Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard

2026-06-30T21:04:30Z

Mr Pollo: /* vague Pro-consumer articles definition */ Reply

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{{Archives}} 
==Open tasks==

*[[:Category:Articles with deletion requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles with merge requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles marked as irrelevant]]
*[[Special:NewPages]]

==add "Quasi-Wanted" Special page==

There are Wikipedia articles linked from many different CRW articles. It'd be nice to see which topics are candidates for a dedicated article on CRW. I say "topics", just-in-case a future update adds support for non-WP "pseudo-internal" links (because WP links are shown as "internal" even though they aren't)

Apologies in advance if this is not a place for feature-requests [[User:Rudxain|Rudxain]] ([[User talk:Rudxain|talk]]) 06:23, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

==so...==

abt that superuser role? has it been rolled out yet? got hit in the face w a stub notice bug again lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:08, 26 March 2026 (UTC)

:another thing. Phreeli has a valid entry in [[List of products and services with forced arbitration]]. still @[[User:Louis]] supported them w a dedicated [https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=e8SnNNq6MaI video], in which he states "so this is a company we started" and claims to be an unpaid board member. so I ask, what the fuck? Louis said to give a fuck abt consumer rights but he is not your savior. the video was released on 2025.12.19 and the citation on the list was archived on 2026.01.13, so it can be argued that it could be a development after the video was published. I have not seen him mention Phreeli since then. so I cannot say if they're still affiliated but the video is still up w no follow up (afaik). as y'all are in contact w the man, can we get a comment or perhaps an apology video w a ukulele cameo? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 15:30, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I discussed that here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_twkLJbc1c
::if there's an MVNO that's open to allowing people to pay with crypto without providing a name and address, I am happy to push them in that direction & help move it along. forced arbitration sucks balls, but every carrier has forced arbitration..... so this becomes a question of, should i not help push along a carrier that allows people to sign up in a more anonymous way, because 1 thing isn't to my liking... ??? the answer to that is no.
::framework doesn't release schematics... but after a long talk with the CEO, they'll allow you to get one if you contact them & sign an NDA. that's not what I want. but it is better than if I had not engaged at all.
::if i started a phone company/MVNO, it'd have no forced arbitration '''''AND''''' allow people to sign up with anonymous crypto without providing their name.... but i'm not starting a phone company... i am too busy as it is.
::phreeli belongs in that list of products & services with forced arbitration because they have forced arbitration. [[User:Louis|Louis]] ([[User talk:Louis|talk]]) 19:59, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
:::as mentioned in my previous comment I didn't know of that video. thank you. even tho its been a week, I still haven't found the time to watch it. perhaps many of the points I've highlighted have already been discussed in said video.
:::regardless, I agree that the existence of a more private MVNO's a blessing to see in a sea full of scammers. but I still would've liked to see them not go the same route as traditional operators regarding forced arbitration. everybody's "threat" model is diff so I can understand your stance. I'm a fairly regular watcher of the channel but somehow I missed the video. and based on the view discrepancy (378k vs 41k), many others have too. the follow up video includes the announcement in its description but the title and thumbnail do not reflect it being a follow up. I would like to see this rectified.
:::now on Framework, I did not know an NDA had to be signed in order to get the schematics. I checked the article and it does not mention that. based on my 5 min search I found [https://knowledgebase.frame.work/availability-of-schematics-and-boardviews-BJMZ6EAu this] but it does not mention an NDA, just to reach out to support. could you please provide sources? I'd like to append this to the article. I don't consider it egregious but for a person looking for them, they should know.
:::I'd like to highlight a conflict here. in the video you state "so this company we started" and in [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2009536/000200953624000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml this] SEC filing you're cited as a Director. I'd like to mention that I'm not American nor have any idea wtf this shit is, but I have a borderline idea on what SEC filings are. could you please explain to me what this means? ofc you yourself did not start the company but you are still listed as a director of the company.
:::an article on Phreeli does not exist and the arbitration list can be hard to find. so I will be creating one. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:52, 3 April 2026 (UTC)
:Superconfirmed has been rolled out, see [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator applications]], BUT you need your email. I think this stuff should be done onwiki but whatever, I got mod without using email lol. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:26, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I went on a hiatus again lol so apologies for the slow response.
::I did email Keith on the matter b4 the rollout and recently did I get knighted. thank you mods [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:54, 3 April 2026 (UTC)

I'm unable to move this discussion to the archive, due to word filter. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:47, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Archive everything==

is there a way the checking process for refs be automated? it is user maintained and isn't always accurate. perhaps all refs could be checked if they have the <code>archive-url=</code> filled? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:26, 5 April 2026 (UTC)

==Featured articles on main page have light grey title on White background .. even on dark mode==

This isnt great for readability.

my setup for reference :

dark mode on CRW, Firefox. Linux Mint XFCE. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:46, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

:wait i just went back and now they are black titles... i dont know what happened. mightve been a one time bug on my part ??? [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:49, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
::OK i figured it out... this is weird :
::it only happnes when i am LOGGED OUT of my account.
::to reiterate :
::when a user is logged out. the featured articles on the main page appear with light grey titles on white background ; which isnt great for readability ... especially for new users' first impression of the website.
::Once i am logged into my account, the titles now appear black with good contrast.
::I dont know why this is the case but it is consistent across my testing [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:51, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] this was an issue that I had before that I asked om your talkpage to fix, now it's happening again? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:26, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::I'm going to throw in a curveball. logged in and I still got the issue. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 08:52, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
::::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] pinging again [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 11:04, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
:::::Flagged this for Keith since it’s been awhile hopefully Jake sees it. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 11:18, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

==Suggestion==

I feel we could be more clearer when it come to our date standards on the wiki, as right now I feel its lacking in clarity and causes confusion for newcomers on what the actual date format is most commonly accepted and preferred (as of right now being something like a date format of 20 Jan 2004 <s>if that makes sense</s>). Currently, when going onto the citation tab to add a source, it reads ''"Example: Format as YYYY-MM-DD (2020-12-30) or DD Mon YYYY (30 Dec 2025)".''

Additionally, I also think the product section ''(referring to the This is a list of the company's product lines '''with articles on this wiki'''. [[Example product line one]] (release date): Short summary of the product's incidents.)'' could also be more specified and informative on what users are supposed to fill out, along with specifying what to do when there's no incidents relating to any of their product, as right now it's kinda up to the users to determine what it means.

I also want to ask if you can add more sections to the parent company on the CompanyCargo template(being adding one company that's own by several other companies instead of one <s>as of current</s>) as I'm currently working on '''[[Denny's]]''' article and <sub><s>as far as I know</s></sub> there are 3 private companies that own Denny's as of the moment.

I don't mean to come off in a bad way where it's disrespectful, I meant to only state my opinion on the matter. [[User:SquidthePlummer|SquidthePlummer]] ([[User talk:SquidthePlummer|talk]]) 03:06, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:Agree, we don't really have a specific date standard here [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:38, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:I have been using the DMY format since the majority of the world generally uses that. The hope for the wiki is to be an international source for consumers around the world (not just Americans), and I believe DMY to be in line with that goal. I further believe it would be better to have a consistent experience, which is why I have used the DMY format even for American companies and incidents. (Though clearly Rossmann disagreed with that, as he recently "corrected" the dates on an Amazon article from an older edit of mine.)

:As for the citations, I abbreviate the months because early on using more than three characters for the month resulted in the citation template being unhappy. It appears to have since been fixed, but old habits die hard. Not sure why the wiki template data outputs strictly numbers and that's a topic that will eventually have to be decided on in conjunction with this.

:Apologies for not speaking up sooner; I wanted mull over the matter first. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 23:24, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

==Editing templates, protected pages, deleting irrelevant articles==

How can I request additional permissions? I would like to add a location field to [[Template:CompanyCargo]], edit pages like [[Template:Main_Page/Consumer_Tools]], and remove pages like [[Varusteleka]] (that as far as I'm aware has not been involved in any consumer rights violations) or [[Fruitbat Factory]] (that I think has a page only due to its DLC-oriented business model). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:40, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] I'm honestly tempted to make a buncha things autoconfirmed-protectee but i
:I'd rather not w/o your approval [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 04:32, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::At the moment it's limited to Superconfirmed and above. Given the quality of @[[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]]'s contributions, I'd be happy to give them Superconfirmed. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:40, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Cargo templates are still fully protected, so I cannot edit them. Please see [[Special:ProtectedPages]], it may be reasonable to change most of these (especially templates) to semi-protected. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:34, 18 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Cargo tables are a bit more sensitive, as external tools which use the data will rely on a consistent schema. breakages here wouldn't just affect articles on the wiki, it could also break any external tooling that uses the cargo data. on that basis cargo tables are something I'd be fairly reluctant to un-protect [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 15:45, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:::::I see. I got an idea, I may be able to wrap the cargo template in a different template. [[Template:IncidentCargo]] may be the easiest, as it doesn't render anything. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 16:07, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:Regarding edit access to the consumer tools page or any template used on the front page, additional inclusions like consumer tools are generally confirmed by staff to prevent the potential for promoting a service or product that doesn’t align with our goals.
:Also while we have you here, creating country articles like [[Poland]] isn’t within our scope, as a country category can contain the necessary information such as their incidents and laws while linking back to the country's Wikipedia page. For that, having categories such as [[:Category:Canadian incidents]] and [[:Category:Canadian legislation]] in the Canada category would be best practice. Let me know if you have any questions! [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 13:05, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::There are countries that have many consumer rights organizations and governmental bodies, or complicated laws, that do not warrant one article or do not make sense individually. Without such pages there is no discoverability for these convoluted topics.
::Consider a Polish developer making changes to open source software, to make it interoperable with device that recently got locked down. The device manufacturer subsequently threatens them with legal action, citing [[DMCA]]. How can you find out, that DMCA does not apply outside of the US, the international treaty that DMCA implements is implemented with exceptions in his jurisdiction that make the reverse engineering for interoperability permissible, and that recently [[SLAPP suits and legal intimidation]] has been [https://commission.europa.eu/news-and-media/news/new-eu-rules-protect-against-strategic-lawsuits-against-public-participation-enter-force-2024-05-03_en largely outlawed]? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 20:56, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Also there's [[:Category:Organizations]], [[:Category:Regulatory agencies and public support bodies]], and [[Template:CompanyCargo]] has a suggested "Government" value in the Type field. Countries/jurisdictions fall under the Themes scope in my opinion.
:::Categories (and non-Main namespaces) lack discoverability (they are not searched by default). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 21:06, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Tend to agree. I do wonder though whether the page titles should be just the name of the of the country or be something like 'Government of x', or 'Consumer protection in x', but that's a minor issue, and ultimately the content of the pages is good. I've created [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki_talk:RfC:_Page_protection]] for people to discuss the situation on the wiki regarding permission levels. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:42, 17 May 2026 (UTC)

==Excerpt==

I have brought [[Template:Excerpt]] (and associated modules) from Wikipedia. Documentation: [[wikipedia:Template:Excerpt]]

You can see it in use in the [[Bambu Lab#Cease and desist against OrcaSlicer fork maintainer (2026)|Bambu Lab]] article (see also [[:Category:Articles with excerpts]]). The main benefit is the reduced duplication, where excerpted incidents can be included in company articles.

Can you help me start a project, to convert more articles to use this template? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:28, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:50, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
::Grabbing Keith for you since it’s been a couple hours. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 20:23, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
:Yeah, would be happy to! I assume the scope of it is 'any page in which another page is described in brief should use an excerpt of the other page, rather than a custom summary'? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:05, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::Yes. Currently it's a either verbatim copy of the Incident page lead section or a custom summary. The verbatim copy results in some users updating one but not the other, and then they diverge in content, sometimes missing important facts in all relevant places. Custom summary may sometimes be preferable.
::The incident articles themselves should also be written in a way that the lead section is a summary of the incident with up to date status.
::Ideally we should make people aware of the feature, so new articles and summaries are written with using excerpts in mind. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 00:27, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::[[Itch.io#De-indexing of adult games from campaign pressure (2025)]] is an example of page that is better off with custom summary.
::[[Adobe]] has many incidents that could be converted into excerpts.
::[[European Union#Stop Destroying Videogames (ECI)]] excerpts smaller parts of [[SKG]] (2nd argument (section), <code>paragraphs=</code> and <code>hat=no</code> in use). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 11:41, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Fake DMCA takedown==

This page was edited with "DMCA takedown" as reason by a user that was just created: https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Model_F_Labs&action=history If you see the nature of the edits, it seems rather likely this was done in an attempt to remove critique. [[User:NonPassivatedMOSFET|NonPassivatedMOSFET]] ([[User talk:NonPassivatedMOSFET|talk]]) 20:32, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:It looks like this was reversed. If there still seems to be issues with it, I can have Keith look into this as DMCA related issues are legal matters, and outside of the scope of normal support from the mods and folks like me. So just let us know and if this reappears or if there’s anything that happens to the article, please update us here and I’ll get Keith to look at it.- [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 23:31, 6 June 2026 (UTC)

==Page resurrection request==

Last year there was an argument on whether some community toxicity cases and management issues at the Wikipedia platform fall within the scope of this wiki or not.

Recently there's some developments that can finally settle the case and which will fall within this wiki's scope this time around, as editors on Wikipedia are threatening a worker's strike after the WMF disbands the entire Community Tech team. Relevant links:

*https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:COMMTECHGATE

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-is-doing-the-capitalist-thing-56a393232943

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-runs-on-people-it-shouldnt-run-over-people-48823f4238bb

*https://www.theverge.com/report/939442/wikipedia-editors-protest-wikimedia-layoffs-strike

*https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/hundreds-of-wikipedia-editors-are-threatening-to-go-on-strike-and-the-reason-is-these-engineers/articleshow/131394771.cms

*https://www.pcmag.com/news/wikipedia-editors-could-strike-following-layoffs

The page [[Wikipedia]] and/or [[Wikimedia Foundation]] are theredore requested to be resurrected. In hindsight I feel that the fussy attitude by Beanie Bo against the inclusion of Wikipedia issues into the wiki scope looks ridiculous in the first place. [[Special:Contributions/52.220.157.15|52.220.157.15]] 22:35, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:After reading through the links you provided, I do not see how the labor issue, although concerning, is relevant from a consumer rights perspective. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 04:15, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
::The disbanding of Community Tech team at Wikipedia will make it easier for WMF and so on to initiate changes that are deemed "unpopular", which will harm the interests of consumers/readers in the long term. Not to mention many volunteer editors are at the same time, readers. As one had pointed out, you can and should look at this [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Wishlist/Updates the archives] of Community Wishlist to see how the team had contributed to the well-being of the encyclopedia over time. Dark mode is just one of the features that if I can remember, was requested that way.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 11:13, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
:::I don't really think that the ongoing dispute falls into the Wiki's scope, and will outline my reasoning below:
:::Changes to the internal governance of an organization, or labour disputes in general, are not relevant to the wiki - there needs to be some direct, specific, and notable impact on consumers.
:::We also do not cover generic product quality issues, despite any impact they may have on consumers, unless there is some aggravating factor such as safety, an attempt to cover up the quality issue by the company, or it being a willful degradation in quality of a product that users had already paid for. If a company makes a bad product, that is a skill issue, rather than a consumer rights issue, unless consumers were promised and paid for a substantially different product to the one they received.
:::Therefore, if a labour dispute or similar threatened to reduce the quality of a company's product, it would not be relevant to the wiki. E.g. if the company behind a game (that had not come out yet and which had not accepted pre-orders) decided to scrap their entire art team and replace it with AI slop, kicking off a labour dispute with product quality implications, then that would not be a consumer rights issue to be covered on the wiki. If, however, a company had sold pre-orders or a season pass for a DLC that was upcoming, then they sacked everyone who was meant to deliver that content, then that product quality issue would become a wiki-relevant issue once it becomes clear in reporting that the promised and paid-for content was not going to be delivered.
:::The only Wikipedia-related controversy I'm aware of that I could imagine being actually relevant to the wiki would be the long-standing controversies around whether or not the various Wikipedia donation banners were misleading as to the effect donations would have on Wikipedia's maintenance. While it being donations to charity puts a bit of a spin on it, misleading advertising is 100% relevant to the wiki, and there's definitely been enough debate and discussion and coverage on that topic over the years to meet notability and sourcing criteria. Even then, it's probably open to some debate. Would a charity that accepts donations and then the person running the charity embezzles the money and runs off, be a consumer rights issue? idk.
:::Ultimately, since the Wikipedia platform is delivered freely and is also not 'paid for' through user data, it makes a lot of arguments for consumer rights relevancy more difficult. If they decided to shut the whole thing down tomorrow, it would be a great loss for humanity, but I'm still not sure whether it would be wiki-relevant. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 01:44, 3 June 2026 (UTC)
::::Thanks. If that page were to be resurrected, it will be pretty much a single-topic page focusing on the Wikipedia misleading donation and financial cancer issues, right? Perhaps for clarification there should be an external link section to a page on SourceWatch or so on that documents Wikipedia-related issues, along with a small note clarifying that most of the information on there can't be included here due to guideline restrictions, but the external link to the page containing the info is included just as courtesy for readers.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 12:16, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

==Logos (and Style Guide / Templates)==

'''tl;dr: Enabling InstantCommons could be a huge help site-wide. Let's add <code>$wgUseInstantCommons = true;</code> to the LocalSettings.php file on the server.'''

CRW can use content from Wikimedia Commons much like Wikipedia does with a small configuration change. Currently, a file can be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia, and it's as if the file exists on Wikipedia if it's just on Commons.

Would save trouble - issues I see like comments asking people to use better filenames and the use logo category, and https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Talk:DuckDuckGo#Logo would all go away. And [company/productName_logo.svg] could be the default instead of [[:File:QuestionMark.svg]]!

In other words, [https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Ecobee&diff=prev&oldid=58644 this edit] should just work, and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg should display. Notice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg doesn't have an edit button; the file doesn't exist there.

Pretty confident there's no legal or technical issue with doing this. They say hotlinking, as it's called, is allowed, here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia: " '''Use it''': Download or hotlink the file and use it. ('''See [[commons:Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia/technical|Commons:Reusing content outside Wikimedia/technical]].''')"

I guess @[[User:Keith|Keith]] needs to add the line. Or if someone grants me access, I'll edit <s>[[Special:FilePath]] or</s> the server's copy of LocalSettings.php accordingly to make this work. (For the latter, see https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/InstantCommons, a firewall tweak <u>may</u> be needed if we go the InstantCommons route.) [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 19:02, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

:Update2: I was confused by bad documentation. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ecobee_logo.svg would work (hotlinking), but I think [[Special:FilePath]], aka [[Special:Redirect]] is of no use for including an image in a ''wiki'' page. So I think InstantCommons is the way to go. (It comes pre-installed, so it's vetted; it just needs to be turned on but it requires server access to add one line the server's copy of https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:LocalSettings.php.) --[[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 22:32, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
:Sounds like a good idea! I've passed it on to Jake for implementation, should hopefully roll out in the next patch if there are no unforseen complications [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 10:30, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

===Importing Templates===
:Oh, and do we have an admin who can import templates from Wikipedia or are you looking for one? [[Special:Import]] requires the mop too. I used [[Template:Dead link]] recently at [[eBay]] (before it existed), and <s>would like</s> ''wanted'' to import it so it would ''work'', but I saw the Wikipedia version has a bunch of dependencies: Template:Fix, Module:Yesno, Module:Arguments, the '''whole freaking''' Module:Citation/CS1, and sub-Modules (they're ~half the file), Module:Protection banner+sub and Module:Documentation+subs (~5% each), Module:Check for unknown parameters, Module:Navbox, Template:Dead link/styles.css, and related meta-templates ~50 "pages" total. Apparently, essential backend extensions like Scribunto, ParserFunctions, and TemplateStyles must be installed, with a full export via Special:Export recommended to ensure all dependencies are included. The export produces a ridiculously huge 1.1MB file if I check "Include templates" (required; otherwise, it's tiny).
:'''SUCCESS'''! Relatively minimalist [[Template:Dead link]] forked off Wikia instead. Works! Having a strategy re https://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/117429/how-to-use-wikipedia-templates-on-an-outside-mediawiki would be good. We have so I presume we already imported CS1, or does it come with MediWiki? I see we do NOT have citation (CS1, CS2, etc) templates; citations work through Modules, so those templates are not needed, apparently. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 20:52, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
::Maybe grant me template editing rights, so I can edit existing ones, not just create [[template:dead link|new ones]]? See [[Template_talk:Wplink#Proposal:_Make_wplinks_distinctive?]].
::Glad to hear that InstantCommons is coming. Via @[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] I presume. Questions welcome. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 16:08, 30 June 2026 (UTC)

==vague Pro-consumer articles definition==

kinda reads how the US' router bill does. are everything in the crossfire? for now it seems like the articles that consist of 0 anti-consumer incidents are likely to be removed. e.g. [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]], [[GOG.com]], etc. but what abt [[Valve removes arbitration requirement from Steam Subscriber Agreement]] and [[EA releases source code of classic Command & Conquer titles]]? are these next in line for the guillotine? they don't have "relevance" or "deletion" notices so it is confusing when compared w the set definition.

what I got from the vagueness is that positives are allowed such as [[Valve#Positives]] but the article must not solely be them or otherwise might "sound like we are endorsing them". yes or no? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 17:44, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

:A comment I just added to the [[Talk:GrapheneOS]]:
:'''"If [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] has verifiably extolled its virtues, it's on topic."''' I think that is a short simple, good rule we should have. At least I'm going to throw it out there to be considered as the only or one of perhaps multiple rules / line definitions to address this issue. If a bright line can be drawn based on the other efforts above, good, but right now, I'm seeing a lines that I anticipate would make each decision a tough call - one that would be hard for someone with folks with even a little bias one way or the other (i.e. average humans) to be able to respectfully disagree on. Probably wouldn't hurt to add "significant coverage" or something like that but maybe not necessary. '''"Significant coverage by [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] verifiably extolling something's virtues indicates an article is warranted."'''
:Arguments in favor:
:#Short.
:#Bright line.
:#I think we want articles on companies which Louis verifiably extolled the virtues of. Several come to mind of which he has covered in some detail.
:#I think the bulk of us are here because we're fans of Louis and have developed a feel for and trust his judgement.
:Where is the current "Pro-consumer articles definition" or scope policy?
:[[Positive_practices]] exist but doesn't answer.
:Oh, see [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] defines it and just got edited on the 15th. https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Category:Pro-consumer_articles&diff=prev&oldid=57894
:@[[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]], are you open to my idea? I'm reading into [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]] still being around that a proposal like mine is welcome - unlike some forums, where such a suggestion would be considered 'arguing with the mods'. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 03:26, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I do think that if we were to continue down this route, we do seriously need to consider developing a set of proper criteria, as well as a necessary quality threshold, because only leaving it up to the whims of the bossmann just makes it difficult to sustain autonomy for the wiki [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:01, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
:::If we don't, we should add 'Such' before 'companies' in [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] ([https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Category:Pro-consumer_articles] ; Cat link no worky? not in preview.) . We could also blank a few of the counterexample pages, so editors can continue to '''see''' the content that was deemed inappropriate via diff link. An improvement to leaving them tagged as is or with a tag that says they serve as a counterexample.
:::Should [[Policy]] or [[POL]] be a redirect to [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Wiki_policy_index]]? [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:18, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::The thing is, with the pro-consumer article criteria on the category page, we don't want to have pro-consumer products or companies covered to avoid sounding like the wiki has its full support behind them. Take [[Bitwarden]] for example. They are open source and can be self-hosted, but now as it appears they have incidents that can make the wiki look bad if there are biases included in the coverage.

::Regarding [https://www.theverge.com/policy/959205/mullvads-cofounder-gave-500k-to-swedish-populist-party Mullvad] and [https://www.reddit.com/r/trmnl/comments/1u9ah6k/removed_by_moderator/ TRMNL], there are also issues with the founders donating to right-wing political organizations that i've seen on Reddit. As a wiki, we want to be as politically neutral as possible and don't want to take sides, whether it is written positively or negatively.

::We encourage discussions like these and by no means is this arguing with the mods. @[[User:Keith|Keith]] can explain it better, as we decided this earlier this month in a staff Zoom meeting, but that's the reasoning in a nutshell. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 21:47, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
:::Good point to raise. Solution? I don't think there's a major password manager that hasn't had significant issues. I still think using one is a good idea (and I think there's expert consensus on this (and [https://www.securityscientist.net/blog/are-password-managers-safe/] confirms)). A company having a founder or executive having made a political donation is not a sensible exclusion criterion. That's part of not taking sides.
:::Before continuing, I just want to say, I don't mean to reopen discussions on decisions that have already been hashed out and regarding which there's contributor/mod consensus, or already-final management decision. If I'm doing that, let me know.
:::So, I'm wondering - do you think the necessary solution to the point you raise is to delete the category and not allow it to have any entries? And delete pages that would be entries in the category? Not seeing that as necessary to avoid legal issues. More of an unnecessary (sledgehammer) solution to limit mission creep.
:::Also, I don't understand what you're saying is an actual problem that the [[Bitwarden]] page is or was an example of. I don't see one. Or you just mean it could be one if badly edited or tagged regarding what you mentioned? I guess I'm seeing a distinction between pages that could be a problem if badly edited and them being a problem now / imminently leading to one.
:::I don't understand why you think "companies, people, and products should not have a pro-consumer article made about them". Do you really mean to say that, that broadly? If so, can you say more about ''why'' you think so? I read that as saying [[Bitwarden]], [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]], and [[GOG.com]] need to be deleted. Is this a you opinion, or a mod/staff consensus opinion. I wonder how much of a hand / stake Louis/management wants to have and exert. And I'm curious why you edited the cat but didn't add 'Such' as I suggested.
:::Oh, I see a significant, fixable problem. [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator guidelines#1. Determining inclusion in the wiki|Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator guidelines]] is a separate page from [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Inclusion guidelines]] but they are both Inclusion guidelines. But are very different. Would be good to merge 'em? Seeing the latter page prompted me to add the second paragraph, above. Starting to feel like I'm stirring the pot more than I actually want to, that misread into the current situation that where policy edges are to be is still being figured out / are less already-hashed out than they are.
:::Would be nice if we had the mediawiki gadgets like the one that identifies mods on sight/mouseover. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 17:56, 30 June 2026 (UTC)
::::My apologies regarding Bitwarden, I meant IF we had it as a pro-consumer article or if we recommended it on the mainpage of the wiki, there would have been problems. Currently as it stands, the article meets our inclusion policy.
::::That is not my opinion alone, but a mod/staff consensus decided by me, Keith, @[[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]], @[[User:JakeL|JakeL]], and Sarang alongside another. Unfortunately those articles might be deleted in the near future. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 21:04, 30 June 2026 (UTC)

==Pocket Cast==

I have a direct Pocket Casts support email that may help source the “Showing advertisements to Champion/Lifetime users” section.

On September 24, 2025 at 04:08 UTC, Pocket Casts support responded to my complaint about banner ads. The response stated that maintaining Pocket Casts had become “unsustainable on one-time purchases or free app downloads alone,” that Pocket Casts had moved to Plus/Patron subscriptions, and that banner ads had been introduced for users who do not have Plus or Patron. The email also framed ads as helping “keep the lights on” and directed me to try Pocket Casts Plus.

I was a lifetime-license user. After I pushed back and pointed out that I had a lifetime license, the ads were removed from my account. I can provide a redacted screenshot of the email/thread if useful. [[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] ([[User talk:ServiceLevelOne|talk]]) 17:38, 28 June 2026 (UTC)

:While it may act as supplemental information, unless we have external coverage, I would advise against writing an article on the matter. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:02, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I'm looking at [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability]]. Very on-topic. States, "Lower reliability: (use with caution and additional verification". Question is, could @[[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] upload the email (with appropriate privacy munging) that would allow it to serve to make a claim about it added to [[Pocket Casts]] verifiable? As someone wanting to add the content, it seems reasonable to interpret "use with caution" as permission to use. If so, could they upload it here? Social media? Not seeing a clear answer. To my mind, emails would be considered appropriate evidence in a court, and so should be here too? I probably need to reread the policies through again.
::From the mission statement page: "A project like this cannot obtain or maintain legitimacy if every article comes across as being written by someone with an axe to grind or by someone who is more interested in proving a point than the truth." is important, but (from experience reading and writing) hard to follow in practice. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:40, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard

2026-06-29T21:57:12Z

Mr Pollo: /* vague Pro-consumer articles definition */

<div style="margin: {{#ifeq:{{{navbox|<noinclude>yes</noinclude>}}}|yes|2px}} 0 0.5em; padding: 0.5em; {{{style|border: 1px solid #A0A5AD;}}} {{{backgroundstyle|background-color: var(--background-color-progressive-subtle, #eaf3ff); color: inherit;}}}">
<div style="padding: 0.25em 0; text-align: center; font-size: 120%; border-radius: 3px; font-weight: bold; {{{titlestyle|background-color: var(--background-color-content-added, #aad1ff); color: inherit;}}}">Welcome — post issues of interest to Moderators</div>
*Post '''appeals''' to article notice templates (e.g. Incomplete, Stub, etc.)
*Post requests for '''moderator action''' here (e.g. blocks)
*Just need a mod? Post here or ping a mod with a question.
*Post any information or news relevant to the moderation team here.
*To request an article to be created, do not post here, try [[Article suggestions]] instead.
*Do not report technical issues here, please use the [[Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Bugs|Bugs noticeboard]] instead.

<div style="padding: 0.25em 0; text-align: center; font-size: 150%; border-radius: 3px; font-weight: bold">[[Special:NewSection/Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard|Start a new section]]</div>
</div>
<br />
{{Archives}} 
==Open tasks==

*[[:Category:Articles with deletion requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles with merge requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles marked as irrelevant]]
*[[Special:NewPages]]

==add "Quasi-Wanted" Special page==

There are Wikipedia articles linked from many different CRW articles. It'd be nice to see which topics are candidates for a dedicated article on CRW. I say "topics", just-in-case a future update adds support for non-WP "pseudo-internal" links (because WP links are shown as "internal" even though they aren't)

Apologies in advance if this is not a place for feature-requests [[User:Rudxain|Rudxain]] ([[User talk:Rudxain|talk]]) 06:23, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

==so...==

abt that superuser role? has it been rolled out yet? got hit in the face w a stub notice bug again lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:08, 26 March 2026 (UTC)

:another thing. Phreeli has a valid entry in [[List of products and services with forced arbitration]]. still @[[User:Louis]] supported them w a dedicated [https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=e8SnNNq6MaI video], in which he states "so this is a company we started" and claims to be an unpaid board member. so I ask, what the fuck? Louis said to give a fuck abt consumer rights but he is not your savior. the video was released on 2025.12.19 and the citation on the list was archived on 2026.01.13, so it can be argued that it could be a development after the video was published. I have not seen him mention Phreeli since then. so I cannot say if they're still affiliated but the video is still up w no follow up (afaik). as y'all are in contact w the man, can we get a comment or perhaps an apology video w a ukulele cameo? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 15:30, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I discussed that here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_twkLJbc1c
::if there's an MVNO that's open to allowing people to pay with crypto without providing a name and address, I am happy to push them in that direction & help move it along. forced arbitration sucks balls, but every carrier has forced arbitration..... so this becomes a question of, should i not help push along a carrier that allows people to sign up in a more anonymous way, because 1 thing isn't to my liking... ??? the answer to that is no.
::framework doesn't release schematics... but after a long talk with the CEO, they'll allow you to get one if you contact them & sign an NDA. that's not what I want. but it is better than if I had not engaged at all.
::if i started a phone company/MVNO, it'd have no forced arbitration '''''AND''''' allow people to sign up with anonymous crypto without providing their name.... but i'm not starting a phone company... i am too busy as it is.
::phreeli belongs in that list of products & services with forced arbitration because they have forced arbitration. [[User:Louis|Louis]] ([[User talk:Louis|talk]]) 19:59, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
:::as mentioned in my previous comment I didn't know of that video. thank you. even tho its been a week, I still haven't found the time to watch it. perhaps many of the points I've highlighted have already been discussed in said video.
:::regardless, I agree that the existence of a more private MVNO's a blessing to see in a sea full of scammers. but I still would've liked to see them not go the same route as traditional operators regarding forced arbitration. everybody's "threat" model is diff so I can understand your stance. I'm a fairly regular watcher of the channel but somehow I missed the video. and based on the view discrepancy (378k vs 41k), many others have too. the follow up video includes the announcement in its description but the title and thumbnail do not reflect it being a follow up. I would like to see this rectified.
:::now on Framework, I did not know an NDA had to be signed in order to get the schematics. I checked the article and it does not mention that. based on my 5 min search I found [https://knowledgebase.frame.work/availability-of-schematics-and-boardviews-BJMZ6EAu this] but it does not mention an NDA, just to reach out to support. could you please provide sources? I'd like to append this to the article. I don't consider it egregious but for a person looking for them, they should know.
:::I'd like to highlight a conflict here. in the video you state "so this company we started" and in [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2009536/000200953624000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml this] SEC filing you're cited as a Director. I'd like to mention that I'm not American nor have any idea wtf this shit is, but I have a borderline idea on what SEC filings are. could you please explain to me what this means? ofc you yourself did not start the company but you are still listed as a director of the company.
:::an article on Phreeli does not exist and the arbitration list can be hard to find. so I will be creating one. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:52, 3 April 2026 (UTC)
:Superconfirmed has been rolled out, see [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator applications]], BUT you need your email. I think this stuff should be done onwiki but whatever, I got mod without using email lol. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:26, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I went on a hiatus again lol so apologies for the slow response.
::I did email Keith on the matter b4 the rollout and recently did I get knighted. thank you mods [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:54, 3 April 2026 (UTC)

I'm unable to move this discussion to the archive, due to word filter. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:47, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Archive everything==

is there a way the checking process for refs be automated? it is user maintained and isn't always accurate. perhaps all refs could be checked if they have the <code>archive-url=</code> filled? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:26, 5 April 2026 (UTC)

==Featured articles on main page have light grey title on White background .. even on dark mode==

This isnt great for readability.

my setup for reference :

dark mode on CRW, Firefox. Linux Mint XFCE. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:46, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

:wait i just went back and now they are black titles... i dont know what happened. mightve been a one time bug on my part ??? [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:49, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
::OK i figured it out... this is weird :
::it only happnes when i am LOGGED OUT of my account.
::to reiterate :
::when a user is logged out. the featured articles on the main page appear with light grey titles on white background ; which isnt great for readability ... especially for new users' first impression of the website.
::Once i am logged into my account, the titles now appear black with good contrast.
::I dont know why this is the case but it is consistent across my testing [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:51, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] this was an issue that I had before that I asked om your talkpage to fix, now it's happening again? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:26, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::I'm going to throw in a curveball. logged in and I still got the issue. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 08:52, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
::::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] pinging again [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 11:04, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
:::::Flagged this for Keith since it’s been awhile hopefully Jake sees it. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 11:18, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

==Suggestion==

I feel we could be more clearer when it come to our date standards on the wiki, as right now I feel its lacking in clarity and causes confusion for newcomers on what the actual date format is most commonly accepted and preferred (as of right now being something like a date format of 20 Jan 2004 <s>if that makes sense</s>). Currently, when going onto the citation tab to add a source, it reads ''"Example: Format as YYYY-MM-DD (2020-12-30) or DD Mon YYYY (30 Dec 2025)".''

Additionally, I also think the product section ''(referring to the This is a list of the company's product lines '''with articles on this wiki'''. [[Example product line one]] (release date): Short summary of the product's incidents.)'' could also be more specified and informative on what users are supposed to fill out, along with specifying what to do when there's no incidents relating to any of their product, as right now it's kinda up to the users to determine what it means.

I also want to ask if you can add more sections to the parent company on the CompanyCargo template(being adding one company that's own by several other companies instead of one <s>as of current</s>) as I'm currently working on '''[[Denny's]]''' article and <sub><s>as far as I know</s></sub> there are 3 private companies that own Denny's as of the moment.

I don't mean to come off in a bad way where it's disrespectful, I meant to only state my opinion on the matter. [[User:SquidthePlummer|SquidthePlummer]] ([[User talk:SquidthePlummer|talk]]) 03:06, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:Agree, we don't really have a specific date standard here [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:38, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:I have been using the DMY format since the majority of the world generally uses that. The hope for the wiki is to be an international source for consumers around the world (not just Americans), and I believe DMY to be in line with that goal. I further believe it would be better to have a consistent experience, which is why I have used the DMY format even for American companies and incidents. (Though clearly Rossmann disagreed with that, as he recently "corrected" the dates on an Amazon article from an older edit of mine.)

:As for the citations, I abbreviate the months because early on using more than three characters for the month resulted in the citation template being unhappy. It appears to have since been fixed, but old habits die hard. Not sure why the wiki template data outputs strictly numbers and that's a topic that will eventually have to be decided on in conjunction with this.

:Apologies for not speaking up sooner; I wanted mull over the matter first. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 23:24, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

==Editing templates, protected pages, deleting irrelevant articles==

How can I request additional permissions? I would like to add a location field to [[Template:CompanyCargo]], edit pages like [[Template:Main_Page/Consumer_Tools]], and remove pages like [[Varusteleka]] (that as far as I'm aware has not been involved in any consumer rights violations) or [[Fruitbat Factory]] (that I think has a page only due to its DLC-oriented business model). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:40, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] I'm honestly tempted to make a buncha things autoconfirmed-protectee but i
:I'd rather not w/o your approval [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 04:32, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::At the moment it's limited to Superconfirmed and above. Given the quality of @[[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]]'s contributions, I'd be happy to give them Superconfirmed. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:40, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Cargo templates are still fully protected, so I cannot edit them. Please see [[Special:ProtectedPages]], it may be reasonable to change most of these (especially templates) to semi-protected. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:34, 18 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Cargo tables are a bit more sensitive, as external tools which use the data will rely on a consistent schema. breakages here wouldn't just affect articles on the wiki, it could also break any external tooling that uses the cargo data. on that basis cargo tables are something I'd be fairly reluctant to un-protect [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 15:45, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:::::I see. I got an idea, I may be able to wrap the cargo template in a different template. [[Template:IncidentCargo]] may be the easiest, as it doesn't render anything. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 16:07, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:Regarding edit access to the consumer tools page or any template used on the front page, additional inclusions like consumer tools are generally confirmed by staff to prevent the potential for promoting a service or product that doesn’t align with our goals.
:Also while we have you here, creating country articles like [[Poland]] isn’t within our scope, as a country category can contain the necessary information such as their incidents and laws while linking back to the country's Wikipedia page. For that, having categories such as [[:Category:Canadian incidents]] and [[:Category:Canadian legislation]] in the Canada category would be best practice. Let me know if you have any questions! [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 13:05, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::There are countries that have many consumer rights organizations and governmental bodies, or complicated laws, that do not warrant one article or do not make sense individually. Without such pages there is no discoverability for these convoluted topics.
::Consider a Polish developer making changes to open source software, to make it interoperable with device that recently got locked down. The device manufacturer subsequently threatens them with legal action, citing [[DMCA]]. How can you find out, that DMCA does not apply outside of the US, the international treaty that DMCA implements is implemented with exceptions in his jurisdiction that make the reverse engineering for interoperability permissible, and that recently [[SLAPP suits and legal intimidation]] has been [https://commission.europa.eu/news-and-media/news/new-eu-rules-protect-against-strategic-lawsuits-against-public-participation-enter-force-2024-05-03_en largely outlawed]? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 20:56, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Also there's [[:Category:Organizations]], [[:Category:Regulatory agencies and public support bodies]], and [[Template:CompanyCargo]] has a suggested "Government" value in the Type field. Countries/jurisdictions fall under the Themes scope in my opinion.
:::Categories (and non-Main namespaces) lack discoverability (they are not searched by default). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 21:06, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Tend to agree. I do wonder though whether the page titles should be just the name of the of the country or be something like 'Government of x', or 'Consumer protection in x', but that's a minor issue, and ultimately the content of the pages is good. I've created [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki_talk:RfC:_Page_protection]] for people to discuss the situation on the wiki regarding permission levels. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:42, 17 May 2026 (UTC)

==Excerpt==

I have brought [[Template:Excerpt]] (and associated modules) from Wikipedia. Documentation: [[wikipedia:Template:Excerpt]]

You can see it in use in the [[Bambu Lab#Cease and desist against OrcaSlicer fork maintainer (2026)|Bambu Lab]] article (see also [[:Category:Articles with excerpts]]). The main benefit is the reduced duplication, where excerpted incidents can be included in company articles.

Can you help me start a project, to convert more articles to use this template? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:28, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:50, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
::Grabbing Keith for you since it’s been a couple hours. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 20:23, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
:Yeah, would be happy to! I assume the scope of it is 'any page in which another page is described in brief should use an excerpt of the other page, rather than a custom summary'? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:05, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::Yes. Currently it's a either verbatim copy of the Incident page lead section or a custom summary. The verbatim copy results in some users updating one but not the other, and then they diverge in content, sometimes missing important facts in all relevant places. Custom summary may sometimes be preferable.
::The incident articles themselves should also be written in a way that the lead section is a summary of the incident with up to date status.
::Ideally we should make people aware of the feature, so new articles and summaries are written with using excerpts in mind. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 00:27, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::[[Itch.io#De-indexing of adult games from campaign pressure (2025)]] is an example of page that is better off with custom summary.
::[[Adobe]] has many incidents that could be converted into excerpts.
::[[European Union#Stop Destroying Videogames (ECI)]] excerpts smaller parts of [[SKG]] (2nd argument (section), <code>paragraphs=</code> and <code>hat=no</code> in use). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 11:41, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Fake DMCA takedown==

This page was edited with "DMCA takedown" as reason by a user that was just created: https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Model_F_Labs&action=history If you see the nature of the edits, it seems rather likely this was done in an attempt to remove critique. [[User:NonPassivatedMOSFET|NonPassivatedMOSFET]] ([[User talk:NonPassivatedMOSFET|talk]]) 20:32, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:It looks like this was reversed. If there still seems to be issues with it, I can have Keith look into this as DMCA related issues are legal matters, and outside of the scope of normal support from the mods and folks like me. So just let us know and if this reappears or if there’s anything that happens to the article, please update us here and I’ll get Keith to look at it.- [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 23:31, 6 June 2026 (UTC)

==Page resurrection request==

Last year there was an argument on whether some community toxicity cases and management issues at the Wikipedia platform fall within the scope of this wiki or not.

Recently there's some developments that can finally settle the case and which will fall within this wiki's scope this time around, as editors on Wikipedia are threatening a worker's strike after the WMF disbands the entire Community Tech team. Relevant links:

*https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:COMMTECHGATE

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-is-doing-the-capitalist-thing-56a393232943

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-runs-on-people-it-shouldnt-run-over-people-48823f4238bb

*https://www.theverge.com/report/939442/wikipedia-editors-protest-wikimedia-layoffs-strike

*https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/hundreds-of-wikipedia-editors-are-threatening-to-go-on-strike-and-the-reason-is-these-engineers/articleshow/131394771.cms

*https://www.pcmag.com/news/wikipedia-editors-could-strike-following-layoffs

The page [[Wikipedia]] and/or [[Wikimedia Foundation]] are theredore requested to be resurrected. In hindsight I feel that the fussy attitude by Beanie Bo against the inclusion of Wikipedia issues into the wiki scope looks ridiculous in the first place. [[Special:Contributions/52.220.157.15|52.220.157.15]] 22:35, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:After reading through the links you provided, I do not see how the labor issue, although concerning, is relevant from a consumer rights perspective. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 04:15, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
::The disbanding of Community Tech team at Wikipedia will make it easier for WMF and so on to initiate changes that are deemed "unpopular", which will harm the interests of consumers/readers in the long term. Not to mention many volunteer editors are at the same time, readers. As one had pointed out, you can and should look at this [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Wishlist/Updates the archives] of Community Wishlist to see how the team had contributed to the well-being of the encyclopedia over time. Dark mode is just one of the features that if I can remember, was requested that way.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 11:13, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
:::I don't really think that the ongoing dispute falls into the Wiki's scope, and will outline my reasoning below:
:::Changes to the internal governance of an organization, or labour disputes in general, are not relevant to the wiki - there needs to be some direct, specific, and notable impact on consumers.
:::We also do not cover generic product quality issues, despite any impact they may have on consumers, unless there is some aggravating factor such as safety, an attempt to cover up the quality issue by the company, or it being a willful degradation in quality of a product that users had already paid for. If a company makes a bad product, that is a skill issue, rather than a consumer rights issue, unless consumers were promised and paid for a substantially different product to the one they received.
:::Therefore, if a labour dispute or similar threatened to reduce the quality of a company's product, it would not be relevant to the wiki. E.g. if the company behind a game (that had not come out yet and which had not accepted pre-orders) decided to scrap their entire art team and replace it with AI slop, kicking off a labour dispute with product quality implications, then that would not be a consumer rights issue to be covered on the wiki. If, however, a company had sold pre-orders or a season pass for a DLC that was upcoming, then they sacked everyone who was meant to deliver that content, then that product quality issue would become a wiki-relevant issue once it becomes clear in reporting that the promised and paid-for content was not going to be delivered.
:::The only Wikipedia-related controversy I'm aware of that I could imagine being actually relevant to the wiki would be the long-standing controversies around whether or not the various Wikipedia donation banners were misleading as to the effect donations would have on Wikipedia's maintenance. While it being donations to charity puts a bit of a spin on it, misleading advertising is 100% relevant to the wiki, and there's definitely been enough debate and discussion and coverage on that topic over the years to meet notability and sourcing criteria. Even then, it's probably open to some debate. Would a charity that accepts donations and then the person running the charity embezzles the money and runs off, be a consumer rights issue? idk.
:::Ultimately, since the Wikipedia platform is delivered freely and is also not 'paid for' through user data, it makes a lot of arguments for consumer rights relevancy more difficult. If they decided to shut the whole thing down tomorrow, it would be a great loss for humanity, but I'm still not sure whether it would be wiki-relevant. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 01:44, 3 June 2026 (UTC)
::::Thanks. If that page were to be resurrected, it will be pretty much a single-topic page focusing on the Wikipedia misleading donation and financial cancer issues, right? Perhaps for clarification there should be an external link section to a page on SourceWatch or so on that documents Wikipedia-related issues, along with a small note clarifying that most of the information on there can't be included here due to guideline restrictions, but the external link to the page containing the info is included just as courtesy for readers.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 12:16, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

==Logos (and Style Guide / Templates)==

'''tl;dr: Enabling InstantCommons could be a huge help site-wide. Let's add <code>$wgUseInstantCommons = true;</code> to the LocalSettings.php file on the server.'''

CRW can use content from Wikimedia Commons much like Wikipedia does with a small configuration change. Currently, a file can be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia, and it's as if the file exists on Wikipedia if it's just on Commons.

Would save trouble - issues I see like comments asking people to use better filenames and the use logo category, and https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Talk:DuckDuckGo#Logo would all go away. And [company/productName_logo.svg] could be the default instead of [[:File:QuestionMark.svg]]!

In other words, [https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Ecobee&diff=prev&oldid=58644 this edit] should just work, and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg should display. Notice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg doesn't have an edit button; the file doesn't exist there.

Pretty confident there's no legal or technical issue with doing this. They say hotlinking, as it's called, is allowed, here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia: " '''Use it''': Download or hotlink the file and use it. ('''See [[commons:Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia/technical|Commons:Reusing content outside Wikimedia/technical]].''')"

I guess @[[User:Keith|Keith]] needs to add the line. Or if someone grants me access, I'll edit <s>[[Special:FilePath]] or</s> the server's copy of LocalSettings.php accordingly to make this work. (For the latter, see https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/InstantCommons, a firewall tweak <u>may</u> be needed if we go the InstantCommons route.) [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 19:02, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

:Update2: I was confused by bad documentation. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ecobee_logo.svg would work (hotlinking), but I think [[Special:FilePath]], aka [[Special:Redirect]] is of no use for including an image in a ''wiki'' page. So I think InstantCommons is the way to go. (It comes pre-installed, so it's vetted; it just needs to be turned on but it requires server access to add one line the server's copy of https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:LocalSettings.php.) --[[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 22:32, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
:Sounds like a good idea! I've passed it on to Jake for implementation, should hopefully roll out in the next patch if there are no unforseen complications [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 10:30, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

===Importing Templates===
:Oh, and do we have an admin who can import templates from Wikipedia or are you looking for one? [[Special:Import]] requires the mop too. I used [[Template:Dead link]] recently at [[eBay]] (before it existed), and <s>would like</s> ''wanted'' to import it so it would ''work'', but I saw the Wikipedia version has a bunch of dependencies: Template:Fix, Module:Yesno, Module:Arguments, the '''whole freaking''' Module:Citation/CS1, and sub-Modules (they're ~half the file), Module:Protection banner+sub and Module:Documentation+subs (~5% each), Module:Check for unknown parameters, Module:Navbox, Template:Dead link/styles.css, and related meta-templates ~50 "pages" total. Apparently, essential backend extensions like Scribunto, ParserFunctions, and TemplateStyles must be installed, with a full export via Special:Export recommended to ensure all dependencies are included. The export produces a ridiculously huge 1.1MB file if I check "Include templates" (required; otherwise, it's tiny).
:'''SUCCESS'''! Relatively minimalist [[Template:Dead link]] forked off Wikia instead. Works! Having a strategy re https://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/117429/how-to-use-wikipedia-templates-on-an-outside-mediawiki would be good. We have so I presume we already imported CS1, or does it come with MediWiki? I see we do NOT have citation (CS1, CS2, etc) templates; citations work through Modules, so those templates are not needed, apparently. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 20:52, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

==vague Pro-consumer articles definition==

kinda reads how the US' router bill does. are everything in the crossfire? for now it seems like the articles that consist of 0 anti-consumer incidents are likely to be removed. e.g. [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]], [[GOG.com]], etc. but what abt [[Valve removes arbitration requirement from Steam Subscriber Agreement]] and [[EA releases source code of classic Command & Conquer titles]]? are these next in line for the guillotine? they don't have "relevance" or "deletion" notices so it is confusing when compared w the set definition.

what I got from the vagueness is that positives are allowed such as [[Valve#Positives]] but the article must not solely be them or otherwise might "sound like we are endorsing them". yes or no? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 17:44, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

:A comment I just added to the [[Talk:GrapheneOS]]:
:'''"If [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] has verifiably extolled its virtues, it's on topic."''' I think that is a short simple, good rule we should have. At least I'm going to throw it out there to be considered as the only or one of perhaps multiple rules / line definitions to address this issue. If a bright line can be drawn based on the other efforts above, good, but right now, I'm seeing a lines that I anticipate would make each decision a tough call - one that would be hard for someone with folks with even a little bias one way or the other (i.e. average humans) to be able to respectfully disagree on. Probably wouldn't hurt to add "significant coverage" or something like that but maybe not necessary. '''"Significant coverage by [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] verifiably extolling something's virtues indicates an article is warranted."'''
:Arguments in favor:
:#Short.
:#Bright line.
:#I think we want articles on companies which Louis verifiably extolled the virtues of. Several come to mind of which he has covered in some detail.
:#I think the bulk of us are here because we're fans of Louis and have developed a feel for and trust his judgement.
:Where is the current "Pro-consumer articles definition" or scope policy?
:[[Positive_practices]] exist but doesn't answer.
:Oh, see [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] defines it and just got edited on the 15th. https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Category:Pro-consumer_articles&diff=prev&oldid=57894
:@[[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]], are you open to my idea? I'm reading into [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]] still being around that a proposal like mine is welcome - unlike some forums, where such a suggestion would be considered 'arguing with the mods'. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 03:26, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I do think that if we were to continue down this route, we do seriously need to consider developing a set of proper criteria, as well as a necessary quality threshold, because only leaving it up to the whims of the bossmann just makes it difficult to sustain autonomy for the wiki [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:01, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
:::If we don't, we should add 'Such' before 'companies' in [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] ([https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Category:Pro-consumer_articles] ; Cat link no worky? not in preview.) . We could also blank a few of the counterexample pages, so editors can continue to '''see''' the content that was deemed inappropriate via diff link. An improvement to leaving them tagged as is or with a tag that says they serve as a counterexample.
:::Should [[Policy]] or [[POL]] be a redirect to [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Wiki_policy_index]]? [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:18, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::The thing is, with the pro-consumer article criteria on the category page, we don't want to have pro-consumer products or companies covered to avoid sounding like the wiki has its full support behind them. Take [[Bitwarden]] for example. They are open source and can be self-hosted, but now as it appears they have incidents that can make the wiki look bad if there are biases included in the coverage.

::Regarding [https://www.theverge.com/policy/959205/mullvads-cofounder-gave-500k-to-swedish-populist-party Mullvad] and [https://www.reddit.com/r/trmnl/comments/1u9ah6k/removed_by_moderator/ TRMNL], there are also issues with the founders donating to right-wing political organizations that i've seen on Reddit. As a wiki, we want to be as politically neutral as possible and don't want to take sides, whether it is written positively or negatively.

::We encourage discussions like these and by no means is this arguing with the mods. @[[User:Keith|Keith]] can explain it better, as we decided this earlier this month in a staff Zoom meeting, but that's the reasoning in a nutshell. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 21:47, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

==Pocket Cast==

I have a direct Pocket Casts support email that may help source the “Showing advertisements to Champion/Lifetime users” section.

On September 24, 2025 at 04:08 UTC, Pocket Casts support responded to my complaint about banner ads. The response stated that maintaining Pocket Casts had become “unsustainable on one-time purchases or free app downloads alone,” that Pocket Casts had moved to Plus/Patron subscriptions, and that banner ads had been introduced for users who do not have Plus or Patron. The email also framed ads as helping “keep the lights on” and directed me to try Pocket Casts Plus.

I was a lifetime-license user. After I pushed back and pointed out that I had a lifetime license, the ads were removed from my account. I can provide a redacted screenshot of the email/thread if useful. [[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] ([[User talk:ServiceLevelOne|talk]]) 17:38, 28 June 2026 (UTC)

:While it may act as supplemental information, unless we have external coverage, I would advise against writing an article on the matter. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:02, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I'm looking at [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability]]. Very on-topic. States, "Lower reliability: (use with caution and additional verification". Question is, could @[[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] upload the email (with appropriate privacy munging) that would allow it to serve to make a claim about it added to [[Pocket Casts]] verifiable? As someone wanting to add the content, it seems reasonable to interpret "use with caution" as permission to use. If so, could they upload it here? Social media? Not seeing a clear answer. To my mind, emails would be considered appropriate evidence in a court, and so should be here too? I probably need to reread the policies through again.
::From the mission statement page: "A project like this cannot obtain or maintain legitimacy if every article comes across as being written by someone with an axe to grind or by someone who is more interested in proving a point than the truth." is important, but (from experience reading and writing) hard to follow in practice. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:40, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

Category:Pro-consumer articles

2026-06-29T21:54:26Z

Mr Pollo:

These are articles that display growth for consumer rights, whether it is an incident, theme, or law. '''Note:''' <u>companies, people, and products</u> should <u>not</u> have a pro-consumer article made about them.
[[Category:Wiki root]]

Category:Pro-consumer articles

2026-06-29T21:54:03Z

Mr Pollo:

These are articles that display growth for consumer rights, whether it is an incident, theme, or law. '''Note:''' <u>companies, people, and products</u> should not have a pro-consumer article made about them.
[[Category:Wiki root]]

Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard

2026-06-29T21:51:33Z

Mr Pollo: /* vague Pro-consumer articles definition */

<div style="margin: {{#ifeq:{{{navbox|<noinclude>yes</noinclude>}}}|yes|2px}} 0 0.5em; padding: 0.5em; {{{style|border: 1px solid #A0A5AD;}}} {{{backgroundstyle|background-color: var(--background-color-progressive-subtle, #eaf3ff); color: inherit;}}}">
<div style="padding: 0.25em 0; text-align: center; font-size: 120%; border-radius: 3px; font-weight: bold; {{{titlestyle|background-color: var(--background-color-content-added, #aad1ff); color: inherit;}}}">Welcome — post issues of interest to Moderators</div>
*Post '''appeals''' to article notice templates (e.g. Incomplete, Stub, etc.)
*Post requests for '''moderator action''' here (e.g. blocks)
*Just need a mod? Post here or ping a mod with a question.
*Post any information or news relevant to the moderation team here.
*To request an article to be created, do not post here, try [[Article suggestions]] instead.
*Do not report technical issues here, please use the [[Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Bugs|Bugs noticeboard]] instead.

<div style="padding: 0.25em 0; text-align: center; font-size: 150%; border-radius: 3px; font-weight: bold">[[Special:NewSection/Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard|Start a new section]]</div>
</div>
<br />
{{Archives}} 
==Open tasks==

*[[:Category:Articles with deletion requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles with merge requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles marked as irrelevant]]
*[[Special:NewPages]]

==add "Quasi-Wanted" Special page==

There are Wikipedia articles linked from many different CRW articles. It'd be nice to see which topics are candidates for a dedicated article on CRW. I say "topics", just-in-case a future update adds support for non-WP "pseudo-internal" links (because WP links are shown as "internal" even though they aren't)

Apologies in advance if this is not a place for feature-requests [[User:Rudxain|Rudxain]] ([[User talk:Rudxain|talk]]) 06:23, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

==so...==

abt that superuser role? has it been rolled out yet? got hit in the face w a stub notice bug again lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:08, 26 March 2026 (UTC)

:another thing. Phreeli has a valid entry in [[List of products and services with forced arbitration]]. still @[[User:Louis]] supported them w a dedicated [https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=e8SnNNq6MaI video], in which he states "so this is a company we started" and claims to be an unpaid board member. so I ask, what the fuck? Louis said to give a fuck abt consumer rights but he is not your savior. the video was released on 2025.12.19 and the citation on the list was archived on 2026.01.13, so it can be argued that it could be a development after the video was published. I have not seen him mention Phreeli since then. so I cannot say if they're still affiliated but the video is still up w no follow up (afaik). as y'all are in contact w the man, can we get a comment or perhaps an apology video w a ukulele cameo? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 15:30, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I discussed that here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_twkLJbc1c
::if there's an MVNO that's open to allowing people to pay with crypto without providing a name and address, I am happy to push them in that direction & help move it along. forced arbitration sucks balls, but every carrier has forced arbitration..... so this becomes a question of, should i not help push along a carrier that allows people to sign up in a more anonymous way, because 1 thing isn't to my liking... ??? the answer to that is no.
::framework doesn't release schematics... but after a long talk with the CEO, they'll allow you to get one if you contact them & sign an NDA. that's not what I want. but it is better than if I had not engaged at all.
::if i started a phone company/MVNO, it'd have no forced arbitration '''''AND''''' allow people to sign up with anonymous crypto without providing their name.... but i'm not starting a phone company... i am too busy as it is.
::phreeli belongs in that list of products & services with forced arbitration because they have forced arbitration. [[User:Louis|Louis]] ([[User talk:Louis|talk]]) 19:59, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
:::as mentioned in my previous comment I didn't know of that video. thank you. even tho its been a week, I still haven't found the time to watch it. perhaps many of the points I've highlighted have already been discussed in said video.
:::regardless, I agree that the existence of a more private MVNO's a blessing to see in a sea full of scammers. but I still would've liked to see them not go the same route as traditional operators regarding forced arbitration. everybody's "threat" model is diff so I can understand your stance. I'm a fairly regular watcher of the channel but somehow I missed the video. and based on the view discrepancy (378k vs 41k), many others have too. the follow up video includes the announcement in its description but the title and thumbnail do not reflect it being a follow up. I would like to see this rectified.
:::now on Framework, I did not know an NDA had to be signed in order to get the schematics. I checked the article and it does not mention that. based on my 5 min search I found [https://knowledgebase.frame.work/availability-of-schematics-and-boardviews-BJMZ6EAu this] but it does not mention an NDA, just to reach out to support. could you please provide sources? I'd like to append this to the article. I don't consider it egregious but for a person looking for them, they should know.
:::I'd like to highlight a conflict here. in the video you state "so this company we started" and in [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2009536/000200953624000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml this] SEC filing you're cited as a Director. I'd like to mention that I'm not American nor have any idea wtf this shit is, but I have a borderline idea on what SEC filings are. could you please explain to me what this means? ofc you yourself did not start the company but you are still listed as a director of the company.
:::an article on Phreeli does not exist and the arbitration list can be hard to find. so I will be creating one. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:52, 3 April 2026 (UTC)
:Superconfirmed has been rolled out, see [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator applications]], BUT you need your email. I think this stuff should be done onwiki but whatever, I got mod without using email lol. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:26, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I went on a hiatus again lol so apologies for the slow response.
::I did email Keith on the matter b4 the rollout and recently did I get knighted. thank you mods [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:54, 3 April 2026 (UTC)

I'm unable to move this discussion to the archive, due to word filter. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:47, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Archive everything==

is there a way the checking process for refs be automated? it is user maintained and isn't always accurate. perhaps all refs could be checked if they have the <code>archive-url=</code> filled? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:26, 5 April 2026 (UTC)

==Featured articles on main page have light grey title on White background .. even on dark mode==

This isnt great for readability.

my setup for reference :

dark mode on CRW, Firefox. Linux Mint XFCE. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:46, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

:wait i just went back and now they are black titles... i dont know what happened. mightve been a one time bug on my part ??? [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:49, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
::OK i figured it out... this is weird :
::it only happnes when i am LOGGED OUT of my account.
::to reiterate :
::when a user is logged out. the featured articles on the main page appear with light grey titles on white background ; which isnt great for readability ... especially for new users' first impression of the website.
::Once i am logged into my account, the titles now appear black with good contrast.
::I dont know why this is the case but it is consistent across my testing [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:51, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] this was an issue that I had before that I asked om your talkpage to fix, now it's happening again? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:26, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::I'm going to throw in a curveball. logged in and I still got the issue. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 08:52, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
::::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] pinging again [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 11:04, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
:::::Flagged this for Keith since it’s been awhile hopefully Jake sees it. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 11:18, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

==Suggestion==

I feel we could be more clearer when it come to our date standards on the wiki, as right now I feel its lacking in clarity and causes confusion for newcomers on what the actual date format is most commonly accepted and preferred (as of right now being something like a date format of 20 Jan 2004 <s>if that makes sense</s>). Currently, when going onto the citation tab to add a source, it reads ''"Example: Format as YYYY-MM-DD (2020-12-30) or DD Mon YYYY (30 Dec 2025)".''

Additionally, I also think the product section ''(referring to the This is a list of the company's product lines '''with articles on this wiki'''. [[Example product line one]] (release date): Short summary of the product's incidents.)'' could also be more specified and informative on what users are supposed to fill out, along with specifying what to do when there's no incidents relating to any of their product, as right now it's kinda up to the users to determine what it means.

I also want to ask if you can add more sections to the parent company on the CompanyCargo template(being adding one company that's own by several other companies instead of one <s>as of current</s>) as I'm currently working on '''[[Denny's]]''' article and <sub><s>as far as I know</s></sub> there are 3 private companies that own Denny's as of the moment.

I don't mean to come off in a bad way where it's disrespectful, I meant to only state my opinion on the matter. [[User:SquidthePlummer|SquidthePlummer]] ([[User talk:SquidthePlummer|talk]]) 03:06, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:Agree, we don't really have a specific date standard here [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:38, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:I have been using the DMY format since the majority of the world generally uses that. The hope for the wiki is to be an international source for consumers around the world (not just Americans), and I believe DMY to be in line with that goal. I further believe it would be better to have a consistent experience, which is why I have used the DMY format even for American companies and incidents. (Though clearly Rossmann disagreed with that, as he recently "corrected" the dates on an Amazon article from an older edit of mine.)

:As for the citations, I abbreviate the months because early on using more than three characters for the month resulted in the citation template being unhappy. It appears to have since been fixed, but old habits die hard. Not sure why the wiki template data outputs strictly numbers and that's a topic that will eventually have to be decided on in conjunction with this.

:Apologies for not speaking up sooner; I wanted mull over the matter first. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 23:24, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

==Editing templates, protected pages, deleting irrelevant articles==

How can I request additional permissions? I would like to add a location field to [[Template:CompanyCargo]], edit pages like [[Template:Main_Page/Consumer_Tools]], and remove pages like [[Varusteleka]] (that as far as I'm aware has not been involved in any consumer rights violations) or [[Fruitbat Factory]] (that I think has a page only due to its DLC-oriented business model). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:40, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] I'm honestly tempted to make a buncha things autoconfirmed-protectee but i
:I'd rather not w/o your approval [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 04:32, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::At the moment it's limited to Superconfirmed and above. Given the quality of @[[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]]'s contributions, I'd be happy to give them Superconfirmed. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:40, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Cargo templates are still fully protected, so I cannot edit them. Please see [[Special:ProtectedPages]], it may be reasonable to change most of these (especially templates) to semi-protected. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:34, 18 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Cargo tables are a bit more sensitive, as external tools which use the data will rely on a consistent schema. breakages here wouldn't just affect articles on the wiki, it could also break any external tooling that uses the cargo data. on that basis cargo tables are something I'd be fairly reluctant to un-protect [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 15:45, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:::::I see. I got an idea, I may be able to wrap the cargo template in a different template. [[Template:IncidentCargo]] may be the easiest, as it doesn't render anything. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 16:07, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:Regarding edit access to the consumer tools page or any template used on the front page, additional inclusions like consumer tools are generally confirmed by staff to prevent the potential for promoting a service or product that doesn’t align with our goals.
:Also while we have you here, creating country articles like [[Poland]] isn’t within our scope, as a country category can contain the necessary information such as their incidents and laws while linking back to the country's Wikipedia page. For that, having categories such as [[:Category:Canadian incidents]] and [[:Category:Canadian legislation]] in the Canada category would be best practice. Let me know if you have any questions! [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 13:05, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::There are countries that have many consumer rights organizations and governmental bodies, or complicated laws, that do not warrant one article or do not make sense individually. Without such pages there is no discoverability for these convoluted topics.
::Consider a Polish developer making changes to open source software, to make it interoperable with device that recently got locked down. The device manufacturer subsequently threatens them with legal action, citing [[DMCA]]. How can you find out, that DMCA does not apply outside of the US, the international treaty that DMCA implements is implemented with exceptions in his jurisdiction that make the reverse engineering for interoperability permissible, and that recently [[SLAPP suits and legal intimidation]] has been [https://commission.europa.eu/news-and-media/news/new-eu-rules-protect-against-strategic-lawsuits-against-public-participation-enter-force-2024-05-03_en largely outlawed]? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 20:56, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Also there's [[:Category:Organizations]], [[:Category:Regulatory agencies and public support bodies]], and [[Template:CompanyCargo]] has a suggested "Government" value in the Type field. Countries/jurisdictions fall under the Themes scope in my opinion.
:::Categories (and non-Main namespaces) lack discoverability (they are not searched by default). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 21:06, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Tend to agree. I do wonder though whether the page titles should be just the name of the of the country or be something like 'Government of x', or 'Consumer protection in x', but that's a minor issue, and ultimately the content of the pages is good. I've created [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki_talk:RfC:_Page_protection]] for people to discuss the situation on the wiki regarding permission levels. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:42, 17 May 2026 (UTC)

==Excerpt==

I have brought [[Template:Excerpt]] (and associated modules) from Wikipedia. Documentation: [[wikipedia:Template:Excerpt]]

You can see it in use in the [[Bambu Lab#Cease and desist against OrcaSlicer fork maintainer (2026)|Bambu Lab]] article (see also [[:Category:Articles with excerpts]]). The main benefit is the reduced duplication, where excerpted incidents can be included in company articles.

Can you help me start a project, to convert more articles to use this template? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:28, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:50, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
::Grabbing Keith for you since it’s been a couple hours. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 20:23, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
:Yeah, would be happy to! I assume the scope of it is 'any page in which another page is described in brief should use an excerpt of the other page, rather than a custom summary'? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:05, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::Yes. Currently it's a either verbatim copy of the Incident page lead section or a custom summary. The verbatim copy results in some users updating one but not the other, and then they diverge in content, sometimes missing important facts in all relevant places. Custom summary may sometimes be preferable.
::The incident articles themselves should also be written in a way that the lead section is a summary of the incident with up to date status.
::Ideally we should make people aware of the feature, so new articles and summaries are written with using excerpts in mind. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 00:27, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::[[Itch.io#De-indexing of adult games from campaign pressure (2025)]] is an example of page that is better off with custom summary.
::[[Adobe]] has many incidents that could be converted into excerpts.
::[[European Union#Stop Destroying Videogames (ECI)]] excerpts smaller parts of [[SKG]] (2nd argument (section), <code>paragraphs=</code> and <code>hat=no</code> in use). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 11:41, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Fake DMCA takedown==

This page was edited with "DMCA takedown" as reason by a user that was just created: https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Model_F_Labs&action=history If you see the nature of the edits, it seems rather likely this was done in an attempt to remove critique. [[User:NonPassivatedMOSFET|NonPassivatedMOSFET]] ([[User talk:NonPassivatedMOSFET|talk]]) 20:32, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:It looks like this was reversed. If there still seems to be issues with it, I can have Keith look into this as DMCA related issues are legal matters, and outside of the scope of normal support from the mods and folks like me. So just let us know and if this reappears or if there’s anything that happens to the article, please update us here and I’ll get Keith to look at it.- [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 23:31, 6 June 2026 (UTC)

==Page resurrection request==

Last year there was an argument on whether some community toxicity cases and management issues at the Wikipedia platform fall within the scope of this wiki or not.

Recently there's some developments that can finally settle the case and which will fall within this wiki's scope this time around, as editors on Wikipedia are threatening a worker's strike after the WMF disbands the entire Community Tech team. Relevant links:

*https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:COMMTECHGATE

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-is-doing-the-capitalist-thing-56a393232943

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-runs-on-people-it-shouldnt-run-over-people-48823f4238bb

*https://www.theverge.com/report/939442/wikipedia-editors-protest-wikimedia-layoffs-strike

*https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/hundreds-of-wikipedia-editors-are-threatening-to-go-on-strike-and-the-reason-is-these-engineers/articleshow/131394771.cms

*https://www.pcmag.com/news/wikipedia-editors-could-strike-following-layoffs

The page [[Wikipedia]] and/or [[Wikimedia Foundation]] are theredore requested to be resurrected. In hindsight I feel that the fussy attitude by Beanie Bo against the inclusion of Wikipedia issues into the wiki scope looks ridiculous in the first place. [[Special:Contributions/52.220.157.15|52.220.157.15]] 22:35, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:After reading through the links you provided, I do not see how the labor issue, although concerning, is relevant from a consumer rights perspective. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 04:15, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
::The disbanding of Community Tech team at Wikipedia will make it easier for WMF and so on to initiate changes that are deemed "unpopular", which will harm the interests of consumers/readers in the long term. Not to mention many volunteer editors are at the same time, readers. As one had pointed out, you can and should look at this [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Wishlist/Updates the archives] of Community Wishlist to see how the team had contributed to the well-being of the encyclopedia over time. Dark mode is just one of the features that if I can remember, was requested that way.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 11:13, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
:::I don't really think that the ongoing dispute falls into the Wiki's scope, and will outline my reasoning below:
:::Changes to the internal governance of an organization, or labour disputes in general, are not relevant to the wiki - there needs to be some direct, specific, and notable impact on consumers.
:::We also do not cover generic product quality issues, despite any impact they may have on consumers, unless there is some aggravating factor such as safety, an attempt to cover up the quality issue by the company, or it being a willful degradation in quality of a product that users had already paid for. If a company makes a bad product, that is a skill issue, rather than a consumer rights issue, unless consumers were promised and paid for a substantially different product to the one they received.
:::Therefore, if a labour dispute or similar threatened to reduce the quality of a company's product, it would not be relevant to the wiki. E.g. if the company behind a game (that had not come out yet and which had not accepted pre-orders) decided to scrap their entire art team and replace it with AI slop, kicking off a labour dispute with product quality implications, then that would not be a consumer rights issue to be covered on the wiki. If, however, a company had sold pre-orders or a season pass for a DLC that was upcoming, then they sacked everyone who was meant to deliver that content, then that product quality issue would become a wiki-relevant issue once it becomes clear in reporting that the promised and paid-for content was not going to be delivered.
:::The only Wikipedia-related controversy I'm aware of that I could imagine being actually relevant to the wiki would be the long-standing controversies around whether or not the various Wikipedia donation banners were misleading as to the effect donations would have on Wikipedia's maintenance. While it being donations to charity puts a bit of a spin on it, misleading advertising is 100% relevant to the wiki, and there's definitely been enough debate and discussion and coverage on that topic over the years to meet notability and sourcing criteria. Even then, it's probably open to some debate. Would a charity that accepts donations and then the person running the charity embezzles the money and runs off, be a consumer rights issue? idk.
:::Ultimately, since the Wikipedia platform is delivered freely and is also not 'paid for' through user data, it makes a lot of arguments for consumer rights relevancy more difficult. If they decided to shut the whole thing down tomorrow, it would be a great loss for humanity, but I'm still not sure whether it would be wiki-relevant. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 01:44, 3 June 2026 (UTC)
::::Thanks. If that page were to be resurrected, it will be pretty much a single-topic page focusing on the Wikipedia misleading donation and financial cancer issues, right? Perhaps for clarification there should be an external link section to a page on SourceWatch or so on that documents Wikipedia-related issues, along with a small note clarifying that most of the information on there can't be included here due to guideline restrictions, but the external link to the page containing the info is included just as courtesy for readers.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 12:16, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

==Logos (and Style Guide / Templates)==

'''tl;dr: Enabling InstantCommons could be a huge help site-wide. Let's add <code>$wgUseInstantCommons = true;</code> to the LocalSettings.php file on the server.'''

CRW can use content from Wikimedia Commons much like Wikipedia does with a small configuration change. Currently, a file can be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia, and it's as if the file exists on Wikipedia if it's just on Commons.

Would save trouble - issues I see like comments asking people to use better filenames and the use logo category, and https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Talk:DuckDuckGo#Logo would all go away. And [company/productName_logo.svg] could be the default instead of [[:File:QuestionMark.svg]]!

In other words, [https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Ecobee&diff=prev&oldid=58644 this edit] should just work, and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg should display. Notice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg doesn't have an edit button; the file doesn't exist there.

Pretty confident there's no legal or technical issue with doing this. They say hotlinking, as it's called, is allowed, here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia: " '''Use it''': Download or hotlink the file and use it. ('''See [[commons:Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia/technical|Commons:Reusing content outside Wikimedia/technical]].''')"

I guess @[[User:Keith|Keith]] needs to add the line. Or if someone grants me access, I'll edit <s>[[Special:FilePath]] or</s> the server's copy of LocalSettings.php accordingly to make this work. (For the latter, see https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/InstantCommons, a firewall tweak <u>may</u> be needed if we go the InstantCommons route.) [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 19:02, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

:Update2: I was confused by bad documentation. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ecobee_logo.svg would work (hotlinking), but I think [[Special:FilePath]], aka [[Special:Redirect]] is of no use for including an image in a ''wiki'' page. So I think InstantCommons is the way to go. (It comes pre-installed, so it's vetted; it just needs to be turned on but it requires server access to add one line the server's copy of https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:LocalSettings.php.) --[[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 22:32, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
:Sounds like a good idea! I've passed it on to Jake for implementation, should hopefully roll out in the next patch if there are no unforseen complications [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 10:30, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

===Importing Templates===
:Oh, and do we have an admin who can import templates from Wikipedia or are you looking for one? [[Special:Import]] requires the mop too. I used [[Template:Dead link]] recently at [[eBay]] (before it existed), and <s>would like</s> ''wanted'' to import it so it would ''work'', but I saw the Wikipedia version has a bunch of dependencies: Template:Fix, Module:Yesno, Module:Arguments, the '''whole freaking''' Module:Citation/CS1, and sub-Modules (they're ~half the file), Module:Protection banner+sub and Module:Documentation+subs (~5% each), Module:Check for unknown parameters, Module:Navbox, Template:Dead link/styles.css, and related meta-templates ~50 "pages" total. Apparently, essential backend extensions like Scribunto, ParserFunctions, and TemplateStyles must be installed, with a full export via Special:Export recommended to ensure all dependencies are included. The export produces a ridiculously huge 1.1MB file if I check "Include templates" (required; otherwise, it's tiny).
:'''SUCCESS'''! Relatively minimalist [[Template:Dead link]] forked off Wikia instead. Works! Having a strategy re https://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/117429/how-to-use-wikipedia-templates-on-an-outside-mediawiki would be good. We have so I presume we already imported CS1, or does it come with MediWiki? I see we do NOT have citation (CS1, CS2, etc) templates; citations work through Modules, so those templates are not needed, apparently. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 20:52, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

==vague Pro-consumer articles definition==

kinda reads how the US' router bill does. are everything in the crossfire? for now it seems like the articles that consist of 0 anti-consumer incidents are likely to be removed. e.g. [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]], [[GOG.com]], etc. but what abt [[Valve removes arbitration requirement from Steam Subscriber Agreement]] and [[EA releases source code of classic Command & Conquer titles]]? are these next in line for the guillotine? they don't have "relevance" or "deletion" notices so it is confusing when compared w the set definition.

what I got from the vagueness is that positives are allowed such as [[Valve#Positives]] but the article must not solely be them or otherwise might "sound like we are endorsing them". yes or no? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 17:44, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

:A comment I just added to the [[Talk:GrapheneOS]]:
:'''"If [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] has verifiably extolled its virtues, it's on topic."''' I think that is a short simple, good rule we should have. At least I'm going to throw it out there to be considered as the only or one of perhaps multiple rules / line definitions to address this issue. If a bright line can be drawn based on the other efforts above, good, but right now, I'm seeing a lines that I anticipate would make each decision a tough call - one that would be hard for someone with folks with even a little bias one way or the other (i.e. average humans) to be able to respectfully disagree on. Probably wouldn't hurt to add "significant coverage" or something like that but maybe not necessary. '''"Significant coverage by [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] verifiably extolling something's virtues indicates an article is warranted."'''
:Arguments in favor:
:#Short.
:#Bright line.
:#I think we want articles on companies which Louis verifiably extolled the virtues of. Several come to mind of which he has covered in some detail.
:#I think the bulk of us are here because we're fans of Louis and have developed a feel for and trust his judgement.
:Where is the current "Pro-consumer articles definition" or scope policy?
:[[Positive_practices]] exist but doesn't answer.
:Oh, see [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] defines it and just got edited on the 15th. https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Category:Pro-consumer_articles&diff=prev&oldid=57894
:@[[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]], are you open to my idea? I'm reading into [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]] still being around that a proposal like mine is welcome - unlike some forums, where such a suggestion would be considered 'arguing with the mods'. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 03:26, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I do think that if we were to continue down this route, we do seriously need to consider developing a set of proper criteria, as well as a necessary quality threshold, because only leaving it up to the whims of the bossmann just makes it difficult to sustain autonomy for the wiki [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:01, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
:::If we don't, we should add 'Such' before 'companies' in [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] ([https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Category:Pro-consumer_articles] ; Cat link no worky? not in preview.) . We could also blank a few of the counterexample pages, so editors can continue to '''see''' the content that was deemed inappropriate via diff link. An improvement to leaving them tagged as is or with a tag that says they serve as a counterexample.
:::Should [[Policy]] or [[POL]] be a redirect to [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Wiki_policy_index]]? [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:18, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::The thing is, with the pro-consumer article criteria on the category page, we don't want to have pro-consumer products or companies covered to avoid sounding like the wiki has its full support behind them. Take [[Bitwarden]] for example. They are open source and can be self-hosted, but now as it appears they have incidents that can make the wiki look bad if there are biases included in the coverage.

::Regarding Mullvad and TRMNL, there are also issues with the founders donating to right-wing political organizations that i've seen on Reddit. As a wiki, we want to be as politically neutral as possible and don't want to take sides, whether it is written positively or negatively.

::We encourage discussions like these and by no means is this arguing with the mods. @[[User:Keith|Keith]] can explain it better, as we decided this earlier this month in a staff Zoom meeting, but that's the reasoning in a nutshell. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 21:47, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

==Pocket Cast==

I have a direct Pocket Casts support email that may help source the “Showing advertisements to Champion/Lifetime users” section.

On September 24, 2025 at 04:08 UTC, Pocket Casts support responded to my complaint about banner ads. The response stated that maintaining Pocket Casts had become “unsustainable on one-time purchases or free app downloads alone,” that Pocket Casts had moved to Plus/Patron subscriptions, and that banner ads had been introduced for users who do not have Plus or Patron. The email also framed ads as helping “keep the lights on” and directed me to try Pocket Casts Plus.

I was a lifetime-license user. After I pushed back and pointed out that I had a lifetime license, the ads were removed from my account. I can provide a redacted screenshot of the email/thread if useful. [[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] ([[User talk:ServiceLevelOne|talk]]) 17:38, 28 June 2026 (UTC)

:While it may act as supplemental information, unless we have external coverage, I would advise against writing an article on the matter. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:02, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I'm looking at [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability]]. Very on-topic. States, "Lower reliability: (use with caution and additional verification". Question is, could @[[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] upload the email (with appropriate privacy munging) that would allow it to serve to make a claim about it added to [[Pocket Casts]] verifiable? As someone wanting to add the content, it seems reasonable to interpret "use with caution" as permission to use. If so, could they upload it here? Social media? Not seeing a clear answer. To my mind, emails would be considered appropriate evidence in a court, and so should be here too? I probably need to reread the policies through again.
::From the mission statement page: "A project like this cannot obtain or maintain legitimacy if every article comes across as being written by someone with an axe to grind or by someone who is more interested in proving a point than the truth." is important, but (from experience reading and writing) hard to follow in practice. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:40, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard

2026-06-29T21:48:48Z

Mr Pollo: /* vague Pro-consumer articles definition */

<div style="margin: {{#ifeq:{{{navbox|<noinclude>yes</noinclude>}}}|yes|2px}} 0 0.5em; padding: 0.5em; {{{style|border: 1px solid #A0A5AD;}}} {{{backgroundstyle|background-color: var(--background-color-progressive-subtle, #eaf3ff); color: inherit;}}}">
<div style="padding: 0.25em 0; text-align: center; font-size: 120%; border-radius: 3px; font-weight: bold; {{{titlestyle|background-color: var(--background-color-content-added, #aad1ff); color: inherit;}}}">Welcome — post issues of interest to Moderators</div>
*Post '''appeals''' to article notice templates (e.g. Incomplete, Stub, etc.)
*Post requests for '''moderator action''' here (e.g. blocks)
*Just need a mod? Post here or ping a mod with a question.
*Post any information or news relevant to the moderation team here.
*To request an article to be created, do not post here, try [[Article suggestions]] instead.
*Do not report technical issues here, please use the [[Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Bugs|Bugs noticeboard]] instead.

<div style="padding: 0.25em 0; text-align: center; font-size: 150%; border-radius: 3px; font-weight: bold">[[Special:NewSection/Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard|Start a new section]]</div>
</div>
<br />
{{Archives}} 
==Open tasks==

*[[:Category:Articles with deletion requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles with merge requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles marked as irrelevant]]
*[[Special:NewPages]]

==add "Quasi-Wanted" Special page==

There are Wikipedia articles linked from many different CRW articles. It'd be nice to see which topics are candidates for a dedicated article on CRW. I say "topics", just-in-case a future update adds support for non-WP "pseudo-internal" links (because WP links are shown as "internal" even though they aren't)

Apologies in advance if this is not a place for feature-requests [[User:Rudxain|Rudxain]] ([[User talk:Rudxain|talk]]) 06:23, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

==so...==

abt that superuser role? has it been rolled out yet? got hit in the face w a stub notice bug again lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:08, 26 March 2026 (UTC)

:another thing. Phreeli has a valid entry in [[List of products and services with forced arbitration]]. still @[[User:Louis]] supported them w a dedicated [https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=e8SnNNq6MaI video], in which he states "so this is a company we started" and claims to be an unpaid board member. so I ask, what the fuck? Louis said to give a fuck abt consumer rights but he is not your savior. the video was released on 2025.12.19 and the citation on the list was archived on 2026.01.13, so it can be argued that it could be a development after the video was published. I have not seen him mention Phreeli since then. so I cannot say if they're still affiliated but the video is still up w no follow up (afaik). as y'all are in contact w the man, can we get a comment or perhaps an apology video w a ukulele cameo? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 15:30, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I discussed that here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_twkLJbc1c
::if there's an MVNO that's open to allowing people to pay with crypto without providing a name and address, I am happy to push them in that direction & help move it along. forced arbitration sucks balls, but every carrier has forced arbitration..... so this becomes a question of, should i not help push along a carrier that allows people to sign up in a more anonymous way, because 1 thing isn't to my liking... ??? the answer to that is no.
::framework doesn't release schematics... but after a long talk with the CEO, they'll allow you to get one if you contact them & sign an NDA. that's not what I want. but it is better than if I had not engaged at all.
::if i started a phone company/MVNO, it'd have no forced arbitration '''''AND''''' allow people to sign up with anonymous crypto without providing their name.... but i'm not starting a phone company... i am too busy as it is.
::phreeli belongs in that list of products & services with forced arbitration because they have forced arbitration. [[User:Louis|Louis]] ([[User talk:Louis|talk]]) 19:59, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
:::as mentioned in my previous comment I didn't know of that video. thank you. even tho its been a week, I still haven't found the time to watch it. perhaps many of the points I've highlighted have already been discussed in said video.
:::regardless, I agree that the existence of a more private MVNO's a blessing to see in a sea full of scammers. but I still would've liked to see them not go the same route as traditional operators regarding forced arbitration. everybody's "threat" model is diff so I can understand your stance. I'm a fairly regular watcher of the channel but somehow I missed the video. and based on the view discrepancy (378k vs 41k), many others have too. the follow up video includes the announcement in its description but the title and thumbnail do not reflect it being a follow up. I would like to see this rectified.
:::now on Framework, I did not know an NDA had to be signed in order to get the schematics. I checked the article and it does not mention that. based on my 5 min search I found [https://knowledgebase.frame.work/availability-of-schematics-and-boardviews-BJMZ6EAu this] but it does not mention an NDA, just to reach out to support. could you please provide sources? I'd like to append this to the article. I don't consider it egregious but for a person looking for them, they should know.
:::I'd like to highlight a conflict here. in the video you state "so this company we started" and in [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2009536/000200953624000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml this] SEC filing you're cited as a Director. I'd like to mention that I'm not American nor have any idea wtf this shit is, but I have a borderline idea on what SEC filings are. could you please explain to me what this means? ofc you yourself did not start the company but you are still listed as a director of the company.
:::an article on Phreeli does not exist and the arbitration list can be hard to find. so I will be creating one. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:52, 3 April 2026 (UTC)
:Superconfirmed has been rolled out, see [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator applications]], BUT you need your email. I think this stuff should be done onwiki but whatever, I got mod without using email lol. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:26, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I went on a hiatus again lol so apologies for the slow response.
::I did email Keith on the matter b4 the rollout and recently did I get knighted. thank you mods [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:54, 3 April 2026 (UTC)

I'm unable to move this discussion to the archive, due to word filter. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:47, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Archive everything==

is there a way the checking process for refs be automated? it is user maintained and isn't always accurate. perhaps all refs could be checked if they have the <code>archive-url=</code> filled? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:26, 5 April 2026 (UTC)

==Featured articles on main page have light grey title on White background .. even on dark mode==

This isnt great for readability.

my setup for reference :

dark mode on CRW, Firefox. Linux Mint XFCE. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:46, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

:wait i just went back and now they are black titles... i dont know what happened. mightve been a one time bug on my part ??? [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:49, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
::OK i figured it out... this is weird :
::it only happnes when i am LOGGED OUT of my account.
::to reiterate :
::when a user is logged out. the featured articles on the main page appear with light grey titles on white background ; which isnt great for readability ... especially for new users' first impression of the website.
::Once i am logged into my account, the titles now appear black with good contrast.
::I dont know why this is the case but it is consistent across my testing [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:51, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] this was an issue that I had before that I asked om your talkpage to fix, now it's happening again? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:26, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::I'm going to throw in a curveball. logged in and I still got the issue. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 08:52, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
::::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] pinging again [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 11:04, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
:::::Flagged this for Keith since it’s been awhile hopefully Jake sees it. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 11:18, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

==Suggestion==

I feel we could be more clearer when it come to our date standards on the wiki, as right now I feel its lacking in clarity and causes confusion for newcomers on what the actual date format is most commonly accepted and preferred (as of right now being something like a date format of 20 Jan 2004 <s>if that makes sense</s>). Currently, when going onto the citation tab to add a source, it reads ''"Example: Format as YYYY-MM-DD (2020-12-30) or DD Mon YYYY (30 Dec 2025)".''

Additionally, I also think the product section ''(referring to the This is a list of the company's product lines '''with articles on this wiki'''. [[Example product line one]] (release date): Short summary of the product's incidents.)'' could also be more specified and informative on what users are supposed to fill out, along with specifying what to do when there's no incidents relating to any of their product, as right now it's kinda up to the users to determine what it means.

I also want to ask if you can add more sections to the parent company on the CompanyCargo template(being adding one company that's own by several other companies instead of one <s>as of current</s>) as I'm currently working on '''[[Denny's]]''' article and <sub><s>as far as I know</s></sub> there are 3 private companies that own Denny's as of the moment.

I don't mean to come off in a bad way where it's disrespectful, I meant to only state my opinion on the matter. [[User:SquidthePlummer|SquidthePlummer]] ([[User talk:SquidthePlummer|talk]]) 03:06, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:Agree, we don't really have a specific date standard here [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:38, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:I have been using the DMY format since the majority of the world generally uses that. The hope for the wiki is to be an international source for consumers around the world (not just Americans), and I believe DMY to be in line with that goal. I further believe it would be better to have a consistent experience, which is why I have used the DMY format even for American companies and incidents. (Though clearly Rossmann disagreed with that, as he recently "corrected" the dates on an Amazon article from an older edit of mine.)

:As for the citations, I abbreviate the months because early on using more than three characters for the month resulted in the citation template being unhappy. It appears to have since been fixed, but old habits die hard. Not sure why the wiki template data outputs strictly numbers and that's a topic that will eventually have to be decided on in conjunction with this.

:Apologies for not speaking up sooner; I wanted mull over the matter first. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 23:24, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

==Editing templates, protected pages, deleting irrelevant articles==

How can I request additional permissions? I would like to add a location field to [[Template:CompanyCargo]], edit pages like [[Template:Main_Page/Consumer_Tools]], and remove pages like [[Varusteleka]] (that as far as I'm aware has not been involved in any consumer rights violations) or [[Fruitbat Factory]] (that I think has a page only due to its DLC-oriented business model). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:40, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] I'm honestly tempted to make a buncha things autoconfirmed-protectee but i
:I'd rather not w/o your approval [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 04:32, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::At the moment it's limited to Superconfirmed and above. Given the quality of @[[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]]'s contributions, I'd be happy to give them Superconfirmed. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:40, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Cargo templates are still fully protected, so I cannot edit them. Please see [[Special:ProtectedPages]], it may be reasonable to change most of these (especially templates) to semi-protected. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:34, 18 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Cargo tables are a bit more sensitive, as external tools which use the data will rely on a consistent schema. breakages here wouldn't just affect articles on the wiki, it could also break any external tooling that uses the cargo data. on that basis cargo tables are something I'd be fairly reluctant to un-protect [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 15:45, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:::::I see. I got an idea, I may be able to wrap the cargo template in a different template. [[Template:IncidentCargo]] may be the easiest, as it doesn't render anything. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 16:07, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:Regarding edit access to the consumer tools page or any template used on the front page, additional inclusions like consumer tools are generally confirmed by staff to prevent the potential for promoting a service or product that doesn’t align with our goals.
:Also while we have you here, creating country articles like [[Poland]] isn’t within our scope, as a country category can contain the necessary information such as their incidents and laws while linking back to the country's Wikipedia page. For that, having categories such as [[:Category:Canadian incidents]] and [[:Category:Canadian legislation]] in the Canada category would be best practice. Let me know if you have any questions! [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 13:05, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::There are countries that have many consumer rights organizations and governmental bodies, or complicated laws, that do not warrant one article or do not make sense individually. Without such pages there is no discoverability for these convoluted topics.
::Consider a Polish developer making changes to open source software, to make it interoperable with device that recently got locked down. The device manufacturer subsequently threatens them with legal action, citing [[DMCA]]. How can you find out, that DMCA does not apply outside of the US, the international treaty that DMCA implements is implemented with exceptions in his jurisdiction that make the reverse engineering for interoperability permissible, and that recently [[SLAPP suits and legal intimidation]] has been [https://commission.europa.eu/news-and-media/news/new-eu-rules-protect-against-strategic-lawsuits-against-public-participation-enter-force-2024-05-03_en largely outlawed]? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 20:56, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Also there's [[:Category:Organizations]], [[:Category:Regulatory agencies and public support bodies]], and [[Template:CompanyCargo]] has a suggested "Government" value in the Type field. Countries/jurisdictions fall under the Themes scope in my opinion.
:::Categories (and non-Main namespaces) lack discoverability (they are not searched by default). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 21:06, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Tend to agree. I do wonder though whether the page titles should be just the name of the of the country or be something like 'Government of x', or 'Consumer protection in x', but that's a minor issue, and ultimately the content of the pages is good. I've created [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki_talk:RfC:_Page_protection]] for people to discuss the situation on the wiki regarding permission levels. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:42, 17 May 2026 (UTC)

==Excerpt==

I have brought [[Template:Excerpt]] (and associated modules) from Wikipedia. Documentation: [[wikipedia:Template:Excerpt]]

You can see it in use in the [[Bambu Lab#Cease and desist against OrcaSlicer fork maintainer (2026)|Bambu Lab]] article (see also [[:Category:Articles with excerpts]]). The main benefit is the reduced duplication, where excerpted incidents can be included in company articles.

Can you help me start a project, to convert more articles to use this template? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:28, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:50, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
::Grabbing Keith for you since it’s been a couple hours. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 20:23, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
:Yeah, would be happy to! I assume the scope of it is 'any page in which another page is described in brief should use an excerpt of the other page, rather than a custom summary'? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:05, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::Yes. Currently it's a either verbatim copy of the Incident page lead section or a custom summary. The verbatim copy results in some users updating one but not the other, and then they diverge in content, sometimes missing important facts in all relevant places. Custom summary may sometimes be preferable.
::The incident articles themselves should also be written in a way that the lead section is a summary of the incident with up to date status.
::Ideally we should make people aware of the feature, so new articles and summaries are written with using excerpts in mind. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 00:27, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::[[Itch.io#De-indexing of adult games from campaign pressure (2025)]] is an example of page that is better off with custom summary.
::[[Adobe]] has many incidents that could be converted into excerpts.
::[[European Union#Stop Destroying Videogames (ECI)]] excerpts smaller parts of [[SKG]] (2nd argument (section), <code>paragraphs=</code> and <code>hat=no</code> in use). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 11:41, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Fake DMCA takedown==

This page was edited with "DMCA takedown" as reason by a user that was just created: https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Model_F_Labs&action=history If you see the nature of the edits, it seems rather likely this was done in an attempt to remove critique. [[User:NonPassivatedMOSFET|NonPassivatedMOSFET]] ([[User talk:NonPassivatedMOSFET|talk]]) 20:32, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:It looks like this was reversed. If there still seems to be issues with it, I can have Keith look into this as DMCA related issues are legal matters, and outside of the scope of normal support from the mods and folks like me. So just let us know and if this reappears or if there’s anything that happens to the article, please update us here and I’ll get Keith to look at it.- [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 23:31, 6 June 2026 (UTC)

==Page resurrection request==

Last year there was an argument on whether some community toxicity cases and management issues at the Wikipedia platform fall within the scope of this wiki or not.

Recently there's some developments that can finally settle the case and which will fall within this wiki's scope this time around, as editors on Wikipedia are threatening a worker's strike after the WMF disbands the entire Community Tech team. Relevant links:

*https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:COMMTECHGATE

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-is-doing-the-capitalist-thing-56a393232943

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-runs-on-people-it-shouldnt-run-over-people-48823f4238bb

*https://www.theverge.com/report/939442/wikipedia-editors-protest-wikimedia-layoffs-strike

*https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/hundreds-of-wikipedia-editors-are-threatening-to-go-on-strike-and-the-reason-is-these-engineers/articleshow/131394771.cms

*https://www.pcmag.com/news/wikipedia-editors-could-strike-following-layoffs

The page [[Wikipedia]] and/or [[Wikimedia Foundation]] are theredore requested to be resurrected. In hindsight I feel that the fussy attitude by Beanie Bo against the inclusion of Wikipedia issues into the wiki scope looks ridiculous in the first place. [[Special:Contributions/52.220.157.15|52.220.157.15]] 22:35, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:After reading through the links you provided, I do not see how the labor issue, although concerning, is relevant from a consumer rights perspective. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 04:15, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
::The disbanding of Community Tech team at Wikipedia will make it easier for WMF and so on to initiate changes that are deemed "unpopular", which will harm the interests of consumers/readers in the long term. Not to mention many volunteer editors are at the same time, readers. As one had pointed out, you can and should look at this [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Wishlist/Updates the archives] of Community Wishlist to see how the team had contributed to the well-being of the encyclopedia over time. Dark mode is just one of the features that if I can remember, was requested that way.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 11:13, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
:::I don't really think that the ongoing dispute falls into the Wiki's scope, and will outline my reasoning below:
:::Changes to the internal governance of an organization, or labour disputes in general, are not relevant to the wiki - there needs to be some direct, specific, and notable impact on consumers.
:::We also do not cover generic product quality issues, despite any impact they may have on consumers, unless there is some aggravating factor such as safety, an attempt to cover up the quality issue by the company, or it being a willful degradation in quality of a product that users had already paid for. If a company makes a bad product, that is a skill issue, rather than a consumer rights issue, unless consumers were promised and paid for a substantially different product to the one they received.
:::Therefore, if a labour dispute or similar threatened to reduce the quality of a company's product, it would not be relevant to the wiki. E.g. if the company behind a game (that had not come out yet and which had not accepted pre-orders) decided to scrap their entire art team and replace it with AI slop, kicking off a labour dispute with product quality implications, then that would not be a consumer rights issue to be covered on the wiki. If, however, a company had sold pre-orders or a season pass for a DLC that was upcoming, then they sacked everyone who was meant to deliver that content, then that product quality issue would become a wiki-relevant issue once it becomes clear in reporting that the promised and paid-for content was not going to be delivered.
:::The only Wikipedia-related controversy I'm aware of that I could imagine being actually relevant to the wiki would be the long-standing controversies around whether or not the various Wikipedia donation banners were misleading as to the effect donations would have on Wikipedia's maintenance. While it being donations to charity puts a bit of a spin on it, misleading advertising is 100% relevant to the wiki, and there's definitely been enough debate and discussion and coverage on that topic over the years to meet notability and sourcing criteria. Even then, it's probably open to some debate. Would a charity that accepts donations and then the person running the charity embezzles the money and runs off, be a consumer rights issue? idk.
:::Ultimately, since the Wikipedia platform is delivered freely and is also not 'paid for' through user data, it makes a lot of arguments for consumer rights relevancy more difficult. If they decided to shut the whole thing down tomorrow, it would be a great loss for humanity, but I'm still not sure whether it would be wiki-relevant. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 01:44, 3 June 2026 (UTC)
::::Thanks. If that page were to be resurrected, it will be pretty much a single-topic page focusing on the Wikipedia misleading donation and financial cancer issues, right? Perhaps for clarification there should be an external link section to a page on SourceWatch or so on that documents Wikipedia-related issues, along with a small note clarifying that most of the information on there can't be included here due to guideline restrictions, but the external link to the page containing the info is included just as courtesy for readers.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 12:16, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

==Logos (and Style Guide / Templates)==

'''tl;dr: Enabling InstantCommons could be a huge help site-wide. Let's add <code>$wgUseInstantCommons = true;</code> to the LocalSettings.php file on the server.'''

CRW can use content from Wikimedia Commons much like Wikipedia does with a small configuration change. Currently, a file can be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia, and it's as if the file exists on Wikipedia if it's just on Commons.

Would save trouble - issues I see like comments asking people to use better filenames and the use logo category, and https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Talk:DuckDuckGo#Logo would all go away. And [company/productName_logo.svg] could be the default instead of [[:File:QuestionMark.svg]]!

In other words, [https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Ecobee&diff=prev&oldid=58644 this edit] should just work, and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg should display. Notice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg doesn't have an edit button; the file doesn't exist there.

Pretty confident there's no legal or technical issue with doing this. They say hotlinking, as it's called, is allowed, here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia: " '''Use it''': Download or hotlink the file and use it. ('''See [[commons:Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia/technical|Commons:Reusing content outside Wikimedia/technical]].''')"

I guess @[[User:Keith|Keith]] needs to add the line. Or if someone grants me access, I'll edit <s>[[Special:FilePath]] or</s> the server's copy of LocalSettings.php accordingly to make this work. (For the latter, see https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/InstantCommons, a firewall tweak <u>may</u> be needed if we go the InstantCommons route.) [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 19:02, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

:Update2: I was confused by bad documentation. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ecobee_logo.svg would work (hotlinking), but I think [[Special:FilePath]], aka [[Special:Redirect]] is of no use for including an image in a ''wiki'' page. So I think InstantCommons is the way to go. (It comes pre-installed, so it's vetted; it just needs to be turned on but it requires server access to add one line the server's copy of https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:LocalSettings.php.) --[[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 22:32, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
:Sounds like a good idea! I've passed it on to Jake for implementation, should hopefully roll out in the next patch if there are no unforseen complications [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 10:30, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

===Importing Templates===
:Oh, and do we have an admin who can import templates from Wikipedia or are you looking for one? [[Special:Import]] requires the mop too. I used [[Template:Dead link]] recently at [[eBay]] (before it existed), and <s>would like</s> ''wanted'' to import it so it would ''work'', but I saw the Wikipedia version has a bunch of dependencies: Template:Fix, Module:Yesno, Module:Arguments, the '''whole freaking''' Module:Citation/CS1, and sub-Modules (they're ~half the file), Module:Protection banner+sub and Module:Documentation+subs (~5% each), Module:Check for unknown parameters, Module:Navbox, Template:Dead link/styles.css, and related meta-templates ~50 "pages" total. Apparently, essential backend extensions like Scribunto, ParserFunctions, and TemplateStyles must be installed, with a full export via Special:Export recommended to ensure all dependencies are included. The export produces a ridiculously huge 1.1MB file if I check "Include templates" (required; otherwise, it's tiny).
:'''SUCCESS'''! Relatively minimalist [[Template:Dead link]] forked off Wikia instead. Works! Having a strategy re https://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/117429/how-to-use-wikipedia-templates-on-an-outside-mediawiki would be good. We have so I presume we already imported CS1, or does it come with MediWiki? I see we do NOT have citation (CS1, CS2, etc) templates; citations work through Modules, so those templates are not needed, apparently. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 20:52, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

==vague Pro-consumer articles definition==

kinda reads how the US' router bill does. are everything in the crossfire? for now it seems like the articles that consist of 0 anti-consumer incidents are likely to be removed. e.g. [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]], [[GOG.com]], etc. but what abt [[Valve removes arbitration requirement from Steam Subscriber Agreement]] and [[EA releases source code of classic Command & Conquer titles]]? are these next in line for the guillotine? they don't have "relevance" or "deletion" notices so it is confusing when compared w the set definition.

what I got from the vagueness is that positives are allowed such as [[Valve#Positives]] but the article must not solely be them or otherwise might "sound like we are endorsing them". yes or no? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 17:44, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

:A comment I just added to the [[Talk:GrapheneOS]]:
:'''"If [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] has verifiably extolled its virtues, it's on topic."''' I think that is a short simple, good rule we should have. At least I'm going to throw it out there to be considered as the only or one of perhaps multiple rules / line definitions to address this issue. If a bright line can be drawn based on the other efforts above, good, but right now, I'm seeing a lines that I anticipate would make each decision a tough call - one that would be hard for someone with folks with even a little bias one way or the other (i.e. average humans) to be able to respectfully disagree on. Probably wouldn't hurt to add "significant coverage" or something like that but maybe not necessary. '''"Significant coverage by [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] verifiably extolling something's virtues indicates an article is warranted."'''
:Arguments in favor:
:#Short.
:#Bright line.
:#I think we want articles on companies which Louis verifiably extolled the virtues of. Several come to mind of which he has covered in some detail.
:#I think the bulk of us are here because we're fans of Louis and have developed a feel for and trust his judgement.
:Where is the current "Pro-consumer articles definition" or scope policy?
:[[Positive_practices]] exist but doesn't answer.
:Oh, see [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] defines it and just got edited on the 15th. https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Category:Pro-consumer_articles&diff=prev&oldid=57894
:@[[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]], are you open to my idea? I'm reading into [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]] still being around that a proposal like mine is welcome - unlike some forums, where such a suggestion would be considered 'arguing with the mods'. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 03:26, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I do think that if we were to continue down this route, we do seriously need to consider developing a set of proper criteria, as well as a necessary quality threshold, because only leaving it up to the whims of the bossmann just makes it difficult to sustain autonomy for the wiki [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:01, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
:::If we don't, we should add 'Such' before 'companies' in [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] ([https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Category:Pro-consumer_articles] ; Cat link no worky? not in preview.) . We could also blank a few of the counterexample pages, so editors can continue to '''see''' the content that was deemed inappropriate via diff link. An improvement to leaving them tagged as is or with a tag that says they serve as a counterexample.
:::Should [[Policy]] or [[POL]] be a redirect to [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Wiki_policy_index]]? [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:18, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::The thing is, with the pro-consumer article criteria on the category page, we don't want to have pro-consumer products or companies covered to avoid sounding like the wiki has its full support behind them. Take [[Bitwarden]] for example. They are open source and can be self-hosted, but now as it appears they have incidents that can make the wiki look bad if there are biases included in the coverage.
::Regarding Mullvad and TRMNL, there are also issues with the founders donating to right-wing political organizations that i've seen on Reddit. As a wiki, we want to be as politically neutral as possible and don't want to take sides, whether it is written positively or negatively.
::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] can explain it better, as we decided this earlier this month in a staff Zoom meeting, but that's it in a nutshell. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 21:47, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

==Pocket Cast==

I have a direct Pocket Casts support email that may help source the “Showing advertisements to Champion/Lifetime users” section.

On September 24, 2025 at 04:08 UTC, Pocket Casts support responded to my complaint about banner ads. The response stated that maintaining Pocket Casts had become “unsustainable on one-time purchases or free app downloads alone,” that Pocket Casts had moved to Plus/Patron subscriptions, and that banner ads had been introduced for users who do not have Plus or Patron. The email also framed ads as helping “keep the lights on” and directed me to try Pocket Casts Plus.

I was a lifetime-license user. After I pushed back and pointed out that I had a lifetime license, the ads were removed from my account. I can provide a redacted screenshot of the email/thread if useful. [[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] ([[User talk:ServiceLevelOne|talk]]) 17:38, 28 June 2026 (UTC)

:While it may act as supplemental information, unless we have external coverage, I would advise against writing an article on the matter. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:02, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I'm looking at [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability]]. Very on-topic. States, "Lower reliability: (use with caution and additional verification". Question is, could @[[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] upload the email (with appropriate privacy munging) that would allow it to serve to make a claim about it added to [[Pocket Casts]] verifiable? As someone wanting to add the content, it seems reasonable to interpret "use with caution" as permission to use. If so, could they upload it here? Social media? Not seeing a clear answer. To my mind, emails would be considered appropriate evidence in a court, and so should be here too? I probably need to reread the policies through again.
::From the mission statement page: "A project like this cannot obtain or maintain legitimacy if every article comes across as being written by someone with an axe to grind or by someone who is more interested in proving a point than the truth." is important, but (from experience reading and writing) hard to follow in practice. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:40, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard

2026-06-29T21:47:53Z

Mr Pollo: /* vague Pro-consumer articles definition */ Reply

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{{Archives}} 
==Open tasks==

*[[:Category:Articles with deletion requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles with merge requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles marked as irrelevant]]
*[[Special:NewPages]]

==add "Quasi-Wanted" Special page==

There are Wikipedia articles linked from many different CRW articles. It'd be nice to see which topics are candidates for a dedicated article on CRW. I say "topics", just-in-case a future update adds support for non-WP "pseudo-internal" links (because WP links are shown as "internal" even though they aren't)

Apologies in advance if this is not a place for feature-requests [[User:Rudxain|Rudxain]] ([[User talk:Rudxain|talk]]) 06:23, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

==so...==

abt that superuser role? has it been rolled out yet? got hit in the face w a stub notice bug again lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:08, 26 March 2026 (UTC)

:another thing. Phreeli has a valid entry in [[List of products and services with forced arbitration]]. still @[[User:Louis]] supported them w a dedicated [https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=e8SnNNq6MaI video], in which he states "so this is a company we started" and claims to be an unpaid board member. so I ask, what the fuck? Louis said to give a fuck abt consumer rights but he is not your savior. the video was released on 2025.12.19 and the citation on the list was archived on 2026.01.13, so it can be argued that it could be a development after the video was published. I have not seen him mention Phreeli since then. so I cannot say if they're still affiliated but the video is still up w no follow up (afaik). as y'all are in contact w the man, can we get a comment or perhaps an apology video w a ukulele cameo? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 15:30, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I discussed that here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_twkLJbc1c
::if there's an MVNO that's open to allowing people to pay with crypto without providing a name and address, I am happy to push them in that direction & help move it along. forced arbitration sucks balls, but every carrier has forced arbitration..... so this becomes a question of, should i not help push along a carrier that allows people to sign up in a more anonymous way, because 1 thing isn't to my liking... ??? the answer to that is no.
::framework doesn't release schematics... but after a long talk with the CEO, they'll allow you to get one if you contact them & sign an NDA. that's not what I want. but it is better than if I had not engaged at all.
::if i started a phone company/MVNO, it'd have no forced arbitration '''''AND''''' allow people to sign up with anonymous crypto without providing their name.... but i'm not starting a phone company... i am too busy as it is.
::phreeli belongs in that list of products & services with forced arbitration because they have forced arbitration. [[User:Louis|Louis]] ([[User talk:Louis|talk]]) 19:59, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
:::as mentioned in my previous comment I didn't know of that video. thank you. even tho its been a week, I still haven't found the time to watch it. perhaps many of the points I've highlighted have already been discussed in said video.
:::regardless, I agree that the existence of a more private MVNO's a blessing to see in a sea full of scammers. but I still would've liked to see them not go the same route as traditional operators regarding forced arbitration. everybody's "threat" model is diff so I can understand your stance. I'm a fairly regular watcher of the channel but somehow I missed the video. and based on the view discrepancy (378k vs 41k), many others have too. the follow up video includes the announcement in its description but the title and thumbnail do not reflect it being a follow up. I would like to see this rectified.
:::now on Framework, I did not know an NDA had to be signed in order to get the schematics. I checked the article and it does not mention that. based on my 5 min search I found [https://knowledgebase.frame.work/availability-of-schematics-and-boardviews-BJMZ6EAu this] but it does not mention an NDA, just to reach out to support. could you please provide sources? I'd like to append this to the article. I don't consider it egregious but for a person looking for them, they should know.
:::I'd like to highlight a conflict here. in the video you state "so this company we started" and in [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2009536/000200953624000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml this] SEC filing you're cited as a Director. I'd like to mention that I'm not American nor have any idea wtf this shit is, but I have a borderline idea on what SEC filings are. could you please explain to me what this means? ofc you yourself did not start the company but you are still listed as a director of the company.
:::an article on Phreeli does not exist and the arbitration list can be hard to find. so I will be creating one. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:52, 3 April 2026 (UTC)
:Superconfirmed has been rolled out, see [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator applications]], BUT you need your email. I think this stuff should be done onwiki but whatever, I got mod without using email lol. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:26, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I went on a hiatus again lol so apologies for the slow response.
::I did email Keith on the matter b4 the rollout and recently did I get knighted. thank you mods [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:54, 3 April 2026 (UTC)

I'm unable to move this discussion to the archive, due to word filter. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:47, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Archive everything==

is there a way the checking process for refs be automated? it is user maintained and isn't always accurate. perhaps all refs could be checked if they have the <code>archive-url=</code> filled? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:26, 5 April 2026 (UTC)

==Featured articles on main page have light grey title on White background .. even on dark mode==

This isnt great for readability.

my setup for reference :

dark mode on CRW, Firefox. Linux Mint XFCE. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:46, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

:wait i just went back and now they are black titles... i dont know what happened. mightve been a one time bug on my part ??? [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:49, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
::OK i figured it out... this is weird :
::it only happnes when i am LOGGED OUT of my account.
::to reiterate :
::when a user is logged out. the featured articles on the main page appear with light grey titles on white background ; which isnt great for readability ... especially for new users' first impression of the website.
::Once i am logged into my account, the titles now appear black with good contrast.
::I dont know why this is the case but it is consistent across my testing [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:51, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] this was an issue that I had before that I asked om your talkpage to fix, now it's happening again? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:26, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::I'm going to throw in a curveball. logged in and I still got the issue. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 08:52, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
::::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] pinging again [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 11:04, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
:::::Flagged this for Keith since it’s been awhile hopefully Jake sees it. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 11:18, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

==Suggestion==

I feel we could be more clearer when it come to our date standards on the wiki, as right now I feel its lacking in clarity and causes confusion for newcomers on what the actual date format is most commonly accepted and preferred (as of right now being something like a date format of 20 Jan 2004 <s>if that makes sense</s>). Currently, when going onto the citation tab to add a source, it reads ''"Example: Format as YYYY-MM-DD (2020-12-30) or DD Mon YYYY (30 Dec 2025)".''

Additionally, I also think the product section ''(referring to the This is a list of the company's product lines '''with articles on this wiki'''. [[Example product line one]] (release date): Short summary of the product's incidents.)'' could also be more specified and informative on what users are supposed to fill out, along with specifying what to do when there's no incidents relating to any of their product, as right now it's kinda up to the users to determine what it means.

I also want to ask if you can add more sections to the parent company on the CompanyCargo template(being adding one company that's own by several other companies instead of one <s>as of current</s>) as I'm currently working on '''[[Denny's]]''' article and <sub><s>as far as I know</s></sub> there are 3 private companies that own Denny's as of the moment.

I don't mean to come off in a bad way where it's disrespectful, I meant to only state my opinion on the matter. [[User:SquidthePlummer|SquidthePlummer]] ([[User talk:SquidthePlummer|talk]]) 03:06, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:Agree, we don't really have a specific date standard here [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:38, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

:I have been using the DMY format since the majority of the world generally uses that. The hope for the wiki is to be an international source for consumers around the world (not just Americans), and I believe DMY to be in line with that goal. I further believe it would be better to have a consistent experience, which is why I have used the DMY format even for American companies and incidents. (Though clearly Rossmann disagreed with that, as he recently "corrected" the dates on an Amazon article from an older edit of mine.)

:As for the citations, I abbreviate the months because early on using more than three characters for the month resulted in the citation template being unhappy. It appears to have since been fixed, but old habits die hard. Not sure why the wiki template data outputs strictly numbers and that's a topic that will eventually have to be decided on in conjunction with this.

:Apologies for not speaking up sooner; I wanted mull over the matter first. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 23:24, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

==Editing templates, protected pages, deleting irrelevant articles==

How can I request additional permissions? I would like to add a location field to [[Template:CompanyCargo]], edit pages like [[Template:Main_Page/Consumer_Tools]], and remove pages like [[Varusteleka]] (that as far as I'm aware has not been involved in any consumer rights violations) or [[Fruitbat Factory]] (that I think has a page only due to its DLC-oriented business model). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 13:40, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] I'm honestly tempted to make a buncha things autoconfirmed-protectee but i
:I'd rather not w/o your approval [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 04:32, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::At the moment it's limited to Superconfirmed and above. Given the quality of @[[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]]'s contributions, I'd be happy to give them Superconfirmed. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:40, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Cargo templates are still fully protected, so I cannot edit them. Please see [[Special:ProtectedPages]], it may be reasonable to change most of these (especially templates) to semi-protected. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:34, 18 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Cargo tables are a bit more sensitive, as external tools which use the data will rely on a consistent schema. breakages here wouldn't just affect articles on the wiki, it could also break any external tooling that uses the cargo data. on that basis cargo tables are something I'd be fairly reluctant to un-protect [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 15:45, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:::::I see. I got an idea, I may be able to wrap the cargo template in a different template. [[Template:IncidentCargo]] may be the easiest, as it doesn't render anything. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 16:07, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
:Regarding edit access to the consumer tools page or any template used on the front page, additional inclusions like consumer tools are generally confirmed by staff to prevent the potential for promoting a service or product that doesn’t align with our goals.
:Also while we have you here, creating country articles like [[Poland]] isn’t within our scope, as a country category can contain the necessary information such as their incidents and laws while linking back to the country's Wikipedia page. For that, having categories such as [[:Category:Canadian incidents]] and [[:Category:Canadian legislation]] in the Canada category would be best practice. Let me know if you have any questions! [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 13:05, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::There are countries that have many consumer rights organizations and governmental bodies, or complicated laws, that do not warrant one article or do not make sense individually. Without such pages there is no discoverability for these convoluted topics.
::Consider a Polish developer making changes to open source software, to make it interoperable with device that recently got locked down. The device manufacturer subsequently threatens them with legal action, citing [[DMCA]]. How can you find out, that DMCA does not apply outside of the US, the international treaty that DMCA implements is implemented with exceptions in his jurisdiction that make the reverse engineering for interoperability permissible, and that recently [[SLAPP suits and legal intimidation]] has been [https://commission.europa.eu/news-and-media/news/new-eu-rules-protect-against-strategic-lawsuits-against-public-participation-enter-force-2024-05-03_en largely outlawed]? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 20:56, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
:::Also there's [[:Category:Organizations]], [[:Category:Regulatory agencies and public support bodies]], and [[Template:CompanyCargo]] has a suggested "Government" value in the Type field. Countries/jurisdictions fall under the Themes scope in my opinion.
:::Categories (and non-Main namespaces) lack discoverability (they are not searched by default). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 21:06, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
::::Tend to agree. I do wonder though whether the page titles should be just the name of the of the country or be something like 'Government of x', or 'Consumer protection in x', but that's a minor issue, and ultimately the content of the pages is good. I've created [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki_talk:RfC:_Page_protection]] for people to discuss the situation on the wiki regarding permission levels. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 21:42, 17 May 2026 (UTC)

==Excerpt==

I have brought [[Template:Excerpt]] (and associated modules) from Wikipedia. Documentation: [[wikipedia:Template:Excerpt]]

You can see it in use in the [[Bambu Lab#Cease and desist against OrcaSlicer fork maintainer (2026)|Bambu Lab]] article (see also [[:Category:Articles with excerpts]]). The main benefit is the reduced duplication, where excerpted incidents can be included in company articles.

Can you help me start a project, to convert more articles to use this template? [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 15:28, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

:@[[User:Keith|Keith]] [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 17:50, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
::Grabbing Keith for you since it’s been a couple hours. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 20:23, 19 May 2026 (UTC)
:Yeah, would be happy to! I assume the scope of it is 'any page in which another page is described in brief should use an excerpt of the other page, rather than a custom summary'? [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 00:05, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::Yes. Currently it's a either verbatim copy of the Incident page lead section or a custom summary. The verbatim copy results in some users updating one but not the other, and then they diverge in content, sometimes missing important facts in all relevant places. Custom summary may sometimes be preferable.
::The incident articles themselves should also be written in a way that the lead section is a summary of the incident with up to date status.
::Ideally we should make people aware of the feature, so new articles and summaries are written with using excerpts in mind. [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 00:27, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
::[[Itch.io#De-indexing of adult games from campaign pressure (2025)]] is an example of page that is better off with custom summary.
::[[Adobe]] has many incidents that could be converted into excerpts.
::[[European Union#Stop Destroying Videogames (ECI)]] excerpts smaller parts of [[SKG]] (2nd argument (section), <code>paragraphs=</code> and <code>hat=no</code> in use). [[User:Tracerneo|Tracerneo]] ([[User talk:Tracerneo|talk]]) 11:41, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

==Fake DMCA takedown==

This page was edited with "DMCA takedown" as reason by a user that was just created: https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Model_F_Labs&action=history If you see the nature of the edits, it seems rather likely this was done in an attempt to remove critique. [[User:NonPassivatedMOSFET|NonPassivatedMOSFET]] ([[User talk:NonPassivatedMOSFET|talk]]) 20:32, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:It looks like this was reversed. If there still seems to be issues with it, I can have Keith look into this as DMCA related issues are legal matters, and outside of the scope of normal support from the mods and folks like me. So just let us know and if this reappears or if there’s anything that happens to the article, please update us here and I’ll get Keith to look at it.- [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 23:31, 6 June 2026 (UTC)

==Page resurrection request==

Last year there was an argument on whether some community toxicity cases and management issues at the Wikipedia platform fall within the scope of this wiki or not.

Recently there's some developments that can finally settle the case and which will fall within this wiki's scope this time around, as editors on Wikipedia are threatening a worker's strike after the WMF disbands the entire Community Tech team. Relevant links:

*https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:COMMTECHGATE

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-is-doing-the-capitalist-thing-56a393232943

*https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/wikipedia-runs-on-people-it-shouldnt-run-over-people-48823f4238bb

*https://www.theverge.com/report/939442/wikipedia-editors-protest-wikimedia-layoffs-strike

*https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/hundreds-of-wikipedia-editors-are-threatening-to-go-on-strike-and-the-reason-is-these-engineers/articleshow/131394771.cms

*https://www.pcmag.com/news/wikipedia-editors-could-strike-following-layoffs

The page [[Wikipedia]] and/or [[Wikimedia Foundation]] are theredore requested to be resurrected. In hindsight I feel that the fussy attitude by Beanie Bo against the inclusion of Wikipedia issues into the wiki scope looks ridiculous in the first place. [[Special:Contributions/52.220.157.15|52.220.157.15]] 22:35, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

:After reading through the links you provided, I do not see how the labor issue, although concerning, is relevant from a consumer rights perspective. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 04:15, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
::The disbanding of Community Tech team at Wikipedia will make it easier for WMF and so on to initiate changes that are deemed "unpopular", which will harm the interests of consumers/readers in the long term. Not to mention many volunteer editors are at the same time, readers. As one had pointed out, you can and should look at this [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Wishlist/Updates the archives] of Community Wishlist to see how the team had contributed to the well-being of the encyclopedia over time. Dark mode is just one of the features that if I can remember, was requested that way.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 11:13, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
:::I don't really think that the ongoing dispute falls into the Wiki's scope, and will outline my reasoning below:
:::Changes to the internal governance of an organization, or labour disputes in general, are not relevant to the wiki - there needs to be some direct, specific, and notable impact on consumers.
:::We also do not cover generic product quality issues, despite any impact they may have on consumers, unless there is some aggravating factor such as safety, an attempt to cover up the quality issue by the company, or it being a willful degradation in quality of a product that users had already paid for. If a company makes a bad product, that is a skill issue, rather than a consumer rights issue, unless consumers were promised and paid for a substantially different product to the one they received.
:::Therefore, if a labour dispute or similar threatened to reduce the quality of a company's product, it would not be relevant to the wiki. E.g. if the company behind a game (that had not come out yet and which had not accepted pre-orders) decided to scrap their entire art team and replace it with AI slop, kicking off a labour dispute with product quality implications, then that would not be a consumer rights issue to be covered on the wiki. If, however, a company had sold pre-orders or a season pass for a DLC that was upcoming, then they sacked everyone who was meant to deliver that content, then that product quality issue would become a wiki-relevant issue once it becomes clear in reporting that the promised and paid-for content was not going to be delivered.
:::The only Wikipedia-related controversy I'm aware of that I could imagine being actually relevant to the wiki would be the long-standing controversies around whether or not the various Wikipedia donation banners were misleading as to the effect donations would have on Wikipedia's maintenance. While it being donations to charity puts a bit of a spin on it, misleading advertising is 100% relevant to the wiki, and there's definitely been enough debate and discussion and coverage on that topic over the years to meet notability and sourcing criteria. Even then, it's probably open to some debate. Would a charity that accepts donations and then the person running the charity embezzles the money and runs off, be a consumer rights issue? idk.
:::Ultimately, since the Wikipedia platform is delivered freely and is also not 'paid for' through user data, it makes a lot of arguments for consumer rights relevancy more difficult. If they decided to shut the whole thing down tomorrow, it would be a great loss for humanity, but I'm still not sure whether it would be wiki-relevant. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 01:44, 3 June 2026 (UTC)
::::Thanks. If that page were to be resurrected, it will be pretty much a single-topic page focusing on the Wikipedia misleading donation and financial cancer issues, right? Perhaps for clarification there should be an external link section to a page on SourceWatch or so on that documents Wikipedia-related issues, along with a small note clarifying that most of the information on there can't be included here due to guideline restrictions, but the external link to the page containing the info is included just as courtesy for readers.[[Special:Contributions/15.181.161.29|15.181.161.29]] 12:16, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

==Logos (and Style Guide / Templates)==

'''tl;dr: Enabling InstantCommons could be a huge help site-wide. Let's add <code>$wgUseInstantCommons = true;</code> to the LocalSettings.php file on the server.'''

CRW can use content from Wikimedia Commons much like Wikipedia does with a small configuration change. Currently, a file can be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia, and it's as if the file exists on Wikipedia if it's just on Commons.

Would save trouble - issues I see like comments asking people to use better filenames and the use logo category, and https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Talk:DuckDuckGo#Logo would all go away. And [company/productName_logo.svg] could be the default instead of [[:File:QuestionMark.svg]]!

In other words, [https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Ecobee&diff=prev&oldid=58644 this edit] should just work, and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg should display. Notice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ecobee_logo.svg doesn't have an edit button; the file doesn't exist there.

Pretty confident there's no legal or technical issue with doing this. They say hotlinking, as it's called, is allowed, here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia: " '''Use it''': Download or hotlink the file and use it. ('''See [[commons:Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia/technical|Commons:Reusing content outside Wikimedia/technical]].''')"

I guess @[[User:Keith|Keith]] needs to add the line. Or if someone grants me access, I'll edit <s>[[Special:FilePath]] or</s> the server's copy of LocalSettings.php accordingly to make this work. (For the latter, see https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/InstantCommons, a firewall tweak <u>may</u> be needed if we go the InstantCommons route.) [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 19:02, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

:Update2: I was confused by bad documentation. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ecobee_logo.svg would work (hotlinking), but I think [[Special:FilePath]], aka [[Special:Redirect]] is of no use for including an image in a ''wiki'' page. So I think InstantCommons is the way to go. (It comes pre-installed, so it's vetted; it just needs to be turned on but it requires server access to add one line the server's copy of https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:LocalSettings.php.) --[[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 22:32, 22 June 2026 (UTC)
:Sounds like a good idea! I've passed it on to Jake for implementation, should hopefully roll out in the next patch if there are no unforseen complications [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 10:30, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

===Importing Templates===
:Oh, and do we have an admin who can import templates from Wikipedia or are you looking for one? [[Special:Import]] requires the mop too. I used [[Template:Dead link]] recently at [[eBay]] (before it existed), and <s>would like</s> ''wanted'' to import it so it would ''work'', but I saw the Wikipedia version has a bunch of dependencies: Template:Fix, Module:Yesno, Module:Arguments, the '''whole freaking''' Module:Citation/CS1, and sub-Modules (they're ~half the file), Module:Protection banner+sub and Module:Documentation+subs (~5% each), Module:Check for unknown parameters, Module:Navbox, Template:Dead link/styles.css, and related meta-templates ~50 "pages" total. Apparently, essential backend extensions like Scribunto, ParserFunctions, and TemplateStyles must be installed, with a full export via Special:Export recommended to ensure all dependencies are included. The export produces a ridiculously huge 1.1MB file if I check "Include templates" (required; otherwise, it's tiny).
:'''SUCCESS'''! Relatively minimalist [[Template:Dead link]] forked off Wikia instead. Works! Having a strategy re https://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/117429/how-to-use-wikipedia-templates-on-an-outside-mediawiki would be good. We have so I presume we already imported CS1, or does it come with MediWiki? I see we do NOT have citation (CS1, CS2, etc) templates; citations work through Modules, so those templates are not needed, apparently. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 20:52, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

==vague Pro-consumer articles definition==

kinda reads how the US' router bill does. are everything in the crossfire? for now it seems like the articles that consist of 0 anti-consumer incidents are likely to be removed. e.g. [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]], [[GOG.com]], etc. but what abt [[Valve removes arbitration requirement from Steam Subscriber Agreement]] and [[EA releases source code of classic Command & Conquer titles]]? are these next in line for the guillotine? they don't have "relevance" or "deletion" notices so it is confusing when compared w the set definition.

what I got from the vagueness is that positives are allowed such as [[Valve#Positives]] but the article must not solely be them or otherwise might "sound like we are endorsing them". yes or no? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 17:44, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

:A comment I just added to the [[Talk:GrapheneOS]]:
:'''"If [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] has verifiably extolled its virtues, it's on topic."''' I think that is a short simple, good rule we should have. At least I'm going to throw it out there to be considered as the only or one of perhaps multiple rules / line definitions to address this issue. If a bright line can be drawn based on the other efforts above, good, but right now, I'm seeing a lines that I anticipate would make each decision a tough call - one that would be hard for someone with folks with even a little bias one way or the other (i.e. average humans) to be able to respectfully disagree on. Probably wouldn't hurt to add "significant coverage" or something like that but maybe not necessary. '''"Significant coverage by [[User:Louis|Louis Rossmann]] verifiably extolling something's virtues indicates an article is warranted."'''
:Arguments in favor:
:#Short.
:#Bright line.
:#I think we want articles on companies which Louis verifiably extolled the virtues of. Several come to mind of which he has covered in some detail.
:#I think the bulk of us are here because we're fans of Louis and have developed a feel for and trust his judgement.
:Where is the current "Pro-consumer articles definition" or scope policy?
:[[Positive_practices]] exist but doesn't answer.
:Oh, see [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] defines it and just got edited on the 15th. https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Category:Pro-consumer_articles&diff=prev&oldid=57894
:@[[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]], are you open to my idea? I'm reading into [[GrapheneOS]], [[Mullvad]] still being around that a proposal like mine is welcome - unlike some forums, where such a suggestion would be considered 'arguing with the mods'. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 03:26, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I do think that if we were to continue down this route, we do seriously need to consider developing a set of proper criteria, as well as a necessary quality threshold, because only leaving it up to the whims of the bossmann just makes it difficult to sustain autonomy for the wiki [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:01, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
:::If we don't, we should add 'Such' before 'companies' in [[Category:Pro-consumer_articles]] ([https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Category:Pro-consumer_articles] ; Cat link no worky? not in preview.) . We could also blank a few of the counterexample pages, so editors can continue to '''see''' the content that was deemed inappropriate via diff link. An improvement to leaving them tagged as is or with a tag that says they serve as a counterexample.
:::Should [[Policy]] or [[POL]] be a redirect to [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Wiki_policy_index]]? [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:18, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::The thing is, with the pro-consumer article criteria on the category page, we don't want to have pro-consumer products or companies covered to avoid sounding like the wiki has its full support behind them. Take [[Bitwarden]] for example. They are open source and can be self-hosted, but now as it appears they have incidents that can make the wiki look bad if there are biases included in the coverage.
::Regarding Mullvad and TRMNL, there are also issues with the founders donating to right-wing political organizations that i've seen on Reddit. As a wiki, we want to be as politically neutral as possible and don't want to take sides, whether it is written positively or negatively.
::@[[User:Keith|Keith]] can explain it better, but that's it in a nutshell. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 21:47, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

==Pocket Cast==

I have a direct Pocket Casts support email that may help source the “Showing advertisements to Champion/Lifetime users” section.

On September 24, 2025 at 04:08 UTC, Pocket Casts support responded to my complaint about banner ads. The response stated that maintaining Pocket Casts had become “unsustainable on one-time purchases or free app downloads alone,” that Pocket Casts had moved to Plus/Patron subscriptions, and that banner ads had been introduced for users who do not have Plus or Patron. The email also framed ads as helping “keep the lights on” and directed me to try Pocket Casts Plus.

I was a lifetime-license user. After I pushed back and pointed out that I had a lifetime license, the ads were removed from my account. I can provide a redacted screenshot of the email/thread if useful. [[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] ([[User talk:ServiceLevelOne|talk]]) 17:38, 28 June 2026 (UTC)

:While it may act as supplemental information, unless we have external coverage, I would advise against writing an article on the matter. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 05:02, 29 June 2026 (UTC)
::I'm looking at [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability]]. Very on-topic. States, "Lower reliability: (use with caution and additional verification". Question is, could @[[User:ServiceLevelOne|ServiceLevelOne]] upload the email (with appropriate privacy munging) that would allow it to serve to make a claim about it added to [[Pocket Casts]] verifiable? As someone wanting to add the content, it seems reasonable to interpret "use with caution" as permission to use. If so, could they upload it here? Social media? Not seeing a clear answer. To my mind, emails would be considered appropriate evidence in a court, and so should be here too? I probably need to reread the policies through again.
::From the mission statement page: "A project like this cannot obtain or maintain legitimacy if every article comes across as being written by someone with an axe to grind or by someone who is more interested in proving a point than the truth." is important, but (from experience reading and writing) hard to follow in practice. [[User:CrookKilla|CrookKilla]] ([[User talk:CrookKilla|talk]]) 14:40, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

Talk:Mastodon

2026-06-27T12:27:13Z

Mr Pollo:

== Notice of relevancy ==

Hello, apolgoies for not making this prior. The reason why I added the delete template to this article was because of a policy change the staff team decided on earlier this month. Here’s what was added to the pro-consumer articles category after the meeting:
" These are articles that display growth for consumer rights, whether it is an incident, theme, or law. Note: companies, people, and products should not have a pro-consumer article made about them."
The reason for not including companies is to not sound like we are endorsing them, since article content can include biases. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 11:44, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

Category:Pro-consumer articles

2026-06-27T12:15:35Z

Mr Pollo: Protected "Category:Pro-consumer articles": High traffic page: Includes important policy ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

These are articles that display growth for consumer rights, whether it is an incident, theme, or law. Note: companies, people, and products should not have a pro-consumer article made about them.
[[Category:Wiki root]]

Talk:Mullvad

2026-06-27T12:15:09Z

Mr Pollo: /* Relevancy notice */ new section

== Relevancy notice ==

This month we have updated our policy regarding pro-consumer products, see [[:Category:Pro-consumer articles]] description. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 12:15, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

Mullvad

2026-06-27T12:14:37Z

Mr Pollo: Updated policy, see :Category:Pro-consumer articles description.

{{Irrelevant}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Industry=Virtual Private Network
|Website=https://mullvad.net/
|Logo=Mullvad VPN logo.svg
|Founded=2009
|ParentCompany=Amagicom AB
|Type=Private
|Description=Mullvad VPN AB, or Mullvad, is a Swedish based company created in 2009 by Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson. The company is a subsidiary of Amagicom AB, 100% owned by Strömberg and Berntsson. Mullvad initially launched their VPN service in 2009, but since 2021, expanded into developing their own encrypted Domain Name System (DNS) service, browser, and search engine.
}}

'''{{Wplink|Mullvad|Mullvad VPN AB}}''' is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] based company created in 2009 by Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson. The company is a subsidiary of Amagicom AB, 100% owned by Strömberg and Berntsson. Mullvad initially launched their {{Wplink|VPN service}} in 2009, but since 2021, expanded into developing their own encrypted {{Wplink|Domain Name System}} (DNS) service, and browser.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=About |url=https://mullvad.net/en/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007094539/https://mullvad.net/en/about |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==

===Freedom===
Mullvad states: "We value open source" and develops various open-source projects.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=We Value Open Source |url=https://mullvad.net/en/open-source |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250923195822/https://mullvad.net/en/open-source |archive-date=2025-09-23 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=GitHub - Mullvad VPN |url=https://github.com/mullvad/ |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Github.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128161904/https://github.com/mullvad/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> The Mullvad VPN App for mobile and desktop is released under a {{wplink|GNU General Public License}} (GPL) 3.0 which grants irrevocable permission to use, modify, and redistribute under the same license.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-16 |title=GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE |url=https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app?tab=GPL-3.0-1-ov-file |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008085609/https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app?tab=GPL-3.0-1-ov-file |archive-date=2025-10-08 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Github.com}}</ref>

Mullvad requires you to sign up to the service to use, however does not require a name, email address, or other identifiable information. As of March 2026, it costs €5 for 1 month's credit.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=Terms of Service |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/terms-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924041957/https://mullvad.net/en/help/terms-service |archive-date=2025-09-24 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref>

Mullvad states it will never log, modify, redirect, or inject data into a user's traffic. They also state they will never filter or block domains unless specifically requested by the owner of an Internet Protocol (IP) address, or if botnet addresses cause servers to be null routed by hosting providers.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=Why Mullvad VPN? |url=https://mullvad.net/en/why-mullvad-vpn |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260223001400/https://mullvad.net/en/why-mullvad-vpn |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Privacy===
Mullvad has a strict no-log policy on their services and undergo independent audits regularly to solidify these claims.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=The Mullvad Blog: Audits |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/tag/audits |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251217231341/https://mullvad.net/en/blog/tag/audits |archive-date=17 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Mullvad does not ask for personal information when signing up for their services, instead they provide the user an account number as an alternative for usernames and passwords.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=No-logging of user activity policy |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/no-logging-data-policy |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260105055109/https://mullvad.net/en/help/no-logging-data-policy |archive-date=5 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Mullvad provides various methods of payment depending on the level of anonymity desired from the user, including cash, {{Wplink|Bitcoin|Bitcoin}}, Bitcoin Cash, Monero, bank wire, credit card, [[PayPal]], Swish, Eps transfer, Bancontact, iDEAL, and Przelewy24.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Pricing |url=https://mullvad.net/en/pricing |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Mullvad |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127023336/https://mullvad.net/en/pricing |archive-date=27 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Business Model===
Since its inception in 2009, Mullvad has had a fixed price of €5 per month. As of June of 2022, Mullvad removed subscriptions, defined as automatic recurring payments, as a way to increase user privacy by storing less data. As a result of their decision to remove subscriptions: only one-time payments are allowed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-20 |title=We are removing the option to create new subscriptions |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/2022/6/20/were-removing-the-option-to-create-new-subscriptions |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250727190718/https://mullvad.net/en/blog/2022/6/20/were-removing-the-option-to-create-new-subscriptions |archive-date=27 Jul 2025}}</ref>

Mullvad has a very serious policy rejecting paid reviews, influencer sponsorships, and shout-outs as a testament to their integrity. Instead, they purchase ads outdoors, on [[Google]], [[DuckDuckGo]], and the [[Apple App Store]].

They do not run ads on their service applications, website, or blog, and state that any endorsements they give, they are unpaid, and solely of their opinion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=Policy on reviews, advertising, influencers, and affiliates |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/policy-reviews-advertising-and-affiliates |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220926/https://mullvad.net/en/help/policy-reviews-advertising-and-affiliates |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Market Control===
According to a survey conducted by [https://www.security.org/ security.org], only 2% of the 323 VPN users questioned chose Mullvad VPN.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cruz |first=Brett |date=2025-07-31 |title=VPN Use in 2025: Trends, Statistics, and Consumer Sentiment |url=https://www.security.org/resources/vpn-consumer-report-annual/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=security.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219223328/https://www.security.org/resources/vpn-consumer-report-annual/ |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref> The company sense sates that Mullvad VPN retains an estimated 0.03% market share in the industry,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=Mullvad VPN Market Share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/virtual-private-network-vpn/mullvad-vpn-market-share |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=6sense.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241213053343/https://6sense.com/tech/virtual-private-network-vpn/mullvad-vpn-market-share |archive-date=13 Dec 2024}}</ref> however their methodology for that conclusion is not clearly listed.

Mullvad also provides the service backend for [[Mozilla]] [[Firefox|FireFox]]'s VPN.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-04 |title=Mozilla Subscription Services {{!}} Terms of Service |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/subscription-services/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mozilla.org}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251228062252/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/subscription-services/ Archived])</ref>

==Products==
Mullvad currently has five products packaged for readily available consumer use, including:

*'''Mullvad VPN''' - A no-log VPN service used to obfuscate your IP address and increase privacy.
*'''Mullvad Browser''' - A browser created in association with {{Wplink|The Tor Project|The Tor Project}}. Out-of-the-box, it includes technology to block third-party [[Web cookie|cookies]], tracking scripts, and browser fingerprints.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=Free the internet. With the Mullvad Browser. |url=https://mullvad.net/en/browser |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220947/https://mullvad.net/en/browser |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>
*'''Mullvad Browser Extension''' - A more integrated way to use Mullvad VPN inside of your preferred browser. Automatically included in the Mullvad Browser.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-13 |title=Mullvad Browser Extension |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220924/https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>
*'''Encrypted DNS''' - A DNS service to be used when not connected to a VPN and encrypt your DNS queries to prevent your network or {{Wplink|Internet service provider|Internet service provider}} (ISP) from snooping in on your searches.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=DNS over HTTPS and DNS over TLS |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220924/https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>
*'''Mullvad Leta''' - A proxy for the Google Search API which are cached and shared amongst users to obfuscate users' identity, cleared of third-party tracking links.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Introducing Mullvad Leta: a search engine used in the Mullvad Browser |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/introducing-mullvad-leta-a-search-engine-used-in-the-mullvad-browser |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251220103637/https://mullvad.net/en/blog/introducing-mullvad-leta-a-search-engine-used-in-the-mullvad-browser |archive-date=20 Dec 2025}}</ref> The service was discontinued on 27 November, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-06 |title=Shutting down our search proxy Leta |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/shutting-down-our-search-proxy-leta |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Mullvad |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216054530/https://mullvad.net/en/blog/shutting-down-our-search-proxy-leta |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==Reception==
[https://www.pcmag.com PCMag.com] awarded Mullvad with "Best of the Year - 2020" for "Editor's Choice for inexpensive VPNs."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stobing |first=Chris |date=2024-09-20 |title=Mullvad VPN Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/mullvad-vpn# |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=pcmag.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251230171223/https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/mullvad-vpn |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref>

A YouTuber and privacy advocate, Mental Outlaw, stated in a video "I just love Mullvad, so that is what I am going to use."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=How To Torrent Anonymously With Mullvad VPN |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9y29Wxo060 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=youtube.com |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Z9y29Wxo060 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

The Freedom of the Press Foundation has recommended the use of Mullvad among a short list of other VPN services.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Huerta |first=David |date=2018-06-29 |title=An in-depth guide to choosing a VPN |url=https://freedom.press/digisec/blog/choosing-a-vpn/ |journal=Freedom of the Press Foundation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220220844/https://freedom.press/digisec/blog/choosing-a-vpn/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Cybersecurity companies]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

Talk:F-Droid

2026-06-27T12:14:02Z

Mr Pollo: /* Relevancy notice */ new section

== Relevancy notice ==

This month we have updated the policy regarding pro-consumer products, see [[:Category:Pro-consumer articles]] description. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 12:14, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

F-Droid

2026-06-27T12:13:30Z

Mr Pollo: Updated policy, see :Category:Pro-consumer articles description.

{{Stub}}
{{Irrelevant}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=F-Droid Limited
|ProductLine=
|ReleaseYear=2010
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Software, Digital Storefront
|Website=https://f-droid.org
|Description=Free and open-source app store for Android devices
|Logo=F-Droid Logo 4.svg
}}
'''F-Droid''' is a free and open-source app store and software repository for [[Android]], serving a similar function to the [[Google]] Play Store. The main repository, hosted by the project, contains only free and open-source apps. Applications can be browsed, downloaded, and installed from the [https://f-droid.org/ F-Droid website] or the client app without the need to register an account. "Anti-features" such as advertising, user tracking, or dependence on non-free software are flagged in app descriptions.

==Consumer-impact summary==
===User Freedom===
F-Droid allows users to install applications without requiring to log in with an account.
===User Privacy===
F-Droid allows contains privacy settings such as using Tor for download traffic.
===Business Model===
The only way F-Droid is sustained is via donations. There are no ads or paid applications or features, as it follows the FOSS philosophy.
===Market Control===

==Incidents==
==See Also==
*[[Free software movement]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

Talk:Fossify

2026-06-27T12:12:58Z

Mr Pollo: /* Relevancy notice */ new section

== Relevancy notice ==

Recently we have updated the policy regarding pro-consumer companies/orgs, see [[:Category:Pro-consumer articles]] description. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 12:12, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

Fossify

2026-06-27T12:12:18Z

Mr Pollo: Updated policy, see :Category:Pro-consumer articles description.

{{Irrelevant}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=A collection of apps forked from Simple Mobile Tools that replace big-tech native apps on Android devices with simple, private alternatives.
|Founded=
|Industry=Software
|Logo=Fossify logo.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.fossify.org
}}

'''FossifyOrg''' develops and maintains a suite of privacy-respecting applications, which were originally forked from Simple Mobile Tools.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=About us |url=https://www.fossify.org/about/ |website=Fossify |date= |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250811034219/https://www.fossify.org/about/ |archive-date=11 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Simple Mobile Tools |url=https://simplemobiletools.com/index.html |website=Simple Mobile Tool |date= |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250803025707/https://simplemobiletools.com/index.html |archive-date=3 Aug 2025}}</ref> The applications are available via [[F-Droid]] and the [[Google Play Store]]. The GitHub repository gives an exhaustive list of the actively maintained applications.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |title=Fossify |url=https://github.com/FossifyOrg |website=Github |date= |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250830101126/https://github.com/FossifyOrg |archive-date=30 Aug 2025}}</ref> Highlights include a calendar, music player, gallery, and more.

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''Business model:''' The project is supported by donations from users.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=FossifyOrg/Thank-You - A warm Thank You for supporting our modern & easy Fossify apps! |url=https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Thank-You |website=GitHub |date= |access-date=28 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250811034352/https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Thank-You |archive-date=11 Aug 2025}}</ref>

*'''User privacy:''' Unless crucial to functioning, the apps do not request internet access and maintain the minimalist design language of the Simple Mobile Tools.<ref>{{Cite web |author=
|title=FossifyOrg/Launcher - A practical and customizable launcher for launching your favorite apps easily. |url=https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Launcher |website=GitHub |date= |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617095258/https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Launcher |archive-date=17 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Incidents==
{{Ph-C-Inc}}
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

None to report.

==Products==
Sourced from the repository:<ref name=":0" />
<div style="columns:3">
*Fossify Calculator
*Fossify Calendar
*Fossify Camera
*Fossify Clock
*Fossify Contacts
*Fossify File Manager
*Fossify Flashlight
*Fossify Gallery
*Fossify Keyboard
*Fossify Launcher
*Fossify Messages
*Fossify Music Player
*Fossify Notes
*Fossify Paint
*Fossify Phone
*Fossify Voice Recorder
</div>

==See also==
*[[Privacy preserving applications]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

Talk:SteamOS

2026-06-27T12:11:04Z

Mr Pollo:

==Relevancy==

@[[User:Reform|Reform]] added the notice a couple months back, so I'm creating this topic to finally have a discussion regarding this. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 03:47, 10 June 2026 (UTC)

: (for other users reading this) We have updated the policy regarding pro-consumer product articles, see [[:Category:Pro-consumer articles]] description. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 12:10, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

Talk:SteamOS

2026-06-27T12:10:48Z

Mr Pollo: /* Relevancy */ Reply

==Relevancy==

@[[User:Reform|Reform]] added the notice a couple months back, so I'm creating this topic to finally have a discussion regarding this. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 03:47, 10 June 2026 (UTC)

:We have updated the policy regarding pro-consumer product articles, see [[:Category:Pro-consumer articles]] description. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 12:10, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

Talk:GOG.com

2026-06-27T12:09:46Z

Mr Pollo: /* Article relevancy */ new section

== Article relevancy ==

Updated policy, see [[:Category:Pro-consumer articles]] description. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 12:09, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

GOG.com

2026-06-27T12:09:26Z

Mr Pollo: Updated policy, see :Category:Pro-consumer articles description.

{{Stub}}
{{Irrelevant}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2008-02-22
|Industry=Video Games
|Logo=GOG.com logo.svg
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.gog.com/
|Description=GOG.com is a digital distribution platform of DRM-free video games, counting with an installable client for Windows, Mac and Linux
}}

GOG.com (formerly Good Old Games) is a digital provider of [[wikipedia:Digital_rights_management|DRM]]-free video games.

==Consumer-impact summary==

===User Freedom===
The GOG Galaxy client is optional to install and update games.

===User Privacy===
Games that do not require internet access or external servers are more likely to be privacy-respecting than those that do. The lack of DRM on the games prevents remote modifications on the games.

===Business Model===
All video games provided by GOG are DRM-free. Games purchased by users are owned by them, and can be reinstalled whenever they want. GOG makes money directly from selling the games rather than from forcing users to subscribe or modifying the product with DRM after the sale.

===Market Control===
Market share is approximately between 10-17%

While GOG is a popular DRM-free game shop, DRM game services like Steam are more popular in the general gaming space. Also game consoles, like Xbox and Playstation, offer their own game libraries, which usually include DRM.<ref> {{Cite web |last=TechBloat |first= |date=9 Jan 2025 |title=Top 10 Best Online Video Game Stores 2025: PC, PS5 & Xbox |url=https://www.techbloat.com/top-10-best-online-video-game-stores-2025-pc-ps5-xbox.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 Mar 2026 |website=TechBloat}}</ref>

==GOG Preservation Program==
On November 13, 2024, GOG launched the GOG Preservation Program. This initiative seeks to guarantee the availability of classic video games and their compatibility in existent and future systems. Games that are part of the GOG Preservation Program appear with a "Good Old Game" label in the GOG catalog. <ref>{{Cite web |author=GOG.com |date=13 Nov 2024 |title=Welcome to the GOG Preservation Program – Making Games Live Forever! |url=https://www.gog.com/en/news/welcome_to_the_gog_preservation_program_making_games_live_forever |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251124093959/https://www.gog.com/en/news/welcome_to_the_gog_preservation_program_making_games_live_forever |archive-date=24 Nov 2025|access-date=19 Feb 2026 |website=GOG.com}}</ref>

==Incidents==
{{Ph-C-Inc}}

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===Example incident one (''date'')===
{{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

==Products==
*GOG GALAXY (Client available on Windows and Mac, with third-party alternatives available for Linux)

==See also==
*[[Digital Rights Management]]
*[[Stop Killing Games]]
*[[Steam]]
*[[Xbox]]
*[[Epic Games]]
*[[Playstation]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

Mastodon

2026-06-27T11:44:27Z

Mr Pollo:

{{Irrelevant}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|ArticleType=Software
|Category=Social Media
|Company=Mastodon GmbH
|Description=
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=Mastodon_logo.svg
|ReleaseYear=2016
|Website=https://joinmastodon.org/
}}

'''{{Wplink|Mastodon (social network)|Mastodon}}''' is a decentralized free and open-source social networking platform. It operates as a federated network communicating with instances part of the Fediverse through the ActivityPub protocol.

It was first released on 16 March 2016 by {{Wplink|Eugen Rochko}} and is actively developed by Mastodon gGmbH.

[https://mastodon.social mastodon.social] is the first party instance operated by the developers.

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

==Incidents==
{{Ph-C-Inc}}
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===Example incident one (''date'')===
{{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

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

==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Talk:Mastodon

2026-06-27T11:44:00Z

Mr Pollo: /* Notice of relevancy */ new section

== Notice of relevancy ==

Hello, the reason why I added the delete template to this article was because of a policy change the staff team decided on earlier this month. Here’s what was added to the pro-consumer articles category after the meeting:
" These are articles that display growth for consumer rights, whether it is an incident, theme, or law. Note: companies, people, and products should not have a pro-consumer article made about them."
The reason for not including companies is to not sound like we are endorsing them, since article content can include biases. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 11:44, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

Mastodon

2026-06-26T12:46:22Z

Mr Pollo:

{{Delete|see [[:Category:Pro-consumer articles]]}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|ArticleType=Software
|Category=Social Media
|Company=Mastodon GmbH
|Description=
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=Mastodon_logo.svg
|ReleaseYear=2016
|Website=https://joinmastodon.org/
}}

'''{{Wplink|Mastodon (social network)|Mastodon}}''' is a decentralized free and open-source social networking platform. It operates as a federated network communicating with instances part of the Fediverse through the ActivityPub protocol.

It was first released on 16 March 2016 by {{Wplink|Eugen Rochko}} and is actively developed by Mastodon gGmbH.

[https://mastodon.social mastodon.social] is the first party instance operated by the developers.

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

==Incidents==
{{Ph-C-Inc}}
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===Example incident one (''date'')===
{{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

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

==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

News

2026-06-23T01:19:48Z

Mr Pollo: Redirected page to Consumer Rights Wiki:In the news

#redirect [[Consumer Rights Wiki:In the news]]

Category:Wiki root/Main page

2026-06-22T22:54:43Z

Mr Pollo: testing

'''Browse'''
<div class="cat-but-grid" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(11em, 1fr)); gap: 0.5em">{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|🏢|Organizations|SkyBlue|MidnightBlue}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|🧺|Products|Wheat|DimGray}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|⛑️|Services|MistyRose|Crimson}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|👤|Individuals|SkyBlue|MidnightBlue}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|💻|Software|AliceBlue|SlateGray}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|💢|Incidents|PeachPuff|OrangeRed}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|✅|Pro-consumer articles|green|blue}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|🎓|User guides|Honeydew|ForestGreen}}</div>

'''Learn'''
<div class="cat-but-grid" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(max(12em, 26%), 1fr)); gap: 0.5em">{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|📔|Common terms|Wheat|SaddleBrown}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|🛰️|Protocols|LightCyan|Teal}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|⚖️|Legislation|LavenderBlush|RebeccaPurple}}</div>

'''Contribute'''
<div class="cat-but-grid" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(max(10em, 26%), 1fr)); gap: 0.5em">{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|🧠|Article suggestions|AliceBlue|RoyalBlue}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|🎞️|Video based|WhiteSmoke|DimGray|Articles based on videos}}{{:Category:Wiki root/Cat-but|📖|Wiki policy|OldLace|Chocolate}}</div>

Leonardo ELSAG SignalTrace

2026-06-22T22:47:54Z

Mr Pollo:

{{#seo:
|description=Leonardo ELSAG SignalTrace is a sensor add-on for automatic license plate readers that captures nearby wireless device identifiers and ties phones and people to a vehicle's plate.
}}
{{ProductCargo
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=License plate reader,Surveillance
|Company=Leonardo
|Description=Sensor add-on for license plate readers that captures nearby phone, earbud & wearable signals to tie devices and people to a vehicle's plate
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=
|ProductLine=
|ReleaseYear=2025
|Website=https://www.leonardocompany-us.com/lpr/elsag-signaltrace
}}

'''Leonardo ELSAG SignalTrace''' is a sensor system that attaches to automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras and captures the wireless identifiers broadcast by phones, earbuds, smartwatches & other electronic devices traveling in a vehicle, then ties those devices to the vehicle's license plate and a timestamped location.<ref name="spec-sheet">{{Cite web |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28215440-signaltrace-us/ |title=ELSAG SignalTrace product sheet |author=Leonardo US Cyber and Security Solutions |date=2025-09-09 |website=DocumentCloud |access-date=2026-06-21}}</ref><ref name="404media">{{Cite web |url=https://www.404media.co/this-company-will-add-phone-airpod-and-smartwatch-trackers-to-license-plate-readers/ |title=This Company Will Add Phone, AirPod, and Smartwatch Trackers to License Plate Readers |last=Cox |first=Joseph |date=2026-06-08 |website=404 Media |access-date=2026-06-21}}</ref> Marketed by {{Wplink|Leonardo S.p.A.|Leonardo}}'s United States subsidiary under its ELSAG brand, the product is built to identify the people inside a car, not just the car, by assembling what the company calls an ''"electronic fingerprint"'' of the devices that repeatedly travel together.<ref name="spec-sheet" /> Leonardo received a U.S. patent for the underlying system on March 26, 2024, and announced it on May 30, 2024.<ref name="patent">{{Cite web |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US11941716B2/en |title=US11941716B2: Systems and methods for electronic signature tracking |last=Child |first=Todd |last2=Howe |first2=Bernard |date=2024-03-26 |website=Google Patents |access-date=2026-06-21}}</ref><ref name="businesswire">{{Cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530567391/en/Leonardo-US-Cyber-and-Security-Solutions-receives-a-patent-for-their-new-electronic-signature-tracking-system-for-law-enforcement |title=Leonardo US Cyber and Security Solutions receives a patent for their new electronic signature tracking system for law enforcement |date=2024-05-30 |website=Business Wire |access-date=2026-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250810050941/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530567391/en/Leonardo-US-Cyber-and-Security-Solutions-receives-a-patent-for-their-new-electronic-signature-tracking-system-for-law-enforcement |archive-date=2025-08-10 |url-status=live}}</ref> Reporting in June 2026 framed the device-tracking capability as one that license plate cameras would soon carry; no law-enforcement agency has been documented deploying SignalTrace.<ref name="404media" /><ref name="thedrive">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/news/license-plate-cameras-will-soon-track-phones-wearables-infotainment-and-even-your-pets |title=License Plate Cameras Will Soon Track Phones, Wearables, Infotainment, and Even Your Pets |last=Ismail |first=Adam |date=2026-06-17 |website=The Drive |access-date=2026-06-21}}</ref>

==Background==

Leonardo US Cyber and Security Solutions, LLC, formerly Selex ES, is the United States subsidiary of Leonardo, a global aerospace, defense, and security company.<ref name="businesswire" /><ref name="patent" /> Its ELSAG brand sells automatic license plate reader technology used by law enforcement.<ref name="businesswire" />

On May 30, 2024, the company announced that it had received U.S. patent 11,941,716 B2, ''"Systems and methods for electronic signature tracking,"'' granted March 26, 2024.<ref name="businesswire" /><ref name="patent" /> The patent, with a priority date of December 15, 2020 and inventors Todd Child and Bernard Howe, describes roadside sensors that capture wireless signals from consumer devices, group the devices that travel together into an electronic signature, and merge that signature with timestamps and plate reads from ALPR cameras.<ref name="patent" /> Leonardo first branded the system ELSAG EOC Plus.<ref name="businesswire" /> Jason Laquatra, general manager of Leonardo US Cyber and Security Solutions, framed the goal in the announcement:
<blockquote>''The future of LPR advancements is reliant on enhancing LPR data sets with additional information from various electronic devices to find the individuals police are looking for.''</blockquote><ref name="businesswire" />

[[File:Leonardo US patent 11941716 electronic signature tracking.png|thumb|center|upright=2.4|US patent 11,941,716 B2, ''"Systems and methods for electronic signature tracking,"'' names inventors Todd Child and Bernard Howe and assignee Leonardo US Cyber and Security Solutions.<ref name="patent" />]]

A Leonardo product sheet dated September 9, 2025 markets the system as ELSAG SignalTrace.<ref name="spec-sheet" /> In June 2026, 404 Media reporter Joseph Cox reported that the company planned to add the sensors to license plate readers already in the field.<ref name="404media" />

[[File:Leonardo ELSAG SignalTrace product sheet electronic fingerprint.png|thumb|center|upright=2.4|Page one of the SignalTrace product sheet describes the ''"electronic fingerprint"'' the system builds from a vehicle's devices and states that it does not decrypt or store device content.<ref name="spec-sheet" />]]

==Capture mechanism and tracked devices==

SignalTrace clips sensors onto license plate cameras already mounted on poles, overpasses, and police cars, and reads the radio frequencies that nearby devices broadcast.<ref name="404media" /><ref name="thedrive" /> Leonardo's product sheet describes the result:
<blockquote>''When multiple devices consistently move together with a vehicle, SignalTrace's algorithms link them to that vehicle's license plate and time-stamped location data. This correlation provides investigators with another layer of actionable intelligence, even if a suspect changes or removes a plate.''</blockquote><ref name="spec-sheet" />

The sheet lists four categories of detectable identifiers: RFID tags (key cards, asset tags, pallet transmitters, and pet microchips); Bluetooth devices (mobile phones, wearables such as watches and fitness trackers, and wireless headphones); vehicle components (tire pressure sensors, security and safety sensors, and infotainment systems); and Wi-Fi sources (vehicle hotspots, tablets and smartphones, and laptops).<ref name="spec-sheet" /> Writing in The Drive, Adam Ismail noted that the list runs from AirTags and earbuds to a car's tire-pressure monitors and a pet's implanted microchip.<ref name="thedrive" />

[[File:Leonardo ELSAG SignalTrace tracked device types.png|thumb|center|upright=2.8|Leonardo's ELSAG SignalTrace product sheet lists four categories of trackable identifiers, from pet microchips and key cards to tire pressure sensors and wireless headphones.<ref name="spec-sheet" />]]

Leonardo says the system reads only what devices transmit publicly and does not intercept communications. The product sheet states:
<blockquote>''SignalTrace captures only publicly broadcast device frequency activity. It does not decrypt or store any content from devices or communications. It functions like a license plate reader by capturing identifiers without accessing personal or message data.''</blockquote><ref name="spec-sheet" />

The 2024 announcement made the same claim for EOC Plus, saying it ''"captures device frequencies emitted into the air"'' and ''"does not decrypt or capture the contents of the devices or their communications."''<ref name="businesswire" />

[[File:Leonardo ELSAG EOC Plus 2024 announcement disclaimer.png|thumb|center|upright=2.6|Leonardo's May 30, 2024 announcement of ELSAG EOC Plus states that the system ''"captures device frequencies emitted into the air"'' and does not decrypt or capture the contents of devices or their communications.<ref name="businesswire" />]]

==Privacy and surveillance concerns==

404 Media described SignalTrace as a change in what license plate networks do:
<blockquote>''The technology, called SignalTrace, would turn ALPR cameras from devices focused on tracking cars to ones that can more readily track the location of particular people.''</blockquote><ref name="404media" />

Writing on June 11, 2026, security technologist Bruce Schneier placed the product against the wider data-collection backdrop:
<blockquote>''Yes, it's bad that more companies are collecting this level of surveillance data. But all of this pales in comparison to the type and quantity of data our smartphones already collect about us.''</blockquote><ref name="schneier">{{Cite web |url=https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2026/06/enhanced-license-plate-tracking.html |title=Enhanced License Plate Tracking |last=Schneier |first=Bruce |date=2026-06-11 |website=Schneier on Security |access-date=2026-06-21}}</ref>

==Deployment status and market context==

As of June 2026, no police department, city, or pilot program had been publicly documented using SignalTrace; coverage described it as patented, marketed, and forthcoming rather than in service.<ref name="404media" /><ref name="thedrive" /> Cox's report said the company ''"plans to add"'' the sensors, and Ismail's headline said cameras ''"will soon"'' track the devices.<ref name="404media" /><ref name="thedrive" />

SignalTrace enters an ALPR market that federal agencies are moving to tap. Reporting on a separate FBI effort to obtain nationwide plate-reader access, 404 Media noted that ''"Only a couple vendors could likely fulfill what the FBI is after, namely Flock and Motorola."''<ref name="404media-fbi">{{Cite web |url=https://www.404media.co/the-fbi-wants-to-buy-nationwide-access-to-license-plate-readers/ |title=The FBI Wants to Buy Nationwide Access to License Plate Readers |last=Cox |first=Joseph |date=2026-05-18 |website=404 Media |access-date=2026-06-21}}</ref> SignalTrace is a Leonardo product; neither [[Flock Safety|Flock]] nor Motorola Solutions makes or sells it. It is also distinct from [[Flock Safety Nova uses dark web data for surveillance|Flock's Nova platform]], a Flock data tool that links plate reads to people by combining law-enforcement and outside records rather than by capturing device signals at the roadside.<ref name="404media-nova">{{Cite web |url=https://www.404media.co/license-plate-reader-company-flock-is-building-a-massive-people-lookup-tool-leak-shows/ |title=License Plate Reader Company Flock Is Building a Massive People Lookup Tool, Leak Shows |last=Cox |first=Joseph |date=2025-05-14 |website=404 Media |access-date=2026-06-21}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Flock Safety]]
* [[Flock license plate readers]]
* [[Common Questions, Arguments, & Responses when discussing Flock Surveillance]]
* [[Hikvision]]
* [[Axon]]
* [[BusPatrol]]
* [[LiveView Technologies]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Leonardo]]
[[Category:Surveillance]]
[[Category:Privacy]]

Free software movement

2026-06-22T20:53:05Z

Mr Pollo:

{{StubNotice}}

The '''Free Software Movement''' is a movement that aims to create and distribute software that is ''free'' in all sense of the word, not just monetarily. The movement was formally initiated by [[Richard Stallman]] in 1983 with the creation of the [[GNU Project]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stallman |first=Richard |date=1983 |title=Initial Announcement |url=https://www.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124140738/https://www.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==How it works==
{{See also|right to own}}

Creating free software means creating software that ''"the user has the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change, and improve [...]."''<ref>{{Cite web |last=The GNU project |date=2024-01-01 |title=What is free software ? |url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128112500/http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> This means that the source code must be available. This is in contrast with most commercial software that hides its real mechanisms from the user.

==Why it is beneficial==
===Security and user control===
{{See also|Security}}
By making software free in all sense of the word, including the freedom to study the source code, GNU creates trust in software that abides by these rules. Trust that the software does not spy on you, trust that the software will never stop working for monetary reasons, trust that the user will always be in control, instead of a corporation.

===Alternatives to proprietary software===
Free and Open Source Software can work as alternatives that are similar or even better than their corporative counterparts. Because they're free, this also makes them an affordable alternative to proprietary software that usually must be paid to be used.

===Transparency and freedom to edit the source code===
Due to their open nature, anyone can take the source code from a free software and modify it at their needs, without receiving any kind of penalty from it, contrary to what happens with proprietary software that might contain [[DRM]]. Also, the ability to completely see the source code allows the user to see what's under the hood of the software and know how it works.

===Role on legacy hardware/software preservation===
Several FOSS projects target to preserve and make legacy files and content from discontinued software to work and be used again, such as Ruffle extension allowing to run Flash content on web browsers after Adobe ceased its support in 2020. FOSS operating systems or firmware can make a device to work again after the proprietary software is no longer supported, extending more the device's lifespan, allowing to spare money and helping the environment by preventing to create unnecessary e-waste.

==Examples==

* [[wikipedia:Linux|GNU+Linux]] operating systems
* {{Wplink|Blender (software)|Blender}}, software for 3D modelling
* {{Wplink|VLC media player}}
* {{Wplink|LibreWolf}}, privacy-focused fork of [[Mozilla Firefox]]

==References==

[[Category:Copyright]]
[[Category:Positive movements]]

<references />

Clippy Campaign

2026-06-22T20:52:42Z

Mr Pollo:

In August 2025, YouTuber {{Wplink|Louis Rossmann}} started a grassroots {{Wplink|solidarity}} visibility campaign (tentatively named the '''Clippy Campaign'''), wherein participants changed their profile pictures on social media platforms in protest of unethical practices by corporations across industries. Users changed their profile pictures to a "Clippy", referring to an image of the "Clippit" avatar of {{Wplink|Office Assistant}} as seen in Microsoft Office from 1997 to 2003.

The movement remains active as of February 2026, as more and more Clippy members find ways to contribute to various causes associated with the movement in their home towns.<ref name="austin law">{{Cite web |date=3 Feb 2026 |title=You protested AI surveillance cameras & Austin wrote a law because of it! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLVE5xtdZTA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=OLVE5xtdZTA |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==Purpose==
[[File:Data-driven vs data-brokering.png|alt=A diagram which shows that raw consumer data is collected by software and hardware, then analyzed by data-driven companies and data-brokering companies. Data-driven companies use the results of their analyses to inform decisions to increase sales and help with targeted advertising. The result is that consumers buy more products and advertisers spend more money. Data-brokering companies use the results of their analyses to figure out which companies/entities they can sell the data to, who might want them. This includes data-driven companies. The profits from either path are generated at the expense of people's privacy.|thumb|Corporations collect massive amounts of personal data (sometimes even from people who aren't paying customers) to find ways to get people to keep spending more money, which they collect. The profits from either path are generated at the expense of people's privacy.]]

In recent years, technology companies have been engaging in unethical forms of conduct such as mining personal data to train artificial intelligence without the person's consent, selling personal data to data brokers which are used in invasive advertising, forcing planned obsolescence on products and services where it makes no sense for the user, installing ransomware on devices without the owner's consent, and censoring views of users which they object to. Consumer electronics repair store owner Louis Rossmann uploaded a series of videos on his YouTube channel encouraging his viewers to stand up against these practices.

In the first such video uploaded by Rossmann, he asks viewers to change their profile pictures on their social networking accounts to a picture of a "Clippy" as a form of protest and to provide a way of identifying themselves as a member of the movement. In the following weeks, Clippy profile pictures began flooding YouTube comments sections and started to spread to other sites and applications.

Rossmann has subsequently released further videos addressing the accomplishments that participants have made, the current progress made in different areas, and what members can continue to do in the future to protect people from further overreach by these companies, and [[Bose_SoundTouch_end_of_life_treatment|even reverse them]]. His channel has a long history of videos which point out a great number of incidents in which companies have mistreated paying customers, and they have provided members of the movement with valuable information and motivation to change things for the better. Rossmann emphasizes the importance of many people working together, and has pointed out that the Clippy campaign has been much more successful than he has been on his own.<ref name="do the work 2026">{{Cite web |date=4 Feb 2026 |title=DO THE WORK! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-QDbZZYIxk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=9-QDbZZYIxk |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref>

=="Clippy" profile pictures==
[[File:Clippy builder.png|alt=A screenshot of a web app that allows users to personalize their Clippy avatars. Users select from various images to overlay on a basic Clippy avatar.|thumb|An example of a tool that allows users to personalize their Clippy avatars.]]

A core element of the movement is using a "Clippy" profile picture, which is an image that resembles the "Clippit" avatar from Office Assistant. Many users modify their avatars to show their commitment to the causes they want to support, resulting in many personalized avatars.

===Comparison to "slacktivism"===
Another key concept emphasized by Rossmann is preventing the movement from succumbing to [[wikipedia:Slacktivism|''slacktivism'']]—in general, the concept refers to proponents of a featured social or political cause doing very little actual work to support what they say they are supporting. The term is a pejorative portmanteau of ''slacker'' and ''activism'', and as such implies a negligible level of commitment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=(PDF) Activism or Slacktivism? The Potential and Pitfalls of Social Media in Contemporary Student Activism |url=https://www.academia.edu/34753295/Activism_or_Slacktivism_The_Potential_and_Pitfalls_of_Social_Media_in_Contemporary_Student_Activism |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804145459/https://www.academia.edu/34753295/Activism_or_Slacktivism_The_Potential_and_Pitfalls_of_Social_Media_in_Contemporary_Student_Activism |archive-date=4 Aug 2021}}</ref> Many of Rossmann's videos are focused on ways people can help, because providing examples can provide additional information members can leverage, as well as more motivation on top of that which is garnered through encouraging commentary. Avoiding slacktivism would become a [[Clippy_Campaign#Characteristics|recurring theme]] throughout future videos (whether named or not).

===Clippy as a symbol of escalating overreach===
Rossmann uses Clippy to show how technology used to work purely for its intended purpose, in contrast to [[Dark pattern|dark patterns]] that are now widespread.

[https://youtu.be/2_Dtmpe9qaQ?t=68 Change your profile picture to clippy. I'm serious 1:08]

<blockquote>Whether or not you like Clippy, [...] the one thing that you could say—unlike Facebook, who is trying to profit off of young girls that feel suicidal: Clippy simply wanted to help.

He might have been annoying, but he just wanted to help.

There were no ulterior motives.

If you told Clippy you were having a bad day, he wasn't going to use that information to try and figure out which advertiser to sell you to, nor was he trying to steal your personal data to get you to purchase other Microsoft products.
He had no ulterior motives, he was simply there to help.

[...] Clippy wouldn't even read the contents of your letter.</blockquote>

The quote demonstrates that Rossmann's choice of using a "Clippy" is a subversion of the increasingly normalized narrative that companies should be able to exploit their customers without it being classified as exploitation. "Clippy" comes from an older era of Microsoft products and services—the Office Assistant software was designed to be helpful above all else, even if users initially had mixed views on it. When compared to Microsoft's current trajectories, "Clippy" stands out in that it never collected user data to sell to advertisers or track people with, while almost all of Microsoft's products and services today do exactly that, and to an increasingly great extent.

===Historical parallels===
During World War II, in Norway, paperclips were worn like jewelry as a symbol of resistance to German occupation and Norwegian collaboration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlesinger |first=Joe |date=August 5, 2011 |title=Breivik, Quisling and the Norwegian spirit |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/breivik-quisling-and-the-norwegian-spirit-1.1064817 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411001308/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/breivik-quisling-and-the-norwegian-spirit-1.1064817 |archive-date=11 Apr 2021 |access-date=13 Sep 2025 |website=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation{{!}}CBC}}</ref> They symbolized unity, proclaiming that "we are bound together," much as Rossmann noted that while one paperclip alone is weak, many paperclips (Clippy members) working together are strong together.

==Campaign origins==
===Incipient stage===
On 7 August 2025, YouTuber Louis Rossmann uploaded a video titled "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Dtmpe9qaQ Change your profile picture to clippy. I'm serious]" and encouraged his viewers to stand up against unethical practices of technology corporations (and companies in other industries) which violated consumer rights or otherwise proved detrimental to their paying customers. In the video, he suggested that members who join the movement could change their profile pictures on YouTube and other platforms to a Clippy, on the grounds that such an avatar was a fitting symbol, that avatars with a common theme would help participants recognize each other, and that the collective usage of the avatar in great numbers would raise questions among others and potentially draw attention to the movement.<ref name="first rossmann clippy video">{{Cite web |date=7 Aug 2025 |title=Change your profile picture to clippy. I'm serious |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Dtmpe9qaQ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=2_Dtmpe9qaQ |archive-date=7 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref name="second rossmann clippy video">{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2025 |title=You Changed Your Profile to Clippy: Now What? 📎📎📎 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkL9vzW7nY0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=SkL9vzW7nY0 |archive-date=12 Aug 2025}}</ref>

Rossmann stated that educating the public and spreading awareness of these issues was the primary motivation behind his call to action, and while winning the "legislative battle" would be a favorable end, it was not an imperative end at the first stage of the campaign.<ref name="first rossmann clippy video" />

===Motivations===
The scope of the campaign intersects with the general resistance to anti-ownership practices by companies that have become more common throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, such as denying paying customers the [[right to repair]] the products that they had purchased. In the video, Rossmann offered a non-exhaustive list of grievances that people have faced, as possible reasons for aligning with the campaign, shown below in brief (see [[Clippy Campaign#Examples|Examples]] for details):

*Companies can change the terms of a sale ''retroactively'' without legal repercussions.
*Companies can lock users out of a device they already paid for until a novel subscription fee is paid (tantamount to installing {{Wplink|ransomware}}).
*The comments sections of many YouTube channels frequently contain malicious comments that normalize sex trafficking, posted by bot accounts.
*Companies can deny a user's right to repair something damaged in transit (i.e., not by the user), even when the user is willing to purchase needed parts from them, and then threaten legal action for asking them about the decision.
*Companies can conduct psychological experiments on their customers without informed consent, often without legal repercussions.

==Early developments==
===Orientation===
Rossmann later uploaded a clarifying video on 12 August 2025, titled "[https://youtu.be/SkL9vzW7nY0 You Changed Your Profile to Clippy: Now What? 📎📎📎]", to elaborate on the meaning of the movement for participants and outsiders, and to call participants to action, offering ways in which they could actively contribute to creating effective results that could counteract or make conspicuous the exploitative and dishonest business practices they are protesting. Rossmann stated in the video that the act of changing one's profile picture is not the goal of the movement, but a prerequisite for realizing bigger changes; it serves as a simple task that gets users invested in the movement and increases its visibility, so that even if a participant is not able to effectuate much change on their own, they can make people who ''are'' capable of more tangible influence aware of the movement and utilize their assistance.<ref name="second rossmann clippy video" /> A major focus of the video was slacktivism, [[Clippy_Campaign#Comparison_to_"slacktivism"|which Rossmann asks members to avoid]].

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkL9vzW7nY0&t=84s You Changed Your Profile to Clippy: Now What? 📎📎📎 1:24]

<blockquote>There's this concept called slacktivism, and you'll see it on websites where people are more concerned with punching down than they are with actually trying to clean up their corner of the world because one of them is easy and one of them is not. Slacktivism means doing nothing, and I can imagine the type of person that is using that type of word to insult you because you change your profile picture to a Clippy is the same kind of person who is going to say, "Well, what's the point of putting your key in your car? That's not going to get you to work." Yeah, but it's a prerequisite!</blockquote>

Rossmann encouraged users to deny critics the opportunity to use this term by making real contributions because any member who finds even one way to effectuate real change or make their own contribution, no matter how small, is doing real work with real consequences and therefore invalidating such criticisms (which ties in with the themes of solidarity and strength in numbers).

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkL9vzW7nY0&t=108s You Changed Your Profile to Clippy: Now What? 📎📎📎 1:48]

<blockquote>[...O]ver the last seven to ten years of trying to advocate for right to repair and thirteen years on YouTube, the one thing I've noticed that is the biggest ''can't'' to any type of activism is apathy and believing you're alone.

[...] And the weird thing is, no matter how many times I disprove this, no matter how many times I say, "Look what happens when 10,000 of you email in, we get a bill. Look what happens when email in and do this. Look what happens when you participate here," people still believe that it's hopeless.

[...] And what I was hoping to do is get a different outcome if people realize that there ''are'' other people that think like them—that there are other people that are actually willing to do something. I don't plan on just having you people turn your profile pictures to a Clippy to just do that; like, that by itself doesn't do s[---]. What I plan on doing is getting each of you to realize that if you work together, things happen.</blockquote>

He later continues with the clarification by reiterating that anyone at all can make real change, and that no one is alone when everyone identifies together and works together:

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkL9vzW7nY0&t=454s You Changed Your Profile to Clippy: Now What? 📎📎📎 7:34]

<blockquote>I'm trying to get the ball rolling here. The real thing I want you all to do is: in your personal life, when you come across a time or a situation when you can actually do something, you speak up and you do something.

[...T]here's going to be a point in your life where if every single person were on the same page, you could do something that otherwise wouldn't have worked, and change can get created. When everybody's on the same page, and everybody is in agreement as to what the problem is, things just naturally move smoother. I've noticed this in my business, I've noticed this in my nonprofit, and I've noticed this with general activism, and I'm trying to get a little bit of that going.</blockquote>

===Early reflections===
Rossmann uploaded a follow-up video four days later, on 16 August 2025, titled "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAgghxUw4kc Progress of clippy movement one week in]", in which he remarked on the rapid growth of the movement and thanked participants for actively working and making a difference, and not simply changing their profile pictures without doing anything else.<ref name="third rossmann clippy video">{{Cite web |date=16 Aug 2025 |title=Progress of clippy movement one week in |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAgghxUw4kc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=MAgghxUw4kc |archive-date=16 Aug 2025}}</ref>

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAgghxUw4kc&t=32s Progress of clippy movement one week in 0:32]

<blockquote>And I have been very happy, humbled, and honored to see the change that's occurred over the past week. My new nonprofit has a website, [[Main_Page|consumerrights.wiki]]. This website is a database of companies that take part in these anti-ownership, anti-consumer practices. It makes it much easier to speak to senators and congresspeople about these issues, as well as to members of the media and be taken seriously when I have a properly, well-cited, referenced, and sourced document that looks like an encyclopedia.

[...] The wiki has had an absolute explosion in the past week since doing that Clippy video of people really taking part in all of this, [...] doing the very, very difficult, annoying, pain-in-the-ass work of logging everything [... and making] it infinitely better as a resource. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAgghxUw4kc&t=183s| ''3:03'']] And the edits genuinely show how much has changed. Thank you. Thank you so much. You didn't just change your profile picture. You changed your profile picture and you immediately got to work, taking the steps that you can, in your personal life, doing what you can do to try and move towards a world where ownership matters. And it shows.</blockquote>

On 1 September 2025 a fourth video under the title "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcLvXBKE80 THIS is what it means to be a clippy]", was posted by Rossmann. It questioned his followers and gave examples on how individuals could show integrity and push back and against new age anti-ownership practices in their own lives and what the effects of that decision might be. An important point raised in the video was that users don't have to sacrifice anything to be a part of something bigger, because any small actions, when performed all together by many people, add up to significant results.<ref name="fourth Rossmann clippy video">{{Cite web |date=1 Sep 2025 |title=THIS is what it means to be a clippy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcLvXBKE80 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=CtcLvXBKE80 |archive-date=2 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===Silhouette series===
In October 2025, Rossmann began uploading green-screen videos in the style of silhouette interviews, which are used by news broadcasts to keep an interviewee's identity anonymous, but can be used rhetorically outside of news broadcasts to visually represent an anonymous party; in this case, the anonymous party is the collection of editors for Consumer Rights Wiki and members of, or subscribers to, the FULU Foundation.<ref name="first Rossmann silhouette">{{Cite web |date=9 Oct 2025 |title=Synology reverses course on requiring branded drives: NOT ENOUGH! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot_XQX7di2Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ot_XQX7di2Y |archive-date=9 Oct 2025}}</ref> These videos consist of Rossmann depicted as a featureless silhouette, speaking about a specific company's malpractice, and occasionally holding up a large paperclip against the background, symbolizing the collective agreement of the vast number of "Clippy" users online.

On 9 October 2025, Rossmann uploaded his first silhouette video, an annunciatory reaction to recent decisions from the company [[Synology]]. The video, titled "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot_XQX7di2Y Synology reverses course on requiring branded drives: NOT ENOUGH!]", begins by dedicating the announcement to restoring consumer rights and the rights of ownership. The core of the video refers to the company formerly [[Synology_requiring_proprietary-branded_drives_to_be_used_with_its_NAS|requiring users to use only Synology hard drives in their network-attached storage units]], a policy enforced by DRM. Synology reversed their decision, but Rossmann points out that it is not enough to simply undo the action; the company has to indicate plainly to its customers that they will not engage in further anti-consumer practices in the future. The video ends with a call to action for members of the Clippy movement, declaring that the fight for consumer rights had moved into a new era, in which companies reverse the detrimental actions which had previously characterized their policies toward their own customers:

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot_XQX7di2Y&t=163s Synology reverses course on requiring branded drives: NOT ENOUGH! 2:43]

<blockquote>If your favorite influencer starts shilling Synology products again after this product update without telling you their full history, let them know Clippy is watching. [''Rossmann's silhouette holds up a large paperclip against the background.'']

We have entered a new stage of consumer rights: the FAFO era, where companies that take part in these practices reverse them. But it's not enough that they reverse them—they must also repent. Clippy demands repentance. I have not seen this repentance, and therefore I am not satisfied.</blockquote>

On 10 October 2025, Rossmann uploaded a second silhouette video, an open letter to Satya Nadella, the current CEO of [[Microsoft]], titled "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NVtg1tkgSQ Microsoft went too far]". He mentions that Windows 11, the newest version of the company's flagship product, has been redesigned to prohibit setup without [[Windows_11#Windows_11_requires_a_Microsoft_Account_to_use|logging into a Microsoft account online]], even if the user never plans on using any online Microsoft services. It is thus no longer possible to use solely local methods (i.e., methods that do not require connecting to an Internet web server) to set up a computer with Windows 11 installed. He then points out the hypocrisy in their policy regarding the operating system's preceding version, Windows 10, and calls on Nadella to take action to correct the company's missteps:

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NVtg1tkgSQ&t=63s Microsoft went too far 1:03]

<blockquote>[''Reading from AlternativeTo'']<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 Oct 2025 |title=Windows 11 removes all bypass methods for Microsoft account setup, removing local accounts |url=https://alternativeto.net/news/2025/10/windows-11-now-blocks-all-microsoft-account-bypasses-during-setup/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007102104/https://alternativeto.net/news/2025/10/windows-11-now-blocks-all-microsoft-account-bypasses-during-setup/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref> Microsoft says that removing local only methods prevents skipped configuration steps and ensures devices are properly set up and secure. [''Commentary''] But leaving hundreds of millions of Windows 10 devices without security updates isn't... tell me more!

[''Reading''] This change is part of the company’s broader "Local-only commands removal" initiative, reinforcing that bypassing account creation could lead to incomplete setups or potential security issues. [...]

[''Commentary''] Satya Nadella, here are our demands. Number one: provide security updates to Windows 10 on the same terms for United States customers, the people in the country that made you a $3 trillion company, that you provide them to in the EU. Number two: remove this requirement that people connect to the Internet and sign up for an online account with your system in order to use their local operating system. This is unnecessary and just another way to get more people's data. You have enough of their data.

[''Rossmann's silhouette holds up a large paperclip against the background.''] Clippy would never require an online account to use a word processor or an operating system. Respect the Clippy. He's watching.</blockquote>

Rossmann concludes the video by stating that if Microsoft does not reverse its course by the 16th, then he would hold on the 18th a public event on behalf of the FULU Foundation, where users can get their computers upgraded, learn how to install free software, and try out Linux (a free operating system) for themselves.<ref name="second Rossmann silhouette">{{Cite web |date=10 Oct 2025 |title=Microsoft went too far |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NVtg1tkgSQ |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=3NVtg1tkgSQ |archive-date=10 Oct 2025}}</ref> Rossmann stated that the goal was to encourage people to help other members of their community, learn new ways of keeping their technology safe from viruses, and prevent computers from populating landfills (because many people have to throw out their old computers which are unable to run Windows 11, but replacing Windows with Linux prevents this).

===Emergence out in the world===
A notable example Rossmann featured of the Clippy movement outside of the Internet comes from a discussion about Vidor, Texas and its city council meeting. Rossmann starts out a video published on 10 October 2025 by recounting the background behind the movement's progress in Vidor and uses it as an example of members uniting together and doing real work. Vidor's city council is presented as not being proactive or willing to investigate for themselves. The video also offers an excellent anecdote about the growing culture associated with the movement as word spreads online.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOUZsp5KhGs Vidor, Texas says no to Flock AI surveillance traffic cameras 0:11]

<blockquote>Somebody reached out to me [...] saying, "I watched your video on what you did at Austin and I wanted to see if they had these cameras in my city." So, she looked it up, and what do you know? They were on the next city council meeting. They didn't get back to her, so she showed up and gave them a piece of her mind. She did a really good job and I wanted to play you that [...] and everything that everybody else said. [...] I'm really proud of it. As I said with what we're trying to do with the Clippy movement: it's not about just changing your profile picture to let people know you're not happy. It's about pushing back everywhere that you can in your own corner of the world in everyday life. Did they get it removed for good? No. But they got it tabled. Their town is not spending $60,000 to put up cameras with AI that surveilled them everywhere they go and save the information on somebody else's server. I think that's a great step forward. Screw [[Flock]]. I don't want that stuff in my city, and I also don't want it in yours. And if you want to help try to get out of your city, I will help you as much as humanly possible.

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAgghxUw4kc&t=183s ''3:03''] ''The aforementioned woman speaks to Rossmann, accompanied by her husband.''] My city council is not going to pay attention unless they have hard facts in front of them. I specifically emailed everybody of the city council and I received no response. So that—

ROSSMANN: Wait, so your city council sounds like ''our'' city council.

WIFE: Mhm, which is why I am now forcing my husband—we are moving in town, and the next opportunity I have after research, I am going to be running for city council because I am tired—

ROSSMANN: No way!

WIFE: —of the efficiency of it.

HUSBAND: Also, for your journeys, 'cause one thing I could not find online was a... a version of Clippy that you could actually cut out of vinyl, so I had to figure out how to make an SVG, and I got twenty of them. I cut them for you.

ROSSMANN: No way!

HUSBAND: Yes.

ROSSMANN: Thank you.

HUSBAND: Yes!

ROSSMANN: Thank you so much. This makes me happy.

HUSBAND: And that, directly, is inspired by the post from Denton. The "Clippy is watching."? I was like, I got to do that. I got to make it.

WIFE: He put the vinyl on my car. The back... the back window.

HUSBAND: Eighty inches of vinyl.</blockquote>

==Impact==
Rossmann hopes that the group awareness created by the campaign will allow people to take action more quickly, due to already knowing that others around them are in alignment. Already it has been seen that many users on YouTube and other social media sites have taken part in the campaign. Some are even taking action to further spread word of the movement in hopes it will eventually get the attention of legislation, tech companies, etc.

[https://youtu.be/SkL9vzW7nY0?t=265 You Changed Your Profile to Clippy: Now What? 📎📎📎 4:25]<blockquote>But if all of them know at the same time that we're on the same page:

We are tired of living in an anti-ownership society—check.

We are tired of living in a society where we subscribe to everything and we own nothing—check.

We are tired of being told it cost $8,000 to fix a f[---]ing power button—check.

[...]

If every single one of these people were not only on the same page, but knew they were on the same page, maybe each one in the chain would speak up when they otherwise wouldn't.

And when they're all moving together and all working together, what happens?

They choose a different vendor.</blockquote>

Within one week, there has already been visible progress due to this movement; namely, an increase in edits to [[Main Page|consumerrights.wiki]].

[https://youtu.be/MAgghxUw4kc?t=66 Progress of clippy movement one week in 1:06]<blockquote>We have something called [https://plausible.io/ Plausible]. It's GDPR privacy-preserving analytics.

[...Y]ou can see this jump over here [''around 11 Aug''] [...] also coincides with many articles that were incomplete, being edited to the point of being perfect[...]</blockquote>

As well as tangible progress outside of this wiki, the point of the movement is to encourage changes in individual lives so that these small changes accumulate:

[https://youtu.be/MAgghxUw4kc?t=116 Progress of clippy movement one week in 1:56]

<blockquote>[A]nd I'm very excited, not just by this, but by all of the emails that I've received from you, where you've told me in your own personal life where you made a different decision to try and make a difference.</blockquote>

According to Rossmann, the point of the Clippy campaign is for members to effectuate change in the world wherever they see it necessary—even if it is a small change, everyone's small changes together add up to much greater change. Rossmann describes this as "cleaning up your corner of the world." Since the beginning of the campaign, there have been many instances of larger changes manifested by the unity of the community.

===Vidor, Texas refuses AI surveillance===
{{Incomplete section}}

At the 9 October 2025 Vidor, Texas city council meeting, many Clippy members showed up to voice their concerns about item C-13, which involved AI-powered surveillance cameras.

===Austin, Texas===
{{Incomplete section}}

Austin, Texas has been a site of particularly high activity in the movement.

===Bose audio equipment===
{{Incomplete section}}

Bose employees walked back an anti-consumer policy after Clippy members reached out.

===Flock AI surveillance===

{{Incomplete section}}

===City council meetings===

{{Incomplete section}}

==Examples of anti-consumer practices==
Rossmann provided some examples of motivations people might have to join the campaign in his first video. This is only a list of the example from that video; further examples can be found in hundreds of other videos posted on [https://www.youtube.com/@rossmanngroup Rossmann's channel].

*Companies can change the terms of a sale ''retroactively'' without legal repercussions. The example offered is [[Philips Hue starts requiring an account for the Hue app|Philips Hue changing the terms of service on smart light bulbs]] that were already purchased under different terms, thence requiring users to sign up for an account in order to use the light bulbs.<ref name="philips retroactive terms">{{Cite web |date=25 Sep 2023 |title=Philips changes terms after the sale: requires data-sharing account to use a light bulb... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR2j-r3pmng |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=vR2j-r3pmng |archive-date=25 Sep 2023}}</ref><ref name="philips hue blog">{{Cite web |date=21 Sep 2023 |title=Philips Hue soon only usable with account |url=https://hueblog.com/2023/09/21/philips-hue-soon-only-usable-with-account-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926130601/https://hueblog.com/2023/09/21/philips-hue-soon-only-usable-with-account-2/ |archive-date=26 Sep 2023}}</ref><ref name="home assistant blog on philips hue">{{Cite web |date=22 Sep 2023 |title=Philips Hue will force users to upload their data to Hue cloud |url=https://community.home-assistant.io/t/philips-hue-will-force-users-to-upload-their-data-to-hue-cloud/617391 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103075835/https://community.home-assistant.io/t/philips-hue-will-force-users-to-upload-their-data-to-hue-cloud/617391 |archive-date=3 Nov 2023}}</ref>

*Companies can lock users out of a device they already paid for until a novel subscription fee is paid (tantamount to {{Wplink|ransomware}}). The example offered is the smart-home company [[Futurehome_Smarthub_Mandatory_Subscription_Fee|Futurehome pushing out a firmware update that disabled the smart-home devices of every customer]]; devices could only be re-enabled if the customer signed up for a new subscription that was not previously required.<ref name="futurehome ransomware">{{Cite web |date=16 Jul 2025 |title=Smarthome company goes bankrupt, new owner ransoms everyone's house: $5000 bounty to crack firmware! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNuZ3BjT7IU |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=KNuZ3BjT7IU |archive-date=16 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref name="xda blog on futurehome">{{Cite web |date=31 Jul 2025 |title=Futurehome proves why it's more important than ever to take back control of your smart home |url=https://www.xda-developers.com/futurehome-important-take-back-control-smart-home/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250731023509/https://www.xda-developers.com/futurehome-important-take-back-control-smart-home/ |archive-date=31 Jul 2025}}</ref>

*The comments sections of many [[YouTube]] channels frequently contain malicious comments that normalize sex trafficking, posted by bot accounts.<ref name="first rossmann clippy video" /> Massive botnets create autonomous accounts with profile pictures ostensibly featuring attractive or scantily dressed women, and when their channels are viewed, the user is greeted with links to websites that contain adult content, enticing users to fall for {{Wplink|phishing}} scams.<ref name="lon tv blog on sex bots">{{Cite web |date=20 May 2025 |title=My YouTube Channel's Comment Section is Infested By Bots! |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2025/05/20/my-youtube-channels-comment-section-are-infested-by-bots/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250622122016/https://blog.lon.tv/2025/05/20/my-youtube-channels-comment-section-are-infested-by-bots/ |archive-date=22 Jun 2025}}</ref>. Such comments are extremely pervasive, often showing up just seconds after a video is uploaded, seemingly only ever deleted by the manual review of the owner of the video rather than by server-side action; their extent is met contrariwise by reports of legitimate comments from real users being completely censored (not being visible to anyone other than the poster of the comment), even including the user who uploaded the video itself.{{Citation needed}} Rossmann points out in the aforementioned video that some of these bot accounts can bypass the filters by using pictures that are not actually of scantily dressed women, but can so appear to be when the image is small, such as when it is beside a comment; only when it is examined more closely, can it be shown to be an image of something else, such as a cat next to some pillows.<ref name="first rossmann clippy video" />

*Companies can deny a user's [[right to repair]] something damaged in transit (i.e., not by the user), even when the user is willing to purchase needed parts from them, and then threaten legal action for asking them about the decision. The example offered is [[Cami Research|Cami Research accusing a user of harassment]] who was very professional over the phone, outright stating that because it values profit over users being able to repair products which they already purchased, it does not want customers to be able to repair them because if they repair the unit they already have, they would not buy a new one.<ref name="cami research violates law">{{Cite web |date=21 Jun 2025 |title=Cami Research blatantly violates Oregon Right to Repair Law, Oregon DOJ does nothing. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K1zi66IE0k |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=2K1zi66IE0k |archive-date=22 Jun 2025}}</ref>

*Companies can conduct psychological experiments on their customers without their consent, without legal repercussions. The example offered is [[Tado]], a company that makes smart thermostats, which added a paywall to their devices, demanding a subscription fee, after customers had already bought their product (where the terms of the sale at the time of purchase indicated that there was no subscription fee). The paywall was actually fake; its purpose was to see how many customers would willingly go along with the additional payments. In essence, the company threatened to remove a service to induce a behavior on their customers.<ref name="tado thermostat experiment">{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Thermostat maker performs psychological experiments on customers: never buy Tado products |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfAchfFXghc |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=tfAchfFXghc |archive-date=21 Feb 2025}}</ref> This is another example of retroactive amendments to the terms of products and services already sold in completion (see first point above).

==Slogan==
<blockquote>Clippy just wanted to help.</blockquote>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:PicoCADClippy.png|A CC-0 (public domain) 3D model based on Clippy
File:Clippy-og.png|The original Clippy render
File:Clippy-new.jpg|Someone's custom Clippy render
File:Clippy-blue.jpg|Clippy render against a blue background
File:A cute clippy.svg|Look a cute clippy who accidentally broke pencil sharpener and is now trying to hide evidence!
File:Clippyvector.svg|A custom Clippy .SVG file for general use, such as avatars, etcetera
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://clippypfp.netlify.app/ Clippy Builder] — a generator for a custom Clippy profile pic
*Videos by other YouTubers remarking on the Clippy campaign:
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKhRUB8AwnA @CerosTV: Why Clippy Is the New Symbol of Protest]
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joIQKaErNKc @PeepIsAwesome: Why Is Clippy Invading Youtube?]
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xAGUrkDsj4 @Lessons In Meme Culture: Why is Clippy Everywhere?]

[[Category:Positive movements]]

Category:Positive movements

2026-06-22T20:52:21Z

Mr Pollo: Created page with "Articles that involve themes such as consumer activism. Category:Pro-consumer articles"

Articles that involve themes such as consumer activism.

[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

Stop Killing Games

2026-06-22T20:51:30Z

Mr Pollo:

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Campaign started by advocate Ross W. Scott to keep video games functional after their discontinuation.
|Founded=2024
|Industry=Video Games, Consumer Rights
|Logo=Stop killing games.jpeg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=
|CompanyAlias=SKG
|Website=https://www.stopkillinggames.com/
}}

'''Stop Killing Games''' ('''SKG''') is a campaign intended to spread awareness regarding publishers revoking licenses for consumers and removing game functionality so that they are no longer in a playable state. The campaign was announced on 2 April 2024 by Accursed Farms, better known as Ross W. Scott, an American [[YouTube|YouTuber]] and consumer activist who is best known for his Freeman's Mind series.

==Campaign history==
On 2 April 2024, Accursed Farms posted the video "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games".<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |website=[[YouTube]] |date=2 Apr 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |archive-date=12 Nov 2024}}</ref> In the video, Ross Scott explained the issue with modern gaming, where video game publishers often take advantage of laws.

Ross W. Scott has a history of advocating for game preservation and decrying what he calls "war on ownership" for over 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Mrglanet |author2=Relvean |author3=Mira Snelder |author4=Erasmus Magnus |title=Stop Killing Games: A History |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlOX3wRQvUg |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 May 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url= 
|archive-date=
}}</ref>

===UK Parliament petition===
On 16 April 2024, a UK Parliament petition titled "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |title=Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |website=UK Parliament Petitions |date=16 Apr 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114231235/https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |archive-date=14 Nov 2024}}</ref> began collecting signatures. The petition intended to create laws to prevent publishers from removing the ability to play games after purchase. The UK government answered on 2 May 2024, but the petitions committee requested Government to revise their response. The Government declined to do so. The petition was subsequently closed on 30 May 2024 due to the UK general elections,<ref name=":0" /> preventing further signatures. It reached 27,341 signatures and was originally scheduled to close on 16 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |title=UK government responds to Stop Killing Games campaign |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |website=GamesIndustry |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515115455/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |archive-date=15 May 2024}}</ref>

On 14 January 2025, Lewis Evans created a petition titled "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Lewis |title=Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |website=UK Parliament Petitions |date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114104021/https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2025}}</ref> closely following the prematurely closed petition in 2024. Ross Scott published a video listing the events of the original petition, the government response and the creation of new petition.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=Stop Killing Games: UK Edition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |website=[[YouTube]] |date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}</ref>

On 3 February 2025, the UK Government responded to the Petition, "There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, and we will continue to monitor this issue."<ref name=":1" /> As of 2 July 2025, the petition reached the goal of 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament.

The Petition was debated by Parliament on 3 November 2025. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Stephanie Peacock, was the last speaker and provided the Government's position on the matter. The debate was adjourned without the Government having made any material changes from its view previously stated in February.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web
|last=Warren |first=Mark |title=Stop Killing Games' UK petition has been debated in parliament: "The law works, but companies may need to communicate better" |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=3 Nov 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251111002946/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref>

===European Citizens' Initiative===
On 19 June 2024, "'''Stop Destroying Videogames'''" was registered as a European Citizens' Initiative by Daniel Ondruska.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ondruska |first=Daniel |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |website=European Citizens' Initiative |date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619131907/https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |archive-date=19 Jun 2024}}</ref> A month and a half later, on 31 July 2024, the initiative began collecting signatures.

For a European citizens' initiative to be valid, it must obtain at least one million valid signatures and meet the minimum thresholds in at least seven European Union countries. The deadline of the initiative was on 31 July 2025. By 25 June 2025, it had reached over 500,000 signatures, and finally met its goal of 1,000,000 on 3 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |website=European Union Online Collection System |date= |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703072953/https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |archive-date=3 Jul 2025}}</ref>

The collection of signatures ended 1 August 2025, with a total of 1,448,270 and 24 out of 27 state members crossing the minimum thresholds. In the following three months, the signatures were to be verified and validated by all state members. In an announcement from the initiative campaigners on 24 January 2026, the final count of verified signatures was 1,294,188.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Mr_Presidentle |title=Stop Killing Games: Final Count of Verified Signatures of the European Citizens Initiative |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=24 Jan 2026 |access-date=25 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260126002806/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>

====Social media coverage====
Accursed Farms posted the video "Europeans can save gaming!" later the same day, encouraging European citizens to sign the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=Europeans can save gaming! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |website=[[YouTube]] |date=31 Jul 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |archive-date=31 Jul 2024}}</ref> About a week later, Thor of Pirate Software published a video covering SKG, with the intent to negatively criticize SKG.<ref>{{Cite web |author=PirateSoftware |title=Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |website=[[YouTube]] |date=6 Aug 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |archive-date=6 Aug 2024}}</ref> Ross from Accursed Farms attempted to contact Thor about having false assumptions of the campaign's objectives. Ross cited Pirate Software's video as the primary cause for signatures drying up on the European Citizens' Initiative petition. Ross also stated that they did not initially make a response video directed at Thor because "it might look like drama farming" for the campaign, but when the deadline began drawing near, Ross went through with making a response on 23 June 2025 as a last-ditch effort to save the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farm |title=The end of Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=23 Jun 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |archive-date=23 Jun 2025}}</ref>

====European Union response====
On 16 April 2026, members of the Stop Killing Games movement had a public hearing with the European Parliament Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author=European Parliament |title=Stop destroying video games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |website=[[YouTube]] |date=16 Apr 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>

On 19 May 2026 the European Economic and Social Committee had a debate about the Stop Destroying Videogames ECI to which Stop Killing Games had been invited to participate.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=EESC debate about Stop Destroying Videogames ECI (Original audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiAJg7nmkOQ |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=kiAJg7nmkOQ |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=EESC debate about Stop Destroying Videogames ECI (English audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai-uLTlQ-pA |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url= 
|archive-date=
}}</ref>

Following up the European Parliament public hearing from April, on 21 May 2026 the initiative was discussed in the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg with participation of the European Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=Stop Destroying Videogames ECI : European Parliament plenary session (Original audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC-CDJKrBHw |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=GC-CDJKrBHw |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=Stop Destroying Videogames ECI : European Parliament plenary session (English audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh030cbyXAc |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Eh030cbyXAc |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>

On 2 June 2026, Stop Killing Games released a public statement regarding the European Commission's upcoming response and the invitation-only hearing with Video Games Europe and EGDF happening on 3 June 2026, highlighting concerns regarding the lack of solutions coming from the Commission and the echoing of the lobbying statements from the industry that misrepresent the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Spagelo |title=SKG - Letter to the community... |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1tuz5qu/skg_letter_to_the_community/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=2 Jun 2026 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260602192642/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1tuz5qu/skg_letter_to_the_community/ |archive-date=2 Jun 2026}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px" caption="Stop Killing Games - Open Letter">
File:SKG_Open_Letter_1.webp|
File:SKG_Open_Letter_2.webp|
File:SKG_Open_Letter_3.webp|
File:SKG_Open_Letter_4.webp|
File:SKG_open_letter_2026-June-03.pdf|Official .pdf version
</gallery>

On 9 June 2026 the Parliament has shown a clear commitment to act and willingness to work on solutions, a cross-party group of MEPs has issued a call for legislation in a letter to the European Commission.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=“It’s Game Over for This Abusive Practice”-Parliament Backs Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u11voc/its_game_over_for_this_abusive_practiceparliament/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=9 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260610083637/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u11voc/its_game_over_for_this_abusive_practiceparliament/ |archive-date=2026-06-10}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px" caption="Stop Killing Games - MEPs call for legislation">
File:MEPs call for legislative action - page 1.png|
File:MEPs call for legislative action - page 2.png|
File:MEPs call for legislative action.pdf|.pdf version
</gallery>

On 16 June 2026 the European Commission released their official response<ref>{{cite web |author=European Commission |title=Commission will engage with industry following European Citizens' Initiative on the disabling of videogames by publishers |date=16 Jun 2026 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_1369 |url-status=live |website=Europa |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/KRVXH |archive-date=2026-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/document/download/75d642bc-6ff5-4713-b1cf-14f4aaf15869_en?filename=C_2026_4110_EN.pdf |title=COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’ |author=European Commission |date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |website=Europa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260616141719/https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/document/download/75d642bc-6ff5-4713-b1cf-14f4aaf15869_en?filename=C_2026_4110_EN.pdf |archive-date=2026-06-16}}</ref> on the Stop Destroying Videogames ECI deciding to not move forward with a new legislative proposal. The Stop Killing Games movement has Parliament support from every side of the political spectrum, regardless of the support from the Commission, and in the follow-up press conference<ref>{{cite web |url=https://youtu.be/pMFlQAbo4tI |title=Stop Killing Games: Press Conference (after the EC answer to our ECI) |author=Stop Killing Games |date=16 Jun 2026 |website=[[YouTube]] |url-status=live}}</ref> by Stop Killing Games it has been stated that the Stop Destroying Videogames movement will be amended to the [[Digital Fairness Act]].

<gallery>
File:C 2026 4110 EN.pdf|European Commission communication
</gallery>

The movement will continue the pushback against the industry in various ways through the [[Protect Our Games Act]], own-initiative report by the European Parliament, adoption of the POG Act as legislation suitable for the European Union, determine which existing legislation proposals should be targeted and continued work in other legal jurisdictions such the UK.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=The fight goes on |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u7kvyb/the_fight_goes_on/ |url-status=live |date=16 Jun 2026 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260617091023/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u7kvyb/the_fight_goes_on/ |archive-date=2026-06-17}}</ref>

===California's Protect Our Games Act===
{{Excerpt|Protect Our Games Act}}

==Industry push back==
On 4 July 2025, one day after the campaign reached 1,000,000 signatures, [[Video Games Europe]], an industry lobby group, released an statement on Stop Killing Games<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Statement on Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704203228/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> on their website and published a five-page position paper<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Why providing continued support do not work for all games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=9 Jul 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704232256/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |archive-date=4 Jul 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref> against the campaign where it outlined perceived problems seen by the industry even though some of those perceived problems were already clarified by the lengthy FAQ section provided by the campaign.

Video Games Europe response was not only unsurprising but also expected since their board is composed from major publishers like [[Electronic Arts]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Sony]], who see no problem in how the industry works today.

<gallery>
VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games.pdf|VGE Position on Stop Killing Games
</gallery>

On 10 July 2025, Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot [[Ubisoft#Comments by executives on ownership|commented on the campaign]] during an investor meeting:
<blockquote>"We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever."</blockquote>

On 21 July 2025, Ross Scott uploaded a video showcasing serious accusations made against the European initiative from an anonymous source.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=The industry filed false claims against the "Stop Killing Games" initiative |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |archive-date=21 Jul 2025}}</ref> The accusations were relayed by the European Commission to Ross Scott and are:<br>
<blockquote>
1. False "No Funding" Declaration<br>
2. Systematic Concealment of Major Contribution</blockquote>

In the video Ross demonstrated how the accusations had no ground to stand on, and the process of communication that happened with the European Commission to verify the correctness of the campaign before it even began in July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title= 250711SDVG_Complaint-1 .pdf |url=https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 |website=MEGA |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918074346/https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref>

<gallery>
250711SDVG_Complaint-1.pdf|The file of the accusations
</gallery>

On an undisclosed date, the [[Entertainment Software Association]] (ESA) filed a comment against the Protect Our Games Act.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=The Industry is lobbying against Stop Killing Games! (again) |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1t9ne7c/the_industry_is_lobbying_against_stop_killing/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=11 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/9VefS |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref> Despite the push-back, the bill passed on 14 May 2026.

==Video game preservation==
{{Main|Video game preservation}}

There are also efforts to restore older games, or to allow the gaming community to have access to the source code of the games themselves. In 2025, there were several developments by major publishers, such as [[Valve]] and [[EA]]. Valve released the source code of ''{{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}}'' in February.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |website=Team Fortress |date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |website=BitSkins |date=21 Feb 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025}}</ref> EA released the source code of [[EA releases source code of classic Command & Conquer titles|classic Command & Conquer titles]], also in February 2025.

==Stop Killing the Internet==
{{Main|Stop Killing the Internet}}
Stop Killing the Internet is a sister campaign targeted to spread awareness about internet censorship, age-gating and online surveillance. This campaign will launch on June 2026.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Video games]]

===Video game stores===
*[[GOG.com]]
*[[Steam]]
*[[Itch.io]]
*[[Xbox]]

===Video game publishers===
*[[Valve]]
*[[Electronic Arts]]
*[[Activision Blizzard]]
*[[Sony]]
*[[Ubisoft]]
*[[Microsoft]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ Stop Killing Games Website]
*[https://stopkillinggames.wiki.gg/ Stop Killing Games Wiki]
*[https://stopkillinggames.wiki.gg/wiki/Dead_game_list Dead game list]
*[https://www.stopkillingtheinternet.com/ Stop Killing the Internet Website]

[[Category:Positive movements]]
[[Category:European Union]]

Net Neutrality Law

2026-06-22T20:46:33Z

Mr Pollo:

{{Stub}}
The [[wikipedia:Net_neutrality_in_Chile|'''Net Neutrality Law''']], ('''Ley de Neutralidad de Red''' in Spanish), also known as the '''Law N° 20,453''', is a Chilean legislation that promotes the net neutrality, a principle that prevents Internet and online application providers to arbitrarily include any form of block or restriction to the internet content without the user's request and to limit or restrict the control over a user's internet device. It promotes user privacy, the enforcement of parental controls for users who request it and principles of transparency of the internet service that is provided

==The Law==
Enacted on August 18, 2010 and then published on August 26, 2010 the Net Neutrality Law is known as the very first law on the world to promote the net neutrality principle.

==Core Principles==
The law is built on four main principles that telecommunications dealers and entities or people who offer services of connectivity and communication between users, consisting on the following:
*1. They cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.
*2. They cannot limit the rights from a user to incorporate any kind of instruments or devices on the network, as always they're legal and are not damaging the network quality or service.
*3. They must offer, at the cost of users who request it, to offer parental control services for content that is against the law, practices or morals, always notifying the user in advance with also precisely informing the capacities of these services.
*4.They must publish on their website all relative information related to the offered Internet access, its speed, network quality (highlighting national and international connection differences), and the nature and warranties of the service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leychile.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1016570&idVersion=2010-08-26|title=Ley 20453 - Firma electrónica CONSAGRA EL PRINCIPIO DE NEUTRALIDAD EN LA RED PARA LOS CONSUMIDORES Y USUARIOS DE INTERNET|date=2010-08-26|work=Ley Chile|access-date=2026-06-22}}</ref>

==Impact==
This legislation sets the pillar for preventing the online censorship and the right for consumers about network service transparencies and control over the services they're paying for.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]
[[Category:Positive laws]]

Net Neutrality Law

2026-06-22T20:44:36Z

Mr Pollo:

{{Stub}}
The [[wikipedia:Net_neutrality_in_Chile|'''Net Neutrality Law''']], ('''Ley de Neutralidad de Red''' in Spanish), also known as the '''Law N° 20,453''', is a Chilean legislation that promotes the net neutrality, a principle that prevents Internet and online application providers to arbitrarily include any form of block or restriction to the internet content without the user's request and to limit or restrict the control over a user's internet device. It promotes user privacy, the enforcement of parental controls for users who request it and principles of transparency of the internet service that is provided

==The Law==
Enacted on August 18, 2010 and then published on August 26, 2010 the Net Neutrality Law is known as the very first law on the world to promote the net neutrality principle.

==Core Principles==
The law is built on four main principles that telecommunications dealers and entities or people who offer services of connectivity and communication between users, consisting on the following:
*1. They cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.
*2. They cannot limit the rights from a user to incorporate any kind of instruments or devices on the network, as always they're legal and are not damaging the network quality or service.
*3. They must offer, at the cost of users who request it, to offer parental control services for content that is against the law, practices or morals, always notifying the user in advance with also precisely informing the capacities of these services.
*4.They must publish on their website all relative information related to the offered Internet access, its speed, network quality (highlighting national and international connection differences), and the nature and warranties of the service.
https://www.leychile.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1016570&idVersion=2010-08-26
==Impact==
This legislation sets the pillar for preventing the online censorship and the right for consumers about network service transparencies and control over the services they're paying for.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]
[[Category:Positive laws]]

Trump Mobile

2026-06-19T23:01:49Z

Mr Pollo: /* False advertising (2025—2026) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2025-06-16
|Industry=Telecommunications
|Logo=Trump Mobile.png
|ParentCompany=Trump Organization
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://trumpmobile.com/
|Description=MVNO founded by the Trump Organization. Soon after the launch, issues with signing up, false advertising, and double charges emerged.
}}

'''Trump Mobile''' is a {{Wplink|Mobile virtual network operator|Mobile Virtual Network Operator}} (MVNO) founded in 2025 by the Trump Organization.<ref name="TTO B">{{Cite web |url=https://www.trump.com/media/trump-mobile-launches-a-bold-new-wireless-service |title=Trump Mobile Launches A Bold New Wireless Service for Americans |date=16 Jun 2025 |website=The Trump Organization |access-date=26 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620101923/https://www.trump.com/media/trump-mobile-launches-a-bold-new-wireless-service |archive-date=20 Jun 2025}}</ref> The service as stated is offering no contracts, complete device protection, tele-health services, unlimited talk, text, and data, and roadside assistance for $47.45 per month.<ref name="TTO B" />

Trump Mobile also sells the T1 Trump phone, a gold-colored smartphone originally announced alongside the service in June 2025 at $499 and advertised as "Made in USA".<ref name="TTO B" /> After the original August 2025 ship date was missed and pushed back repeatedly, the phone began shipping in mid-May 2026, approximately nine months late.<ref name="NBC-review" /><ref name="CNN-ship" /> By that point the "Made in USA" claim had been removed from marketing materials in favor of language such as "American-Proud Design" and "Proudly Assembled in USA", and multiple tech outlets identified the shipping device as a re-skinned [[Wikipedia:HTC|HTC]] U24 Pro.<ref name="NBC-review" />

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User privacy:''' A security vulnerability resulted in the exposing of names, e-mails, and shipping addresses of around 10,000 customers who purchased or pre-ordered a Trump Phone through the Trump Mobile website. Despite security researchers and major YouTubers attempting to reach out to the Trump Mobile team, the vulnerability remained unpatched as of May 20, 2026.<ref name="voidzilla">{{Cite web |author=voidzilla |title=trumpmobile is leaking customer info |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voxXDDq58Bk |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=voxXDDq58Bk |archive-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>
*'''Business model:''' Trump Mobile sells the T1 phone, as well as operating as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator.
*'''Market control:''' According to the Terms of Use, Trump Mobile operates by using the Liberty Mobile wireless network,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Terms of Use |url=https://trumpmobile.com/term-of-use |website=Trump Mobile |date=1 Jun 2025 |access-date=3 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113181919/https://trumpmobile.com/term-of-use |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref> which in turn operates on the [[T-Mobile]] network.<ref name="MWL">{{Cite web |last=Robuck |first=Mike |title=Trump Mobile tied to small Florida company |url=https://www.mobileworldlive.com/5g/trump-mobile-tied-to-small-florida-company/ |website=Mobile World Live |date=23 Jun 2025 |access-date=3 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127050202/https://www.mobileworldlive.com/5g/trump-mobile-tied-to-small-florida-company/ |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref>

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

===Unavailability of service (''June 2025'')===
When the service was announced, journalists and YouTubers bought into the service to test its functionality as an MVNO. When journalist Shira Ovide signed up for the "47 Plan" (being the only available service package on the website), she noted it was ''"impossible"'' to enable the service on her phone, with her credit card being instantly charged.<ref name="WP">{{Cite web |last=Ovide |first=Shira |title=I tried signing up for Trump Mobile service. Here’s how it went. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/06/17/trump-mobile-phone-signup-wireless-service/ |url-access=subscription |website=The Washington Post |date=17 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 June 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617201221/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/06/17/trump-mobile-phone-signup-wireless-service/ |archive-date=17 June 2025}}</ref> Contributing factors to the lack of functionality included the long wait-time for an activation QR code via e-mail, alongside "coming soon" text being displayed on the number activation screen.

===T1 Phone shipping delays (''2025—2026'')===
The T1 Phone was originally targeted to ship in August 2025.<ref name="NBC-review">{{Cite web |last=Cheung |first=Brian |title=We tested the Trump Mobile phone. It was 9 months late and no longer 'Made in the USA.' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/gadgets/trump-mobile-phone-review-t1-hands-on-specs-u24-shipping-rcna345657 |url-access=subscription |website=NBC News |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519002744/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/gadgets/trump-mobile-phone-review-t1-hands-on-specs-u24-shipping-rcna345657 |archive-date=19 May 2026}}</ref> The ship date slipped repeatedly through late 2025 and early 2026, with customer-service representatives offering inconsistent explanations including (implausibly) the U.S. federal government shutdown.<ref name="Fortune-ship">{{Cite web |last=Quiroz-Gutierrez |first=Marco |title=After nearly a year of delays, Trump Mobile's CEO says the gold-plated Trump phone will begin shipping to buyers this week |url=https://fortune.com/2026/05/13/trump-phone-t1-releasing-first-units-this-week-donald-trump-tech-us-politics/ |url-access=subscription |website=Fortune |date=13 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260513205557/https://fortune.com/2026/05/13/trump-phone-t1-releasing-first-units-this-week-donald-trump-tech-us-politics/ |archive-date=13 May 2026}}</ref> By April 2026, Trump Mobile had removed all release-date language from the product page in favor of a ''"join the waitlist"'' prompt.<ref name="AppleInsider-vapor">{{Cite web |last=Owen |first=Malcolm |title=Trump Mobile's T1 smartphone is still vaporware |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/05/10/trump-mobiles-t1-smartphone-is-still-vaporware |website=AppleInsider |date=10 May 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260510173447/https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/05/10/trump-mobiles-t1-smartphone-is-still-vaporware |archive-date=10 May 2026}}</ref>

On 13 May 2026, Trump Mobile announced via social media that the T1 Phone had "arrived" and that pre-orders would begin shipping that week.<ref name="CNN-ship">{{Cite web |title=The Trump phone will start shipping following months of delays |url=https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/14/business/the-trump-phone-will-start-shipping-following-months-of-delays |website=CNN |date=14 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260514191019/https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/14/business/the-trump-phone-will-start-shipping-following-months-of-delays |archive-date=14 May 2026}}</ref><ref name="Fortune-ship" /> CEO Pat O'Brien stated that pre-orders would be fulfilled ''"within the next several weeks"'' and acknowledged the delays, saying ''"those delays were worth it in our minds as we are delivering an amazing product."''<ref name="Fortune-ship" /> As of 20 May 2026, ''The Verge'' reported it had received no shipping notification on its pre-orders.<ref name="DailyBeast-blunders">{{Cite web |author= |title=Trump Mobile Called Out for Suspicious Blunders Amid Fresh Cash Grab |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-mobile-called-out-for-suspicious-blunders-amid-fresh-cash-grab/ |url-access=subscription |website=The Daily Beast |date=16 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260517050704/https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-mobile-called-out-for-suspicious-blunders-amid-fresh-cash-grab/ |archive-date=17 May 2026}}</ref>

Multiple outlets, including ''The Verge'', Android Authority, GSMArena, and NBC News, identified the shipping T1 as a re-skinned 2024 {{Wplink|HTC U24 Pro}} rather than a U.S.-manufactured device. iFixit engineer Shahram Mokhtari told NBC News the device ''"looks physically very similar"'' to the HTC U24 Pro.<ref name="NBC-review" /> The T1 Phone received FCC authorization in January 2026 and PTCRB carrier-compatibility certification in March 2026 under the model designation SGG-06. The applicant of record was Smart Gadgets Global, LLC, a {{Wplink|Private label|private-label}} firm based in Ogden, Utah, whose CEO Eric Thomas is also a Trump Mobile executive, confirming the device was a sourced and re-branded handset rather than a from-scratch American build.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Trump Mobile T1 Phone: FCC Approval, Specs, and What's Unverified |url=https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/news/trump-mobile-t1-phone-fcc-approval-specs-and-whats-unverified/ |website=Gadget Hacks |date=1 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260503140015/https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/news/trump-mobile-t1-phone-fcc-approval-specs-and-whats-unverified/ |archive-date=3 May 2026}}</ref>

===False advertising (''2025—2026'')===
Shira Ovide noted in her review that the 47 plan has a ''"plan telecom tax"'' of $17.25 a month in addition to the $47.45 in the plan.<ref name="WP" /> When on customer support, YouTuber Stetson Doggett was told Trump Mobile had ''"no underlying network"'' and ''"its own plan"'', meaning the service did not use networks from [[Verizon]], [[T-Mobile]], or [[AT&T]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doggett |first=Stetson |title=I Signed Up for Trump Mobile So You Don't Have To |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUtSo7dASg0 |website=[[YouTube]] |date=24 Jun 2025 |access-date=19 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=KUtSo7dASg0 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> This would be proven false later in the video when under Trump Mobile the service utilized T-Mobile cellular data with an {{Wplink|eSim}}.

When the T1 Phone was announced, the product page mentioned the phone having 12GB of storage rather than RAM, the screen being ''"6.8" (6.78") Punch-Hole AMOLED"'', and the phone being advertised as ''"MADE IN USA"''. Since then as of 26 June 2025, both claims have been removed or replaced, such as the screen now being a ''"6.25 inch Punch-Hole AMOLED"''.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Eadicicco |first1=Lisa |last2=Gold |first2=Hadas |title=Trump Mobile still claims its phone is ‘Made in the USA.’ But it pulled that language from its site |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/tech/trump-t1-phone-made-in-us-website-change |website=CNN |date=26 Jun 2025 |access-date=26 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626235739/https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/tech/trump-t1-phone-made-in-us-website-change |archive-date=26 Jun 2025}}</ref>

In June, as reported by the ''Financial Times'', Trump Mobile utilized the Liberty Mobile network.<ref name="MWL" /> However, the Liberty Mobile website does not mention the network holding 5G capabilities that the Trump Mobile website claims, despite both websites being updated in 2025. In addition, this conflicts with Trump Mobile's claims that the service ''"will offer 5G service through all three major cellular carriers"'',<ref name="TTO B" /> as Liberty Mobile is a T-Mobile-based MVNO.
<gallery>
File:Libertymobileinc USMap.webp|Liberty Mobile map
File:Trump Mobile 5G coverage map ad.png|Trump Mobile map
</gallery>

In August, a new image of the T1 Phone was posted on the company's [[X]] account that featured a photo-shopped Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |title=Trump Mobile Posts New Image of T1 Phone. Is It Just a Samsung Galaxy Ultra? |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-mobile-posts-new-image-of-t1-phone-is-it-just-a-samsung-galaxy-ultra |website=PCMag |date=20 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823153319/https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-mobile-posts-new-image-of-t1-phone-is-it-just-a-samsung-galaxy-ultra |archive-date=23 Aug 2025}}</ref> It was also noted the Spigen logo was still visible on the case, with the company responding to the tweet with ''"??? bro what"''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Dominic |title=Trump Mobile’s fake iPhone is now a fake S25 Ultra |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/764175/trump-mobile-t1-phone-samsung-s25-ultra-spigen |website=The Verge |date=22 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250822232346/https://www.theverge.com/news/764175/trump-mobile-t1-phone-samsung-s25-ultra-spigen |archive-date=22 Aug 2025}}</ref>

In February 2026, the T1 was again updated to include a new design.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ro |title=The T1 Phone from Trump Mobile is still happening but specs and design have changed |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/the_t1_phone_from_trump_mobile_is_still_happening_but_specs_and_design_have_changed-news-71457.php |website=GSMarena |date=7 Feb 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209021856/https://www.gsmarena.com/the_t1_phone_from_trump_mobile_is_still_happening_but_specs_and_design_have_changed-news-71457.php |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> The website was updated in April to state the phone is ''"proudly American"'' and ''"shaped by American innovation"'', despite it not being made or fully designed in America like previously claimed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reichert |first=Corinne |title=Trump Phone Looks Different, Has No Launch Date, Isn't Made in America |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/trump-phone-t1-first-look-report/ |website=CNet |date=10 May 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260207005248/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/trump-phone-t1-first-look-report/ |archive-date=7 Feb 2026}}</ref> The website was also updated with the following disclaimer:
{{Quote|''Product features and images are for illustration only. Final product appearance and specifications may vary.''<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Meet the T1™ Phone - Premium American-Made Smartphone for Performance & Privacy |url=https://enroll.trumpmobile.com/phones |website=Trump Mobile |date= |access-date=11 May 2026 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260509040423/https://enroll.trumpmobile.com/phones |archive-date=9 May 2026}}</ref>}}

In May 2026, it became clear to phone experts like Shahram Mokhtari from iFixIt that the released T1 phone is a HTC U-24 Pro with a different shell.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/117461/the-trump-phone-looks-suspiciously-like-a-htc-u24-pro|title=The Trump Phone Looks Suspiciously Like a HTC U24 Pro|first=Shahram|last=Mokhtari|date=2026-05-21|work=iFixIt}}</ref> This information is not mentioned on the Trump Mobile website and is portrayed as a new phone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2179503/trump-mobile-has-exposed-customer-personal-data-including-home-addresses-and-phone-numbers/|title=Trump Mobile has exposed customers' personal data, including home addresses and phone numbers|first=Lawrence|last=Bonk|work=Engadget|date=2026-05-22}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Trump Mobile X T1 iPhone.jpg|June 2025
File:Trump Mobile X T1 Spigen.jpg|August 2025
File:Trump Mobile X T1 May 2026.png|February 2026
File:Trump Mobile Preview Screenshot 2026-05-11.png|Website title advertising "American-Made" as of May 11, 2026
</gallery>



===Trump Mobile website data breach (''May 2026'')===
On 19 May 2026, YouTubers {{Wplink|Coffeezilla|Stephen "Coffeezilla" Findeisein}} and {{Wplink|Cr1TiKaL|Charles "penguinz0" White}} disclosed the existence of a vulnerability on the Trump Mobile website that exposed customer data including names, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses, and order details. Credit card information was reportedly not exposed. Findeisen described the flaw as ''"very low-hanging fruit"'' but declined to detail the technique to avoid making the problem worse.<ref name="voidzilla" /><ref name="AA-leak">{{Cite web |last=Horne |first=Matt |title=Trump Mobile finally has a real phone, but it may also have a real data leak |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/trump-mobile-customer-data-link-3668917/ |website=Android Authority |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260520003642/https://www.androidauthority.com/trump-mobile-customer-data-link-3668917/ |archive-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>

Findeisen stated that he had been alerted to the issue over the weekend of 16-17 May 2026, by a third party who had already tried unsuccessfully to contact Trump Mobile. Findeisen and White, the latter of whom confirmed his own data was exposed, then attempted to reach Trump Mobile through multiple channels without receiving any response.<ref name="penguinz0-leak">{{Cite web |author=penguinz0 |title=Huge Trump Phone Disaster |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8TwGH1B5wA |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=c8TwGH1B5wA |archive-date=20 May 2026}}</ref> As of 20 May 2026, the vulnerability had not been patched and Trump Mobile had not issued any public statement or breach notification.<ref name="voidzilla" /><ref name="AA-leak" />

They also noted<ref name="voidzilla" /><ref name="penguinz0-leak" /> that the leaked data appeared to indicate that Trump Mobile had made false statements regarding its customer base, as Trump mobile had claimed nearly 600,000 phone sales, however the leaked data indicated that around 10,000 customers had purchased around 30,000 phones.<ref name="AA-leak" /><ref name="voidzilla" />

==Products==
*'''T1 Phone (2025)''': A gold colored phone priced at $499 and claimed "MADE IN USA". Website now states, "American-Proud Design" and "...brought to life right here in the USA." Purism is currently the only U.S. smartphone manufacturer, while the Liberty Phone relies partly on imported components. The $169 Revvl 7 Pro 5G, made in China, has the same screen size, battery capacity and camera setup.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Eadicicco |first1=Lisa |last2=Gold |first2=Hadas |title=Trump’s sons say their new phone will be built in the US. Experts say it looks a lot like a phone from China |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/tech/trump-mobile-t1-phone-built-in-us-experts-china |website=CNN |date=17 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618000817/https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/tech/trump-mobile-t1-phone-built-in-us-experts-china |archive-date=18 Jun 2025}}</ref>

*'''47 Plan (2025)''': The first and only data plan for the Trump Mobile service. It has been noted the service is more expensive compared to other MVNOs such as {{Wplink|Mint Mobile}}, Visible and [[US Mobile]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Holland |first1=Patrick |last2=Carlson |first2=Jeff |title=We Did the Math: Trump Mobile Is a Bad Deal for Consumers |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/we-did-the-math-trump-mobile-is-a-bad-deal-for-consumers/ |website=CNet |date=18 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619032707/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/we-did-the-math-trump-mobile-is-a-bad-deal-for-consumers/ |archive-date=19 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Trump Mobile

2026-06-19T22:58:49Z

Mr Pollo: /* False advertising (2025—2026) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2025-06-16
|Industry=Telecommunications
|Logo=Trump Mobile.png
|ParentCompany=Trump Organization
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://trumpmobile.com/
|Description=MVNO founded by the Trump Organization. Soon after the launch, issues with signing up, false advertising, and double charges emerged.
}}

'''Trump Mobile''' is a {{Wplink|Mobile virtual network operator|Mobile Virtual Network Operator}} (MVNO) founded in 2025 by the Trump Organization.<ref name="TTO B">{{Cite web |url=https://www.trump.com/media/trump-mobile-launches-a-bold-new-wireless-service |title=Trump Mobile Launches A Bold New Wireless Service for Americans |date=16 Jun 2025 |website=The Trump Organization |access-date=26 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620101923/https://www.trump.com/media/trump-mobile-launches-a-bold-new-wireless-service |archive-date=20 Jun 2025}}</ref> The service as stated is offering no contracts, complete device protection, tele-health services, unlimited talk, text, and data, and roadside assistance for $47.45 per month.<ref name="TTO B" />

Trump Mobile also sells the T1 Trump phone, a gold-colored smartphone originally announced alongside the service in June 2025 at $499 and advertised as "Made in USA".<ref name="TTO B" /> After the original August 2025 ship date was missed and pushed back repeatedly, the phone began shipping in mid-May 2026, approximately nine months late.<ref name="NBC-review" /><ref name="CNN-ship" /> By that point the "Made in USA" claim had been removed from marketing materials in favor of language such as "American-Proud Design" and "Proudly Assembled in USA", and multiple tech outlets identified the shipping device as a re-skinned [[Wikipedia:HTC|HTC]] U24 Pro.<ref name="NBC-review" />

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User privacy:''' A security vulnerability resulted in the exposing of names, e-mails, and shipping addresses of around 10,000 customers who purchased or pre-ordered a Trump Phone through the Trump Mobile website. Despite security researchers and major YouTubers attempting to reach out to the Trump Mobile team, the vulnerability remained unpatched as of May 20, 2026.<ref name="voidzilla">{{Cite web |author=voidzilla |title=trumpmobile is leaking customer info |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voxXDDq58Bk |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=voxXDDq58Bk |archive-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>
*'''Business model:''' Trump Mobile sells the T1 phone, as well as operating as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator.
*'''Market control:''' According to the Terms of Use, Trump Mobile operates by using the Liberty Mobile wireless network,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Terms of Use |url=https://trumpmobile.com/term-of-use |website=Trump Mobile |date=1 Jun 2025 |access-date=3 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113181919/https://trumpmobile.com/term-of-use |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref> which in turn operates on the [[T-Mobile]] network.<ref name="MWL">{{Cite web |last=Robuck |first=Mike |title=Trump Mobile tied to small Florida company |url=https://www.mobileworldlive.com/5g/trump-mobile-tied-to-small-florida-company/ |website=Mobile World Live |date=23 Jun 2025 |access-date=3 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127050202/https://www.mobileworldlive.com/5g/trump-mobile-tied-to-small-florida-company/ |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref>

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

===Unavailability of service (''June 2025'')===
When the service was announced, journalists and YouTubers bought into the service to test its functionality as an MVNO. When journalist Shira Ovide signed up for the "47 Plan" (being the only available service package on the website), she noted it was ''"impossible"'' to enable the service on her phone, with her credit card being instantly charged.<ref name="WP">{{Cite web |last=Ovide |first=Shira |title=I tried signing up for Trump Mobile service. Here’s how it went. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/06/17/trump-mobile-phone-signup-wireless-service/ |url-access=subscription |website=The Washington Post |date=17 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 June 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617201221/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/06/17/trump-mobile-phone-signup-wireless-service/ |archive-date=17 June 2025}}</ref> Contributing factors to the lack of functionality included the long wait-time for an activation QR code via e-mail, alongside "coming soon" text being displayed on the number activation screen.

===T1 Phone shipping delays (''2025—2026'')===
The T1 Phone was originally targeted to ship in August 2025.<ref name="NBC-review">{{Cite web |last=Cheung |first=Brian |title=We tested the Trump Mobile phone. It was 9 months late and no longer 'Made in the USA.' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/gadgets/trump-mobile-phone-review-t1-hands-on-specs-u24-shipping-rcna345657 |url-access=subscription |website=NBC News |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519002744/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/gadgets/trump-mobile-phone-review-t1-hands-on-specs-u24-shipping-rcna345657 |archive-date=19 May 2026}}</ref> The ship date slipped repeatedly through late 2025 and early 2026, with customer-service representatives offering inconsistent explanations including (implausibly) the U.S. federal government shutdown.<ref name="Fortune-ship">{{Cite web |last=Quiroz-Gutierrez |first=Marco |title=After nearly a year of delays, Trump Mobile's CEO says the gold-plated Trump phone will begin shipping to buyers this week |url=https://fortune.com/2026/05/13/trump-phone-t1-releasing-first-units-this-week-donald-trump-tech-us-politics/ |url-access=subscription |website=Fortune |date=13 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260513205557/https://fortune.com/2026/05/13/trump-phone-t1-releasing-first-units-this-week-donald-trump-tech-us-politics/ |archive-date=13 May 2026}}</ref> By April 2026, Trump Mobile had removed all release-date language from the product page in favor of a ''"join the waitlist"'' prompt.<ref name="AppleInsider-vapor">{{Cite web |last=Owen |first=Malcolm |title=Trump Mobile's T1 smartphone is still vaporware |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/05/10/trump-mobiles-t1-smartphone-is-still-vaporware |website=AppleInsider |date=10 May 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260510173447/https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/05/10/trump-mobiles-t1-smartphone-is-still-vaporware |archive-date=10 May 2026}}</ref>

On 13 May 2026, Trump Mobile announced via social media that the T1 Phone had "arrived" and that pre-orders would begin shipping that week.<ref name="CNN-ship">{{Cite web |title=The Trump phone will start shipping following months of delays |url=https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/14/business/the-trump-phone-will-start-shipping-following-months-of-delays |website=CNN |date=14 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260514191019/https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/14/business/the-trump-phone-will-start-shipping-following-months-of-delays |archive-date=14 May 2026}}</ref><ref name="Fortune-ship" /> CEO Pat O'Brien stated that pre-orders would be fulfilled ''"within the next several weeks"'' and acknowledged the delays, saying ''"those delays were worth it in our minds as we are delivering an amazing product."''<ref name="Fortune-ship" /> As of 20 May 2026, ''The Verge'' reported it had received no shipping notification on its pre-orders.<ref name="DailyBeast-blunders">{{Cite web |author= |title=Trump Mobile Called Out for Suspicious Blunders Amid Fresh Cash Grab |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-mobile-called-out-for-suspicious-blunders-amid-fresh-cash-grab/ |url-access=subscription |website=The Daily Beast |date=16 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260517050704/https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-mobile-called-out-for-suspicious-blunders-amid-fresh-cash-grab/ |archive-date=17 May 2026}}</ref>

Multiple outlets, including ''The Verge'', Android Authority, GSMArena, and NBC News, identified the shipping T1 as a re-skinned 2024 {{Wplink|HTC U24 Pro}} rather than a U.S.-manufactured device. iFixit engineer Shahram Mokhtari told NBC News the device ''"looks physically very similar"'' to the HTC U24 Pro.<ref name="NBC-review" /> The T1 Phone received FCC authorization in January 2026 and PTCRB carrier-compatibility certification in March 2026 under the model designation SGG-06. The applicant of record was Smart Gadgets Global, LLC, a {{Wplink|Private label|private-label}} firm based in Ogden, Utah, whose CEO Eric Thomas is also a Trump Mobile executive, confirming the device was a sourced and re-branded handset rather than a from-scratch American build.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Trump Mobile T1 Phone: FCC Approval, Specs, and What's Unverified |url=https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/news/trump-mobile-t1-phone-fcc-approval-specs-and-whats-unverified/ |website=Gadget Hacks |date=1 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260503140015/https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/news/trump-mobile-t1-phone-fcc-approval-specs-and-whats-unverified/ |archive-date=3 May 2026}}</ref>

===False advertising (''2025—2026'')===
Shira Ovide noted in her review that the 47 plan has a ''"plan telecom tax"'' of $17.25 a month in addition to the $47.45 in the plan.<ref name="WP" /> When on customer support, YouTuber Stetson Doggett was told Trump Mobile had ''"no underlying network"'' and ''"its own plan"'', meaning the service did not use networks from [[Verizon]], [[T-Mobile]], or [[AT&T]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doggett |first=Stetson |title=I Signed Up for Trump Mobile So You Don't Have To |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUtSo7dASg0 |website=[[YouTube]] |date=24 Jun 2025 |access-date=19 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=KUtSo7dASg0 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> This would be proven false later in the video when under Trump Mobile the service utilized T-Mobile cellular data with an {{Wplink|eSim}}.

When the T1 Phone was announced, the product page mentioned the phone having 12GB of storage rather than RAM, the screen being ''"6.8" (6.78") Punch-Hole AMOLED"'', and the phone being advertised as ''"MADE IN USA"''. Since then as of 26 June 2025, both claims have been removed or replaced, such as the screen now being a ''"6.25 inch Punch-Hole AMOLED"''.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Eadicicco |first1=Lisa |last2=Gold |first2=Hadas |title=Trump Mobile still claims its phone is ‘Made in the USA.’ But it pulled that language from its site |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/tech/trump-t1-phone-made-in-us-website-change |website=CNN |date=26 Jun 2025 |access-date=26 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626235739/https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/tech/trump-t1-phone-made-in-us-website-change |archive-date=26 Jun 2025}}</ref>

In June, as reported by the ''Financial Times'', Trump Mobile utilized the Liberty Mobile network.<ref name="MWL" /> However, the Liberty Mobile website does not mention the network holding 5G capabilities that the Trump Mobile website claims, despite both websites being updated in 2025. In addition, this conflicts with Trump Mobile's claims that the service ''"will offer 5G service through all three major cellular carriers"'',<ref name="TTO B" /> as Liberty Mobile is a T-Mobile-based MVNO.
<gallery>
File:Libertymobileinc USMap.webp|Liberty Mobile map
File:Trump Mobile 5G coverage map ad.png|Trump Mobile map
</gallery>

In August, a new image of the T1 Phone was posted on the company's [[X]] account that featured a photo-shopped Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |title=Trump Mobile Posts New Image of T1 Phone. Is It Just a Samsung Galaxy Ultra? |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-mobile-posts-new-image-of-t1-phone-is-it-just-a-samsung-galaxy-ultra |website=PCMag |date=20 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823153319/https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-mobile-posts-new-image-of-t1-phone-is-it-just-a-samsung-galaxy-ultra |archive-date=23 Aug 2025}}</ref> It was also noted the Spigen logo was still visible on the case, with the company responding to the tweet with ''"??? bro what"''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Dominic |title=Trump Mobile’s fake iPhone is now a fake S25 Ultra |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/764175/trump-mobile-t1-phone-samsung-s25-ultra-spigen |website=The Verge |date=22 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250822232346/https://www.theverge.com/news/764175/trump-mobile-t1-phone-samsung-s25-ultra-spigen |archive-date=22 Aug 2025}}</ref>

In February 2026, the T1 was again updated to include a new design.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ro |title=The T1 Phone from Trump Mobile is still happening but specs and design have changed |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/the_t1_phone_from_trump_mobile_is_still_happening_but_specs_and_design_have_changed-news-71457.php |website=GSMarena |date=7 Feb 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209021856/https://www.gsmarena.com/the_t1_phone_from_trump_mobile_is_still_happening_but_specs_and_design_have_changed-news-71457.php |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> The website was updated in April to state the phone is ''"proudly American"'' and ''"shaped by American innovation"'', despite it not being made or fully designed in America like previously claimed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reichert |first=Corinne |title=Trump Phone Looks Different, Has No Launch Date, Isn't Made in America |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/trump-phone-t1-first-look-report/ |website=CNet |date=10 May 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260207005248/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/trump-phone-t1-first-look-report/ |archive-date=7 Feb 2026}}</ref> The website was also updated with the following disclaimer:
{{Quote|''Product features and images are for illustration only. Final product appearance and specifications may vary.''<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Meet the T1™ Phone - Premium American-Made Smartphone for Performance & Privacy |url=https://enroll.trumpmobile.com/phones |website=Trump Mobile |date= |access-date=11 May 2026 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260509040423/https://enroll.trumpmobile.com/phones |archive-date=9 May 2026}}</ref>}}

In May 2026, it became clear to phone experts like Shahram Mokhtari from iFixIt that the released T1 phone is a HTC U-24 Pro with a different shell.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2179503/trump-mobile-has-exposed-customer-personal-data-including-home-addresses-and-phone-numbers/|title=Trump Mobile has exposed customers' personal data, including home addresses and phone numbers|first=Lawrence|last=Bonk|work=Engadget|date=2026-05-22}}</ref> This information is not mentioned on the Trump Mobile website and is portrayed as a new phone.
<gallery>
File:Trump Mobile X T1 iPhone.jpg|June 2025
File:Trump Mobile X T1 Spigen.jpg|August 2025
File:Trump Mobile X T1 May 2026.png|February 2026
File:Trump Mobile Preview Screenshot 2026-05-11.png|Website title advertising "American-Made" as of May 11, 2026
</gallery>



===Trump Mobile website data breach (''May 2026'')===
On 19 May 2026, YouTubers {{Wplink|Coffeezilla|Stephen "Coffeezilla" Findeisein}} and {{Wplink|Cr1TiKaL|Charles "penguinz0" White}} disclosed the existence of a vulnerability on the Trump Mobile website that exposed customer data including names, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses, and order details. Credit card information was reportedly not exposed. Findeisen described the flaw as ''"very low-hanging fruit"'' but declined to detail the technique to avoid making the problem worse.<ref name="voidzilla" /><ref name="AA-leak">{{Cite web |last=Horne |first=Matt |title=Trump Mobile finally has a real phone, but it may also have a real data leak |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/trump-mobile-customer-data-link-3668917/ |website=Android Authority |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260520003642/https://www.androidauthority.com/trump-mobile-customer-data-link-3668917/ |archive-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>

Findeisen stated that he had been alerted to the issue over the weekend of 16-17 May 2026, by a third party who had already tried unsuccessfully to contact Trump Mobile. Findeisen and White, the latter of whom confirmed his own data was exposed, then attempted to reach Trump Mobile through multiple channels without receiving any response.<ref name="penguinz0-leak">{{Cite web |author=penguinz0 |title=Huge Trump Phone Disaster |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8TwGH1B5wA |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=20 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=c8TwGH1B5wA |archive-date=20 May 2026}}</ref> As of 20 May 2026, the vulnerability had not been patched and Trump Mobile had not issued any public statement or breach notification.<ref name="voidzilla" /><ref name="AA-leak" />

They also noted<ref name="voidzilla" /><ref name="penguinz0-leak" /> that the leaked data appeared to indicate that Trump Mobile had made false statements regarding its customer base, as Trump mobile had claimed nearly 600,000 phone sales, however the leaked data indicated that around 10,000 customers had purchased around 30,000 phones.<ref name="AA-leak" /><ref name="voidzilla" />

==Products==
*'''T1 Phone (2025)''': A gold colored phone priced at $499 and claimed "MADE IN USA". Website now states, "American-Proud Design" and "...brought to life right here in the USA." Purism is currently the only U.S. smartphone manufacturer, while the Liberty Phone relies partly on imported components. The $169 Revvl 7 Pro 5G, made in China, has the same screen size, battery capacity and camera setup.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Eadicicco |first1=Lisa |last2=Gold |first2=Hadas |title=Trump’s sons say their new phone will be built in the US. Experts say it looks a lot like a phone from China |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/tech/trump-mobile-t1-phone-built-in-us-experts-china |website=CNN |date=17 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618000817/https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/tech/trump-mobile-t1-phone-built-in-us-experts-china |archive-date=18 Jun 2025}}</ref>

*'''47 Plan (2025)''': The first and only data plan for the Trump Mobile service. It has been noted the service is more expensive compared to other MVNOs such as {{Wplink|Mint Mobile}}, Visible and [[US Mobile]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Holland |first1=Patrick |last2=Carlson |first2=Jeff |title=We Did the Math: Trump Mobile Is a Bad Deal for Consumers |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/we-did-the-math-trump-mobile-is-a-bad-deal-for-consumers/ |website=CNet |date=18 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619032707/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/we-did-the-math-trump-mobile-is-a-bad-deal-for-consumers/ |archive-date=19 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Consumer Rights Wiki:In the news

2026-06-19T22:50:26Z

Mr Pollo:

The following is a list of news articles about the Consumer Rights Wiki, Clippy Campaign, or anything related to this movement.

==Clippy Campaign==

*{{Cite web |last=Weedston |first=Lindsey |date=2025-08-12 |title=Clippy the paperclip is taking over profile pics across the internet in protest of big tech |url=https://www.dailydot.com/culture/youtube-clippy-pfp/ |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}}
*{{Cite web |last=Griffith |first=Ivy |date=2025-08-13 |title=Why are People Changing Their Profile Picture to Clippy the Nostalgic Paperclip? |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/why-are-people-changing-their-profile-picture-to-clippy |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Distractify |language=en-US}}
*{{Cite web |last=Sheth |first=Nirali |date=2025-08-14 |title=Why is Clippy everywhere? Viral profile picture trend explained |url=https://www.primetimer.com/features/why-is-clippy-everywhere-viral-profile-picture-trend-explained |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=primetimer.com |language=en}}
*{{Cite web |last=Upton-Clark |first=Eve |date=2025-08-19 |title=Clippy is back—this time as a mascot for Big Tech protests |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91387927/clippy-is-back-as-a-mascot-for-big-tech-protests |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=Fast Company}}
*{{Cite web |last=Cain |first=Abigail |date=2025-08-20 |title=The Life and Death of Microsoft Clippy, the Paper Clip the World Loved to Hate |url=https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-life-death-microsoft-clippy-paper-clip-loved-hate |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=Artsy |language=en}}
*{{Cite web |last=Merrilees |first=Kristin |title=People are changing their profile pictures to Clippy |url=https://www.phonetime.news/p/people-are-changing-their-profile |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=www.phonetime.news |language=en|date=2025-08-11}}
==Consumer Rights Wiki==

*{{Cite web |last=Kasanmascheff |first=Markus |date=2025-06-09 |title=Right to Repair Advocate Louis Rossmann Launches Foundation to Fight for Consumer Product Ownership |url=https://winbuzzer.com/2025/06/09/right-to-repair-advocate-louis-rossmann-launches-foundation-to-fight-for-consumer-product-ownership-xcxwbn/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=WinBuzzer |language=en-US}}
*{{Cite news |date=2025-07-19 |title=Australian's criminal history went viral after annoying the wrong repair guy |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-20/youtuber-louis-rossmann-takes-on-better-way-electronics/105532410 |access-date=2025-08-17 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU|last=Connaughton|first=Maddison}}
*{{Cite web |last=Tyson |first=Mark |date=2025-03-04 |title=Brother accused of locking down third-party printer ink cartridges via forced firmware updates, removing older firmware versions from support portals |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/printers/brother-accused-of-locking-down-third-party-printer-ink-cartridges-via-firmware-updates-removing-older-firmware-versions-from-support-portals |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=Tom's Hardware |language=en}}
*{{Cite web |date=2025-06-15 |title=Solve Real Problems: Interview with Louis Rossmann, Executive Director of Repair Preservation Group - Adam Mendler |url=https://www.adammendler.com/blog/louis-rossmann/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |language=en-US}}
*{{Cite web|url=https://schweizermonat.ch/you-dont-own-what-you-bought/|title=You Don’t Own What You Bought|first1=Alex|last1=Buxeda|first2=Louis|last2=Rossmann|date=2026-05-22|work=schweizer monat|access-date=2026-06-19}}

==FULU Foundation==
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/story/fulu-repair-bounties-nest-molekule/|title=This Group Pays Bounties to Repair Broken Devices—Even If the Fix Breaks the Law|first=Boone|last=Ashworth|date=2025-12-12|work=WIRED|access-date=2026-01-23}}
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/technology/personaltech/why-one-man-is-fighting-for-our-right-to-control-our-garage-door-openers.html|title=Why One Man Is Fighting for Our Right to Control Our Garage Door Openers|first1=Brian|last1=Chen|first2=Cole|last2=Wilson|work=New York Times|date=2025-12-04|access-date=2026-01-23}}
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.404media.co/developer-unlocks-newly-enshittified-echelon-exercise-bikes-but-cant-legally-release-his-software/|title=Developer Unlocks Newly Enshittified Echelon Exercise Bikes But Can't Legally Release His Software|first=Jason|last=Koebler|date=2025-08-27|work=404media|access-date=2026-01-23}}
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/story/a-10k-bounty-awaits-anyone-who-can-hack-ring-cameras-to-stop-sharing-data-with-amazon/?ref=fulu-foundation.ghost.io|title=A $10K Bounty Awaits Anyone Who Can Hack Ring Cameras to Stop Sharing Data With Amazon|work=WIRED|date=2026-02-19|first=Boone|last=Ashworth|access-date=2026-06-05}}

==Videos==
===Collaborations===
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD2lAv0KtL0|title=STOP Anti-Ownership Tech: Consumer Rights Wiki Needs YOU to Name & Shame!|author=Salem Techsperts|date=2025-10-17|work=YouTube|access-date=2025-10-17}}
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUGqM_HSqi0|title=It's Just Ridiculous Now|author=penguinz0|date=2026-02-12|work=YouTube|access-date=2026-02-16}}

===Sponsorships===
*{{Cite web|url= https://youtu.be/vxzYXuveQgo&t=386|title=Pokemon strike again and its an absolute SCAM|author=Callum Upton|date=2025-09-30|work=YouTube|access-date=2025-09-30}}

File:Rocksmith 2014 Learn and Play Steam Windows-only requirements.png

2026-06-19T22:02:57Z

Mr Pollo: Mr Pollo uploaded a new version of File:Rocksmith 2014 Learn and Play Steam Windows-only requirements.png

==Summary==
The Steam system requirements for Rocksmith 2014 Edition Remastered Learn and Play list Windows as the only operating system, with no macOS tab.

source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/221680/

Retrieved June 18, 2026

==Licensing==
{{No license}}

[[Category:Files]]

File:Rocksmith 2014 Steam page licensing note.png

2026-06-19T22:01:39Z

Mr Pollo: Mr Pollo uploaded a new version of File:Rocksmith 2014 Steam page licensing note.png

==Summary==
The Steam store description for Rocksmith 2014 Remastered, noting the 2023 removal after music licensing deals expired and the replacement of all licensed songs.

source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/221680/

Retrieved June 16, 2026

==Licensing==
{{No license}}

[[Category:Files]]

UK Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

2026-06-19T21:59:45Z

Mr Pollo: not a common term

The {{Wplink|Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026}} is an act of parliament within the United Kingdom aimed at enhancing the welfare and education standards for children in the United Kingdom. It also amends the controversial [[UK Online Safety Act|Online Safety Act of 2023]] with further regulatory powers for the government.

==How it works==
The act is split into 4 parts:

# Children's Social Care
# Schools
# Online safety etc [sic]
# General

Part 3 of the act specifically amends the controversial [[UK Online Safety Act|Online Safety Act 2023]] by granting various additional powers to the {{Wplink|Secretary of state (United Kingdom)|Secretary of State}}. These include but are not limited to:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |title=Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, Part 3 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/part/3 |website=gov.uk |date=29 Apr 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260604230452/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/part/3 |archive-date=4 Jun 2026}}</ref>

* The ability to impose restrictions or outright bans to specified internet services, functionalities or features to children under a specified age.
* Impose curfews or duration limits for use of services, functionality or features.

There are many other (and positive) parts of the act such as powers to limit how users meeting the criteria may interact with strangers. These have been omitted only as they are not relevant to the problem discussion below.

==Why it is a problem==
===Reduced time to implementation===
As noted by a ''BBC'' article regarding the planned social media ban in the UK, this act allows the government to introduce regulations which will not require a full act of parliament. This would mean that restrictions or outright bans to internet services can be implemented more quickly, with some members of parliament expressing a desire to have such bans imposed with ''"the first couple of months of 2027"'' (as of June 2026).<ref name="bbc">{{Cite web |last1=McMahon |first1=Liv |last2=Wain |first2=Philippa |title=Five big questions about the UK's under-16s social media ban |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260616152325/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9824zvpz9po |website=BBC |date=16 Jun 2026 |access-date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260616153058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9824zvpz9po |archive-date=16 Jun 2026}}</ref>

===Age verification===
As part of the Online Safety Act, affected services were required to age verify users. There are known flaws with this currently such as using a virtual private network (VPN) to appear outside of the UK to circumvent the checks, or using basic mechanisms such as a fake mustache to appear older for the analysis (see [[UK Online Safety Act#Consumer response|UK Online Safety Act]]).

The act allows specifying ''"the steps that must or may be taken by a provider for the purposes of complying with a requirement imposed by the regulations"''.<ref name=":0" /> This would theoretically allow the government to require mandatory age verification of all users, to ensure that under-16s are treated appropriately by the service.

===Additional service inclusion===
The regulations allow for restrictions to be imposed on any services deemed harmful to children. Some services have been listed in a planned social media ban, but a specific list has not been provided. The ''BBC'' reported minister {{Wplink|Josh MacAlister}} stating that ''"options there about whether we could age-gate VPN use, which would be really welcome"''.<ref name="bbc" />

==Examples==
{{Ph-T-E}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:British legislation]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-19T21:54:20Z

Mr Pollo:

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but for the legislation, the Chilean government is planning to use as a reference the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Santana Silva |first=Daniela |date=May 2026 |title=Responsabilidad de intermediarios en entornos digitales |trans-title=Responsibility of intermediaries in digital environments |url=https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260618174229/https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728 |archive-date=2026-06-18 |access-date=18 Jun 2026 |website=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional}}</ref>

Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites and applications that are social media to prevent underage users to access them. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
If the bill follows the idea of applying any kind of restriction to access social media, it might be incompatible with the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

===Incompatibility with the Chilean constitution===
According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

If the restriction to access to social media is imposed with only using ClaveÚnica for verifying age as the alternative to do so, this would result into something that might fit into a statal monopoly and as a form of censorship as well, because it blocks underage users, does not allow any adult that does not want to verify their age and controls who can and cannot access to social media, something that can be considered as social communication media.

===Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law===
With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction to access to social media without the user's petition is defined as arbitrary, and it does exactly what this law is prohibiting:
*Blocks and restricts the access of any user that is under the age of 16 or any adult that wants to access to social media but wants to keep their privacy and doesn't want to verify their age.
*It interferes and hinders the ability to access social media by applying a block that can be only removed by verifying or by finding any workaround.
*It discriminates, prohibiting the access to users under 16, any user who wants to keep their privacy and also difficulting the access for disabled or elder people that already have difficulties to use the ClaveÚnica system for statal benefits.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario Concepción |date=18 Jun 2026 |title=Clave Única: la barrera digital que dificulta el acceso de adultos mayores a beneficios estatales |trans-title=Clave Única: the digital barrier that difficults the access of elders to statal benefits|url=https://www.tvu.cl/prensa/2026/06/18/clave-unica-la-barrera-digital-que-dificulta-el-acceso-de-adultos-mayores-a-beneficios-estatales.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/flNLI |archive-date=2026-06-19 |access-date=19 Jun 2026 |website=Televisión Universidad de Concepción}}</ref>

==Experts & politicians response==
Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult and pretty complex to be acheived, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 Archived]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 Archived]</ref>

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness.

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance and control, censorship, the risks of data breaches and credential theft, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and the freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exist, and parents should be responsible to control, educate and moderate what their children do online, instead of the State.

Groups of users on [[Reddit]], specially in the r/chile subreddit, have manifested their opposition with the plan, along with concerns about privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

SUPERHOT VR update removes key story elements involving self-harm

2026-06-19T21:48:30Z

Mr Pollo: /* Consumer response */

{{StubNotice}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Superhot Team
|StartDate=2021-07-21
|Status=Resolved
|Product=SUPERHOT VR
|ArticleType=Product
|Description=On July 21, 2021, SUPERHOT VR received a patch that removed all scenes in which the player committing suicide. These scenes were key plot elements.
}}On July 21, 2021, [https://store.steampowered.com/app/617830/SUPERHOT_VR/ SUPERHOT VR] received a patch<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-07-21 |title=Important Update (1.0.22.1) |url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/617830/announcements/detail/2992063678829322337 |url-status= |website=Steam}}</ref> that removed all scenes in which the player commits suicide, despite those scenes being key story elements. This change was received poorly by the players, and the game was review-bombed on [[Steam]].

==Background==
[https://store.steampowered.com/app/617830/SUPERHOT_VR/ SUPERHOT VR] is a VR First-Person Shooter released on May 25, 2017, developed and published by Superhot Team.{{Ph-I-B}}

==The "Important Update"==
The update labeled '''"Important Update (1.0.22.1)"''' removed all scenes in which the player is instructed to commit suicide, which are a big part of the game's story.

Understandably, some players may find these scenes distressing and may want to skip them entirely, which is why a "Skip disturbing scenes" option was added in an update prior to the incident. This approach is common in games, going back as far as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's controversial "No Russian" mission.

One of the developers acknowledged this issue in December 2019 in a thread on the game's forum<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-14 |title="Possible to proceed without shooting yourself in the head?" (SUPERHOT VR General Discussions) |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/617830/discussions/0/3145133067890780448/ |website=Steam}}</ref> on [[Steam]], saying:<blockquote>We acknowledge the issue and we'll make it possible to automatically skip such scenes in future patches. Right now we're working on implementing it properly.</blockquote>

The developer made another comment in the same thread in January 2020, clarifying that:<blockquote>

The idea is to allow for a general setting that would affect the entirety of the game. '''We are not planning on simply deleting these scenes from the game''' ;)</blockquote>

Despite the option to skip these scenes being added in a previous update, all scenes involving self-harm were removed from the game on July 21, 2021.

In the patch notes for the update<ref name=":0" />, Superhot Team wrote:<blockquote>Considering [the] sensitive time we’re living in, we can do better than that. You deserve better. All scenes alluding to self harm are now completely removed from the game. These scenes have no place in SUPERHOT virtual reality. We regret it took us so long.

We’re committed to shipping this update to all VR platforms.</blockquote>

As a result of this update, the game was review-bombed on Steam, but it's overall rating returned to "Mostly Positive" as new players bought the game without knowing it was missing important story elements. The review-bombing period has been marked as "Off-topic" on the [https://store.steampowered.com/app/617830/SUPERHOT_VR/ game's Steam page.] {{Ph-I-I}}

=== Superhot Team's response ===
After the backlash, Superhot Team CEO and designer Piotr Iwanicki made a statement<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iwanicki |first=Piotr |date=2021-07-23 |title=Piotr's statement |url=https://discord.com/channels/385450774949396480/620989558494068766/867951511374819368 |website=Discord}}</ref> on the official SUPERHOT Discord server:<blockquote>piotr here, designer and ceo of superhot.

I just saw steam reviews for superhot vr moderated, which feels weird. Crushing game's reviews like that was a valid message. It's not the most pleasant, but I get it: something was taken from a game, as if stolen remotely. This didn't feel right and you reacted.

SUPERHOT VR is now a scarred experience, as its' 'story' hinges on the offending scenes removed. If you played before the update: you played a classic. This version is now history and we are not erasing it - we're simply living on, responsibly. I don't want us to sell this version any more. It does not feel right.

We're still commited to removing these scenes on all VR platforms.

Place where time freezes until you move is far more interesting on its own, without the edgy narrative that forces you through a set of levels and until you get a "you win" message. Further updates will sharpen focus on gameplay and presence.

When I wrote "you deserve better", I really really meant it. We first developed superhot for a 7 Day FPS Jam in 2013 and it was a massive success ever since. This was a taxing experience for everyone involved, myself included. Almost 8 years have passed and we're still stuck making games about self-destructive loops: this is a fingerprint of this pressure. You deserve better than the product of stress and depression that we feel obliged to preserve because of the possible outrage of content removal.

superhot is a place where time stops until you move. You cannot possibly experience that without virtual reality. This place is made of hard concrete and brittle crystal exacly because this physics of shattering can be so mesmerising in slow motion. This place is safe in a weird way: even if it's crumbling around you, the danger will not reach you until you move. If you ever froze still, scared of an object fast approaching - we deliver what your instincts wanted in that moment. This is the core of superhot virtual reality.

Scenes alluding to self-harm will not be part of this place. Neither will I allow for manipulative design and illusion of achievement. In Poland we call this 'dzidzi-bobo design'. We're past that. Time freezing for you means you are in control and let this be foundation for all things superhot from now on.

I hope this clears up our intentions behind this important update. It was not easy to do and is not easy to communicate. I kept the original message minimal, but that only spawned confusion and in the end you deserve to know what is happening. I'm open to suggestions on how to preserve the old version, but maybe it's better off as a folk tale rather than a working software.

Peace.</blockquote>Later, Piotr also added''', "The deleted scenes are not coming back"'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iwanicki |first=Piotr |date=2021-07-23 |title="The deleted scenes are not coming back" |url=https://discord.com/channels/385450774949396480/620989558494068766/867953532144353281 |website=Discord}}</ref> and, '''"Toggle is a lame solution. This toggle wasn't really visible: you had to know about it to use it so it's not a real interface solution"'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iwanicki |first=Piotr |date=2021-07-23 |title="Toggle is a lame solution. [...]" |url=https://discord.com/channels/385450774949396480/620989558494068766/867958327064277043 |website=Discord}}</ref>

==Consumer response==
Gamers who have bought the game before this update were displeased with this change, with one in the SUPERHOT [[Discord]] server calling the CEO's announcement "the ramblings of a madman".<ref name="gio">{{Cite web|url=https://blog.giovanh.com/blog/2025/05/14/superhot-vrs-story-was-removed-what/|title=SUPERHOT VR's Story was Removed. What?|author=GiovanH|date=2025-05-14|work=GioCities blogs by Gio|access-date=2026-06-19}}</ref> Another player calling the change "insane", while adding how the original contained "profound artistic communication" through its ending and "not a glorification of suicide".<ref name="gio" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

SUPERHOT VR update removes key story elements involving self-harm

2026-06-19T21:47:49Z

Mr Pollo:

{{StubNotice}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Superhot Team
|StartDate=2021-07-21
|Status=Resolved
|Product=SUPERHOT VR
|ArticleType=Product
|Description=On July 21, 2021, SUPERHOT VR received a patch that removed all scenes in which the player committing suicide. These scenes were key plot elements.
}}On July 21, 2021, [https://store.steampowered.com/app/617830/SUPERHOT_VR/ SUPERHOT VR] received a patch<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-07-21 |title=Important Update (1.0.22.1) |url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/617830/announcements/detail/2992063678829322337 |url-status= |website=Steam}}</ref> that removed all scenes in which the player commits suicide, despite those scenes being key story elements. This change was received poorly by the players, and the game was review-bombed on [[Steam]].

==Background==
[https://store.steampowered.com/app/617830/SUPERHOT_VR/ SUPERHOT VR] is a VR First-Person Shooter released on May 25, 2017, developed and published by Superhot Team.{{Ph-I-B}}

==The "Important Update"==
The update labeled '''"Important Update (1.0.22.1)"''' removed all scenes in which the player is instructed to commit suicide, which are a big part of the game's story.

Understandably, some players may find these scenes distressing and may want to skip them entirely, which is why a "Skip disturbing scenes" option was added in an update prior to the incident. This approach is common in games, going back as far as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's controversial "No Russian" mission.

One of the developers acknowledged this issue in December 2019 in a thread on the game's forum<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-14 |title="Possible to proceed without shooting yourself in the head?" (SUPERHOT VR General Discussions) |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/617830/discussions/0/3145133067890780448/ |website=Steam}}</ref> on [[Steam]], saying:<blockquote>We acknowledge the issue and we'll make it possible to automatically skip such scenes in future patches. Right now we're working on implementing it properly.</blockquote>

The developer made another comment in the same thread in January 2020, clarifying that:<blockquote>

The idea is to allow for a general setting that would affect the entirety of the game. '''We are not planning on simply deleting these scenes from the game''' ;)</blockquote>

Despite the option to skip these scenes being added in a previous update, all scenes involving self-harm were removed from the game on July 21, 2021.

In the patch notes for the update<ref name=":0" />, Superhot Team wrote:<blockquote>Considering [the] sensitive time we’re living in, we can do better than that. You deserve better. All scenes alluding to self harm are now completely removed from the game. These scenes have no place in SUPERHOT virtual reality. We regret it took us so long.

We’re committed to shipping this update to all VR platforms.</blockquote>

As a result of this update, the game was review-bombed on Steam, but it's overall rating returned to "Mostly Positive" as new players bought the game without knowing it was missing important story elements. The review-bombing period has been marked as "Off-topic" on the [https://store.steampowered.com/app/617830/SUPERHOT_VR/ game's Steam page.] {{Ph-I-I}}

=== Superhot Team's response ===
After the backlash, Superhot Team CEO and designer Piotr Iwanicki made a statement<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iwanicki |first=Piotr |date=2021-07-23 |title=Piotr's statement |url=https://discord.com/channels/385450774949396480/620989558494068766/867951511374819368 |website=Discord}}</ref> on the official SUPERHOT Discord server:<blockquote>piotr here, designer and ceo of superhot.

I just saw steam reviews for superhot vr moderated, which feels weird. Crushing game's reviews like that was a valid message. It's not the most pleasant, but I get it: something was taken from a game, as if stolen remotely. This didn't feel right and you reacted.

SUPERHOT VR is now a scarred experience, as its' 'story' hinges on the offending scenes removed. If you played before the update: you played a classic. This version is now history and we are not erasing it - we're simply living on, responsibly. I don't want us to sell this version any more. It does not feel right.

We're still commited to removing these scenes on all VR platforms.

Place where time freezes until you move is far more interesting on its own, without the edgy narrative that forces you through a set of levels and until you get a "you win" message. Further updates will sharpen focus on gameplay and presence.

When I wrote "you deserve better", I really really meant it. We first developed superhot for a 7 Day FPS Jam in 2013 and it was a massive success ever since. This was a taxing experience for everyone involved, myself included. Almost 8 years have passed and we're still stuck making games about self-destructive loops: this is a fingerprint of this pressure. You deserve better than the product of stress and depression that we feel obliged to preserve because of the possible outrage of content removal.

superhot is a place where time stops until you move. You cannot possibly experience that without virtual reality. This place is made of hard concrete and brittle crystal exacly because this physics of shattering can be so mesmerising in slow motion. This place is safe in a weird way: even if it's crumbling around you, the danger will not reach you until you move. If you ever froze still, scared of an object fast approaching - we deliver what your instincts wanted in that moment. This is the core of superhot virtual reality.

Scenes alluding to self-harm will not be part of this place. Neither will I allow for manipulative design and illusion of achievement. In Poland we call this 'dzidzi-bobo design'. We're past that. Time freezing for you means you are in control and let this be foundation for all things superhot from now on.

I hope this clears up our intentions behind this important update. It was not easy to do and is not easy to communicate. I kept the original message minimal, but that only spawned confusion and in the end you deserve to know what is happening. I'm open to suggestions on how to preserve the old version, but maybe it's better off as a folk tale rather than a working software.

Peace.</blockquote>Later, Piotr also added''', "The deleted scenes are not coming back"'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iwanicki |first=Piotr |date=2021-07-23 |title="The deleted scenes are not coming back" |url=https://discord.com/channels/385450774949396480/620989558494068766/867953532144353281 |website=Discord}}</ref> and, '''"Toggle is a lame solution. This toggle wasn't really visible: you had to know about it to use it so it's not a real interface solution"'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iwanicki |first=Piotr |date=2021-07-23 |title="Toggle is a lame solution. [...]" |url=https://discord.com/channels/385450774949396480/620989558494068766/867958327064277043 |website=Discord}}</ref>

==Consumer response==
Gamers who have bought the game before this update were displeased with this change, calling the CEO's announcement "the ramblings of a madman".<ref name="gio">{{Cite web|url=https://blog.giovanh.com/blog/2025/05/14/superhot-vrs-story-was-removed-what/|title=SUPERHOT VR's Story was Removed. What?|author=GiovanH|date=2025-05-14|work=GioCities blogs by Gio|access-date=2026-06-19}}</ref> One player calling the change "insane", while adding how the original contained "profound artistic communication" through its ending and "not a glorification of suicide".<ref name="gio" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

SoFi Plus

2026-06-19T21:32:51Z

Mr Pollo: Used Template:Cite web

{{Incomplete}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|Company=SoFi
|ReleaseYear=2022
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Financial services subscription
|Logo=Sofi plus logo.png
|Website=https://www.sofi.com/
|Description=SoFi Plus is an optional enhancement to SoFi's banking services. It offers increased APY interest, and other additional features to user's accounts.
}}

SoFi Plus is a service provided by SoFi for it's users to enhance certain banking features like an increased APY interest rate on savings accounts, a percentage match on certain deposits such as to investment accounts, and other features.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-13 |title=SoFi Plus: Premium Benefits, Member Interest Rates & Rewards |url=https://www.sofi.com/sofi-plus/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=SoFi Plus: Premium Benefits, Member Interest Rates & Rewards}}</ref>

SoFi started offering this SoFi Plus service in October of 2022, shortly after SoFi launched as a bank in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-28 |title=SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) - A Year of Better Banking: SoFi Checking and Savings Turns One |url=https://investors.sofi.com/news/news-details/2023/A-Year-of-Better-Banking-SoFi-Checking-and-Savings-Turns-One/default.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) - A Year of Better Banking: SoFi Checking and Savings Turns One}}</ref> SoFi banking customers originally received the SoFi Plus service benefits by creating a direct deposit into a qualifying SoFi account (such as a consumer savings account): The service launched with the following major features:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sofi.com/sofi-plus/|title=SoFi Plus: Earn Reward Points & Premium Banking Services|work=SoFi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127221000/https://www.sofi.com/sofi-plus/|archive-date=2022-11-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>

*3.00% APY on saving account balances, lower rates on others such 2.00% APY on checking account balances
*2x rewards points for qualifying activity
*0.25% rate discount on personal loans
*A welcome bonus contingent on direct deposit within a 25 day "Evaluation Period" and of a certain value threshold

The APY percentage value the SoFi Plus service offered changed frequently after launch. For instance on December 25, 2022, the APY for savings accounts was announced to have increased to 3.50%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sofi.com/sofi-plus/|title=SoFi Plus: Earn Reward Points & Premium Banking Services|work=SoFi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225183105/https://www.sofi.com/sofi-plus/|archive-date=2022-12-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> SoFi customers receiving SoFi Plus benefits were offered a higher APY on account balances, typically around +1%, compared to those without SoFi Plus.

===SoFi Introduces A Fee for SoFi Plus for Non-Qualifying Customers===
On February 11, 2025, SoFi announced changes to the SoFi Plus plan: "SoFi members can unlock SoFi Plus for $10 a month or at no cost with direct deposit, no minimum balance required."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://investors.sofi.com/news/news-details/2025/SoFi-Plus-Premium-Membership-Now-Offers-1000-in-Annual-Value/default.aspx|title=SoFi Plus Premium Membership Now Offers $1,000+ in Annual Value|date=2025-02-11|work=SoFi Investors|access-date=2026-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2691181/sofi-technologies-inc-sofi-unveils-enhanced-benefits-for-sofi-plus-members|title=SoFi Technologies Inc (SOFI) Unveils Enhanced Benefits for SoFi Plus Members|date=2025-02-11|work=gurufocus|author=GuruFocus News|access-date=2026-06-19}}</ref> This allowed banking customers to receive the SoFi Plus service features for a monthly fee. Other banking customers who qualified for the SoFi Plus service still received the service for free if they had direct deposit set up and met the monthly deposit value threshold.

===SoFi Removes Free Option for SoFi Plus Entirely===
On December 9, 2025 SoFi announced a new product, the SoFi Smart Card. Within that announcement, they indicated a change to SoFi Plus benefits that they then clarified through their official corporate Twitter account and an email to customers on December 10, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/SoFi/status/1998912343627984992|title=SoFi on X|author=@SoFi|date=2025-12-10|work=X.com|access-date=2026-06-19}}</ref> Any new customers would immediately need to pay a fee to receive SoFi Plus benefits. Effective March 31, 2026, SoFi Plus would no longer have a free option, and all customers would be required to pay a $10 monthly fee to receive the SoFi Plus benefits: "Current member[sic] who get access to SoFi Plus via direct deposit or $5,000 in qualifying deposits will receive complimentary access to all SoFi Plus benefits through March 30, 2026 by maintaining eligible deposits."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Weidner |first=Noah |date=2026-04-28 |title=SoFi Bank shakes up membership, launches new charge card in sweeping change |url=https://www.thestreet.com/latest-news/sofi-bank-shakes-up-subscription-product-launches-new-charge-card-in-sweeping-change |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=Business, Financial News & Stock Market Analysis {{!}} TheStreet}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==

*'''Business Model''' — SoFi Plus features were previously offered as a free benefit if customers qualified via direct deposit with a minimum deposit value threshold. Then, SoFi paywalled these features for everyone. The initial announcement of this change was indicated in a product launch announcement, followed up by an email to current customers the next day.

*'''Market Control / User Freedom''' — Customers who built their finances around SoFi (direct deposit, savings, credit card cashback rates, the new Smart Card) now face a situation described as "once 'free' features are now packaged up and sold for a monthly subscription fee" and "if you stop paying, ... you will lose access to that product".<ref name=":0" />

==Incidents==
===Paywall Announcement (''12/09/2025'')===
December 9, 2025 — SoFi announced a change to SoFi Plus benefits: new customers would be required to pay a $10 monthly fee to receive the SoFi Plus benefits. Current SoFi Plus members would continue to retain their SoFi Plus benefits until March 31, 2026.

===Paywall Grace Period Expiry (''03/31/2025'')===
March 31, 2026 — SoFi ends the grace period for members who were receiving and maintained qualification for SoFi Plus before the December 9, 2025 announcement. Applying the fee to all customers if they desired to receive SoFi Plus benefits.

==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Shadow-banning

2026-06-16T02:45:19Z

Mr Pollo: I feel like everyone forgot about this

{{Stub}}
'''{{Wplink|Shadow banning}}''', also known as '''stealth banning''', '''hell banning''', '''ghost banning''' or '''comment ghosting''', is a practice done in social media, with the objective to censor, block or hide information that might be considered sensitive for the company, a government or an entity, not showing evident signals to the publisher that their content has been banned.
==How it works==
Shadowbans typically use practices to think the publisher has still visible their post or content. Common practices usually involve into hiding posts from algorithm recommendations or search results, and making the posts visible for the publishers. More aggressive practices hide completely the posts and making them completely inaccessible from links, but the posts are still visible by the publishers.

==Why it is a problem==
===Censorship===
Shadow bans can be used as a form of arbitrary censorship, preventing users to share information that might even be legal or harmless. There have even been cases in which such content is prematurely age gated due to political legislation. This practice could also be used to silence whistleblowers of important public knowledge that a corporation may spend to cover it up.

===Distortion of information===
Shadow bans might be used to hide facts or opinions and generate artificial biases or false perspectives as a method to manipulate users online and make them to change their opinion or perspective on something. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Zaman|first=Tauhid |date=9 May 2024 |title=How Shadow Banning Can Silently Shift Opinion Online |url=https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/how-shadow-banning-can-silently-shift-opinion-online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511021928/https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/how-shadow-banning-can-silently-shift-opinion-online |archive-date=2024-05-11 |access-date=13 Jun 2026 |website=Yale Insights}}</ref>
===Privacy===
With the increasing number of platforms adopting some form of age attestation or verification, some platforms may outright choose to shadowban you even if you are compliant and do not violate any of the terms for using such an account. The increasing LLM platform content moderation where your identity used to verify your account could also have access to all your other accounts and shadow ban them simultaneously based on a post or remark that you may have shared regardless of how old it was.

===False positives===
Several social media platforms use automated moderation to shadow ban content, usually resulting in algorithm mistakes that flag harmless content and accordingly damage a user's visibility on social media.

==Examples==

* [[Reddit]] shadow-banning users that have been on the platform for years with tons of karma for using a VPN for their platform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/keep-getting-shadow-banned-on-reddit-with-every-account-i-create-because-i-use-vpn-any-solutions-to-this/23496|title=Keep getting shadow banned on Reddit with every account I create because I use VPN. Any solutions to this?|author=Banjaie|date=2024-12-27|work=Privacy Guides}}</ref>

* [[Instagram]] shadow-banning users for "hashtag abuse" or specific hashtags that the platform did not like.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mic.com/articles/178987/instagrams-shadowban-explained-how-to-tell-if-instagram-is-secretly-blacklisting-your-posts|title=Instagram’s “shadowban,” explained: How to tell if Instagram is secretly blacklisting your posts|first=Taylor|last=Lorenz|work=MIC|date=2017-06-07}}</ref>

*[[Twitter]] containing "trends blacklist" and "search blacklist" buttons for accounts on admin portal.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/twitter-says-hackers-got-access-to-internal-tools-for-hijacking-spree/|title=Twitter says hackers got access to internal tools for hijacking spree|first=Alfred|last=Ng|work=CNET|date=2020-07-16}}</ref>

* [[WeChat]] shadow-banning messages in China regarding specific phrases or words mandated by there government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boingboing.net/2016/12/02/chinas-we-chat-shadow-bans.html|title=China's We Chat "shadow-bans" messages with forbidden keywords, but only for China-based accounts|work=BoingBoing|date=2016-12-02|first=Cory|last=Doctorow}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]

Category:Pro-consumer articles

2026-06-15T00:15:08Z

Mr Pollo:

Category:Pro-consumer articles

2026-06-15T00:14:53Z

Mr Pollo:

These are articles that display growth for consumer rights, whether it is an incident, theme, or law. Note: companies, people, and products should not have a standalone article made about them.
[[Category:Wiki root]]

Category:Positive laws

2026-06-14T20:38:53Z

Mr Pollo: whoops

[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]
[[Category:Legislation]]

Category:Positive laws

2026-06-14T20:38:37Z

Mr Pollo:

[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]
[[Category:Laws]]

Protect Our Games Act

2026-06-14T20:34:48Z

Mr Pollo:

'''Protect Our Games Act''' or '''POG Act''' is a proposed{{clarify|proposed or passed}} California law, AB1921,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ward |first=Chris |title=CA AB1921 2025-2026 Regular Session |url=https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1921/2025 |website=LegiScan |date=12 February 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url= 
|archive-date=
}}</ref> introduced by Chris Ward and backed by [[Stop Killing Games]], that aims to establish consumer protections for purchases of video games with functionalities that depends on online services. The bill would be added to the California Business and Professions Code and would apply to digital games that are made available for purchase starting from 1 January 2027.

==Definitions==
*Video games are defined as any digital game accessed through any gaming device, computer, mobile device or similar hardware capable of running the game and includes any extra downloadable content [[DLC|DLCs]] or add-ons.
*The bill defines a game studio developer, publisher or entity controlling the purchasers as "operator". The operator has control over authentication systems, [[DRM|DRMs]], server access, updates, etc.
*The bill defines the "ordinary use" as the ability to use the game's core features with reasonable consumer expectations at the time of purchase.

==Consumer notice requirements==
At least 60 days before ending service, the operator would be required to:

*Notify purchasers directly through the game.
*Post a public notice on the operator website.

The notice has to include:

*Shutdown date.
*The services that are being terminated.
*The features that will become unavailable.
*The security risks that are associated with the shutdown.
*Information for the players on how they may continue using the game or obtain a refund.

==Post shutdown obligations==
On the date of the shutdown, the publisher would be required to provide one of the following:

*A version of the game playable without operator-controlled services.
*A patch or update for continued independent use without the operator.
*A full refund equal to the game's purchase price.
*The operator is prohibited from continuing to distribute versions of the game that cannot function independently.

==Exceptions==
The legislation would not apply to:

*Subscription based games where your game access has a clearly defined expiring date tied to your subscription period.
*Free to play games without monetary involvements.
*Games that are permanently downloadable for offline use and without revocable access.

==Industry response==
[[File:ESA comment on California POG Act.webp|thumb|Entertainment Software Association comment against AB 1921 (Ward)]]
The [[Entertainment Software Association]] filed a comment against the bill.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=The Industry is lobbying against Stop Killing Games! (again) |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1t9ne7c/the_industry_is_lobbying_against_stop_killing/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=11 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/9VefS |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>

<gallery widths="190" heights="150" caption="Stop Killing Games - POG Act Support">
File: POG_Act_Support_1.webp|
File: POG_Act_Support_2.webp|
File: POG_Act_Support_3.webp|
</gallery>

On 9 June 2026 the ESA President & CEO Stan Pierre-Louis released a statement against the POG Act<ref>{{cite web |first=Pierre-Louis |last=Stan |website=The ESA |title=Opinion: Misguided California bill would harm video game makers, players |url=https://www.theesa.com/opinion-misguided-california-bill-would-harm-video-game-makers-players/ |url-status=live |date=9 Jun 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260610084627/https://www.theesa.com/opinion-misguided-california-bill-would-harm-video-game-makers-players/ |archive-date=2026-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Pierre-Louis |last=Stan |website=The Sacramento Bee |title=Misguided California bill would harm video game makers, players |url=https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article315995036.html |date=9 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260610084959/https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article315995036.html |archive-date=2026-06-10}}</ref> and a response has been issued by Stop Killing Games.<ref>{{cite web |title=ESA (the lobby) just lied about the POG Act again, and this time its their CEO personally :) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u1ulvi/esa_the_lobby_just_lied_about_the_pog_act_again/ |date=10 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |author=Stop Killing Games |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260610110338/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u1ulvi/esa_the_lobby_just_lied_about_the_pog_act_again/ |archive-date=2026-06-10}}</ref>

==Result==
On 14 May 2026 the bill passed the Asm Appropriations with 11 Ayes, 2 Noes and 2 Absent votes<ref name="vote">{{Cite web |author= |title=Vote Results |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billVotesClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1921 |website=LegiScan |date=14 May 2026 |access-date=19 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/hwls6 |archive-date=20 May 2026}}</ref> and following up on 27 May 2026 the bill passed the Assembly Floor legislature with 42 Ayes, 16 Noes and 21 Absent votes<ref>{{cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |website=[[Reddit]] |title=Stop Killing Games just passed a floor vote in California |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1tqfrvm/stop_killing_games_just_passed_a_floor_vote_in/ |url-status=live |date=28 May 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260529092732/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1tqfrvm/stop_killing_games_just_passed_a_floor_vote_in/ |archive-date=2026-05-29}}</ref>. The bill will be debate in the committee of the State Senate in the month of June.

==See also==
*[[Stop Killing Games]]
*[[Video game preservation]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Consumer activism]]
[[Category:Positive laws]]
[[Category:American legislation]]

Personal Data Protection Law

2026-06-14T20:34:36Z

Mr Pollo:

{{OngoingEvent}}
The '''Personal Data Protection Law''', also known as "''Ley de Protección de Datos Personales''" in Spanish or Law N° 21,719) is a Chilean law created to increase protections for user's data. It is based on the [[General Data Protection Regulation|General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)]] from the EU. It was approved on August 19th 2024 and will come into force on December 1st, 2026<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Chilean Government |date=27 Aug 2024 |title=Se aprueba Ley de Protección de Datos Personales: Revisa de qué se trata |trans-title=Personal Data Protection Law is approved: Check what it is about |url=https://www.gob.cl/noticias/ley-proteccion-datos-personales-aprobacion-eleva-estandar-derechos/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |website=Gob.cl}}</ref>.

==Summary==
The law introduces mofidications to the Law N° 19.628 to cover protections for personal data, responsibilities to the entities who gather and process the data, the rights of the people over their data, and the creation of a dedicated agency to manage, instruct and communicate about all related aspects to these legislations<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |publisher=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile |date=13 Dec 2024 |title=Ley 21719 |trans-title=Law 21719 |url=https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1209272 |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parada Barriga |first=Francisco Javier |date=Dec 2024 |title=Ley 21.719: Chile se pone serio con la protección de tus datos personales |trans-title=Law 21,719: Chile gets serious with the protection of your personal data |url=https://ciberseguridad.udec.cl/ley-21-719-chile-se-pone-serio-con-la-proteccion-de-tus-datos-personales/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |website=Universidad de Concepción}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Guillermo |last2=Mercado |first2=José Ignacio |last3=García |first3=Gabriela |date=13 Dec 2024 |title=PUBLICAN LA LEY N° 21.719 QUE MODIFICA LA LEY N° 19.628 SOBRE PROTECCIÓN DE LA VIDA PRIVADA EN EL DIARIO OFICIAL |trans-title=PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL DIARY THE LAW N° 21,719 THAT MODIFIES THE LAW N° 19,628 ABOUT PRIVATE LIFE PROTECTION |url=https://www.carey.cl/publican-la-ley-n-21-719-que-modifica-la-ley-n-19-628-sobre-proteccion-de-la-vida-privada-en-el-diario-oficial |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |website=Carey}}</ref>.
===Responsibility for companies===
Every company or third-party used by a company, whether they are national or international and operate in Chile that collects, process or stores personal data is mandated to comply with designated regulations in order to operate in the country.

First of all, any entity who collects users' data is prohibited to do so if the user hasn't done any explicit consent to allow this. If the user is under 16, companies may only process user's data if the parents or legal representatives have consented to do so.

Secondly, the responsible entities must be transparent, informing with details and transparency about how do they collect and manage users' data. They are prohibited to use the data for purposes that are not mentioned or informed. The entities also must provide an address for being contacted easily.

Adequate security measurements are also mandated and mentioned in the Article 14.5, with requirements that include aspects like data encryption, ability of data restoration in case of losses, and anonymization, this to prevent data breaches, misusage or deletion. The companies are allowed to retain users' data for a certain period of time, but they are mandated to delete or anonymize the data after it is processed.<ref name=":0" />

===Penalties===
Any company or third party that commits an infraction may be penalized for this.
According to the Articles 34 and 35, the penalties for law violations are divided in three categories: Mild, Severe and Very Severe.
*'''Mild penalties''' involve aspects such as lack of transparency on data management, lack of replying, vague replies or replying after the designated period to a user's request, lack of the mandated communications with the Agency or commiting minor violations to people's rights. The fine for commiting a mild penalty is up to '''5,000 UTM''' (approximately 393,300 dollars)
*'''Severe penalties''' involve aspects such as the treatment and processing of personal data without the user's consent, not allowing or difficulting an user to exercize their rights over their data and insufficient security measures to keep the data safe. The fine for commiting a mild penalty is up to '''10,000 UTM''' (approximately 786,600 dollars)
*'''Very severe penalties''' involve aspects such as the fraudulent treatment of personal data, the treatment of the data for malicious purposes, transference of data belonging to children and teenagers, not communicating security vulnerations that may affect data protection and integrity and not complying with the designated security evaluations to protect the data. The fine for commiting a mild penalty is up to '''20,000 UTM''' (approximately 1,573,200 dollars)

The Article 36 states that an entity that has commited repetitive penalties during a period of 30 months may receive a fine with a tripled value.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

===User's rights over their data===
The law dictates any piece of personal data belongs exclusively to the user<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Paiva |first=Alexis |date=7 Apr 2026 |title=Ley de Protección de Datos Personales: qué cambios implementará y cómo pueden adaptarse las empresas |trans-title=Personal Data Protection Law: what changes is going to implement and how companies can adapt |url=https://www.latercera.com/tendencias/noticia/ley-de-proteccion-de-datos-personales-que-cambios-implementara-y-como-pueden-adaptarse-las-empresas/ |url-status=live |access-date=10 Apr 2026 |website=La Tercera}}</ref>. Any individual has the intransferible and indispensable rights of '''access''', '''rectification''', '''supression''', '''opposition''', '''portability''' and '''block''' their personal data unless another law does not allow it. If the data owner passes away, their heirs may perform the rights of the law. However, heirs may not perform these rights if the owner has forbidden this or any law prevents it.<ref name=":0" />

'''Opposition''': The individual has the right to oppose to in the following cases:
*When the treatment objective is the legitimate fulfillment of interests of the company.
*If the data gathered is used for publicitary and profiling purposes.
*If the data has been gathered from public databases and there's no legal fundament for its usage.

The right cannot be performed if the data is used for statistic, historic, scientific purposes or any public function or activity.

'''Block''': The individual has the right to temporarily prevent companies to process their data when a supression, opposition or rectification request is done. This right does not affect the storage of data by the responsible company

'''Portability''': The individual has the right to request responsible companies about the data they gather and process, if it belongs to consented and automated processed data.

===Personal Data Protection Agency===
The law dictates the creation of the Personal Data Protection Agency (Agencia de Protección de Datos Personales) 6 months before the law enforcement. This is a national entity related with the Chilean government that is dedicated to instruct and supervise if entities managing the data are complying with the Chilean legislations and regulations. It also is dedicated to solve users' reports about companies not complying or committing infractions.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

====National Penalties and Compliance Registry====
The National Penalties and Compliance Registry (Registro Nacional de Sanciones y Cumplimiento) is a digital registry managed by the Personal Data Protection Agency of public and free access that publishes registrations of companies and entities that have been penalized for not complying with the national data protection normatives and regulations. Any registry is accesible up to five years since its publishing date.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Positive laws]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Chile]]

General Data Protection Regulation

2026-06-14T20:34:26Z

Mr Pollo:

The '''{{Wplink|General Data Protection Regulation}}''' (GDPR) is the [[European Union]]'s comprehensive data privacy and security law that went into effect on May 25, 2018.<ref>[https://gdpr.eu/what-is-gdpr/ "What is GDPR, the EU’s new data protection law?"] - gdpr.eu - 25 May 2018 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260128031436/https://gdpr.eu/what-is-gdpr/ Archived])</ref> The regulation applies to any organization worldwide that processes data related to EU residents, regardless of the organization's location. It represents the world's most stringent approach to data protection, with potential fines for violations reaching up to €20 million or 4% of global revenue, whichever is higher.

The regulation mandates several key requirements for organizations processing EU residents' personal data. These include obtaining explicit consent for data collection, ensuring data minimization and purpose limitation, implementing appropriate security measures, and honoring individuals' rights regarding their personal data. Organizations must also maintain detailed documentation of their data processing activities, report data breaches within 72 hours, and in some cases appoint Data Protection Officers. The regulation defines personal data broadly, encompassing everything from basic identifiers like names and email addresses to more complex data like location information, biometric data, and online identifiers.

The GDPR has established a new global standard for data protection by codifying several fundamental principles, including transparency, accountability, and privacy by design. Organizations must not only comply with these principles but also be able to demonstrate their compliance through documentation and organizational measures. This comprehensive approach to data protection reflects the EU's position that privacy is a fundamental human right, building upon the privacy protections first established in the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights and updated for the digital age.

The United Kingdom still enforces the GDPR,<ref>https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-and-the-eu/data-protection-and-the-eu-in-detail/the-uk-gdpr/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251230025316/https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-and-the-eu/data-protection-and-the-eu-in-detail/the-uk-gdpr/ Archived])</ref> allowing persons physically located within the UK the ability to request data exports and deletions from online services.<ref>https://www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/resources/policies/u_of_i_system_and_international_privacy_laws/the_eu_and_uk_general_data_protection_regulations ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251213031910/https://www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/resources/policies/u_of_i_system_and_international_privacy_laws/the_eu_and_uk_general_data_protection_regulations Archived])</ref>

==Summary==

===Chapter 2: Principles===

Chapter 2 of the GDPR addresses personal data, legal ways to process it, and consent of the user.<ref>[https://gdpr-info.eu/chapter-2/ "Chapter 2: Principles"] - gdpr-info.eu - 25 May 2018 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260117095156/https://gdpr-info.eu/chapter-2/ Archived])</ref>

====Article 5: Principles relating to processing of personal data====
''Main wiki: [https://gdprhub.eu/index.php?title=Article_5_GDPR Article 5 GDPR]''

Personal data processing under GDPR mandates that data must be handled lawfully, fairly, and transparently; collected for specific legitimate purposes; kept accurate and up-to-date; minimized to only what's necessary; stored only as long as required; and protected with appropriate security measures.

====Article 7: Conditions for consent====
''Main wiki: [https://gdprhub.eu/index.php?title=Article_7_GDPR Article 7 GDPR]''

When applicable, data subjects must consent to the processing of his or her personal data. Written requests for consent must use clear and plain language. Any portion of a written request violating the GDPR is not considered binding.

The data subject may also withdraw his or consent at any time and it should "be as easy to withdraw as to give consent."

Consent also must be freely given as defined in Recital 43. Consent is not considered freely given when a power imbalance exists between the data collected and the data subject, when consent for different data operations is improperly bundled together, or when access to services is made conditional on consenting to unnecessary data collection.

===Chapter 3: Rights of the data subject===

Chapter 3 of the GDPR covers transparency, information and access to personal data, the right to change, erase, or restrict processing of personal data, and the right to object.<ref>[https://gdpr-info.eu/chapter-3/ "Chapter 3: Rights of the data subject"] - gdpr-info.eu - 25 May 2018 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260117095030/https://gdpr-info.eu/chapter-3/ Archived])</ref>

====Article 17: Right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’)====
''Main wiki: [https://gdprhub.eu/index.php?title=Article_17_GDPR Article 17 GDPR]''

Data subjects have the right to request erasure of their personal data by the data processor and the data processor is required to erase said data in a timely manner. This includes unnecessarily stored data, unlawfully processed data, and publicly available information.

This article does not cover free of expression and information, public interest, archiving purposes, or legally-relevant information.

====Article 21: Right to object====
''Main wiki: [https://gdprhub.eu/index.php?title=Article_21_GDPR Article 21 GDPR]''

Data subjects have the right to object to processing of their personal data in several key contexts, including when processing is based on public interest or legitimate interests grounds, for direct marketing purposes, or for research purposes - and in the case of direct marketing, this objection must be honored without exception.

When such an objection is made, the controller must cease processing unless they can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds that override the data subject's rights and freedoms, with special provisions requiring that this right to object must be explicitly communicated to data subjects and made easily accessible, particularly in digital contexts.
====Article 22: Automated individual decision-making, including profiling====
''Main wiki: [https://gdprhub.eu/index.php?title=Article_22_GDPR Article 22 GDPR]''

Under Article 22, individuals have the right to not be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing or profiling that have legal or similarly significant effects, with three key exceptions: when the automated decision is necessary for a contract, authorized by law, or based on explicit consent.

When automated decisions are made under contractual necessity or explicit consent, the data controller must implement safeguards including human intervention options, allowing individuals to express their views and contest decisions. Automated decisions cannot be based on special categories of personal data (such as race, health data, or political opinions) unless specific conditions are met and appropriate safeguards are in place.

===Chapter 4: Controller and processor===
Chapter 4 of the GDPR covers general obligations of controllers and processors of data, their security, impact assessments and responsibility.<ref>[https://gdpr-info.eu/chapter-4/ "Chapter 4: Controller and processor"] - gdpr-info.eu - 25 May 2018 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260117095128/https://gdpr-info.eu/chapter-4/ Archived])</ref>

====Article 28: Processor====
''Main wiki: [https://gdprhub.eu/index.php?title=Article_28_GDPR Article 28 GDPR]''

Outsourcing data processing to service providers is no excuse not to comply with GDPR, it is still up to the controller to ensure that the GDPR is complied with.

==Applicability outside of the European Union==
{{Main|wikipedia:General Data Protection Regulation}}

===United Kingdom===
[[United Kingdom]] adopted GDPR before formally withdrawing from the [[European Union]], after which it's referred to as UK GDPR. The UK does not restrict the transfer of personal data to countries within the EEA under UK GDPR, but is a third country under the EU GDPR. As part of the withdrawal agreement, the European Commission committed to perform an adequacy assessment, meaning that personal data may be transferred from EU member states to the UK.

==See also==
*[[Consent-or-pay]]
*[[Digital Omnibus]]
*https://gdprhub.eu, a wiki summarizing GDPR-related decisions by authorities and courts across Europe

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Positive laws]]
[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:International legislation]]
[[Category:EU legislation]]
[[Category:British legislation]]

Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act

2026-06-14T20:34:17Z

Mr Pollo:

The '''{{Wplink|Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act}}''' (The Act) is a landmark U.S. federal law (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.) enacted on January 4, 1975, to govern consumer product warranties. Sponsored by Senator Warren G. Magnuson and Representative John E. Moss, the Act was designed to address widespread misuse of warranties by manufacturers, particularly through unfair disclaimers and misleading practices.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author= |title=Magnuson-Moss Overview |url=https://www.autosafety.org/magnuson-moss-overview/ |website=autosaftey.org |date= |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260101060738/https://www.autosafety.org/magnuson-moss-overview/ |archive-date=1 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Purpose===
The intention of The Act is to establish federal standards for warranty content and disclosure, make warranties more transparent and enforceable for consumers, and to enhance the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) consumer protection capabilities.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author= |title=Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: A Guide for Consumers |url=https://connlawpc.com/blog/magnuson-moss-warranty-act/ |website=Conn Law, PC |date=26 Aug 2023 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251024142031/https://connlawpc.com/blog/magnuson-moss-warranty-act/ |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref>

===Key provisions===
Warranties must be written in clear, simple language and disclose terms conspicuously. They must specify:
:*Coverage details and duration.
:*Remedies available.
:*Exclusions and limitations.
:*Procedures for obtaining service.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |author= |title=Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law |url=https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/businesspersons-guide-federal-warranty-law |website=[[Federal Trade Commission]] |date= |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114172714/https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/businesspersons-guide-federal-warranty-law |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Full versus limited warranties===
*'''Full warranty'''
:Must meet federal minimum standards including free repair/replacement, no time limits on implied warranties, and option for refund/replacement after reasonable repair attempts.<ref name=":1" />
*'''Limited warranty'''
:Any warranty that doesn't meet full warranty standards must be conspicuously designated as "limited".
*'''Implied warranties'''
:The Act preserves state-law implied warranties (merchantability and fitness for particular purpose) and prohibits their disclaimer when a written warranty is provided.<ref name=":3" />

===Prohibitions===
*Tie-In sales provisions: Manufacturers cannot require use of specific brands/parts (e.g., OEM parts) unless provided free of charge.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |author= |title=Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (MMWA) |url=https://www.autocare.org/government-relations/current-issues/Magnuson-Moss-Warranty-Act |website=Auto Care Association |date= |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251231115036/https://www.autocare.org/government-relations/current-issues/Magnuson-Moss-Warranty-Act |archive-date=31 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |author= |title=Navigating Aftermarket Parts and Car Warranties |url=https://ecogard.com/resources/articles/magnuson-moss-protection-consumers-installers/ |website=ECOGARD |date=31 Jul 2018 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017193056/https://ecogard.com/resources/articles/magnuson-moss-protection-consumers-installers/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref>
*Deceptive warranty terms: Warranties cannot mislead consumers about coverage or contain unfulfillable promises.<ref name=":3" />
*Disclaimer of implied warranties: When a written warranty or service contract is offered, implied warranties cannot be disclaimed.<ref name=":3" />

===Consumer remedies===
'''Legal action:''' Consumers can sue for breach of warranty and recover:
*Damages
*Costs and expenses
*Attorney's fees (a significant provision making lawsuits economically viable).<ref name=":1" />

'''Alternative dispute resolution:''' The FTC encourages informal settlement procedures, though pre-dispute [[Forced arbitration|mandatory arbitration]] clauses are controversial.<ref name=":1" />

===Scope and limitations===
*Applies only to consumer products (tangible personal property for personal/household use) costing more than $15.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Text of S. 356 (93rd): Magnuson-Moss Act (Passed Congress version) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/93/s356/text |website=GovTrack |date= |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018000952/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/93/s356/text |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref>
*Does not require products to have warranties, can be sold "as is".
*Primarily covers written warranties, oral promises are excluded.<ref name=":1" />
*Does not preempt state laws, working alongside state lemon laws and UCC provisions.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

==Historical enforcement incidents==
*General Motors Engine Interchange Litigation (1981): A class action alleged GM breached warranties by using Chevrolet engines in Oldsmobiles without disclosure. The case involved both written warranty and implied warranty claims under The Act.<ref name=":1" />
*Skelton v. General Motors (1981): The 7th Circuit ruled that general advertising claims don't constitute "written warranties" under The Act, limiting the scope of actionable warranty statements.
*Kolev v. Porsche Cars North America (2011): Initially found pre-dispute mandatory arbitration clauses violated The Act, though this decision was later withdrawn.
*Hyundai/Kia Theta II Engine Case (2018): The FTC issued compliance warnings against Hyundai and Kia for attempting to require use of OEM parts to maintain warranty coverage, violating tie-in sales prohibitions. The companies revised their warranty language after FTC intervention.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />
*FTC's 2018 Industry-Wide Compliance Warnings: The FTC issued warnings to six major companies about illegal warranty terms, particularly regarding tie-in provisions and improper warranty voiding practices.<ref name=":5" />

''The Act'' is an important piece of legislation, but its enforcement is a mixed bag. Although it is enforced, often the fines are little to nothing, which encourages manufacturers to disregard it. This effectively prevents the act from properly keeping vendors accountable.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:American legislation]]
[[Category:Positive laws]]