healthcare provider, dates and types of health care services, medical record number, immunization type, lab results, medications, payment, payer name, and claims information. The confidential information of a very small number of impacted individuals included a social security number or credit card number.</blockquote>

===California Health & Wellness===
California Health & Wellness became aware of the attack after being alerted from Accellion on 25 January, which upon notice immediately conducted an investigation alongside Accellion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Steve |date=6 April 2021 |title=More Than 1.2 Million Health Net Members Affected by Accellion Cyberattack |url=https://www.hipaajournal.com/more-than-1-2-million-health-net-members-affected-by-accellion-cyberattack/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240704193957/https://www.hipaajournal.com/more-than-1-2-million-health-net-members-affected-by-accellion-cyberattack/ |archive-date=4 July 2024 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=The Hippa Journal}}</ref> In a statement released on ---, California Health & Wellness confirmed customers address, date of birth, insurance ID number, and related health information was compromised. The company announced plan to cease operation of Accellion software and gave affected customers 1 year identity protection service with IDX membership.

===Arizona Complete Health===
Arizona Complete Health released a statement on 26 February, confirming around 27,000 customers addresses, date of birth, insurance ID numbers, and medical conditions, were compromised after being informed of the attack on 25 January, The company announced it would cease operation of Accellion systems, removing all related data associated, and provide affected customers 1 year of credit monitoring services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drees |first=Jackie |date=18 March 2021 |title=Ransomware attack exposes 27,000+ Arizona health plan members’ data for 2.5 weeks |url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/cybersecurity/ransomware-attack-exposes-27-000-arizona-health-plan-members-data-for-2-5-weeks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250521184950/https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/cybersecurity/ransomware-attack-exposes-27-000-arizona-health-plan-members-data-for-2-5-weeks/ |archive-date=21 May 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=beckershospitalreview.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 February 2021 |title=Arizona Complete Health (AzCH) received information that one of our business partners was a victim of a cyber-attack. |url=https://www.azcompletehealth.com/newsroom/cyber-accellion.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318182004/https://www.azcompletehealth.com/newsroom/cyber-accellion.html |archive-date=18 March 2021 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Arizona Complete Health}}</ref>

===Goodwin Procter===
{{Incomplete section}}

===Jones Day===
The company provided little information regarding the attack, with only responding in a statement made to the Wall Street Journal that it was affected by the attack. Allegedly, there was plan to arrange an agreement between CLOP, however the company went silent, resulting in releasing information about Jones Day clients. The hacker organization CLOP responded to the company's silence;<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 2021 |title=Jones Day disputes claimed breach; points to hacked vendor; hacker points back to them (UPDATE2) |url=https://databreaches.net/2021/02/16/jones-day-disputes-claimed-breach-points-to-hacked-vendor-hacker-points-back-to-them/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250912012045/https://databreaches.net/2021/02/16/jones-day-disputes-claimed-breach-points-to-hacked-vendor-hacker-points-back-to-them/ |archive-date=12 September 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=DataBreaches.Net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |last3=Bicchierai |first3=Lorenzo |date=16 February 2021 |title=Hacker Leaks Files from Jones Day Law Firm, Which Worked on Trump Election Challenges |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/hacker-leaks-files-from-jones-day-law-firm-which-represented-trump-in-election-challenges/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523061551/https://www.vice.com/en/article/hacker-leaks-files-from-jones-day-law-firm-which-represented-trump-in-election-challenges/ |archive-date=23 May 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Vice}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2021 |title=Threat actors claim to have stolen Jones Day files; law firm remains quiet |url=https://databreaches.net/2021/02/13/threat-actors-claim-to-have-stolen-jones-day-files-law-firm-remains-quiet/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251231135108/https://databreaches.net/2021/02/13/threat-actors-claim-to-have-stolen-jones-day-files-law-firm-remains-quiet/ |archive-date=31 December 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=DataBreaches.Net}}</ref><blockquote>''" we hacked their server where the Accellion was and took the data from there, we spammed all over the company and all over the contact sheet they repeatedly entered the chat and were silent"''</blockquote>

===CalViva Health===
The company sent an email to affected customers on 24 March after being informed by Accellion on 25 January. It lists customers Addresses, date of birth, insurance ID Number, and health information were compromised. The company announced discontinuation of Accellion services and gave affected customers 1 year IDX membership.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2021 |title=Notice of Data Breach |url=https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/CalViva%20-%20%20Accellion%20Breach%20Notice%20Letter.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251204190444/https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/CalViva%20-%20%20Accellion%20Breach%20Notice%20Letter.pdf |archive-date=4 December 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=oag.ca.gov}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
On 18 February 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Accellion for failure to secure personal information of its customers, alleging it resulting in the plaintiffs facing years of ''"constant surveillance of their financial and personal records, monitoring, and loss of rights".''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rizzi |first=Corrado |date=19 February 2021 |title=Accellion Facing Class Action Over Dec. 2020 File Transfer Service Data Breach [UPDATE] |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/accellion-facing-class-action-over-dec.-2020-file-transfer-service-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213224702/https://www.classaction.org/news/accellion-facing-class-action-over-dec.-2020-file-transfer-service-data-breach |archive-date=13 February 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=ClassAction.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2026 |title=Zebelman v. Accellion, Inc. |url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2021cv01203/373802 |url-status= |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Justia U.S Law}}</ref> The case reached a $8.1 million settlement on 20 January 2022, requiring Accellion give 2 years of credit monitoring and insurance services and reimburse up to $10,000 or receive payment of $15 or $50 to affected individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coble |first=Sarah |date=17 January 2022 |title=Accellion Reaches $8.1m Data Breach Settlement |url=https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/accellion-reaches-81m-data-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250721231918/https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/accellion-reaches-81m-data-breach/ |archive-date=21 July 2025 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Infosecurity Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Jessica |date=14 January 2022 |title=Accellion claims no ‘guarantee’ of security in $8.1M breach settlement |url=https://www.scworld.com/analysis/accellion-reaches-8-1m-settlement-in-data-breach-lawsuit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416164141/https://www.scworld.com/analysis/accellion-reaches-8-1m-settlement-in-data-breach-lawsuit |archive-date=16 April 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=ScWorld}}</ref>

==Consumer response==

{{Ph-I-ConR}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Data breaches]]
[[Category:2020 incidents]]

Accellion data breach

2026-04-16T05:08:34Z

Matt78: Archived references, fixed spelling mistakes.

{{Cleanup}}{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Accellion, Kroger, Shell, Trillium, Qualys, Singtel, CSX
|StartDate=2020-12
|EndDate=2021-02
|Status=Resolved
|Type=Security
|Description=A security breach affecting over 25 companies, medical institutions and schools.
}}Around Mid December in 2020, several hacker group going by the names FIN11, UNC2546, and CLOP, infiltrated [[wikipedia:Kiteworks|Accellion]] systems using [[wikipedia:SQL_injection|SQL injection,]] affecting organizations delving to various aspects of education, medicine, and finance, leaking over 9 million customers and employees personal information.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Monica |date=2025-10-31 |title=Accellion Data Breach |url=https://www.huntress.com/threat-library/data-breach/accellion-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260306051955/https://www.huntress.com/threat-library/data-breach/accellion-data-breach |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=[[Huntress]]}}</ref> This later turn into a lawsuit that reached a $8.1 million settlement on 20 January 2022.

==Background==
A financially motivated hacker group going by FIN11 has conducted malware and ransomware attacks against financial, retail, and medical related organizations since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stark |first=Genevieve |last2=Moore |first2=Andrew |last3=Cannon |first3=Vincent |last4=Leary |first4=Jacqueline |last5=Fraser |first5=Nalani |last6=Goody |first6=Kimberly |date=14 October 2020 |title=Threat Research FIN11: Widespread Email Campaigns as Precursor for Ransomware and Data Theft |url=https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/fin11-email-campaigns-precursor-for-ransomware-data-theft.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017221743/https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/fin11-email-campaigns-precursor-for-ransomware-data-theft.html |archive-date=17 October 2020 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Fire Eye}}</ref> It shares close ties to [[wikipedia:Clop_(hacker_group)#GoAnywhere_MFT_attack_(2023)|CLOP]], a hacker group that since 2016 has ran phishing campaigns and malware distributions<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brubaker |first=Nathan |last2=Zafra |first2=Daniel |last3=Lunden |first3=Keith |last4=Proska |first4=Ken |last5=Hildebrandt |first5=Corey |date=15 July 2020 |title=Financially Motivated Actors Are Expanding Access Into OT: Analysis of Kill Lists That Include OT Processes Used With Seven Malware Families |url=https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/07/financially-motivated-actors-are-expanding-access-into-ot.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716090918/https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/07/financially-motivated-actors-are-expanding-access-into-ot.html |archive-date=16 July 2020 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Fire Eye}}</ref>, and UNC2546, an unknown hacker group that been shown to conduct malware attacks and SQL injection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ropek |first=Lucas |date=2021-02-23 |title=What We Know About the Hackers Behind the Accellion Data Breach |url=https://gizmodo.com/what-we-know-about-the-hackers-behind-the-accellion-dat-1846316990 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723040100/https://gizmodo.com/what-we-know-about-the-hackers-behind-the-accellion-dat-1846316990 |archive-date=2025-07-23 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=[[Gizmodo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Jeff |date=2021-02-22 |title=FireEye IDs hacking group suspected in Accellion, Kroger breach |url=https://cyberscoop.com/fireeye-ids-hacking-group-suspected-in-accellion-kroger-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118200149/https://cyberscoop.com/fireeye-ids-hacking-group-suspected-in-accellion-kroger-breach/ |archive-date=2026-01-18 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=[[Cyberscoop]]}}</ref>

Founded in 1999, Accellion is a file sharing service provider that later rebranded into Kiteworks.

==The Attack==
Around Mid December, FIN11 targeted Accellion 20 year legacy {{Wplink|File transfer|File Transfer Appliance}} (FTA), deploying two {{Wplink|Zero-day vulnerability|zero-day-vulnerabilities}} that granted access to installation of a custom [[wikipedia:Web_shell|web shell]] named DEWMODE<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-23 |title=Accellion Compromise Impacts Many Targets Including Healthcare Organizations |url=https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/accellion-analyst-note.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116150510/https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/accellion-analyst-note.pdf |archive-date=2025-01-16 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=[[Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3)]]}}</ref>, allowing for SQL injection into Accellion systems. On 16 December, Accellion became aware of the vulnerability after a customer reported the vulnerability, and shorty after releasing a patch within 72 hours on 20 and 23 of December 2020.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Neill |first=Rob |date=3 March 2021 |title=Accellion hack: timeline clarifies when and how customers were notified |url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/1261917/accellion-hack-timeline-clarifies-when-and-how-customers-were-notified.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722084059/https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/1261917/accellion-hack-timeline-clarifies-when-and-how-customers-were-notified.html |archive-date=22 July 2025 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=ARN}}</ref> On 12 January, the company released a statement announcing the attack and urging customers to update to their newely released communication platform kiteworks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 January 2021 |title=Press Release Accellion Responds to Recent FTA Security Incident |url=https://www.kiteworks.com/company/press-releases/accellion-responds-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118203606/https://www.kiteworks.com/company/press-releases/accellion-responds-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |archive-date=18 January 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Kiteworks}}</ref> On 20 January, hackers conducted more attacks after finding new vulnerabilities that included 2 more [[wikipedia:Zero-day_vulnerability|zero-day-vulnerabilities]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1 March 2021 |title=ACCELLION, INC. FILE TRANSFER APPLIANCE (FTA) SECURITY ASSESSMENT |url=https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/trust-center/accellion-fta-attack-mandiant-report-full.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128204658/https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/trust-center/accellion-fta-attack-mandiant-report-full.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2021 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Kiteworks}}</ref>, however after the vulnerability were noticed by Accellion customer service on 22 January, they were shortly patched three days later.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />Around late January, victims started receiving ransom emails that threatens to publish the stolen data. If the victim didn't respond, they would receive several more warnings messages urging the victim to respond.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ilascu |first=Ionut |date=22 February 2021 |title=Global Accellion data breaches linked to Clop ransomware gang |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/global-accellion-data-breaches-linked-to-clop-ransomware-gang/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118094624/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/global-accellion-data-breaches-linked-to-clop-ransomware-gang/ |archive-date=18 January 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref> The company would implement another patch on 28 January that enhanced the security of the 23 December patch. On 01 February, Accellion released an statement detailing the attack and adding no new vulnerabilities were detect at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2021 |title=Press Release Accellion Provides Update to Recent FTA Security Incident |url=https://www.accellion.com/company/press-releases/accellion-provides-update-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202020120/https://www.accellion.com/company/press-releases/accellion-provides-update-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |archive-date=2 February 2021 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Accellion}}</ref> A last patch was implemented on 01 March in collaboration with [[wikipedia:Mandiant|Mandiant]] (subsidiary to [[Google]]) that fixed two additional vulnerabilities.<ref name=":2" /> Accellion would announce termination of its 20 year legacy [[wikipedia:File_transfer|File Transfer Appliance]], giving customers till 30 April to make any changes to their licensing agreements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2026 |title=Accellion |url=https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/resources/fta-eol.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125042927/https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/resources/fta-eol.pdf |archive-date=25 January 2022 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Kiteworks}}</ref>
[[File:Accellion breach hacker group ransom demand message.png|thumb|alt=Hackers' ransom demand message.|Hackers' ransom demand message.]]
[[File:Accellion breach hacker group last warning message.png|thumb|alt=Hacker group's last warning message.|Hacker group's last warning message.]]

==List of responses from affected organizations==
Companies began being informed of the breach around January through March, later releasing statments about the incident. Several companies decided to terminate their agreements with Accellion and collaborate with law enforcement and other companies, while also reach out to potentially affected customers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Panettieri |first=Joe |date=14 January 2022 |title=Accellion Vulnerabilities, Cyberattacks, Victims, Lawsuits: Customer List and Status Updates |url=https://www.msspalert.com/news/accellion-vulnerabilities-victim-list |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250711215300/https://www.msspalert.com/news/accellion-vulnerabilities-victim-list |archive-date=11 July 2025 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=MSSP Alert}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Firch |first=Jason |date=14 May 2024 |title=Accellion Data Breach: What Happened & Who Was Impacted? |url=https://purplesec.us/breach-report/accellion-data-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416041503/https://purplesec.us/breach-report/accellion-data-breach/ |archive-date=16 April 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Purplesec}}</ref>

===Singtel===
In 11 February 2021, Singtel released a statement announcing a investigation in collaborations with security experts and Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and made plans to cease operation of Accellion systems.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2021 |title=Media Statement relating to Accellion’s FTA Security Incident |url=https://www.singtel.com/about-us/media-centre/news-releases/media-statement-relating-to-accellion-fta-security-incident |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118170931/https://www.singtel.com/about-us/media-centre/news-releases/media-statement-relating-to-accellion-fta-security-incident |archive-date=18 January 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Singtel}}</ref> On 17 February, Singtel released another statement detailing the results of their investigation, concluding that around 129,000 customers name, date of birth, mobile number, and home address was leaked, along with employees and staff financial information. The company highlighted plans to contact affected customers, and issuing an apology.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2021 |title=Singtel addresses data breach, moves to support affected stakeholders |url=https://www.singtel.com/about-us/media-centre/news-releases/singtel-addresses-data-breach-moves-to-support-affected-stakeholders |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116181632mp_/https://www.singtel.com/about-us/media-centre/news-releases/singtel-addresses-data-breach-moves-to-support-affected-stakeholders |archive-date=16 January 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Singtel}}</ref> <blockquote>''"While this data theft was committed by unknown parties, I’m very sorry this has happened to our customers and apologise unreservedly to everyone impacted. Data privacy is paramount, we have disappointed our stakeholders and not met the standards we have set for ourselves"''</blockquote>

===[[Kroger]]===
On 23 January, [[Kroger]] was notified of the vulnerability after being informed by Accellion, resulting in the company conducting an investigation. Around February, Kroger issued a statement that sought discontinuation of Accellion systems as well as mention 1% of customers had pharmacy records, money services being affected in the attack. Additionally, it highlighted plans to inform affected consumers.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Information About the Accellion Incident |url=https://www.kroger.com/i/accellion-incident |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219235325/https://www.kroger.com/i/accellion-incident |archive-date=19 February 2021 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Kroger}}</ref>

===Qualys===
Starting on 03 March till 02 April, Qualys made a series of statement and updates after being alerted about the attack around December 2020. In collaboration with Accellion, FireEye, and Mandiant, a investigation pursued that found and contacted customers with leaked online and real life names, email addresses, job titles, and office addresses. Additionally, it found no impact or effect on its systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carr |first=Ben |date=3 March 2021 |title=Qualys Update on Accellion FTA Security Incident |url=https://blog.qualys.com/vulnerabilities-threat-research/2021/04/02/qualys-update-on-accellion-fta-security-incident |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250713022054/https://blog.qualys.com/vulnerabilities-threat-research/2021/04/02/qualys-update-on-accellion-fta-security-incident |archive-date=13 July 2025 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Qualys}}</ref>

===City of Toronto===
On 22 January, the city was first alerted of the incident by unknown sources, however the city issued a response on April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 April 2021 |title=Toronto hit by ‘potential cyber breach’ from Accellion file transfer software |url=https://databreaches.net/2021/04/30/toronto-hit-by-potential-cyber-breach-from-accellion-file-transfer-software/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251209022024/https://databreaches.net/2021/04/30/toronto-hit-by-potential-cyber-breach-from-accellion-file-transfer-software/ |archive-date=9 December 2025 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=DataBreaches.Net}}</ref> When asked, a spokesperson responded by claiming "“It takes time to reach any sort of conclusion in view of the legacy system that was breached and the extent of investigation required." it was reported that around 35,000 citizens information was affected in the attack, however the city didn't receive a ransom email, leading to some speculation in the community of the meaning of the silence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Jon |date=30 December 2021 |title=Toronto feared 35,000 citizens' data would be made public after cyberattack: documents |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/toronto-feared-35000-citizens-data-would-be-made-public-after-cyberattack-documents/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416042729/https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/toronto-feared-35000-citizens-data-would-be-made-public-after-cyberattack-documents/ |archive-date=16 April 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=CTV News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adriano |first=Lyle |date=3 May 2021 |title=Toronto reveals potential cyber breach |url=https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/cyber/toronto-reveals-potential-cyber-breach-253921.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416043216/https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/cyber/toronto-reveals-potential-cyber-breach-253921.aspx |archive-date=16 April 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Insurance Business}}</ref>

===CXS===
On 02 May, CXS made a statement highlighting the incident only leaking current and past employees personal information. The company didn't provide much details surrounding the incident in regards to customers or specific type of information, only saying “''To date, this incident has had no impact on business operations or our ability to serve our customers''".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2021 |title=CSX probes ‘security incident’ as hackers leak data |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-probes-security-incident-as-hackers-leak-data |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216050403/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-probes-security-incident-as-hackers-leak-data |archive-date=16 February 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=FreightWaves}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lester |first=David |date=3 March 2021 |title=CSX suffers data exposure by hackers |url=https://www.rtands.com/freight/csx-suffers-data-exposure-by-hackers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930080445/https://www.rtands.com/freight/csx-suffers-data-exposure-by-hackers/ |archive-date=30 September 2024 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=RT&S}}</ref>

===Centene===
{{Incomplete section}}

===Trillium===
The Company became aware of the attack on 25 January, and a month later released a statement, declaring customers address, date of birth, insurance ID number, and health information has been leaked and posted online. As compensation, the company gave 1 year credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to affected customers on 26 February.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dissent |date=2021-03-07 |title=Trillium Community Health Plan members impacted by Accellion breach |url=https://databreaches.net/2021/03/07/trillium-community-health-plan-members-impacted-by-accellion-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008135925/https://databreaches.net/2021/03/07/trillium-community-health-plan-members-impacted-by-accellion-breach/ |archive-date=2025-10-08 |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=[[DataBreaches.Net]]}}</ref> The company discussed plans to move and remove all data from Accellion systems, review files and sharing data practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2021 |title=Trillium vendor reports a Data Security Incident |url=https://www.trilliumohp.com/newsroom/trillium-vendor-reports-a-data-security-incident.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260214042648/https://www.trilliumohp.com/newsroom/trillium-vendor-reports-a-data-security-incident.html |archive-date=14 February 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Trillium}}</ref>
===Morgan Stanley===
[[wikipedia:Morgan_Stanley|Morgan Stanley]] third party vendor Guidehouse, a company that delivers account maintenance services, notified Morgan Stanely of the breach on 20 May 2021 after discovering the breach in March and finding information containing names, addresses, date of birth and social security numbers about Morgan Stanley clients in March.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley reports data breach after vendor Accellion hack |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/morgan-stanley-reports-data-breach-after-vendor-accellion-hack/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250722154012/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/morgan-stanley-reports-data-breach-after-vendor-accellion-hack/ |archive-date=22 July 2025 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley discloses data breach that resulted from Accellion FTA hacks |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/07/morgan-stanley-discloses-data-breach-that-resulted-from-accellion-fta-hacks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009115845/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/07/morgan-stanley-discloses-data-breach-that-resulted-from-accellion-fta-hacks/ |archive-date=9 October 2025 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paganini |first=Pierluigi |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley discloses data breach after the hack of a third-party vendor |url=https://securityaffairs.com/119865/data-breach/morgan-stanley-data-breach.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251214005437/https://securityaffairs.com/119865/data-breach/morgan-stanley-data-breach.html |archive-date=14 December 2025 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=SecurityAffairs}}</ref> Morgan Stanley sent emails to affected victims on 08 June and later on 02 July, sending a email to the attorney general office located in concord informing them of the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=8 July 2021 |title=morgan-stanley-bc-20210702 |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20985259-morgan-stanley-bc-20210702/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918045209/https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20985259-morgan-stanley-bc-20210702 |archive-date=2024-09-18 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=[[DocumentCloud]]}}</ref>

===HealthNet===
On 24 March, [[wikipedia:Health_Net|Healthnet]], an American health care insurance provider, released a statement that declared customers addresses, date of birth, insurance ID number, and health information such as medical conditions and treatment information, was compromised. The company stated it started collaraborationg with law enforcement and cease operation of Accellion services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2021 |title=Health Net received information that one of our business partners was a victim of a cyber-attack |url=https://www.healthnet.com/content/healthnet/en_us/news-center/news-releases/cyber-accellion.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406205107/https://www.healthnet.com/content/healthnet/en_us/news-center/news-releases/cyber-accellion.html |archive-date=6 April 2021 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=Health Net}}</ref>

===The Reserve Bank of New Zealand===
{{Incomplete section}}
https://web.archive.org/web/20210111063645/https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/news/2021/01/reserve-bank-response-to-illegal-breach-of-data-system

https://web.archive.org/web/20210115022125/https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/our-response-to-data-breach<nowiki/>'

https://www.interest.co.nz/banking/109058/reserve-banks-says-it-working-directly-stakeholders-determine-how-many-people-have

https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/reserve-bank-new-zealand-investigates-data-breach-a-15737

===Flagstar Bank===
Around March, Flagstar bank posted a post on its website alerting users that its been apart in a cybersecurity attack relating to one of their vendors Accellion. The company declared discontinuation of Accellion services and creating a calling center for affected individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2026 |title=Accellion Incident Information Center |url=https://www.flagstar.com/customer-support/accellion-information-center.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308111846/https://www.flagstar.com/customer-support/accellion-information-center.html |archive-date=8 March 2021 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=Flagstar Bank}}</ref>

===Trinity Health===
On 05 April, Trinity Health would declare customers personal and medical information was access and leaked online. The company announced plans to inform affected customers and create a headline to affected customers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 April 2021 |title=Trinity Health Announces Response to Accellion Data Event |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trinity-health-announces-response-to-accellion-data-event-301262364.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113154146/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trinity-health-announces-response-to-accellion-data-event-301262364.html |archive-date=13 November 2025 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=PR Newswire}}</ref><blockquote>Trinity Health determined file(s) were present on the appliance at the time of this event. The files contained certain protected health information, including a combination of demographic, clinical and financial information such as your name, address, email, date of birth, healthcare provider, dates and types of health care services, medical record number, immunization type, lab results, medications, payment, payer name, and claims information. The confidential information of a very small number of impacted individuals included a social security number or credit card number.</blockquote>

===California Health & Wellness===
California Health & Wellness became aware of the attack after being alerted from Accellion on 25 January, which upon notice immediately conducted an investigation alongside Accellion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Steve |date=6 April 2021 |title=More Than 1.2 Million Health Net Members Affected by Accellion Cyberattack |url=https://www.hipaajournal.com/more-than-1-2-million-health-net-members-affected-by-accellion-cyberattack/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240704193957/https://www.hipaajournal.com/more-than-1-2-million-health-net-members-affected-by-accellion-cyberattack/ |archive-date=4 July 2024 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=The Hippa Journal}}</ref> In a statement released on ---, California Health & Wellness confirmed customers address, date of birth, insurance ID number, and related health information was compromised. The company announced plan to cease operation of Accellion software and gave affected customers 1 year identity protection service with IDX membership.

===Arizona Complete Health===
Arizona Complete Health released a statement on 26 February, confirming around 27,000 customers addresses, date of birth, insurance ID numbers, and medical conditions, were compromised after being informed of the attack on 25 January, The company announced it would cease operation of Accellion systems, removing all related data associated, and provide affected customers 1 year of credit monitoring services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drees |first=Jackie |date=18 March 2021 |title=Ransomware attack exposes 27,000+ Arizona health plan members’ data for 2.5 weeks |url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/cybersecurity/ransomware-attack-exposes-27-000-arizona-health-plan-members-data-for-2-5-weeks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250521184950/https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/cybersecurity/ransomware-attack-exposes-27-000-arizona-health-plan-members-data-for-2-5-weeks/ |archive-date=21 May 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=beckershospitalreview.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 February 2021 |title=Arizona Complete Health (AzCH) received information that one of our business partners was a victim of a cyber-attack. |url=https://www.azcompletehealth.com/newsroom/cyber-accellion.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318182004/https://www.azcompletehealth.com/newsroom/cyber-accellion.html |archive-date=18 March 2021 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Arizona Complete Health}}</ref>

===Goodwin Procter===
{{Incomplete section}}

===Jones Day===
The company provided little information regarding the attack, with only responding in a statement made to the Wall Street Journal that it was affected by the attack. Allegedly, there was plan to arrange an agreement between CLOP, however the company went silent, resulting in releasing information about Jones Day clients. The hacker organization CLOP responded to the company's silence;<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 2021 |title=Jones Day disputes claimed breach; points to hacked vendor; hacker points back to them (UPDATE2) |url=https://databreaches.net/2021/02/16/jones-day-disputes-claimed-breach-points-to-hacked-vendor-hacker-points-back-to-them/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250912012045/https://databreaches.net/2021/02/16/jones-day-disputes-claimed-breach-points-to-hacked-vendor-hacker-points-back-to-them/ |archive-date=12 September 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=DataBreaches.Net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |last3=Bicchierai |first3=Lorenzo |date=16 February 2021 |title=Hacker Leaks Files from Jones Day Law Firm, Which Worked on Trump Election Challenges |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/hacker-leaks-files-from-jones-day-law-firm-which-represented-trump-in-election-challenges/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523061551/https://www.vice.com/en/article/hacker-leaks-files-from-jones-day-law-firm-which-represented-trump-in-election-challenges/ |archive-date=23 May 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Vice}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2021 |title=Threat actors claim to have stolen Jones Day files; law firm remains quiet |url=https://databreaches.net/2021/02/13/threat-actors-claim-to-have-stolen-jones-day-files-law-firm-remains-quiet/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251231135108/https://databreaches.net/2021/02/13/threat-actors-claim-to-have-stolen-jones-day-files-law-firm-remains-quiet/ |archive-date=31 December 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=DataBreaches.Net}}</ref><blockquote>''" we hacked their server where the Accellion was and took the data from there, we spammed all over the company and all over the contact sheet they repeatedly entered the chat and were silent"''</blockquote>

===CalViva Health===
The company sent an email to affected customers on 24 March after being informed by Accellion on 25 January. It lists customers Addresses, date of birth, insurance ID Number, and health information were compromised. The company announced discontinuation of Accellion services and gave affected customers 1 year IDX membership.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2021 |title=Notice of Data Breach |url=https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/CalViva%20-%20%20Accellion%20Breach%20Notice%20Letter.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251204190444/https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/CalViva%20-%20%20Accellion%20Breach%20Notice%20Letter.pdf |archive-date=4 December 2025 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=oag.ca.gov}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
On 18 February 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Accellion for failure to secure personal information of its customers, alleging it resulting in the plaintiffs facing years of ''"constant surveillance of their financial and personal records, monitoring, and loss of rights".''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rizzi |first=Corrado |date=19 February 2021 |title=Accellion Facing Class Action Over Dec. 2020 File Transfer Service Data Breach [UPDATE] |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/accellion-facing-class-action-over-dec.-2020-file-transfer-service-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213224702/https://www.classaction.org/news/accellion-facing-class-action-over-dec.-2020-file-transfer-service-data-breach |archive-date=13 February 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=ClassAction.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2026 |title=Zebelman v. Accellion, Inc. |url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2021cv01203/373802 |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Justia U.S Law}}</ref> The case reached a $8.1 million settlement on 20 January 2022, requiring Accellion give 2 years of credit monitoring and insurance services and reimburse up to $10,000 or receive payment of $15 or $50 to affected individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coble |first=Sarah |date=17 January 2022 |title=Accellion Reaches $8.1m Data Breach Settlement |url=https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/accellion-reaches-81m-data-breach/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Infosecurity Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Jessica |date=14 January 2022 |title=Accellion claims no ‘guarantee’ of security in $8.1M breach settlement |url=https://www.scworld.com/analysis/accellion-reaches-8-1m-settlement-in-data-breach-lawsuit |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=ScWorld}}</ref>

==Consumer response==

{{Ph-I-ConR}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Data breaches]]
[[Category:2020 incidents]]

Alpr

2026-04-08T18:44:08Z

Matt78: Redirected to Flock license plate readers via Special:SearchDigest

#REDIRECT [[Flock license plate readers]]

Category:Flock Safety

2026-04-08T18:36:10Z

Matt78: Added to Surveillance category

[[Category:Video surveillance companies]]
[[Category:Security companies]]
[[Category:Surveillance]]

Category:LiveView Technologies

2026-04-08T18:28:30Z

Matt78: Created page with "{{#default_form:Company}} Category:Video surveillance companies"

{{#default_form:Company}}

[[Category:Video surveillance companies]]

Category:Surveillance

2026-04-08T18:22:19Z

Matt78: Created page with "This is the Surveillance category."

This is the Surveillance category.

User:Jerry p/You pay electric companies for electricity you produce

2026-04-08T17:17:35Z

Matt78: Added reference to manual, fixed spelling mistakes, slightly cleaned up.

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Lacking in citations and formatting.}}
{{Cleanup|Issue 1=Spelling, grammar, punctuation.}}

You may pay electric companies for electricity you produce as a new product category become available to consumers. This new product category is residential plug in solar systems, where the system is designed to be plugged into a wall outlet. Some consumers will purchase and plug in their panels expecting to lower their electric bills but instead will see an increase. This may be as a result of the electric meter the electric company installed to deter the theft of electricity.

For most home owners, they assume the number displayed on the their home's power meter represents the amount of electricity they have consumed from the grid, which was a safe assumption until the advent of plug in solar devices. Now that plugin energy production systems are being introduced to the consumer market, this assumption is no longer valid. Excess power being generated by the home can be processed in three ways: 1. ignore power produced by the home, 2. measure separately 3. measure all electricity produced by the house as if produced by the grid.

=== How it works ===
{{Ph-T-HIW}}
Due the the theft of electricity electric companies may install meters that are incompatible to plug in electricity production. In these meters electricity provided by the grid is counted as elecricity comsumption. Electricity produced be the solar panel may also be counted as consumption. Whenever solar panel electricity production is greater than the electricity currently being used the metered home excess electricity flows to the grid but the meter counts it as consumption. As a result of this meter operation the bill paying home owner provides electricity to the grid and pays for the privledge of doing so. In honor of the first meter found with this behavior, this mode of operation is called 'non-dented' operation.

==Why it is a problem==
{{Ph-T-WIIAP}}
Most consumers purchasing plugin solar devices do so in order to reduce electric bills and not increase them.

Most consumers are not aware of electric and/or the electric company's electricity theft detection and deterrence mechanisms.

It is benefit of electric companies to not disclose their meters non-dented operation to unaware bill payers as it only help maximize profits.

It is not to the benefit of the electric company to pro actively to change non-dented meters as it incurs expenses of time, labor and materials which must be paid by the bill payer and/or the electric company.

Most consumers assume the electric meter is measuring grid consumption only and the thought that their own electricity production via the plugin solar panel would also be measure for billing purposes would never occur.

==Examples==

The first example of an electric meter operating in non-dented mode was found in the ITRON C1Sr electric meter technical reference manual as published on the website [https://manualslib.com ManualsLib].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2005 |title=ITRON CENTRON C1SR TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL Pdf Download |url=https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1341696/Itron-Centron-C1sr.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814211902/https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1341696/Itron-Centron-C1sr.html |archive-date=2024-08-14 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=ManualsLib |pages=39-40, 74-75}}</ref> It seems this manual may cover all residential electric meters sold.

The ITRON C1SR has 3 modes of collecting power usage data: non dented, dented, and net. Pages 39 & 40 shows displays for meters in each mode and a brief description of how it count produced electricity

From the power usage LED display the power data collection mode can be determined. Page 39 shows the display of a meter operating in non dented mode. The first image of page 40 shows a meter operating in dented mode, the second image on page 40 shows a meter operating in register mode. The third image may be displayed periodically and has no relevance other than verifying LED segment are operational.<ref name=":0" />

Pg. 74 and 75 describe the contents of the display in more detail or non-dented.<ref name=":0" /> Page 75 describes non-dented and dented operation in more detail.<ref name=":0" />

{{Ph-T-E}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Anti-consumer practices]]

Creality

2026-04-08T16:18:51Z

Matt78: Fixed spelling mistake

Vizio fined by the FTC for collecting and selling user data without consumer consent

2026-04-08T05:38:56Z

Matt78: Added references, fixed text, slightly expanded background section.

{{StubNotice}}

On February 6th, 2017, The [[Federal Trade Commission|Federal Trade Commission (FTC)]] filed a lawsuit<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2017-02-06 |title=VIZIO, INC. and VIZIO Inscape Services, LLC |url=https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/162-3024-vizio-inc-vizio-inscape-services-llc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514204212/https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/162-3024-vizio-inc-vizio-inscape-services-llc |archive-date=2022-05-14 |access-date=2025-08-14 |work=The Federal Trade Commission}}</ref> against American electronics company [[Vizio|Vizio]] alleging privacy violations. The FTC counted unfair tracking, deceptive omission regarding smart interactivity, and deceptive representation regarding smart interactivity. The Commission alleged Vizio had software installed on their smart televisions which collected user data, which they then sold to advertisers. {{IncidentCargo
|Company=Federal Trade Commission, Vizio
|StartDate=2017-02-17
|EndDate=2017-02-17
|Status=Resolved
|ProductLine=VIZIO Smart Televisions
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Privacy
|Description=VIZIO tracks Smart Television owners without consent.
}}
==Background==
Vizio was founded in 2002 as V Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-23 |title=VIZIO |url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/vizio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260119223325/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fcompanies%2Fvizio%2F |archive-date=2026-01-19 |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=Forbes |quote=Founded in Oct. 2002 as V, Inc}}</ref> and by 2007 they were already known for their affordable TVs. In 2011, they released their first smart TV line. This new line had built in software that would allow users to do things like connect the TV to internet, use Bluetooth, and install apps. A few years after that, in 2016, Vizio launched their own operating system for these TVs called [[wikipedia:Vizio#Vizio_OS|SmartCast]] (now called Vizio OS)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=SmartCast |url=https://smarttvarchive.miraheze.org/wiki/SmartCast |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112152331/https://smarttvarchive.miraheze.org/wiki/SmartCast |archive-date=2026-01-12 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Smart TV Archive |quote=SmartCast was first annouced in 2016, as a replacement for the old Yahoo-based Vizio Internet Apps platform.}}</ref> that utilized [[wikipedia:AirPlay|Apple AirPlay]] and [[wikipedia:Chromecast|Chromecast]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mashirenko |first=Anatoliy |date=2024-11-25 |title=Evolution of the Vizio TVs 2007-2024 |url=https://en.tab-tv.com/evolution-of-the-vizio-tvs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207045953/https://en.tab-tv.com/evolution-of-the-vizio-tvs/ |archive-date=2024-12-07 |access-date=2025-08-14 |work=Tab-Tv}}</ref> replacing the old Yahoo-based [https://smarttvarchive.miraheze.org/wiki/Vizio_Internet_Apps Vizio Internet Apps] platform.<ref name=":3" />
==Vizio collecting data for marketing purposes without user consent==
A complaint filed by the FTC and New Jersey Attorney General says that, starting in February 2014, Vizio had been capturing everything that was displayed on the TV with ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) software, and allegedly collecting sex, age, income, marital status, household size, education level, home ownership, and household value to sell it to 3rd parties for targeted advertising, and other various purposes. Vizio matched what was displayed on the screen to a database of content<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2017-02-06 |title=VIZIO to Pay $2.2 Million to FTC, State of New Jersey to Settle Charges It Collected Viewing Histories on 11 Million Smart Televisions without Users’ Consent |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2017/02/vizio-pay-22-million-ftc-state-new-jersey-settle-charges-it-collected-viewing-histories-11-million |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505152911/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2017/02/vizio-pay-22-million-ftc-state-new-jersey-settle-charges-it-collected-viewing-histories-11-million |archive-date=2022-05-05 |access-date=2026-01-10 |website=Federal Trade Commission |no-pp=y}}</ref>. The FTC explained in a press release how this was being implemented : <blockquote>On a second-by-second basis, Vizio collected a selection of pixels on the screen that it matched to a database of TV, movie, and commercial content. What’s more, Vizio identified viewing data from cable or broadband service providers, set-top boxes, streaming devices, DVD players, and over-the-air broadcasts. Add it all up and Vizio captured as many as 100 billion data points each day from millions of TVs.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Vizio also advertised a feature called “Smart Interactivity” which “enables program offers and suggestions” according to Vizio. However Vizio did not disclose that this feature, enables collection of user data<ref name=":0" />. The feature also did not provide the advertised functionality<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fair |first=Lesley |date=2017-02-06 |title=What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen |url=https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2017/02/what-vizio-was-doing-behind-tv-screen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313091120/https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2017/02/what-vizio-was-doing-behind-tv-screen |archive-date=2022-03-13 |access-date=2026-01-10 |website=Federal Trade Commission |quote=(Oh, and the 'Smart Interactivity' feature didn’t even provide the promised 'program offers and suggestions.')}}</ref>. The FTC said in a [https://archive.org/details/170206-vizio-stipulated-proposed-order/mode/2up court order] that Vizio must:<blockquote>A. Prominently disclose to the consumer, separate and apart from any “privacy

policy,” “terms of use” page, or other similar document: (1) the types of Viewing Data that will

be collected and used, (2) the types of Viewing Data that will be shared with third parties; (3) the

identity or specific categories of such third parties; and (4) all purposes for Defendants’ sharing

of such information;

B. Obtain the consumer’s affirmative express consent (1) at the time the disclosure in

Part II.A is made and (2) upon any material changes to the terms disclosed in Part II.A<ref name=":2">[[File:170206 vizio stipulated proposed order.pdf|thumb]]
Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Judgement (PDF), Federal Trade Commission, 2017-02-06, [https://archive.org/details/170206-vizio-stipulated-proposed-order/mode/2up archived] from the original on 2026-01-15</ref></blockquote>

==Lawsuit==

The FTC filed a case against Vizio on February 6, 2017 called "VIZIO, INC. and VIZIO Inscape Services, LLC".<ref name=":1" />

On February 6th, 2017, Vizio agreed to pay $2,200,000 to the FTC.<ref name=":0" />

The complaint filed by the FTC acknowledges that Vizio sent onscreen notifications about changes to the Vizio privacy policy and Smart Interactivity being enabled for TVs that were updated in Febuary 2014, but this notification said nothing about the data being collected or Automatic Content Recognition. <blockquote>The VIZIO Privacy Policy has changed. Smart Interactivity has

been enabled on your TV, but you may disable it in the settings

menu. See www.vizio.com/privacy for more details. This

message will time out in 1 minute.</blockquote>In a court order from the case, the FTC said Vizio must, within 120 days of the order, delete all data that was collected before March 1st, 2016:<blockquote>IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 120 days after entry of this Order, Defendants

and Defendants’ officers, agents, employees, and attorneys, and all other persons in active

concert or participation with any of them, who receive actual notice of this Order, must destroy

Viewing Data that has been collected prior to March 1, 2016. Provided, however, that such

Viewing Data need not be destroyed, and may be disclosed, (A) to the extent requested by a

government agency or required by law, regulation, or court order, including without limitation as

required by rules applicable to the safeguarding of evidence in pending litigation, or (B) to the

extent a user of a television associated with the Viewing Data has affirmatively consented to the

collection, use, or disclosure thereof, consistent with Part II of this order.<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>

==See also==
[[LG Television sale of personal data]]

[[Samsung Frame TV asks for subscription to view photos]]

[[Samsung TVs]]

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

Vizio fined by the FTC for collecting and selling user data without consumer consent

2026-02-17T20:49:34Z

Matt78: Added see also section, removed consumer response section.

{{StubNotice}}

On February 6th, 2017, The [[Federal Trade Commission|Federal Trade Commission (FTC)]] filed a lawsuit<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2017-02-06 |title=VIZIO, INC. and VIZIO Inscape Services, LLC |url=https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/162-3024-vizio-inc-vizio-inscape-services-llc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514204212/https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/162-3024-vizio-inc-vizio-inscape-services-llc |archive-date=2022-05-14 |access-date=2025-08-14 |work=The Federal Trade Commission}}</ref> against American electronics company [[Vizio|Vizio]] alleging privacy violations. FTC counted unfair tracking, deceptive omission regarding smart interactivity, and deceptive representation regarding smart interactivity. The Commission alleged Vizio had software installed on their smart televisions which collected user data, which they then sold to advertisers. {{IncidentCargo
|Company=Federal Trade Commission, Vizio
|StartDate=2017-02-17
|EndDate=2017-02-17
|Status=Resolved
|ProductLine=VIZIO Smart Televisions
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Privacy
|Description=VIZIO tracks Smart Television owners without consent.
}}
==Background==
Vizio was founded in 2002 as V Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-23 |title=VIZIO |url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/vizio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260119223325/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fcompanies%2Fvizio%2F |archive-date=2026-01-19 |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=Forbes |quote=Founded in Oct. 2002 as V, Inc}}</ref> and by 2007 they were already known for their affordable TVs. In 2011, they released their first smart TV line. This new line had built in software that would allow users to do things like connect the TV to internet, use Bluetooth and install apps. A few years after that, in 2015, Vizio launched their own operating system for these TVs called [[wikipedia:Vizio#Vizio_OS|SmartCast]] (now called Vizio OS) that utilized [[wikipedia:AirPlay|Apple AirPlay]] and [[wikipedia:Chromecast|Chromecast]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mashirenko |first=Anatoliy |date=2024-11-25 |title=Evolution of the Vizio TVs 2007-2024 |url=https://en.tab-tv.com/evolution-of-the-vizio-tvs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207045953/https://en.tab-tv.com/evolution-of-the-vizio-tvs/ |archive-date=2024-12-07 |access-date=2025-08-14 |work=Tab-Tv}}</ref>
==Vizio collecting data for marketing purposes without user consent==
A complaint filed by the FTC and New Jersey Attorney General says that, starting in February 2014, Vizio had been capturing everything that was displayed on the TV with ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) software, and allegedly collecting sex, age, income, marital status, household size, education level, home ownership, and household value to sell it to 3rd parties for targeted advertising, and other various purposes. Vizio matched what was displayed on the screen to a database of content<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2017-02-06 |title=VIZIO to Pay $2.2 Million to FTC, State of New Jersey to Settle Charges It Collected Viewing Histories on 11 Million Smart Televisions without Users’ Consent |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2017/02/vizio-pay-22-million-ftc-state-new-jersey-settle-charges-it-collected-viewing-histories-11-million |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505152911/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2017/02/vizio-pay-22-million-ftc-state-new-jersey-settle-charges-it-collected-viewing-histories-11-million |archive-date=2022-05-05 |access-date=2026-01-10 |website=Federal Trade Commission |no-pp=y}}</ref>. The FTC explained in a press release how this was being implemented : <blockquote>On a second-by-second basis, Vizio collected a selection of pixels on the screen that it matched to a database of TV, movie, and commercial content. What’s more, Vizio identified viewing data from cable or broadband service providers, set-top boxes, streaming devices, DVD players, and over-the-air broadcasts. Add it all up and Vizio captured as many as 100 billion data points each day from millions of TVs.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Vizio also advertised a feature called “Smart Interactivity” which “enables program offers and suggestions” according to Vizio. However Vizio did not disclose that this feature, enables collection of user data<ref name=":0" />. The feature also did not provide the advertised functionality<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fair |first=Lesley |date=2017-02-06 |title=What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen |url=https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2017/02/what-vizio-was-doing-behind-tv-screen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313091120/https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2017/02/what-vizio-was-doing-behind-tv-screen |archive-date=2022-03-13 |access-date=2026-01-10 |website=Federal Trade Commission |quote=(Oh, and the 'Smart Interactivity' feature didn’t even provide the promised 'program offers and suggestions.')}}</ref>. The FTC said in a [https://archive.org/details/170206-vizio-stipulated-proposed-order/mode/2up court order] that Vizio must:<blockquote>A. Prominently disclose to the consumer, separate and apart from any “privacy

policy,” “terms of use” page, or other similar document: (1) the types of Viewing Data that will

be collected and used, (2) the types of Viewing Data that will be shared with third parties; (3) the

identity or specific categories of such third parties; and (4) all purposes for Defendants’ sharing

of such information;

B. Obtain the consumer’s affirmative express consent (1) at the time the disclosure in

Part II.A is made and (2) upon any material changes to the terms disclosed in Part II.A<ref name=":2">[[File:170206 vizio stipulated proposed order.pdf|thumb]]
Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Judgement (PDF), Federal Trade Commission, 2017-02-06, [https://archive.org/details/170206-vizio-stipulated-proposed-order/mode/2up archived] from the original on 2026-01-15</ref></blockquote>

==Lawsuit==

The FTC filed a case against Vizio on February 6, 2017 called "VIZIO, INC. and VIZIO Inscape Services, LLC".<ref name=":1" />

On February 6th, 2017, Vizio agreed to pay $2,200,000 to the FTC.

The complaint filed by the FTC acknowledges that Vizio sent onscreen notifications about changes to the Vizio privacy policy and Smart Interactivity being enabled for TVs that were updated in Febuary 2014, but this notification said nothing about the data being collected or Automatic Content Recognition. <blockquote>The VIZIO Privacy Policy has changed. Smart Interactivity has

been enabled on your TV, but you may disable it in the settings

menu. See www.vizio.com/privacy for more details. This

message will time out in 1 minute.</blockquote>In a court order from the case, the FTC said Vizio must, within 120 days of the order, delete all data that was collected before March 1st, 2016:<blockquote>IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 120 days after entry of this Order, Defendants

and Defendants’ officers, agents, employees, and attorneys, and all other persons in active

concert or participation with any of them, who receive actual notice of this Order, must destroy

Viewing Data that has been collected prior to March 1, 2016. Provided, however, that such

Viewing Data need not be destroyed, and may be disclosed, (A) to the extent requested by a

government agency or required by law, regulation, or court order, including without limitation as

required by rules applicable to the safeguarding of evidence in pending litigation, or (B) to the

extent a user of a television associated with the Viewing Data has affirmatively consented to the

collection, use, or disclosure thereof, consistent with Part II of this order.<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>

== See also ==
[[LG Television sale of personal data]]

[[Samsung Frame TV asks for subscription to view photos]]

[[Samsung TVs]]

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

Creality

2026-02-11T06:27:09Z

Matt78: Edited consumer-impact summary and "Creality forces update that removes features from their 3d scanners" section.

{{CompanyCargo
|Logo=Creality-logo-black.svg
|Website=https://www.creality.com/
|Founded=2014|Industry=Technology|Type=Private|Description=Creality is a Chinese company that manufactures 3D printers and scanners.}}

Creality is a Chinese technology company headquartered in Shenzhen which manufactures 3D printers<ref>{{Cite web |title=Creality |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creality |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260111032613/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creality |archive-date=2026-01-11 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Wkipedia}}</ref> and 3D scanners<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scanners |url=https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129133218/https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Creality}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==

*'''User Freedom:''' Creality silently disabled the root access toggle for K1 series printers, making root access unavailable without using a computer. Creality forced an update to their Creality Scan smartphone app for their 3D scanners that removes the ability to plug the scanner into a phone to use features such as scanning with a phone link without a $369–$419 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
*'''Business Model:''' Creality sells 3D printers and scanners. Creality has also paywalled features on their 3D scanners, requiring a $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
*'''Market Control:''' Creality has extensive competition, with other 3D printer brands such as [[Bambu Lab]], Prusa Research, and Ultimaker.

==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]].

===Creality disables root access toggle on K1 series 3D printers===
Creality silently disabled the ability to root 3D printers which were advertised as having a toggle to gain root access to them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Root Disclaimer and Risk Warning |url=https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260131114944/https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |archive-date=2026-01-31 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Creality Wiki}}</ref> Creality does not disclose this on their product page, despite nearly every review citing this as a feature. Creality also will not provide support for root-related faliures.

====Models affected:====
K1

K1C

K1 Max

===Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners===
{{Main|Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners}}

Creality's 3D scanners (Otter, Ferret, Raptor, RaptorX) were advertised that they would feature the ability to scan with a wired connection to a phone. Creality added this feature, but later forced an update to the Creality Scan smartphone app that locked access to the previously available features such as scanning with a phone link from their 3D scanners behind a paywall by requiring users to buy the Creality Scan Bridge, a proprietary device which costs $369–$419 USD. The update is forced by updating the software as soon as the user has a stable internet connection and opens the Creality Scan 4 software. There is no option to opt-out, only the chance to install the update. Creality's reasoning for this update was that scanning with a USB cable could overload the phone's motherboard and reduce the battery life overtime.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CR-Scan Otter FAQ and Troubleshooting |url=https://wiki.creality.com/en/3d-scanner/cr-scan-otter/troubleshooting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260211061438/https://wiki.creality.com/en/3d-scanner/cr-scan-otter/troubleshooting |archive-date=2026-02-11 |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Creality Wiki |quote=This could overload your phone’s motherboard and seriously reduce battery life over time.}}</ref> 

==See also==
[[Bambu Lab Authorization Control System]]

[[Bambu Farm Manager]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Cami Research

2026-02-11T04:46:55Z

Matt78: Fixed spelling mistake

{{OngoingEvent}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=
|Founded=1991
|Industry=Electronics, Testing
|Logo=Cami logo.jpg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.camiresearch.com/
}}
'''CAMI Research Inc.''' is an American company that develops testing devices for cables and harnesses.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Contact Info {{!}} About Us {{!}} CableEye {{!}} Cable & Harness Testers |url=https://www.camiresearch.com/about_us.html |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=CAMI Research}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Business model===
Their primary market demographics are repair technicians, since their products are used in diagnostics. CAMI Research has a large product line of different testing devices.'''<ref name=":0" />'''

==Incidents==

===Lack of repair support, and subsequent legal threats (''2025'')===
In January 2025, Oregon passed a state [[Right to Repair]] law, banning [[part pairing]], and requiring manufacturers to allow consumers to choose to self-repair devices, or use a third-party service by requiring that repair documentation, tools, and parts be made available.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergmann |first=Emily |date=2025-01-27 |title=A Tough Consumer Electronics Right to Repair Law Goes Live in the US |url=https://h2compliance.com/a-tough-consumer-electronics-right-to-repair-law-goes-live-in-the-us/ |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=H2 Compliance |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oregon Governor signs landmark right to repair bill into law |url=https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/oregon-governor-signs-landmark-right-to-repair-bill-into-law/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=CR Advocacy |language=en}}</ref>

YouTuber and repair technician Steven Rhine bought a secondhand '''CableEye M3U''' from eBay, but due to poor packaging, the switch was damaged in transit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rhine |first=Steven |date=2024-10-28 |title=Poorly Packed Test Equipment, What Was Broken? Cami Research CableEye M3U Self Test |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhnSSSvfBLQ |url-status=live |website=YouTube}}</ref> He sent an email to CAMI, requesting that they sell a part to him, so he could repair the device. The company representatives refused Rhine's request, citing concerns about profit.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=22 Jun 2025 |title=Cami Research Blatantly Violates Oregon Right to Repair Law, Oregon DOJ Does Nothing |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K1zi66IE0k |url-status=live |website=YouTube}}</ref>

In response, Rhine filed a complaint with the '''Oregon Department of Justice'''. The Department acknowledged the complaint, but closed the case without any further action, citing that the issue was outside their authority.<ref name=":1" />

CAMI Research responded by threatening legal action against Rhine, accusing him of harassment, despite the communications being professional and polite. Their message asserted that Ryan should go through state legal channels only, and threatened to escalate the situation if he made further contact with them.<ref name=":1" />

CAMI Research has also sent a cease and desist letter to Louis Rossmann attempting to stop him from making further YouTube videos talking about them and requesting an apology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossman |first=Louis |date=2025-09-09 |title=Cease & Desist: Cami Research wants me to pay $100,000 for publishing their own words |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX6nUwDeHps |url-status=live |website=YouTube}}</ref> Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, the law firm that originally sent the notice, has since withdrawn legal counsel for CAMI Research.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2025-09-11 |title=THEY CAVED IN ONE DAY! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th-OAfQ5FJk |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

==Products==

*Low-voltage testers
*High-voltage testers
*Expansion modules
*CB Boards

==See also==

*[[Better Way Electronics|Better Way Electronics (BWE)]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Cami Research Inc.]]

Creality

2026-02-06T05:54:27Z

Matt78:

{{CompanyCargo
|Logo=Creality-logo-black.svg
|Website=https://www.creality.com/
|Founded=2014|Industry=Technology|Type=Private|Description=Creality is a Chinese company that manufactures 3D printers and scanners.}}

Creality is a Chinese technology company headquartered in Shenzhen which manufactures 3D printers<ref>{{Cite web |title=Creality |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creality |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260111032613/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creality |archive-date=2026-01-11 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Wkipedia}}</ref> and 3D scanners<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scanners |url=https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129133218/https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Creality}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==

*'''User Freedom:''' Creality silently disabled the root access toggle for K1 series printers, making root access unavailable without using a computer. Creality forced an update to their Creality Scan smartphone app for their 3D scanners that removes the ability to plug the scanner into a phone to use features such as scanning with a phone link without a $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
*'''Business Model:''' Creality sells 3D printers and scanners. Creality has also paywalled features on their 3D scanners, requiring a $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
*'''Market Control:''' Creality has extensive competition, with other 3D printer brands such as [[Bambu Lab]], Prusa Research, and Ultimaker.

==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]].

===Creality disables root access toggle on K1 series 3D printers===
Creality silently disabled the ability to root 3D printers which were advertised as having a toggle to gain root access to them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Root Disclaimer and Risk Warning |url=https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260131114944/https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |archive-date=2026-01-31 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Creality Wiki}}</ref> Creality does not disclose this on their product page, despite nearly every review citing this as a feature. Creality also will not provide support for root-related faliures.

====Models affected:====
K1

K1C

K1 Max

===Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners===
{{Main|Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners}}

Creality's 3D scanners were advertised that they would feature the ability to scan with a wired connection to a phone. Creality forced an update to the Creality Scan smartphone app that locked access to previously available features such as scanning with a phone link from their 3D scanners behind a paywall. After this update, for the previously available features to work again, you need to buy the $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge. 

==See also==
[[Bambu Lab Authorization Control System]]

[[Bambu Farm Manager]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Creality

2026-02-06T05:53:11Z

Matt78: Fixed some text formatting

{{CompanyCargo
|Logo=Creality-logo-black.svg
|Website=https://www.creality.com/
|Founded=2014|Industry=Technology|Type=Private|Description=Creality is a Chinese company that manufactures 3D printers and scanners.}}

Creality is a Chinese technology company headquartered in Shenzhen which manufactures 3D printers<ref>{{Cite web |title=Creality |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creality |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260111032613/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creality |archive-date=2026-01-11 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Wkipedia}}</ref> and 3D scanners<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scanners |url=https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129133218/https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Creality}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==

*'''User Freedom:''' Creality silently disabled the root access toggle for K1 series printers, making root access unavailable without using a computer. Creality forced an update to their Creality Scan smartphone app for their 3D scanners that removes the ability to plug the scanner into a phone to use features such as scanning with a phone link without a $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
*'''Business Model:''' Creality sells 3D printers and scanners. Creality has also paywalled features on their 3D scanners, requiring a $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
*'''Market Control:''' Creality has extensive competition, with other 3D printer brands such as [[Bambu Lab]], Prusa Research, and Ultimaker.

==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]].

===Creality disables root access toggle on K1 series 3D printers===
Creality silently disabled the ability to root 3D printers which were advertised as having a toggle to gain root access to them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Root Disclaimer and Risk Warning |url=https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260131114944/https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |archive-date=2026-01-31 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Creality Wiki}}</ref> Creality does not disclose this on their product page, despite nearly every review citing this as a feature. Creality also will not provide support for root-related faliures.

====Models affected:====
K1

K1C

K1 Max

===Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners===
{{Main|Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners}}Creality's 3D scanners were advertised that they would feature the ability to scan with a wired connection to a phone. Creality forced an update to the Creality Scan smartphone app that locked access to previously available features such as scanning with a phone link from their 3D scanners behind a paywall. After this update, for the previously available features to work again, you need to buy the $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge. 

==See also==
[[Bambu Lab Authorization Control System]]

[[Bambu Farm Manager]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Creality

2026-02-06T05:51:14Z

Matt78: Added consumer-impact summary, deleted consumer-impact summary template, created section "Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners".

{{CompanyCargo
|Logo=Creality-logo-black.svg
|Website=https://www.creality.com/
|Founded=2014|Industry=Technology|Type=Private|Description=Creality is a Chinese company that manufactures 3D printers and scanners.}}

Creality is a Chinese technology company headquartered in Shenzhen which manufactures 3D printers<ref>{{Cite web |title=Creality |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creality |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260111032613/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creality |archive-date=2026-01-11 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Wkipedia}}</ref> and 3D scanners<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scanners |url=https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129133218/https://store.creality.com/collections/scanners |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Creality}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==

* '''User Freedom:''' Creality silently disabled the root access toggle for K1 series printers, making root access unavailable without using a computer. Creality forced an update to their Creality Scan smartphone app for their 3D scanners that removes the ability to plug the scanner into a phone to use features such as scanning with a phone link without a $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
* '''Business Model:''' Creality sells 3D printers and scanners. Creality has also paywalled features on their 3D scanners, requiring a $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge.
* '''Market Control:''' Creality has extensive competition, with other 3D printer brands such as [[Bambu Lab]], Prusa Research, and Ultimaker.

==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]].

===Creality disables root access toggle on K1 series 3D printers===
Creality silently disabled the ability to root 3D printers which were advertised as having a toggle to gain root access to them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Root Disclaimer and Risk Warning |url=https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260131114944/https://wiki.creality.com/en/k1-flagship-series/k1-series-general-documents/root-disclaimer-and-risk-warning |archive-date=2026-01-31 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Creality Wiki}}</ref> Creality does not disclose this on their product page, despite nearly every review citing this as a feature. Creality also will not provide support for root-related faliures.

====Models affected:====
K1

K1C

K1 Max

=== Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners ===
{{Main|Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners}}Creality's 3D scanners were advertised that they would feature the ability to scan with a wired connection to a phone. Creality forced an update to the Creality Scan smartphone app that locked access to previously available features such as scanning with a phone link from their 3D scanners behind a paywall. After this update, for the previously available features to work again, you need to buy the $250–$300 USD Creality Scan Bridge. 

==See also==
[[Bambu Lab Authorization Control System]]

[[Bambu Farm Manager]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Formlabs

2026-02-06T03:38:23Z

Matt78: Added logo, added reference.

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American 3D printing company
|Founded=2011
|Industry=3D printing
|Logo=FormLabs.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://formlabs.com
}}

[[wikipedia:Formlabs|Formlabs]], a Massachusetts based 3D printing company started in 2011 founded by Maxim Lobovsky, David Cranor, and Natan Linder, all three MIT Media Lab students. The company got its start by raising nearly $3 million on a Kickstarter campaign to release the Form 1 as their first 3D printer.

The company provides software and consumables as well as entire machines, and has branched into the industrial sector providing full machine service as well as a "Pro Service Plan" that includes training videos and prioritized customer support options.

Initially championed as an underdog fighting to bring 3D printing to the hobbyist, the company has since changed their business model and have taken a live service approach to their machines as well as choosing to make their systems more proprietary, as well as including a paid "Open Material Mode".
==Consumer-impact summary==
3D printing has always been a consumer first field, with many of the first printers available for home use were RepRap machines, a printer created with the express purpose of being able to replicate itself with minimal external hardware that is commonly available. Much like coding bases such as Github, being open source and creating communities that work together to further 3D printing for the home user as a method to fight back against anti consumer practices has been a key tenet of 3D printing for home users.

Formlabs has been accused of many negative business practices that harm their initial goal of creating a low cost way to create high precision parts , however these will require more research to confirm before addition. Listed below are verified anti-consumer practices.

==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]].
===Open Material Mode (''November, 2024'')===
{{Main|link to the main article}}
Open Material Mode was initially launched in 2024 with the Form 3, and featured the ability to pay for a license to use your own materials. Virtually unheard of in 3D printing, this license does not change the function of the machine in any way and only gives you permission to use your own materials. If you do not pay for this license you will only be able to use Formlabs proprietary pre-filled resin cartridges. As a point of reference, the cheapest material offered by Formlabs (as of 7/14/25) is $79 for 1L of material, and ABSlike 3.0 by ELEGOO on Amazon is $16 for 1L (which you cannot use on the Form 4 without paying a $2,499 license fee for each printer owned).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Material Mode |url=https://formlabs.com/store/materials/open-material-mode/?srsltid=AfmBOoooEm4ZLVUdLqd0mcpV7l5SNh81dgHLQpUnv5b5nOSz0p1dtjMj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116171208/https://formlabs.com/store/materials/open-material-mode/ |archive-date=2026-01-16 |website=Formlabs}}</ref> 
===Purchase of Micronics ''(July, 2024)''===
In July of 2024, Formlabs announced that they had purchased Micronics, another small Kickstarter powered 3D printing startup. In a video released by Formlabs the co-founder of Micronics Henry Chan, he admits that they will be canceling their Kickstarter and moving to Massechusets in order to work for Formlabs directly, offering a $1000 credit to anyone who supported the original campaign as well as refunding all donations. The Micron was immediately canceled, and subsequently the
https://formlabs.com/blog/formlabs-acquires-micronics/?srsltid=AfmBOoolvJMRly8Ibc0KdBvAGKRVHmfxbB4C9d7GMyV_Ifdq5mlTZ92z

https://forum.formlabs.com/t/formlabs-spring-2025-product-announcement-coming-march-24th/43884/14

===Deprecating support for the Form 2 ( )===
Soon after the release of the Form 3 product line, Formlabs announced that they would be ending updates for the Form 2. Deprecating machines is expected over time, but because the Form 2 uses proprietary resin cartridges you can only use Formlabs provided materials, that notably are only optimized for their newest machines.
https://forum.formlabs.com/t/what-formlabs-offers-when-form-2-is-dead/30572/15

https://formlabs.com/blog/formlabs-acquires-micronics/?srsltid=AfmBOor3O8NKchgjxAUCyx7YHbDv-fxHGBbckZ6oRjKaz2oByCq8O-xi

===Build Quality concerns (2015-2025)===

https://forum.formlabs.com/t/debilitating-issues-with-formlabs-despite-investing-20-000/35322

==See also==
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:3D printer companies]]

File:Formlabs logo.svg

2026-02-06T03:18:08Z

Matt78: SVG of the FormLabs logo. FormLabs makes 3D printers.

== Summary ==
SVG of the FormLabs logo. FormLabs makes 3D printers.

MakerBot

2026-02-06T00:17:33Z

Matt78: Added consumer-impact summary and see also section, removed products section.

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American 3D printing company
|Founded=2009
|Industry=3D printing
|Logo=MakerBot_Logo.png
|ParentCompany=Ultimaker
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://makerbot.com/
}}
'''{{wplink|MakerBot|MakerBot Industries, LLC}}''' was an American technology company specializing in the design and manufacture of 3D printing peripherals and accessories. Originally an offshoot of the {{wplink||RepRap}} project, MakerBot initially produced open-source kit printers and operated the public project repository Thingiverse, which MakerBot's founders created in 2008. In 2012, with the launch of it's Replicator 2 3D printer, MakerBot fully pivoted to closed-source consumer and enterprise machines. It was acquired by Stratasys in June 2013.<ref>https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyclay/2013/06/19/3d-printing-company-makerbot-acquired-in-604-million-deal/#4f6d94091ef8</ref>

MakerBot was at one point, the market leader in desktop FDM 3D printers, but its market dominance was steadily eroded by an explosion in popularity of less-expensive, open-source competitors.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20171027020235/https://fortune.com/2015/11/27/why-makerbot-and-3d-systems-are-losing-the-desktop-3d-market/</ref> Its closed-source machines and business practices proved to be unpopular with the largely DIY-focused maker community. Starting in 2015, MakerBot began to focus more on the enterprise and education markets, ultimately abandoning the consumer market by 2017. It also laid off hundreds of employees during this time.<ref>https://www.vice.com/en/article/makerbot-just-laid-off-20-percent-of-its-staff/</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20170702132043/https://fortune.com/2017/02/15/makerbot-3d-printing-layoffs/</ref>

On August 31, 2022, Stratasys finalized a merger between MakerBot and its long-time market competitor Ultimaker.<ref>https://investors.stratasys.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/793/stratasys-completes-merger-of-makerbot-with-ultimaker</ref> The merged company is known as Ultimaker, with the MakerBot branding only retained for its Sketch line of education-focused 3D printers.

==Consumer-impact summary==

* '''User Freedom:''' MakerBot updated the Thingiverse terms of use to say that MakerBot owns everything submitted by users on Thingiverse. However, MakerBot later changed this so that users own what they submit to Thingiverse. MakerBot also stopped making open-source printers, and started making closed-source printers instead with proprietary hardware and software.
* '''Market Control:''' MakerBot has extensive competition, with other brands such as [[Bambu Lab]], [[Creality]], and Prusa Research having more market share than MakerBot. Makerbot also merged with Ultimaker, and only the Sketch line of printers is under the MakerBot brand name.

==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]].

===Ditching open-source (2012):===
MakerBot abandoned its original open-source business practices in favor of developing closed-source machines with proprietary components and software.<ref>https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/pulling-back-from-open-source-hardware-makerbot-angers-some-adherents/</ref> The move was unpopular with consumers, and MakerBot began to lose its market share to less-expensive, open-source 3D printers over the course of the next decade.

===Change to Thingiverse terms of use (2012):===
MakerBot updated the Thingiverse [[Terms of service|terms of use]], appearing to assert ownership over anything uploaded to the site, despite users being allowed to dictate their own usage terms under Creative Commons.<ref>https://hackaday.com/2012/09/20/makerbot-occupy-thingiverse-and-the-reality-of-selling-open-hardware/</ref> The terms of use in section 3.1 currently state that ''"You retain all your intellectual property rights in your User Content. Company does not claim ownership in any User Content."'' These terms were introduced on January 3rd, 2023. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-03 |title=Terms of Use - MakerBot |url=https://www.makerbot.com/legal/terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026122907/https://www.makerbot.com/legal/terms-of-use/ |archive-date=2023-10-26 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=[[MakerBot]] |at=3.1 |language=English |quote=You retain all your intellectual property rights in your User Content. Company does not claim ownership in any User Content.}}</ref>

===Accusations of IP theft (2014):===
MakerBot was accused of stealing and patenting user-uploaded designs from its public design repository, Thingiverse.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160501050442/http://3dprintingindustry.com/2014/05/28/makerbot-become-takerbot/</ref> MakerBot denied wrongdoing and showed its patents were filed before the contested designs were shared, but the accusation highlighted ongoing concerns with Thingiverse's terms of use.<ref>https://techcrunch.com/2014/05/28/makerbot-responds-to-critics-who-claim-it-is-stealing-community-ip/</ref>

===Sued for Smart Extruder unreliability (2015):===
Makerbot was hit with a [[class-action lawsuit]], claiming the Smart Extruder for its fifth-generation printers was deliberately engineered to fail in order to boost sales for replacement components.<ref>https://makezine.com/article/digital-fabrication/3d-printing-workshop/makerbot-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-faulty-extruders/</ref> The suit was dismissed by the court, which decided that MakerBot did not mislead customers.<ref>https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/class-action-makerbot-dismissed-85388/</ref> MakerBot would later release a more reliable, albeit more expensive Smart Extruder+.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/4/10677740/new-makerbot-smart-extruder-plus-3d-printer-ces-2016</ref>

==See also==
[[Bambu Lab]]

[[Creality]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:MakerBot Industries]]
[[Category:3D printer companies]]

Category:Creality

2026-02-05T23:02:36Z

Matt78: Added to category "Technology companies"

{{#default_form:Company}}

[[Category:3D printer companies]]
[[Category:Technology companies]]

YouTube

2026-02-05T21:28:09Z

Matt78: Added link to PeerTube

{{ProductLineCargo
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Streaming, Video
|Company=Google
|Description=
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=YouTube.png
|ReleaseYear=2005
|Website=https://youtube.com
}}
'''{{Wplink|YouTube}}''', founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, is a global video-sharing platform and one of the most visited websites in the world. Acquired by [[Google]] in 2006, YouTube has since become the dominant platform for sharing videos on the internet.

YouTube's business model is built around advertising revenue, with creators earning money through ad views, subscriptions, and other monetization options. The platform hosts a wide range of content, including music videos, tutorials, news, vlogs, and live streams. YouTube has also begun offering subscription services, such as YouTube Premium and YouTube TV, for ad-free experiences, exclusive content, and live television.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTube - Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201032636/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube |archive-date=1 Feb 2025 |access-date=30 Jan 2025 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>

YouTube has faced criticism and regulatory scrutiny on multiple fronts. Concerns have been raised about content moderation policies, the platform's role in the spread of misinformation, and its impact on user privacy, particularly in relation to data collection practices. Additionally, YouTube has been under fire for its algorithms, which some argue promote harmful or divisive content to maximize engagement.

==Consumer Impact Summary==

*'''User Freedom''': Questionable; rampant bots and [[Elsagate]] suggest negligent moderation.
*'''User Privacy''': Poor; Since August 2025, accessing mature content without identification is a gamble. User data is also sold to advertisers and the site is owned by [[Google]].
*'''Business Model''': [[Advertising overload|Excessive advertising]], YouTube Premium, YouTube Premium Lite
*'''Market Competition''': Despite several platforms that follow its niche, such as Odysee, [[PeerTube]], and DailyMotion, they provide no significant competition.

==Incidents==

===Restricting users that don't share their personal information===
{{Main|Youtube age verification}}

On July 30, 2025, in response to the [[UK Online Safety Act]], YouTube announced a verification update that asks for either a government-issued ID, a photo, or credit card, otherwise they could not access content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingram |first=Michael |date=30 Jul 2025 |title=YouTube is Rolling Out A New Controversial Feature |url=https://gamerant.com/youtube-new-age-verification-feature-id-recognition/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730234131/https://gamerant.com/youtube-new-age-verification-feature-id-recognition/ |archive-date=30 Jul 2025 |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=GameRant}}</ref>

YouTube will estimate the age of a user from various sources, including the videos watched, and will ask for previously mentioned personal information when it believes that the user falls below 18.

===Advertising overload on YouTube===
{{Main|Advertising overload}}

Advertisements are YouTube's primary source of revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=How YouTube Works |url=https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/our-commitments/sharing-revenue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260101140008/https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/creator-economy/ |archive-date=1 Jan 2026 |access-date= |website=YouTube}}</ref> This has led to advertisements becoming more pervasive on the platform<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Jordan |date=20 Jan 2024 |title=Why YouTube Has So Many Ads (and Why There Will Probably Be More) |url=https://www.33rdsquare.com/software-app/why-youtube-has-so-many-ads-and-why-there-will-probably-be-more/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.md/0x7Q3 |archive-date=26 Jan 2026 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=33rd Square}}</ref> such as an increasing number of spaces for static ads, longer ad breaks (which some users have documented being longer than the videos they watch,<ref>{{Cite web |first=Aamir |last=Siddiqui |title=Frustrated YouTube viewers seek explanation for hour-long unskippable ads (Updated: Clarification) |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-long-unskippable-ads-problem-3519957/ |website=Android Authority |date=27 Jan 2025 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128162022/https://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-long-unskippable-ads-problem-3519957/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Hans-Christian |last=Dirscherl |first2=Joel |last2=Lee |title=Hours-long unskippable ads spotted on YouTube. What’s going on? |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2590352/hours-long-unskippable-ads-spotted-on-youtube-whats-going-on.html |website=PCWorld |date=28 Jan 2025 |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129183554/https://www.pcworld.com/article/2590352/hours-long-unskippable-ads-spotted-on-youtube-whats-going-on.html |archive-date=29 Jan 2025}}</ref> and most prevalent on YouTube TV, <ref>{{Cite web |last=Adegbola |first=Anu |date=16 Aug 2024 |title=YouTube tests longer CTV ad breaks |url=https://searchengineland.com/youtube-tests-longer-ad-breaks-ctv-445248#:~:text=YouTube%20is%20increasing%20the%20duration,ads%20over%20shorter%2C%20dispersed%20slots. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816143812/https://searchengineland.com/youtube-tests-longer-ad-breaks-ctv-445248 |archive-date=16 Aug 2024 |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=Search Engine Land}}</ref>) increased ad frequency in videos,<ref>{{Cite web |first=Arol |last=Wright |title=YouTube is Adding Even More Ads |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/youtube-is-adding-even-more-ads/ |website=How-To-Geek |date=26 Apr 2024 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426192258/https://www.howtogeek.com/youtube-is-adding-even-more-ads/ |archive-date=26 Apr 2024}}</ref> and poorer quality ads.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |author=@T3rr0r |date=17 Oct 2021 |title=BAD Mobile Game Ads |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRjGn54O4Zg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=dRjGn54O4Zg |archive-date=26 Jan 2026 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |first=Max |last=Knoblauch |title=Why are mobile game ads so weird and bad? |url=https://sherwood.news/business/mobile-game-ads-industry-fake-misleading/ |website=Sherwood News |date=14 Jun 2024 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614151756/https://sherwood.news/business/mobile-game-ads-industry-fake-misleading/ |archive-date=14 Jun 2024}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |author=@Saberspark |date=18 Sep 2021 |title=The DISGUSTING State of Mobile Game Ads (and why YouTube LOVES IT) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsKlfN9phAs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=KsKlfN9phAs |archive-date=26 Jan 2026 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Practices are also put into place in order to force non-paying users into seeing these ads as well, such as subscription-gating playing videos in the background.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTube Premium |url=https://www.youtube.com/premium?ybp=Sg0IBhIJdW5saW1pdGVk4AEC |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Furthermore, even if a user pays for YouTube premium, they do not necessarily receive an ad-free experience<ref>{{Cite web |author=CaptainMystery_123 |title=I have YouTube premium, why am I getting adds. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18ll7y6/i_have_youtube_premium_why_am_i_getting_adds/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=18 Dec 2023 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219183511/https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18ll7y6/i_have_youtube_premium_why_am_i_getting_adds/ |archive-date=19 Dec 2023
}}</ref> — they may still see ads within the video they watch, such as sponsored segments.{{Citation needed}} YouTube has added a "skip" feature, but it has been reported that this does not work consistently.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Anurag |last=Singh |title=YouTube now lets you skip sponsored segments — but you’ll have to pay for it |url=https://www.dexerto.com/youtube/youtube-now-lets-you-skip-sponsored-segments-but-youll-have-to-pay-for-it-2872784/ |website=Dexerto |date=22 Aug 2024 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822211151/https://www.dexerto.com/youtube/youtube-now-lets-you-skip-sponsored-segments-but-youll-have-to-pay-for-it-2872784/ |archive-date=22 Aug 2024}}</ref>

====Refusal to handle malicious ads====
A common phenomenon on YouTube's advertisements is content that is mature and/or malicious in nature.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Beyond The Internet |date=22 Feb 2025 |title=YouTube Ads are a Disgrace… |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B2KdIoRVo8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=_B2KdIoRVo8 |archive-date=23 Feb 2025 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |first=Adamya |last=Sharma |title=Explicit ads are plaguing YouTube, and it’s only getting worse |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-explicit-ads-problem-3520285/ |website=Android Authority |date=27 Jan 2025 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127062033/https://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-explicit-ads-problem-3520285/ |archive-date=27 Jan 2025}}</ref> The content of these advertisements include pornography,<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Saberspark |date=31 Mar 2025 |title=YouTube's Ads Have Hit A New Low...(it's literally p*rn) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW4On_gWAvI |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=cW4On_gWAvI |archive-date=2 Apr 2025 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> false advertising,<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> scams,<ref>{{Cite web |author=Jakob_G |title=YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18gjiqy/youtube_doesnt_want_to_take_down_scam_ads/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=12 Dec 2023 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217144248/https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18gjiqy/youtube_doesnt_want_to_take_down_scam_ads/ |archive-date=17 Dec 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=@JerryRigEverything |date=9 Mar 2023 |title=I CAUGHT THE YOUTUBE SCAMMER - $1000 dollars EVERY DAY?! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iROF9Dd7FXA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=iROF9Dd7FXA |archive-date=26 Jan 2026 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|author=LoganAH |title=Why does YouTube run blatant scams as advertisements? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18osjs6/why_does_youtube_run_blatant_scams_as/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Dec 2023 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250713054442/https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18osjs6/why_does_youtube_run_blatant_scams_as/  |archive-date=13 Jul 2025}}</ref> and far more. Rather than working towards clearing these ads, or acknowledging this advertising content that has been harming consumers on the platform, YouTube moderation has only cut the revenue for these videos that attempt to call out these ads,<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Deep Humor |date=24 Feb 2025 |title=Watch This Before YouTube Deletes It. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRpECEQ0-hg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=QRpECEQ0-hg |archive-date=26 Feb 2025 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> which has been known to make said videos be less-showcased.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |author=@Sealow |date=29 Nov 2017 |title=Extensive evidence of algorithm censorship of demonetised videos |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3H8D2LrLHc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=n3H8D2LrLHc |archive-date=26 Jan 2026 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=Karlaplan |title=Monetisation analysis / research |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/155yNpfR7dGKuN-4rbrvbJLcJkhGa_HqvVuyPK7UEfPo/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.jou9rc5d49jl
|website=[[Google]] |date=20 Nov 2017 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319182149/https://docs.google.com/document/d/155yNpfR7dGKuN-4rbrvbJLcJkhGa_HqvVuyPK7UEfPo/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.jou9rc5d49jl  |archive-date=19 Mar 2025}}</ref>

===Demonetization and censorship===
Since at least 2016, YouTube has had an extensive record of censoring content that is demonetized.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" /> Within understandable circumstances, legitimately malicious or offensive videos would be demonetized and should not be shown on the platform; however, how videos are considered to be demonetized has had a harmful impact upon both viewers and content creators. Transgender creators on YouTube, for example, have experienced unfair censorship via demonetization since 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Malia |last=Disney |title=Trans YouTubers Say They Are Being Censored. Is It The Algorithm? |url=https://archive.yr.media/journalism/outloud/trans-youtubers-say-they-are-being-censored-and-an-algorithm-may-be-to-blame/ |website=archive.yr.media |date=4 May 2018 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130035845/https://archive.yr.media/journalism/outloud/trans-youtubers-say-they-are-being-censored-and-an-algorithm-may-be-to-blame/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2023}}</ref> Content creators affected by this unfairly balanced moderation via algorithms<ref>{{Cite web |first=Randy |last=Cantz |title=Adpocalypse: How YouTube Demonetization Imperils the Future of Free Speech |url=https://bpr.studentorg.berkeley.edu/2018/05/01/adpocalypse-how-youtube-demonetization-imperils-the-future-of-free-speech/ |website=Berkeley Political Review |date=1 May 2018 |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424095310/https://bpr.studentorg.berkeley.edu/2018/05/01/adpocalypse-how-youtube-demonetization-imperils-the-future-of-free-speech/ |archive-date=24 Apr 2024}}</ref> have dubbed these events as "adpocalypses".<ref>{{Cite web |first=Julia |last=Alexander |title=YouTubers fear looming ‘adpocalypse’ after child exploitation controversy |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/20/18231561/youtube-child-exploitation-predators-controversy-creators-adpocalypse |website=The Verge |date=20 Feb 2019 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220205927/https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/20/18231561/youtube-child-exploitation-predators-controversy-creators-adpocalypse |archive-date=20 Feb 2019}}</ref>

====Irresponsibly automated moderation====
When YouTube integrated the ability to take down videos via the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA), they decided to often handle take-down requests in an automated manner.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |first=Chuck |last=Jines |title=ABUSE – How DMCA automated takedown notices violate free speech |url=https://www.chuckjines.com/abuse-dmac-automated-takedown-notices-and-free-speech/ |website=Chuck Jines |date=4 Mar 2025 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303201747/https://www.chuckjines.com/abuse-dmac-automated-takedown-notices-and-free-speech/ |archive-date=3 Mar 2025}}</ref> This automation has led to an excess in fraudulent DMCA take-downs of content,<ref>{{Cite web |author=itanshi |title=I'd like to talk about the problem with anonymous DMCA take down notices. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/5zzr9c/id_like_to_talk_about_the_problem_with_anonymous/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=27 Mar 2017 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606184354/https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/5zzr9c/id_like_to_talk_about_the_problem_with_anonymous/ |archive-date=6 Jun 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=@The Last Civil Rights Lawyer |date=21 Jul 2021 |title=“Lackluster” Gets a Fraudulent Copyright Strike for Dashcam Footage and Now We Sue |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPqtT88PT9Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=rPqtT88PT9Y |archive-date=2026-02-02 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> even going so far as to have [[Bungie]] call out YouTube in a legal case for their negligence.<ref>{{Cite web |first=John |last= Brodkin |title=Bungie slams YouTube’s DMCA system in lawsuit against ''Destiny'' takedown fraudsters |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/03/bungie-slams-youtubes-dmca-system-in-lawsuit-against-destiny-takedown-fraudsters/ |website=Ars Technica |date=28 Mar 2022 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329203809/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/03/bungie-slams-youtubes-dmca-system-in-lawsuit-against-destiny-takedown-fraudsters/ |archive-date=29 Mar 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Andy |last=Maxwell
|title=Digital Trails: How Bungie Identified a Mass Sender of Fake DMCA Notices |url=https://torrentfreak.com/digital-trails-how-bungie-identified-a-mass-sender-of-fake-dmca-notices-220624/ |website=TorrentFreak |date=24 Jun 2022 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624070824/https://torrentfreak.com/digital-trails-how-bungie-identified-a-mass-sender-of-fake-dmca-notices-220624/ |archive-date=24 Jun 2022}}</ref> These take-down requests have ranged from users impersonating corporations, to users impersonating other users.<ref name=":3" />

===Crackdown against ad-blockers===
The prevalence of advertising on the platform, coupled with the repeated appearance of harmful and deceptive ads within YouTube's advertising system, has led a significant number of users to employ ad-blocking tools to facilitate their viewing experience.

In response, Google has initiated technical countermeasures to limit the functionality of these tools. This has resulted in an ongoing cycle where ad-blocker developers adapt to new restrictions, and the platform subsequently implements further detection methods. A key strategy in this effort involves the implementation of advanced code integrity checks designed to ensure ad content is delivered to viewers.

However, these measures typically exhibit limited efficacy before ad-blocking tools develop new methods of circumvention,<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Flaherty |first=Kate |date=20 Jun 2024 |title=YouTube’s Ad Blocker Ban Just Got Even Bigger |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2024/06/20/youtubes-ad-blocker-ban-just-got-even-bigger/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620123932/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2024/06/20/youtubes-ad-blocker-ban-just-got-even-bigger/ |archive-date=20 Jun 2024 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Scharon |last=Harding |title=YouTube’s ad blocker crackdown escalates, aggravating users |url=https://arstechnica.com/google/2023/11/youtube-tries-to-kill-ad-blockers-in-push-for-ad-dollars-premium-subs/ |website=Ars Technica |date=1 Nov 2023 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101170643/https://arstechnica.com/google/2023/11/youtube-tries-to-kill-ad-blockers-in-push-for-ad-dollars-premium-subs/ |archive-date=1 Nov 2023}}</ref><ref group="Rossmann Video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMaFH4KzOVg YouTube blocks adblockers; will this be their downfall?]</ref> a dynamic that some analysts suggest exemplifies the<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brave no longer blocking youtube ads as of March 27, 2024 |url=https://community.brave.com/t/brave-no-longer-blocking-youtube-ads-as-of-march-27-2024/540032 |website=Brave |date=27 May 2024 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801101510/https://community.brave.com/t/brave-no-longer-blocking-youtube-ads-as-of-march-27-2024/540032 |archive-date=1 Aug 2024}}</ref><nowiki> </nowiki>{{Wplink|Streisand effect}}.<ref group="Rossmann Video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GARcKCaUfI YouTube's adblock war is backfiring in the worst way possible 🤣]</ref>

Additional strategies have involved the integration of advertisements directly into video streams. This approach has impaired the functionality of certain browser extensions, including SponsorBlock, a community-driven tool designed to skip sponsored segments within videos. The extension relies on user-submitted timestamps to identify these segments; its effectiveness is significantly reduced when personalized advertisements, which vary in duration and placement for each viewer, are embedded into the stream itself.<ref group="Rossmann Video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weP62wPEjRw Youtube is dedicated to making this website worse; destroys sponsorblock with ad injection changes]</ref>

Google has publicly acknowledged implementing code that degrades the user experience for individuals using ad blockers. This includes introducing artificial latency, which has been documented to slow page load times, a measure that also affected users of the Firefox browser.<ref group="Rossmann Video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMLMQRS3Krk Youtube confirms intentional slowdown of adblock users 🤦‍♂️]</ref><ref group="Rossmann Video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x7NSw0Irc0 Is Youtube making firefox load slow on purpose?]</ref>
Further viewing:
<ref group="Rossmann Video">[https://youtube.com/watch?v=fcXTlobPCQw Youtube goes to war with ad blockers - how companies die]</ref><ref group="Rossmann Video">[https://youtube.com/watch?v=ALvky_4mJpM Youtube adblocker gives Google the finger on their own platform]</ref><ref group="Rossmann Video">[https://youtube.com/watch?v=PTmZv7-eMrE Youtube's war on adblockers continues, sends cease & desist to invidious.io - you know what to do 😉]</ref>

====Offline video DRM====
The YouTube Mobile application permits users with a YouTube Premium subscription to download videos for offline viewing. However, the downloaded content is protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM) that requires the application to establish an online connection with YouTube's servers at least once every 48 hours to maintain playback functionality. This requirement is not prominently featured on the primary YouTube Premium marketing page and is detailed instead within the platform's support documentation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=YouTube Premium |url=https://www.youtube.com/premium |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/u9yLW |archive-date=2025-11-11 |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch videos offline on mobile in selected countries and regions |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6141269 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250719175650/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6141269 |archive-date=19 Jul 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>

Saved videos are forcibly deleted after 29 days. [[Data_lock-in#Videos_downloaded_inside_the_YouTube_app|Data lock-in and proprietary encoding]] prevents the user from making permanent copies of videos, even those licensed under Creative Commons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Noel |date=2024-12-07 |title=Warning: Youtube Premium "Downloads" aren't MP4 Files |url=https://www.virtualcuriosities.com/articles/3383/warning-youtube-premium-downloads-arent-mp4-files |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/eeX0J |archive-date=2026-02-02 |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=Virtual Curiousities}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mental Outlaw |title=Google is Locking Down Android |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1S0SiBuJN8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=L1S0SiBuJN8 |archive-date=2025-08-29 |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

====Universal DRM testing and violation of Creative Commons licences====
YouTube on TV is an HTML5 web interface from Google to allow supported devices — such as game consoles which do not have a native YouTube app — to view content via YouTube. An A/B experiment has begun which protects all video and audio content regardless of bitrate or format via the YouTube on TV platform with DRM.<ref>{{Cite web |author=coletdjnz |title=[YouTube] DRM on ALL videos with tv (TVHTML5) client #12563 |url=https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12563 |website=GitHub |date=8 Mar 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330031529/https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12563 |archive-date=30 Mar 2025}}</ref> One {{Wplink|Xbox 360}} user reported that the YouTube on TV functionality stopped working as a result of the DRM implementation{{Citation needed|date=18 Aug 2025}}. A number of content creators license their work uploaded to YouTube via the {{Wplink|Creative Commons}} licenses. The universal implementation of DRM to restrict a users ability to exercise their rights granted by the license is a violation of the aforementioned licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=License Versions
|url=https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/License_Versions#Application_of_effective_technological_measures_by_users_of_CC-licensed_works_prohibited |website=Creative Commons |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250101062938/https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/License_Versions#Application_of_effective_technological_measures_by_users_of_CC-licensed_works_prohibited |archive-date=1 Jan 2025}}</ref>

===Paywalling standard browser features===
Another premium feature of the YouTube mobile app is the ability to play videos in the background.<ref name=":0" /> Without a premium subscription, neither the app nor a web browser will play YouTube videos in the background. However, the default HTML5 video player supports this with no extra effort needed from the developer.{{Citation needed}}

===Removal of the dislike count on videos===
On 10 November 2021, YouTube removed the public dislike count from all of its videos. Creators are still be able to view dislike counts on their videos through the YouTube Studio website and app.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=An update to dislikes on YouTube |url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/update-to-youtube/ |website=YouTube Official Blog |date=10 Nov 2021 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110173333/https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/update-to-youtube/ |archive-date=10 Nov 2021}}</ref>

According to YouTube, this was implemented after user testing revealed that users were less likely to feel incentivized to actively try and manipulate the dislike count on videos if the dislike count was not visible to them.<ref name=":2" /> This spurred the creation of "Return YouTube Dislike" by Dmitry Selivanov, a third-party web browser extension to expose the dislike count again. YouTube discontinued the related API, upon which the extension relied, on 13 December 2021. From thereon "Return YouTube Dislike" switched "to using a combination of archived dislike stats, estimates extrapolated from extension user data and estimates based on view/like ratios for videos whose dislikes weren't archived and for outdated dislike archives."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Michael |last=Can |title=Browser Extension Brings Back Dislike Count to YouTube Videos |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/browser-extension-brings-back-dislike-count-to-youtube-videos
|website=PC Mag |date=29 Nov 2021 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130001311/https://www.pcmag.com/news/browser-extension-brings-back-dislike-count-to-youtube-videos |archive-date=30 Nov 2021}}</ref>
===Anti-features and dark patterns to trick the user into staying longer===
YouTube's algorithm was engineered to make the user watch more videos than they intended, to earn more ad revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicas |first=Jack |date=7 Feb 2018 |title=How YouTube Drives People to the Internet’s Darkest Corners |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-youtube-drives-viewers-to-the-internets-darkest-corners-1518020478 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208091112/https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-youtube-drives-viewers-to-the-internets-darkest-corners-1518020478 |archive-date=8 Dec 2018 |access-date=29 Jan 2026 |website=The Wall Street Journal |quote=YouTube engineered its algorithm several years ago to make the site “sticky”—to recommend videos that keep users staying to watch still more, said current and former YouTube engineers who helped build it. The site earns money selling ads that run before and during videos.}}</ref> On top of a feature called Autoplay, which queues another video (chosen by Youtube's algorithm) and plays that automatically after a short delay so you keep watching more. Especially children will through this mechanism have their attention extracted for several hours.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2 Nov 2018 |others=NPR/TED Staff |title=James Bridle: What Do Kids' Videos on YouTube Reveal About the Internet's Dark Side? |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/662612151 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620234159/https://www.npr.org/transcripts/662612151 |archive-date=20 Jun 2025 |access-date=29 Jan 2026 |website=NPR |quote="And also, on the other side of the screen, there still are these little kids watching this stuff - right? - their full attention grabbed by these weird mechanisms. And so there's autoplay, where it just keeps playing these videos over and over and over on a loop, endlessly, for hours and hours at a time. And there's so much weirdness in the system now that autoplay takes you to some pretty strange places. This is how within, like, a dozen steps, you can go from a cute video of a counting train to masturbating Mickey Mouse."}}</ref>

<blockquote>This is how within, like, a dozen steps, you can go from a cute video of a counting train to masturbating Mickey Mouse — James Bridle<ref name=":9" /></blockquote>By default, this feature is enabled.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Apr 2025 |title=Autoplay videos - YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6327615?hl=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401080124/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6327615?hl=en |archive-date=1 Apr 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref> Another feature like this is the inclusion of irrelevant videos in search results, which are marked as "related".{{Citation needed}} If the user searches for something and scrolls down the list too far, the likelihood of them finding what they were looking for decreases since results are generally sorted by what the platform deems relevant to the search query. Hence, if the user scrolls down too far, it is likely that they give up and leave the site. Therefore YouTube started to add random videos out of its recommendation list for the user into the search results, increasing the probability that they see something they will click and watch.{{Citation needed}} This makes it much harder and more inconvenient to find relevant search results since the user has to scroll past all the noise that is designed to distract them. Since unrelated videos are promoted in search in its place, it means that a low engagement video that is actually relevant is less likely to be discovered.{{Citation needed}}

===High number of bots===
Upon the initial publication of a video, the comment section is frequently targeted by coordinated automated accounts.{{Citation needed}} These accounts often engage in disruptive activities, including attempts to direct users to external scams or artificially inflate engagement.{{Citation needed}}

These accounts commonly employ identifiable tactics, such as:

*Utilizing profile pictures of popular public figures or suggestive imagery.
*Reposting highly-liked comments from the same video, sometimes with minor edits if the comment gains significant traction.
*Posting generic comments that are irrelevant to the video's content or the channel's focus.

Despite consistent feedback from content creators and the broader community, effective platform-level measures to automatically detect and mitigate this activity appear limited.{{Citation needed}} Consequently, content creators and their moderation teams are often required to manually review and remove these comments on a per-video basis to maintain the quality and safety of their community interactions.{{Citation needed}}

===Crackdown against third-party front-ends===
Since the beginning of 2025, users have been reporting issues with 3rd-party frontends accessing the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Feb 2025 |title=Youtube changed something, again! |url=https://nadeko.net/announcements/invidious-02-20/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816014757/https://nadeko.net/announcements/invidious-02-20/ |archive-date=16 Aug 2025 |access-date=16 Aug 2025}}</ref> For FreeTube, there has been a heightened amount of people receiving [[wikipedia:HTTP_403|403 errors]] associated with IP blocks when attempting to view videos via this frontend.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gevaarlijk |date=Jan 31, 2025 |title=[Bug]: [BAD_HTTP_STATUS: 403] Potential causes: IP block or streaming URL deciphering failed #6701 |url=https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube/issues/6701 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/cPHsx |archive-date=21 Feb 2025 |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref>

===AI filtering without consent===
YouTube is testing an experiment on Shorts content that enhances a video's detail without the creator's consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reisner |first=Alex |date=August 22, 2025 |title=YouTube’s Sneaky AI ‘Experiment’ |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/08/youtube-shorts-ai-upscaling/683946/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250822194955/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/08/youtube-shorts-ai-upscaling/683946/ |archive-date=22 Aug 2025 |access-date=August 26, 2025 |website=The Register}}</ref> The resulting output tends to look plastic. This change has been observed as early as June 27, 2025<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ulincsys |date=June 27, 2025 |title=YouTube Shorts are almost certainly being AI upscaled |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/1lllnse/youtube_shorts_are_almost_certainly_being_ai/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/01yrZ |archive-date=2025-08-07 |access-date=August 26, 2025 |website=Reddit}}</ref> and affects creators who especially intend the video to be viewed in a certain way, such as the "VHS look".<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2025 |title=YouTube Shorts are becoming AI upscaled without consent from creators |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/1m5y7zu/youtube_shorts_are_becoming_ai_upscaled_without/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/i2Ej3 |archive-date=18 Aug 2025 |access-date=August 26, 2025 |website=Reddit}}</ref> Rhett Shull, in his video, opines such a change "will inevitably erode viewers trust in my content [...] or any of the other creators on this platform that we all watch and we all follow" due to implications that the creator may be using AI, and "also erodes my trust in the platform."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shull |first=Rhett |date=2025-08-14 |title=YouTube Is Using AI to Alter Content (and not telling us) |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=86nhP8tvbLY |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=86nhP8tvbLY |archive-date=16 Aug 2025 |access-date=August 26, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

Artist Sam Yang uploaded a video on the August 30th, 2025<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yang |first=Sam |date=30 Aug 2025 |title=Youtube is Using AI on Your Shorts Without Consent.. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjnQ-s7LW-g |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=tjnQ-s7LW-g |archive-date=26 Jan 2026 |website=Youtube}}</ref> following up on the issue using his own work for comparison, testing the claims that this is merely compression scaling, adding an artist's eye and commentary to the issue.

Users complained about a dangerous flickering that happens under some videos. Some forwarded this issue to YouTube scientist Anton Petrov, to which he replicated the issue and showed it under a video uploaded October 25, 2025, noting it happens on one of his devices, more specifically a mobile phone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petrov |first=Anton |date=2025-10-25 |title=YouTube AI Filter Is Making My Videos Dangerous To Watch |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HY-nREvVu4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=2HY-nREvVu4 |archive-date=26 Oct 2025 |access-date=October 30, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

===2025 channel terminations wave===
On November 2025, multiple YouTube channels, including Enderman, Scratchit Gaming, and 4096 are reportedly terminated in a massive banwave under false reasons, such as association with a Japanese-language channel "椛のスターレイル遊び" which translates roughly as "Momiji plays Honkai: Star Rail Adventures," a reference to a Japanese role-playing game. Some have blamed the banwave on the malfunctions of YouTube's AI-powered moderation system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Binder |first=Matt |date=2025-11-04 |title=Big YouTube channels are being banned. YouTubers are blaming AI. |url=https://mashable.com/article/big-youtube-channels-terminated-creators-blame-ai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/IHzZU |archive-date=2026-02-02 |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=Mashable}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Relevant Rossmann Videos===
<references group="Rossmann Video" />

[[Category:YouTube]]

Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners

2026-02-05T21:23:01Z

Matt78: Fixed some text

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Creality
|StartDate=2025/08/07
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=3D Scanners
|Product=Otter, Raptor, Ferret*
|ArticleType=Service
|Type=Firmware lockout
|Description=Creality's forced update mandate and removing a big feature of their scanners that allows the use of Mobile APP is now locked behind proprietary hardware.
}}'''Creality''' has removed access to previously available features such as scanning directly with a phone link (connecting the phone directly to the 3d scanner), without the use of proprietary hardware. This worked, and while it was flawed, it was a feature that was advertised and they seem to be going into direction of finally supporting it. At some point after announcing the '''Creality Scan Bridge''', the application, Creality Scan on IOS/Android devices, had received an update, effectively removing the ability to directly scan via Phone->Scanner link. Only way was through their proprietary hardware, which can cost up to $300 USD.

==Background==
Creality's 3D Scanner lineup, up to that point (Otter, Ferret, Raptor and RaptorX*) had been advertised that they will soon feature ability to scan via simple connection to the phone. The first version to actually allow this of this is not 100% known, however, it is known that the last version to feature this, was 2.2.6v of the Creality Scan, which allowed said lineup, to easily and freely connect your 3D Scanner from the Creality's line up. <ref>{{Cite news |title=Image of showcasting promised support with the Creality Scan |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2123415474748214/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104040342/https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2123415474748214/ |archive-date=2026-01-04}}</ref>

This while not perfect, worked, and allowed you to somewhat, easily transfer your scans to the PC/Laptop and do the heavily computing on there, while having the freedom to scan with your phone. This allowed easy and fast scanning especially as it did not require for the Point Cloud (points that the scanner grabs), that you drag your PC/Laptop with you and hold it while scanning. It did had numerous issues, but the application was working.

==Forced update==
Since the application update from '''2.2.6V,''' onwards, the rhetoric of Creality was that in order to use the application as "intended" you had to buy the aforementioned, '''Creality Scan Bridge.''' A '''250-300$''' (USD) proprietary hardware, that features a battery, and a wireless antenna, all within a specific handle to make scanning easier. While the item in it self is not an issue, the issue was that it suddenly become '''mandatory to buy it''', in order to use it the application for IOS/Android with your scanner, even though that it was already properly working beforehand. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Showcase of a facebook post as many people reporting that the app worked, right until 2.2.6 |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/posts/2237763439980083/}}</ref>

They had effectively disabled the application to recognize the scanner if you plugged it directly to your phone, with a USB-C to USB-C cable that connects to your phone and Scanner.

Users could downgrade to said version ('''2.2.6v'''), however, after '''2025-08-07''', they have pushed a '''forced Mandatory update''' to all of the scanners before you can open and use it in Creality Scan 4. (Creality Scan 3, as of this point and date, still does not force users to update). Even if you are using Creality Scan on IOS/Android it would not register it from that point. This update changelog can be seen on: "https://www.crealitycloud.com/downloads/other/cr-scan".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Their official page listing downloads for all of the frimware, where you can see "Added network security authentication.". Suddenly. |url=https://www.crealitycloud.com/downloads/other/cr-scan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909180150/https://www.crealitycloud.com/downloads/other/cr-scan |archive-date=2025-09-09}}</ref>

This '''forced''' update happens as soon as you have a stable internet connection and you open up the Creality Scan 4 software, their newest software as of writing this article. You are not allowed to not opt-out of this update, but have only the chance to install it. Keeping in mind that some of these scanners have not received any update from 2024 ('''Otter''' in particular), that gives no real fixes besides locking your scanner to not work with aforementioned application on your phone. Only with their proprietary hardware.

If you happen to install this update, and try to go back to the application on your phone, this essentially "soft-locks" the scanner so you cannot find you scanner even on previous version of the application on your phone (2.2.6v) that worked. However, if you do not update, you cannot use '''Creality Scan 4'''. Only way to use it without updating, is that you have a fresh installation of Creality Scan 4, and disable internet access to the software, before the first start of the application.

To top it off, Creality's software Creality Scan 4, suffers from observable quality degradation issues, that might or might not be intentional. (Even though it is faster and more intuitive, it has been noticed that in Colour Mapping abilities of scans, have been reduced in quality. This may not be intentional, but rather an oversight during the development phase)(This however cannot be overlooked, as Creality Scan 4 software, is no longer in beta since '''2025-06-06'''). ''*in direct compariosn between Creality Scan 3 software, and 4''. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Radic |first=Gabriel |title=Direct comparison of the same rock, only difference is the software (easily noticable quality difference in Color Mapping) |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2259683924454701/}}</ref>

===Creality's response===

As of this moment have not been an official wide response on "why", aside from administrators from official Facebook groups, where they claim it would "drain the battery", and that this seems to be the reason they want you to buy a 250-300$ USD hardware from them, even though this was not an issue or statement before, when the software worked. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Henry |title=Quote from an employe that says it would suddenly drain your battery |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/posts/2237763439980083/?comment_id=2238238926599201}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Another post in which an employee of Creality says you need to use the Scanner Bridge (even though the application worked without it prior and with 2.2.6) |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2130629434026818/}}</ref>

==Consumer response==

Backlash has been vocal, seeing many posts from Reddit and Facebook official and unoffical groups, shows that what the company has done, has not been received well. Such as a user willing to even pay for the APK version of '''2.2.6v,''' just so the user can use the actual software as it was advertised and intended to. [2]Some people have stated that it is most likely again, for people to switch and buy the aforementioned hardware. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-09 |title=Offical release where multiple users reported that they no longer can connect directly to their scanner with their phone on the app. |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2130629434026818/}}</ref>

This has caused quite a stir on what the company actually prioritizes, as the software, up until that point had no issue with working.

==References==
{{reflist}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Creality 3d Scanner - Forces updates that remove previously advertised and shown features}}
[[Category:Creality]]

Category:Creality

2026-02-05T21:09:58Z

Matt78: Created category under 3D printer companies category

{{#default_form:Company}}

[[Category:3D printer companies]]

Creality

2026-02-05T20:48:02Z

Matt78: Removed category

Creality

2026-02-05T20:43:05Z

Matt78: Added category

Creality

2026-02-05T20:23:30Z

Matt78: Added introductory paragraph, cleaned up incidents section, added links in see also section and added references.

Vizio

2026-02-05T19:26:37Z

Matt78: Fixed some text

{{Stub}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American manufacturer of TVs and home theater accessories.
|Founded=2002
|Industry=Electronics
|Logo=Vizio.png
|ParentCompany=Walmart
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.vizio.com/
}}
'''{{wplink|Vizio}}''' is an American designer of televisions, soundbars, and related software and accessories that has been owned by [[Walmart]] since 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 Dec 2024 |title=Walmart Completes Acquisition of VIZIO |url=https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2024/12/03/walmart-completes-acquisition-of-vizio/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204110705/https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2024/12/03/walmart-completes-acquisition-of-vizio/ |archive-date=4 Dec 2024 |publisher=Walmart Corporate |language=en |format=press release}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

====Privacy Violations====

*Consumers unaware their viewing habits were being tracked<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Christin S. McMeley |author2=Paul Glist |author3=John D. Seiver |author4=Alexander B. Reynolds |date=Oct 2017 |title=The Real Takeaway From VIZIO's Privacy FTC Settlement |url=https://www.dwt.com/blogs/media-law-monitor/2017/10/the-real-takeaway-from-vizios-privacy-ftc-settleme |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202003735/https://www.dwt.com/blogs/media-law-monitor/2017/10/the-real-takeaway-from-vizios-privacy-ftc-settleme |archive-date=2 Dec 2020 |publisher=Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |language=en |format=article}}</ref>
*Personal information linked to viewing data without consent<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Lesley Fair |date=6 Feb 2017 |title=What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen |url=https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2017/02/what-vizio-was-doing-behind-tv-screen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313091120/https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2017/02/what-vizio-was-doing-behind-tv-screen |archive-date=13 Mar 2022 |publisher=Federal Trade Commission (FTC) |language=en |format=press release}}</ref>
*Data shared with multiple third parties<ref name=":0" />

====Financial Impact====

*Consumers unknowingly subsidized lower TV prices through data sales<ref name=":0" />
*No direct compensation to affected consumers despite $2.2 million settlement<ref name=":0" />
*Data collection potentially continued for years before discovery<ref name=":0" />

==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]].

===FTC fines Vizio for selling user data without consent (''2017''):===
{{Main|Vizio fined by the FTC for collecting and selling user data without consumer consent}}
Vizio sold consumers’ viewing histories to advertisers and others without consent. The company provided consumers’ IP addresses to data aggregators, who then matched the address with an individual consumer or household. Vizio’s contracts with third parties prohibited the re-identification of consumers and households by name, but allowed a host of other personal details – for example, sex, age, income, marital status, household size, education, and home ownership. And Vizio permitted these companies to track and target its consumers across devices.<ref name=":0" />

===SFC sues Vizio for violating GPL (''2021 - Present''):===
{{Main|Vizio sued over unfairly appropriated software for their SmartCast system}}
On 19 October 2021, the [https://sfconservancy.org Software Freedom Conservancy] (SFC) sued Vizio over the alleged unfairly appropriated software in their SmartCast system.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Vizio Lawsuit Q & A |url=https://sfconservancy.org/press/qanda.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020053409/https://sfconservancy.org/press/qanda.html |archive-date=20 Oct 2021 |publisher=Software Freedom Conservancy |language=en |format=article}}</ref> The SFC argues that Vizio’s alleged failure to adhere to copyleft-licensing requirements denies rights that are guaranteed to downstream users.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=Steven Vaughan-Nichols |date=19 Oct 2021 |title=Software Freedom Conservancy sues Vizio for GPL violations |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/software-freedom-conservancy-sues-vizio-for-gpl-violations/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019203625/https://www.zdnet.com/article/software-freedom-conservancy-sues-vizio-for-gpl-violations/ |archive-date=19 Oct 2021 |publisher=ZDNET |language=en |format=article}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=FOSSA Editorial Team |date=13 May 2022 |title=The Massive Implications of Software Freedom Conservancy vs. Vizio |url=https://fossa.com/blog/massive-implications-software-freedom-conservancy-vs-vizio/ |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IiQcd |archive-date=6 Jan 2026 |publisher=FOSSA |language=en |format=article}}</ref>

===Vizio strongly disagrees with Consumer Reports not recommending them anymore (''2019''):===
Vizio does not address the concerns raised by the reports, and instead states "It inherently assumes that TVs from 2010 should behave the same as TVs today in terms of performance.", "The applications (apps) on connected TVs are dependent on a multitude of third-party service providers. The number of variables involved in the performance of connected TVs is greater than for non-connected TVs."<ref>{{Cite web|url-status=dead|url=https://www.vizio.com/en/press/2019/mar/VIZIO-responds-to-consumer-reports-grossly-inaccurate-reliability-survey-vizio-hdtvs-maintain-high-consumer-ratings-and-overall-satisfaction;|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723182552/https://www.vizio.com/en/press/2019/mar/VIZIO-responds-to-consumer-reports-grossly-inaccurate-reliability-survey-vizio-hdtvs-maintain-high-consumer-ratings-and-overall-satisfaction|title=VIZIO Responds to Consumer Reports’ Grossly Inaccurate “Reliability” Survey; VIZIO HDTVs Maintain High Consumer Ratings and Overall Satisfaction|archive-date=23 Jul 2021|date=28 March 2019|language=en|format=press release|publisher=VIZIO}}</ref> Consumer Reports revealed that Vizio has subpar reliability relative to other TV manufacturers, which is also among competing smart TVs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Mar 2019 |title=Consumer Reports No Longer Recommends Vizio and Hisense TVs Due to Problems with Reliability |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/media-room/press-releases/2019/03/consumer-reports-no-longer-recommends-vizio-and-hisense-tvs-due-/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120093010/https://www.consumerreports.org/media-room/press-releases/2019/03/consumer-reports-no-longer-recommends-vizio-and-hisense-tvs-due-/ |archive-date=20 Nov 2019 |publisher=Consumer Reports |language=en |format=press release}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[LG Television sale of personal data]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Vizio]]
[[Category:Smart TVs]]

Creality forces update that removes features from their 3D scanners

2026-02-05T19:12:18Z

Matt78:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Creality
|StartDate=2025/08/07
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=3D Scanners
|Product=Otter, Raptor, Ferret*
|ArticleType=Service
|Type=Firmware lockout
|Description=Creality's forced update mandate and removing a big feature of their scanners that allows the use of Mobile APP is now locked behind proprietary hardware.
}}'''Creality''' has removed access to previously available features such as scanning directly with a phone link (connecting the phone directly to the 3d scanner), without the use of proprietary hardware. This worked, and while it was flawed, it was a feature that was advertised and they seem to be going into direction of finally supporting it. At some point after announcing '''Creality's Scan Bridge''', the application, Creality Scan on IOS/Android devices, had received an update, effectively removing the ability to directly scan via Phone->Scanner link. Only way was through their proprietary hardware, which can cost up to $300 USD.

==Background==
Creality's 3D Scanner lineup, up to that point (Otter, Ferret, Raptor and RaptorX*) had been advertised that they will soon feature ability to scan via simple connection to the phone. The first version to actually allow this of this is not 100% known, however, it is known that the last version to feature this, was 2.2.6v of the Creality Scan, which allowed said lineup, to easily and freely connect your 3D Scanner from the Creality's line up. <ref>{{Cite news |title=Image of showcasting promised support with the Creality Scan |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2123415474748214/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104040342/https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2123415474748214/ |archive-date=2026-01-04}}</ref>

This while not perfect, worked, and allowed you to somewhat, easily transfer your scans to the PC/Laptop and do the heavily computing on there, while having the freedom to scan with your phone. This allowed easy and fast scanning especially as it did not require for the Point Cloud (points that the scanner grabs), that you drag your PC/Laptop with you and hold it while scanning. It did had numerous issues, but the application was working.

==Forced update==
Since the application update from '''2.2.6V,''' onwards, the rhetoric of Creality was that in order to use the application as "intended" you had to buy the aforementioned, '''Creality Scan Bridge.''' A '''250-300$''' (USD) proprietary hardware, that features a battery, and a wireless antenna, all within a specific handle to make scanning easier. While the item in it self is not an issue, the issue was that it suddenly become '''mandatory to buy it''', in order to use it the application for IOS/Android with your scanner, even though that it was already properly working beforehand. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Showcase of a facebook post as many people reporting that the app worked, right until 2.2.6 |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/posts/2237763439980083/}}</ref>

They had effectively disabled the application to recognize the scanner if you plugged it directly to your phone, with a simple, yet quality USB-C to USB-C cable that connect to your Phone and Scanner.

Users could downgrade to said version ('''2.2.6v'''), however, after '''2025-08-07''', they have pushed a '''forced Mandatory update''' to all of the scanners before you can open and use it in Creality Scan 4. (Creality Scan 3, as of this point and date, still does not force users to update). Even if you are using Creality Scan on IOS/Android it would not register it from that point. This update changelog can be seen on: "https://www.crealitycloud.com/downloads/other/cr-scan".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Their official page listing downloads for all of the frimware, where you can see "Added network security authentication.". Suddenly. |url=https://www.crealitycloud.com/downloads/other/cr-scan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909180150/https://www.crealitycloud.com/downloads/other/cr-scan |archive-date=2025-09-09}}</ref>

This '''forced''' update happens as soon as you have a stable internet connection and you open up the Creality Scan 4 software, their newest software as of writing this article. You are not allowed to not opt-out of this update, but have only the chance to install it. Keeping in mind that some of these scanners have not received any update from 2024 ('''Otter''' in particular), that gives no real fixes besides locking your scanner to not work with aforementioned application on your phone. Only with their proprietary hardware.

If you happen to install this update, and try to go back to the application on your phone, this essentially "soft-locks" the scanner so you cannot find you scanner even on previous version of the application on your phone (2.2.6v) that worked. However, if you do not update, you cannot use '''Creality Scan 4'''. Only way to use it without updating, is that you have a fresh installation of Creality Scan 4, and disable internet access to the software, before the first start of the application.

To top it off, Creality's software Creality Scan 4, suffers from observable quality degradation issues, that might or might not be intentional. (Even though it is faster and more intuitive, it has been noticed that in Colour Mapping abilities of scans, have been reduced in quality. This may not be intentional, but rather an oversight during the development phase)(This however cannot be overlooked, as Creality Scan 4 software, is no longer in beta since '''2025-06-06'''). ''*in direct compariosn between Creality Scan 3 software, and 4''. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Radic |first=Gabriel |title=Direct comparison of the same rock, only difference is the software (easily noticable quality difference in Color Mapping) |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2259683924454701/}}</ref>

===Creality's response===

As of this moment have not been an official wide response on "why", aside from administrators from official Facebook groups, where they claim it would "drain the battery", and that this seems to be the reason they want you to buy a 250-300$ USD hardware from them, even though this was not an issue or statement before, when the software worked. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Henry |title=Quote from an employe that says it would suddenly drain your battery |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/posts/2237763439980083/?comment_id=2238238926599201}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Another post in which an employee of Creality says you need to use the Scanner Bridge (even though the application worked without it prior and with 2.2.6) |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2130629434026818/}}</ref>

==Consumer response==

Backlash has been vocal, seeing many posts from Reddit and Facebook official and unoffical groups, shows that what the company has done, has not been received well. Such as a user willing to even pay for the APK version of '''2.2.6v,''' just so the user can use the actual software as it was advertised and intended to. [2]Some people have stated that it is most likely again, for people to switch and buy the aforementioned hardware. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-09 |title=Offical release where multiple users reported that they no longer can connect directly to their scanner with their phone on the app. |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/creality3dscanner2/permalink/2130629434026818/}}</ref>

This has caused quite a stir on what the company actually prioritizes, as the software, up until that point had no issue with working.

==References==
{{reflist}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Creality 3d Scanner - Forces updates that remove previously advertised and shown features}}
[[Category:Creality]]

ADDW car systems legislated in the EU

2026-01-26T19:14:14Z

Matt78: Added archive URL to ref

{{StubNotice}}

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

==How it works==
From 7 July 2026 onward, all new vehicles sold within the EU must contain cameras that monitor driver behavior and notify them accordingly in case of improper driving conduct - something that had already taken place with M and N type vehicles from 7 July 2024<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=ADDW specifications |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=PI_COM:C(2023)4523 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104122145/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=PI_COM:C(2023)4523 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |website=EUR-Lex}}</ref>. This is on par with the goal that the EU had set to cut down on road accidents by half, compared to 2019<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=28 Oct 2021 |title=European Commission welcomes launch of Global Plan for the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021-2030 |url=https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/european-commission-welcomes-launch-global-plan-un-decade-action-road-safety-2021-2030-2021-10-28_en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104122509/https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/european-commission-welcomes-launch-global-plan-un-decade-action-road-safety-2021-2030-2021-10-28_en |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |website=European Commission}}</ref>.

The cameras are meant to monitor the driver's gaze, which could result in a warning if it is not directed at the areas that are specified in<ref name=":0" /> (Specifically points 3.3.1.1., 3.3.1.2., 3.3.1.3).

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

==Why it is a problem==
With such legislation, '''privacy concerns''' are a major issue.

Although the data falls under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EU has established strong rules, the question remains how effectively the EU can enforce GDPR in the automotive sector, especially as these technologies become more widespread and are used on a daily basis.

Based on past incidents, these concerns are well-founded. For example, in the case of Tesla, employees were found sharing sensitive content from consumer vehicle cameras in private group chats<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stecklow |first=Steve |last2=Cunningham |first2=Waylon |last3=Jin |first3=Hyunjoo |date=7 Apr 2023 |editor-last=Hirschberg |editor-first=Peter |title=Tesla workers shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/tesla-workers-shared-sensitive-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0L5zE |archive-date=2025-02-15 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=8 Apr 2023 |title=Tesla workers shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1746491 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104124032/https://www.dawn.com/news/1746491 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=Dawn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brodkin |first=John |date=6 Apr 2023 |title=Tesla workers shared images from car cameras, including “scenes of intimacy” |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/04/tesla-workers-shared-images-from-car-cameras-including-scenes-of-intimacy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250830115126/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/04/tesla-workers-shared-images-from-car-cameras-including-scenes-of-intimacy/ |archive-date=2025-08-30 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=ArsTechnica}}</ref>.

Moreover, cars are already regarded as privacy hazards, with manufacturers often selling user information and exhibiting questionable security practices<ref>{{Cite news |last=Caltrider |first=Jen |last2=Rykov |first2=Misha |last3=MacDonald |first3=Zoë |date=6 Sep 2023 |title=It’s Official: Cars Are the Worst Product Category We Have Ever Reviewed for Privacy |url=https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/its-official-cars-are-the-worst-product-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250804133419/https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/its-official-cars-are-the-worst-product-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/ |archive-date=2025-08-04 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=Mozilla Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Katharine |first=Kemp |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=Modern cars are surveillance devices on wheels with major privacy risks – new report |url=https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/11/modern-cars-surveillance-devices-privacy-risks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250713111557/https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/11/modern-cars-surveillance-devices-privacy-risks |archive-date=2025-07-13 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |work=unsw.edu.au}}</ref>.

Adding to this, [[NOYB]], which is a "European Center for Digital Rights", conducted a survey with more than 1,000 privacy professionals, and 74.4% of them agree that the average company has relevant GDPR violations<ref>{{Cite web |title=GDPR a culture of non-compliance? |url=https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2024-01/GDPR_a%20culture%20of%20non-compliance.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801172545/https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2024-01/GDPR_a%20culture%20of%20non-compliance.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-01 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |website=noyb}}</ref>.

==References==
{{reflist}}

Canon ink DRM

2026-01-26T18:58:04Z

Matt78: Fixed link, removed Consumer Response section

{{Stub}}
[[Digital rights management]] (DRM) is a practice used by many major printer manufacturers, including [[Canon]]. The manufacturers include silicon chips as part of the ink cartridges that can identify a cartridge as coming directly from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) as opposed to an aftermarket alternative, which is often cheaper. When aftermarket cartridges are inserted, some printers will display a message suggesting the supposed dangers of using non-genuine ink and have in the past, disabled device functionality when aftermarket ink is installed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barret |first=Brian |date=23 Sep 2016 |title=HP Has Added DRM to Its Ink Cartridges. Not Even Kidding (Updated) |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/hp-printer-drm/ |url-status=live |access-date=20 Mar 2025 |website=Wired}}</ref> The DRM chip also prevents the OEM ink cartridges from being refilled, it communicates to the printer that the specific cartridge has already been used.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gault |first=Matthew |date=11 Jan 2022 |title=Canon Tells Customers to Break Its Printer Cartridge DRM Due to Chip Shortage |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/canon-tells-customers-to-break-its-printer-cartridge-drm-due-to-chip-shortage/ |url-status=live |access-date=20 Mar 2025 |website=Vice}}</ref>
==Incident==
During the global chip shortage from 2020–2023, Canon had difficulty obtaining chips used in their printer ink cartridges. This resulted in genuine Canon ink cartridges behaving as if they were aftermarket cartridges when inserted into some Canon printers. A support page on the Canon website was created that instructed customers to ignore the warning or error messages that appeared as a result, stating this would cause "no negative effects on print quality".<ref>Original: [https://www.canon.de/support/business/interim-toner/ Canon Support - Germany] Archived Dec 31st 2023: [https://web.archive.org/web/20231231021849/https://www.canon.de/support/business/interim-toner/ archive.org]</ref>

==Company Response==
Canon's instructions to customers in its support page to ignore these printer warning messages drew attention on social media from tech news outlets that considered the practice anti-competitive,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tracy |first=Phillip |date=11 Jan 2022 |title=Printer Cartridge Debacle Forces Canon to Tell Customers How to Break DRM |url=https://gizmodo.com/printer-cartridge-debacle-forces-canon-to-tell-customer-1848332901 |url-status=live |access-date=20 Mar 2025 |website=GizModo}}</ref> with Vice stating: "as consumers and digital rights activists have been pointing out for ages, Canon essentially admits that its own DRM is absolutely not necessary".<ref name=":0" />

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Canon]]
[[Category:Articles based on videos]]

Itron

2026-01-26T18:54:37Z

Matt78: Added logo, removed template

{{Incomplete|Issue 1 = Needs additional sourcing - none of the main accusations are sufficiently backed up, and seem speculative}}

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1977
|Industry=[[Smart meter]](s) and Modules, Smart Grid, Data Collection, Analysis Software, Data Management, Water Communication Modules, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities, Sensing + Control, Solar Monitoring, Natural Gas Detectors, Distributed Energy Resources, Smart Streetlights
|Type=Public
|Website=https://na.itron.com
|Description=Itron, Inc. is an American technology company that offers products and services for energy and water resource management.
|Logo=Itron Logo.png}}

'''Itron, Inc.''' is an American technology company that offers products and services for energy and water resource management. It is headquartered in Liberty Lake, Washington, United States. The company's products measure and analyze electricity, gas and water consumption. Its products include electricity, gas, water and thermal energy measurement devices and control technology, communications systems, software, as well as managed and consulting services.

==Consumer-impact summary==
Itron's services and products allow Itron access to many sources of data from their customers (mainly energy companies) and customers' end users:
*User Freedom - Many distribution and energy companies force customers to use technology from Itron (ex:[[Smart meter]](s) for gas, water, and electric) or face a monthly charge.
*User Privacy - Unable to view Itron Data Processing Agreement (Itron as Processor) https://na.itron.com/legal/privacy/contracts
*Business Model
*Market Control - Several utility profiders use Itron's services and technologies, see below for partial list:{{CitationNeeded}}

North America: CenterPoint Energy; Central Hudson; Southern California Edison; Pacific Gas & Electric; BC Hydro; FirstEnergy; DTE Energy; San Diego Gas & Electric; NYSEG; Cleveland Water; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Glendale Water and Power;RG&E; Rancho California Water District; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP); Florida Power & Light; Public Services Company of New Mexico

Europe, Middle East & Africa: EDF Energy; Gaz Réseau Distribution France (GRDF); Yorkshire Water; Italgas; Malta Water Services Corporation; State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR); Aguas de Valencia; Linea Distribuzione, Stadtnetze Neustadt and Stadtwerke Garbsen.

Asia Pacific & Australia: Powercor; CitiPower; PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN); Hong Kong Water; Sydney Water; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Tonga Power Limited (TPL).

South America: Iberdrola; Dominican Corporation of State Electricity Companies; NAMC Algeria; CPFL Energia; Eletrobras; ELO Sistemas Eletrônicos (ELO).

==Incidents==
===Itron's Smart meters allow them to collect, process, and store data without the end users' knowledge. (1980-Present)===
The major issue with Itron's smart meters is utility companies typically do not disclose to their customers what brand smart meter is being installed at their residence, what is happening with the data collected from the third party smart meter, or inform customers of the third party smart meter companies' privacy policy.

There is a possibility that data from Itron's end users has already been leaked. As an article from the International Energy Agency (IEA) states:
<blockquote>"Publicly available information on significant cybersecurity incidents is limited due to under-reporting and lack of detection. However, there is increasing evidence that cyberattacks on utilities have been growing rapidly since 2018, reaching alarmingly high levels in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Casanovas |first=Marc |last2=Nghiem |first2=Aloys |date=August 1, 2023 |title=Cybersecurity – is the power system lagging behind? |url=https://www.iea.org/commentaries/cybersecurity-is-the-power-system-lagging-behind |url-status=live
|access-date=September 28, 2025 |website=IEA – International Energy Agency}}</ref></blockquote>

===NYSEG requires customers to switch to Itron Smart meters or face monthly charge (November 2022-Present)===
NYSEG is in the process of switching all it's customers to the '''OpenWay Riva CENTRON''' smart meter made by Itron without disclosing the brand of meter to customers. If customers choose to opt-out of the smart meter they will be charged a monthly fee, this fee is currently $13.47 and subject to change in the future. The expected completion date of the smart meter installation is sometime 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installation: Smart meter installation |url=https://www.nyseg.com/smartenergy/innovation/smartmeters/installation |access-date=September 28, 2025 |website=nyseg}}</ref>

===CenterPoint Energy requires customers to switch to Itron Smart meters or face one-time and monthly service charges (Unknown-Present)===
CenterPoint is switching all it's customers to the '''OpenWay Riva CENTRON''' smart meter made by Itron. If customers choose to opt-out of the smart meter they will be charged a one-time and a monthly fee.
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Smart Meter Opt Out |url=https://www.centerpointenergy.com/en-us/Services/Pages/Smart-Meter-Opt-Out |access-date=September 28, 2025 |website=centerpointenergy}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Non-standard meter option
!One-time fee
!Monthly fee
|-
|Existing Analog Meter
|$85
|$40
|-
|Replacing existing advanced meter with radio-disabled advanced meter
|$180
|$40
|-
|Replacing existing advanced meter with analog meter
|$190
|$40
|-
|Replacing existing advanced meter
with non-standard digital meter
|$200
|$40
|}

===Southern California Edison requires customers to switch to Itron Smart meters or face monthly charge (Unknown-Present)===

Southern California Edison is switching all it's customers to the '''OpenWay CENTRON''' smart meter made by Itron. If customers choose to opt-out of the smart meter they will be charged a set up fee of $50 and a $10 monthly fee. Income-qualified customers are charged a set up fee of $10 and a $5 monthly fee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Smart Meter FAQs - SCE |url=https://www.sce.com/customer-service-center/help-center/billing-payments/understand-your-bill/smart-meter-faqs |access-date=September 28, 2025 |website=SCE}}</ref>

===FirstEnergy Corp. requires customers to switch to Itron Smart meters or face one-time and monthly service charges (Unknown-Present)===

FirstEnergy Corp. is switching all it's customers to the '''OpenWay CENTRON''' smart meter made by Itron. If customers choose to opt-out of the smart meter there is an up-front $44.46 charge to exchange the smart meter for a digital non-communicating meter, and a $15.00 monthly meter reading fee. Some customers can avoid the one-time meter exchange fee of $44.46 by choosing to have just have the transmitter in the AMI meter disabled, though the monthly meter reading charge of $15.00 still applies.
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opt-Out Option |url= https://www.firstenergycorp.com/help/smart-meters/nj-smartmeter/nj-opt-out.html |access-date= September 28, 2025 |website=FirstEnergy Corp.}}</ref>

==Products==
'''Electricity Meters + Modules and Smart Electricity meters'''
*Cellular Module
*CENTRON
*CENTRON II
*CENTRON Polyphase
*CENTRON Polyphase III Advanced CP3SLV
*CENTRON Polyphase R400
*CENTRON R400
*CENTRON R450 Advanced Meter
*FDM Workorders
*Firmware Upgrader (FWU)
*Gen5 CENTRON II
*Gen5 Riva Meter
*Gen5 Riva Polyphase Electric Meter
*Itron Mobile Radio (IMR)
*Meter Program Configurator (MPC)
*OpenWay CENTRON
*OpenWay CENTRON Cellular LTE-M
*OpenWay CENTRON Polyphase Meter
*OpenWay Riva CENTRON Meter
*OpenWay Riva CENTRON Polyphase Meter
*PC-PRO+ Advanced
*SENTINEL
*Solar Meter
==See also==
*[[Smart meter]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

File:Itron Logo.png

2026-01-26T18:53:21Z

Matt78: Itron logo without background.

== Summary ==
Itron logo without background.

Roborock

2026-01-26T18:51:52Z

Matt78: Fixed reference

{{Incomplete}}
{{SloppyAI}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=
|Founded=2014
|Industry=Cleaning, Electronics, Robotics
|Logo=Roborock.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=
|Website=https://us.roborock.com/
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Roborock|Roborock]]''' is a prominent Chinese manufacturer of robotic vacuum cleaners founded by Richard Chang in July 2014 that offers users an app to control and monitor their devices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roborock |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roborock |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260126181952/http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoborock |archive-date=2026-01-26 |access-date=2026-01-26 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>

==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}}

==Anti-consumer practices==

===Inaccessibility of Repair Parts and Anti-Repair Practices===
Roborock restricts access to repair parts, schematics, and documentation for out-of-warranty products. Consumers and even professional repair technicians have reported substantial difficulty sourcing critical components, effectively rendering repairs impossible or unreliable.

====Case Example – Roborock S7 Max-V Power Supply Board Failure:====
Following a power surge during a storm, a consumer's Roborock S7 Max-V robotic vacuum (retail value approximately $1,000) suffered a failure of its dock power supply board. Despite being a relatively simple electronics issue, the user encountered the following obstacles:

*No Official Support for Out-of-Warranty Repairs: Roborock does not sell replacement parts to consumers
*No Access to schematics or pin-out documentation
*Global parts scarcity and regional lockout: OEM parts must often be sourced from Chinese vendors via unofficial channels, with no guarantee of compatibility or full feature support (e.g., drawing/map functions or pin-outs for daughter boards)
*Well established repair centers also blocked: Even specialized robotic vacuum repair centers in the United States have acknowledged they are unable to obtain these parts through any official channel

====Broader Implications:====
This reflects a growing trend in consumer electronics where manufacturers:

*Lock down access to internal components
*Fail to support long-term maintainability of products
*Push customers toward full replacement over repair (even for minor failures)

====Result:====
Customers are forced to either discard a high-value device due to a single point of failure or resort to sourcing questionable aftermarket parts (undermining both sustainability and consumer rights).

===Spam===
Some users have reported receiving unsolicited promotional notifications through the app, which they consider spam.

===User experiences with promotional notifications===
Several users have expressed frustration over receiving promotional content via the Roborock app. For instance, a discussion on Reddit highlighted concerns about notification ad spam, with users debating the implications of disabling certain notification settings. One user noted that turning off the "Allow Roborock Product and Service Updates" setting might prevent both promotional messages and important service updates.
REDDIT

Another user shared their annoyance with the app's notifications, stating that while they want alerts for issues like the vacuum getting stuck, they find the promotional messages intrusive. They expressed disappointment that disabling these ads also meant losing essential notifications. <ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Roborock/comments/1cn367g/seriously_notification_ad_spam/ REDDIT</ref>

===Roborock's response and user actions===
In response to these concerns, some users have suggested reaching out directly to Roborock's support team to report the issue. One user recommended emailing support@roborock.com to express dissatisfaction with the promotional notifications, hoping that a collective effort might lead to a change in the company's approach. <ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Roborock/comments/1cn32ke/advertisement_in_app_now/ REDDIT</ref>

===Steps to manage notifications===
To manage or disable promotional notifications in the Roborock app, users can navigate to the app's settings:

Open the Roborock app.
Go to "Message Settings."
Select "Device Notifications."
Adjust the settings to disable promotional messages while retaining essential device alerts.
It's important to note that some users have reported that disabling certain notifications might also prevent important updates about the device's status or maintenance needs. Therefore, users should carefully consider which notifications to disable to ensure they continue receiving critical information about their device's performance.

In summary, while the Roborock app provides valuable functionalities for device management, the inclusion of promotional notifications has been a point of contention among users. By adjusting notification settings and communicating feedback to the company, users can work towards a more tailored and satisfactory experience.

==Privacy friendly alternative firmware==
Some users may not be comfortable connecting a device that maps their home and has a built-in microphone to a cloud service or even granting it internet access.

It is possible to operate some of their vacuum robots with alternative firmware [https://valetudo.cloud/ Valetudo]. This voids the warranty, may require small modifications to the device depending on the model and may disable some features, but allows them to be used and controlled in a privacy friendly manner without internet access or connecting to Roborock's cloud.

==Products==

=References=
<references />
[[Category:Roborock]]

Oneplus phone update introduces hardware anti-rollback

2026-01-24T04:13:09Z

Matt78: Updated link

{{IncidentCargo
|incident_name = OnePlus ColorOS 16.0.3.501 Anti-Rollback Fuse Incident
|date = January 2026
|company = OnePlus, OPPO, BBK Electronics
|industry = Consumer electronics, Smartphones
|category = Firmware restriction, Right to repair
|status = Ongoing
|description = OnePlus firmware update introduces permanent hardware-level anti-rollback mechanism that bricks devices attempting to downgrade
}}{{OngoingEvent}}
The OnePlus ColorOS 16.0.3.501 Anti-Rollback Fuse Incident refers to the January 2026 deployment of firmware updates by [[OnePlus]] that introduced a hardware-level anti-rollback mechanism. This permanently preventing users from downgrading their devices or installing custom ROMs. The updates, which affected the OnePlus 13, OnePlus 15, & OnePlus Ace 5 series, blow irreversible electronic fuses in the device's [[Qualcomm]] processor. Any subsequent attempt to install older firmware results in a permanent "hard brick" - the device becomes unusable. This cannot be repaired through standard methods.<ref name="xda-warning">{{cite web |url=https://xdaforums.com/t/critical-warning-coloros-16-0-3-501-updates-permanent-anti-rollback-arb-fuse-blown-do-not-downgrade.4775930/ |title=[CRITICAL WARNING] ColorOS 16.0.3.501 Updates = PERMANENT Anti-Rollback (ARB) & Fuse Blown. DO NOT DOWNGRADE! |website=XDA Forums |date=January 19, 2026 |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref>

OnePlus has not issued any official statement addressing the mechanism.<ref name="android-authority">{{cite web |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/oneplus-arb-protection-3633783/ |title=New OnePlus updates can permanently lock your phone's software future |author=Adamya Sharma |website=Android Authority |date=January 19, 2026 |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref>

==Background==

OnePlus was founded on December 16, 2013, by Pete Lau and Carl Pei, both former OPPO executives, with OPPO Electronics as the primary investor.<ref name="wikipedia-oneplus">{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnePlus |title=OnePlus |website=Wikipedia |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref> The company's first device, the OnePlus One, shipped with [[wikipedia:CyanogenMod|CyanogenMod]], a commercial variant of the popular custom ROM, through an exclusive licensing agreement with Cyanogen Inc.<ref name="wikipedia-oneplus-one">{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnePlus_One |title=OnePlus One |website=Wikipedia |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref> This partnership positioned OnePlus as a choice for modding enthusiasts.

When that partnership collapsed due to Cyanogen's exclusivity deal with Micromax in India, OnePlus developed OxygenOS for global markets and HydrogenOS for China.<ref name="wikipedia-oneplus" />

In July 2021, OnePlus merged OxygenOS with OPPO's ColorOS, sharing a common codebase while maintaining separate branding for different regions.<ref name="wikipedia-oneplus" />

==Timeline==

On January 18, 2026, users who updated to ColorOS 16.0.3.501 began reporting that their devices could not be reverted to previous versions. One OnePlus 13 owner reported that after flashing ColorOS 15, the phone entered EDL mode and was detected as "Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008," with the Chimera Rescue Tool unable to find a working programmer.<ref name="hard-brick-report">{{cite web |url=https://xdaforums.com/t/hard-brick-oneplus-13-pjz110.4775945/ |title=Hard Brick Oneplus 13 (PJZ110) |website=XDA Forums |date=January 18, 2026 |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref>

On January 19, 2026, XDA Forums member AdaUnlocked posted a warning thread documenting the issue with evidence including chat logs showing that the CPU anti-rollback fuse had been blown, warnings from paid unbrick services stating that Snapdragon 8 Elite devices updated to the affected build should not be downgraded, & user reports confirming that motherboard replacement was required after failed downgrade attempts.<ref name="xda-warning" />

DroidWin confirmed that OnePlus had removed the download links for the OnePlus 13 downgrade firmware for all regions and that OnePlus 12 downgrade packages had been removed as well.<ref name="droidwin">{{cite web |url=https://droidwin.com/oneplus-android-16-anti-rollback-is-here/ |title=OnePlus Android 16 Anti Rollback is Here! |author=Sadique Hassan |website=DroidWin |date=January 20, 2026 |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref>

==Affected devices==

The following devices and firmware versions have been confirmed to trigger the anti-rollback fuse:

*OnePlus 12: ColorOS 16.0.3.500 & 15.0.0.862
*OnePlus 13 / 13T: ColorOS 16.0.3.501 & 15.0.0.862
*OnePlus 15: ColorOS 16.0.3.503
*OnePlus Ace 5 / Ace 5 Pro: ColorOS 16.0.3.500 & 15.0.0.862
*OPPO Find X7 Ultra''':''' ColorOS 16.0.3.500
*OPPO Pad 4 Pro''':''' ColorOS 16.0.3.501
*OnePlus Pad 2 Pro (CN) / OnePlus Pad 3 (Global): ColorOS 16.0.3.501<ref name="xda-warning" />

Android Authority reported that the OPPO Find X8 series is considered at high risk, while the OnePlus 11 and OnePlus 12 could be next in line to receive similar updates.<ref name="android-authority" />

Devices running firmware version 16.0.2.402 or lower remain unaffected. The XDA thread advises users to avoid any OTA update ending in .500, .501, or .503 until community verification confirms safety.<ref name="xda-warning" />

==Technical mechanism==

The anti-rollback mechanism uses Qfprom (Qualcomm Fuse Programmable Read-Only Memory), a region on Qualcomm processors containing one-time programmable electronic fuses. These microscopic components are physically altered when "blown"; a controlled voltage pulse permanently changes the fuse's state from "0" to "1." This change cannot be reversed by any software means.<ref name="xda-warning" />

DroidWin explained that the implementation works similarly to how Knox gets tripped on Samsung devices upon unlocking the bootloader: both are e-fuses embedded in the motherboard that become permanently fused upon triggering. Changing the motherboard is the only way to restore the default state.<ref name="droidwin" />

When the device powers on, the Primary Boot Loader in the processor's ROM loads and verifies the eXtensible Boot Loader (XBL). XBL reads the current anti-rollback version from the Qfprom fuses and compares it against the firmware's embedded version number. If the firmware version is lower than the fuse value, boot is rejected. When newer firmware successfully boots, the bootloader issues commands through Qualcomm's TrustZone to blow additional fuses, permanently recording the new minimum version.<ref name="xda-warning" />

EDL (Emergency Download Mode), historically the last-resort recovery option using USB interface 9008, cannot bypass this protection. While EDL operates from the Primary Boot Loader ROM and allows direct storage writes, the eFuses remain in the processor silicon. EDL's Firehose programmers must be OEM-signed and contain their own anti-rollback versions; previously functional unbrick tools now fail because the fuse has been blown.<ref name="xda-warning" />

As explained on the XDA thread: "When we say 'Fuse Blown,' we are referring to Qfprom eFuses (Electronic Fuses) inside the Snapdragon chipset. It is not a physical fuse like in a household plug, so there is no smoke, no burning smell, and no heat. It is a microscopic logic gate that is electrically switched from '0' to '1'. Once it is switched, it effectively 'burns the bridge' to allow older software to run."<ref name="xda-warning" />

==Impact on custom ROMs==

The XDA warning describes the situation as dangerous for custom ROM users: <blockquote>''"Flashing ANY custom ROM developed prior to this update on top of ColorOS 16.0.3.501 (or newer) will result in an immediate HARD BRICK."<ref name="xda-warning" />''</blockquote>Custom ROMs package firmware components from the stock firmware they were built against. If a user's device has been updated to a fused firmware version & they flash a custom ROM built against older firmware, the anti-rollback mechanism triggers immediately. The XDA thread states:<blockquote>''"Almost ALL current Custom ROMs for OnePlus 13 / Ace 5 were built BEFORE this fuse policy was known. They are adapted for the 'Old' (Unfused) firmware environment."<ref name="xda-warning" />''</blockquote>AdaUnlocked characterized the impact on the development community as severe, noting that work on Custom ROMs, Ports, and GSIs would be rendered useless for fused devices.<ref name="xda-warning" />

The community recommendation is that users who have updated should not flash any custom ROM until developers explicitly announce support for fused devices with the new firmware base.<ref name="xda-warning" />

==Company response==

As of January 22, 2026, OnePlus, OPPO, and BBK Electronics have issued no official statement addressing the anti-rollback fuse mechanism. No press releases, community forum responses, or social media acknowledgments explain the policy or respond to reports of bricked devices.<ref name="android-authority" />

The removal of official downgrade packages from OnePlus's community forums on January 19, 2026, was interpreted by users as confirmation that the mechanism was intentional.<ref name="droidwin" />

==Comparison with other manufacturers==

Anti-rollback protection exists across the smartphone industry, but implementations vary in their impact on users.

[[Samsung Knox]] implements fuse-based security that trips permanently when non-OEM firmware is flashed, disabling Samsung Pay and Secure Folder. However, Android Authority noted that Samsung's implementation is not as stringent as OnePlus's; Samsung blocks the bootloader-unlocking process but usually does not hard-brick the phone if users attempt unauthorized modifications.<ref name="android-authority" />

DroidWin noted the irony of OnePlus's approach: <blockquote>''"EDL flashing is hardly used by 1-2% of its userbase, so rolling out a change to stop those niche segments of users from carrying out their tweaks, which would end up impacting the majority of its users, doesn't really add up."<ref name="droidwin" />''</blockquote>

==See also==
*[[Right to repair]]
*[[Planned obsolescence]]
*[[Bootloader unlocking]]
*[[Custom ROM]]
*[[Samsung Knox]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:2026 in technology]]
[[Category:OnePlus]]
[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:Consumer protection]]
[[Category:Smartphone software]]
[[Category:Controversies]]