Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Article suggestions

2025-08-13T14:16:07Z

Perkeo: Added "The Crew" licenses being revoked

This page is dedicated towards providing a communal list for users to submit potential articles to feature on the wiki, and to give editors inspiration on what pages they might want to add to the wiki. If you create an article based on an entry from this list, or see that someone else has done so, please make sure to delete the row from this page in order to prevent confusion.

Sources should be inserted within the 'refs' section of the table. If using the visual editor, take advantage of '<nowiki/>'''insert reference'''<nowiki/>' via ''''ctrl + shift + k'''<nowiki/>' so that the sources are quick to add to future articles. If you are using the source editor, feel free to copy and paste the formatting from other correctly formatted references on the page. The more sources you include with an article idea, the more likely it is that others will pick the article idea up and run with it, so please attempt to include a good variety of descriptive sources!

Please take note of the wiki's [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Inclusion guidelines|Inclusion criteria]] when submitting article suggestions. If you see article suggestions here which do not fit the Wiki, feel free to remove them, leaving your reasoning in an edit note.

If you are an editor looking for further inspiration to write an article, you can also check out the [[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory|Louis Rossmann video directory]] for a good collection of potential articles.

==Example==
Below is an example of what an entry should appear as:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|[[Nintendo]]
|In 2025, the company Nintendo stripped Switch 2 consoles that used the MIG switch cartridge of all online functionality
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game “backups” |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |access-date=Jun 19, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|}

==List of incidents not yet covered==
{| class="wikitable"
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|[[Netflix]]
|Removal of games from mobile platform; games preinstalled to user devices will no-longer work; many are exclusively distributed by Netflix for mobile.
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parrish |first=Ash |date=Jun 24, 2025 |title=Netflix is letting go of some of its best indie games |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/692227/netflix-games-delisting-hades-braid-gaming-strategy |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>
|-
|[[Xlear]]
|The company Xlear was falsely marketing its nasal spray as a covid preventative, potentially harming consumers; the company wants to combat the FTC.
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feiner |first=Lauren |date=Jun 24, 2025 |title=A nasal spray company wants to make it harder for the FTC to police health claims |url=https://www.theverge.com/policy/692327/xlear-ftc-lawsuit-covid-health-claims-consumer-protection |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Anticompetitive behavior contributing to the damaging of the security of customer devices.
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Triplette |first=Ryan |date=Nov 15, 2024 |title=Microsoft’s anticompetitive behavior weakens its customers’ cybersecurity |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/commentary/2024/11/microsofts-anticompetitive-behavior-weakens-its-customers-cybersecurity/?readmore=1 |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=Federal News Network}}</ref>
|-
|[[Samsung]], [[Glance]]
|Using the faces of its devices' users for the purposes of generating ads with AI to display on the lock screen
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whitwam |first=Ryan |date=Jun 4, 2025 |title=Samsung teams up with Glance to use your face in AI-generated lock screen ads |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/samsung-teams-up-with-glance-to-use-your-face-in-ai-generated-lock-screen-ads/ |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|-
|[[Facebook]], [[Yandex]]
|De-anonymizing web browsing identifiers
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wildeboer |first=Jan |date=Jun 03, 2025 |title=Wildeboer post from Jan Wildeboer |url=https://social.wildeboer.net/@jwildeboer/114620123151656825 |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=social.wildeboer.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=Jun 3, 2025 |title=Meta and Yandex are de-anonymizing Android users’ web browsing identifiers |url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/06/meta-and-yandex-are-de-anonymizing-android-users-web-browsing-identifiers/ |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|-
|[[TikTok]]
|Integrated AI tools to track user behaviors even more for the purposes of selling to advertisers
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sato |first=Mia |date=Jun 3, 2025 |title=TikTok will give advertisers even more data on trends and users |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/678255/tiktok-advertiser-summit-ai-targeting-data-seo |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>
|-
|[[k.chicntech]]
|Selling fraudulent products on its platform
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=Jun 3, 2025 |title=Shopper denied $51 refund for 20TB HDD that’s mostly a weighted plastic box |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/man-buys-20tb-portable-hdd-for-51-son-breaks-the-news-that-its-a-fake/ |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|-
|[[T-Mobile]]
|Secretly recording the screens of users via T-Life app
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Appropriate_Rain_770 |date=May 27, 2025 |title=T-Life App Under Fire as Users Spot Hidden Screen Recording |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/1kwmglg/tlife_app_under_fire_as_users_spot_hidden_screen/ |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Tyler |date=May 27, 2025 |title=T-Life App Under Fire as Users Spot Hidden Screen Recording |url=https://www.androidheadlines.com/2025/05/t-life-app-under-fire-as-users-spot-hidden-screen-recording.html |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=Android Headlines}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ubisoft]]
|Forced online in single-player games for the purposes of data collection; violation of GDPR.
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=Apr 29, 2025 |title=Privacy firm files Ubisoft legal complaint over data collection, forced online in single-player games |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/privacy-firm-files-ubisoft-legal-complaint-over-data-collection-forced-online-in-single-player-games |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=Eurogamer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 24, 2025 |title=Like to play alone? Ubisoft is still watching you! |url=https://noyb.eu/en/play-alone-ubisoft-still-watching-you |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=noyb}}</ref>
|-
|[[Facebook]], [[Yandex]]
|Automatic opt-in of user-generated content being used for the purposes of training AI.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borgesius |first=Frederik |date=Apr 24, 2025 |title=Post on akademienl.social |url=https://akademienl.social/@Frederik_Borgesius/114392662340468118 |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |website=akademienl.social}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=Apr 24, 2025 |title=AP: kom nu in actie als je niet wil dat Meta AI traint met jouw data |url=https://autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl/actueel/ap-kom-nu-in-actie-als-je-niet-wil-dat-meta-ai-traint-met-jouw-data |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl}}</ref>
|-
|[[Star Force]]
|DRM; History of damaging the devices of honest consumers
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Modern Vintage Gamer |date=Mar 30, 2020 |title=StarForce - The PC CD-ROM DRM that broke your Computer {{!}} MVG |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-wyIalhdPU |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Google]]
|Terms enacted in April reserve it the right to analyze sensitive call data
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saam |first=Conrad |date=Apr 24, 2025 |title=Google asserts ownership of all advertiser assets in Local Services Ads |url=https://searchengineland.com/google-asset-ownership-local-services-ads-454561 |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=Search Engine Land}}</ref>
|-
|[[VidIQ]]
|Scraping user generated content so poorly that it puts users at risk of violating copyright law
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=CutCafe |date=Jan 24, 2025 |title=This AI tool is EXPLOITING small content creators (So I exposed it) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg8JZozCa0c |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Waymo]]
|Using interior camera to train GenAI models; automatic opt-in
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bellan |first=Rebecca |date=Apr 8, 2025 |title=Waymo may use interior camera data to train generative AI models, but riders will be able to opt out |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/08/waymo-may-use-interior-camera-data-to-train-generative-ai-models-sell-ads/ |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=TechCrunch}}</ref>
|-
|[[Dymo]]
|550 and newer models have DRM in the printer paper; older model printers bricked via a driver update.
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malawey |first=David |date=Apr 3, 2025 |title=discard junkware and the extract pure value of Dymo |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hlhPRlxA9s |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Google]]
|Numerous incidents listed under Wikipedia's [[wikipedia:Google_litigation|Google Litigation]] page
|N/A
|-
|[[UPS]]
|Charges excessively high brokerage fees disguised as "customs fees" that exceed shipping costs when mailing a product from the US to Canada; sent person in source a $42.60 bill AFTER delivering the package, without the person being informed of the shipper being UPS.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Runkle Of The Bailey |date=Nov 14, 2024 |title=I Fought UPS' Bogus Brokerage Fees, And Won |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKju9a4lA5I |access-date=Jun 26, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Liberty Safe]]
|At the point of sale (POS) of the safe, the consumer was not informed that the manufacturer has a backdoor for the safe. In this specific incident, this backdoor was used to bypass the security for the purposes of the FBI
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Runkle Of The Bailey |date=Sep 6, 2023 |title=Liberty Safe Has Secret Backdoors -- And They Gave It To the FBI |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeCwrX2gcXM |access-date=Jun 26, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Yubo]]
|Only in-scope elements of the provided source should focus on "age estimation" and "facial recognition", despite the ethical dubiousness of the platform for minors.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=CinemaGuess |date=Jun 25, 2025 |title=Yubo; The Most Dangerous Snapchat Clone Ever Made |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKm5gkG9yMw |access-date=Jun 26, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[itch.io]], [[Night School Studios]], [[Netflix]]
|In September 2024, users who purchased Oxenfree on itch.io were warned that the game was going to be pulled from the platform on October 1st. Consumers would not be able to download the installers after this date, so they would lose access unless they had them backed up. Users speculated that Netflix, the parent company of the development studio, had ordered the move; however, no response from Netflix or the developers was ever published. This is particularly notable because it is against itch.io's terms of service: "Users shall retain a license to this content even after the content is removed from the Service."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=itch corp |date=15 Apr 2023 |title=itch.io Terms of Service |url=https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907004719/https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |archive-date=7 Sep 2024 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=itch.io}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=ShawnS |date=31 Jan 2025 |title=OXENFREE |url=https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321070400/https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=9 Sep 2024 |title=Another reminder that your digital library isn't forever: Oxenfree will be completely removed from Itch.io next month |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523111125/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |archive-date=23 May 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>
|-
|[https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=SourceForge.net_forces_users_to_inconditionally_accept_terms_of_use_with_no_alternative_before_logging_in&veaction=edit&section=2 Sourceforge.net]
|Sourceforge forces users to accept terms and conditions before they can even log in, denying their right to refuse or disagree.
|
|-
|[[Electronic Arts]]
|The video game [[Anthem]] was announced to have its servers shut down, leading to all licenses for the title becoming bricked.
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hore |first=Jamie |date=Jul 3, 2025 |title=Anthem will soon die for good, as Bioware confirms a full server shut down |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/anthem/servers-shutting-down-bioware |access-date=Jul 4, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|-
|[https://drivesaversdatarecovery.com/partner-programs/ DriveSavers]
|Through DriveSavers' partner program, independent or otherwise affiliated shops receive an approximately 10% commission for referring customers to the service (typical service being approximately $3,000.00, resulting in $300.00 of commission for partners). On top of this, partnered shops also receive DriveSavers branded merchandise (pens, antistatic mats and similar shop equipment, etc). Has relevance as this may result in partners having heavy incentives to refer customers to a service they may not need.
|
|-
|[https://www.skystone.games/ Skystone Games]
|Boundary, a multiplayer online-only first-person shooter, got shut down just a year after its release by Skystone games, and its publishing rights relinquished, citing "ongoing delays and a lack of updates from the developer". Studio Surgical Scalpels (the developer) stated that the publisher decissions were "extremely sudden and unreasonable", and attempted to "regain the rights to boundary". The game has been offline for more than a year at the time of writing, and no refunds or communications to the userbase has been made by Skystone Games.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Boundary - End of service notice |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Steam}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Boundary Shut Down: Who's to Blame? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Automatic Content Recognition (ACR)]]
|Smart TVs of multiple brands have a feature called Automatic Content Recognition, which sends several screenshots per minute of whatever plays on the device to the manufacturer for analysis. This includes content from external inputs and thus could include private photos and videos of the user, as well as third parties who never agreed to anything of that nature. This is required to be opt-in in the US, but most people inadvertently agree to it with the EULA of the device.
|<ref>{{Cite web |first=Rachel Cericola, Jon Chase and Lee Neikirk |date=2025-06-25 |title=Yes, Your TV Is Probably Spying on You. Your Fridge, Too. Here’s What They Know. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/advice-smart-devices-data-tracking/ |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=The New York Times - Wirecutter}}</ref>
|-
|[[Nintendo]]
|USB-C port restrictions in order to halt 3rd-party competition with docks and other accessories. These restrictions are caused by encrypted communications between the official dock and the console, as 3rd-party devices use a universal standard that Nintendo refuses to use.
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khullar |first=Kunal |date=Jul 3, 2025 |title=Nintendo is restricting the Switch 2's USB-C port — most third-party docks and accessories won't work thanks to proprietary protocols |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/nintendo/nintendo-is-restricting-the-switch-2s-usb-c-port-most-third-party-docks-and-accessories-wont-work-thanks-to-proprietary-protocols |access-date=Jul 9, 2025 |work=Tom's Hardware}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Corsetti |first=Adam |date=Jul 3, 2025 |title=USB-C port testing explains why a third-party Nintendo Switch 2 dock won't work with console |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/USB-C-port-testing-explains-why-a-third-party-Nintendo-Switch-2-dock-won-t-work-with-console.1049869.0.html |access-date=Jul 9, 2025 |work=Notebook Check}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=Jul 3, 2025 |title=How Nintendo locked down the Switch 2’s USB-C port and broke third-party docking |url=https://www.theverge.com/report/695915/switch-2-usb-c-third-party-docks-dont-work-authentication-encryption |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174112/https://www.theverge.com/report/695915/switch-2-usb-c-third-party-docks-dont-work-authentication-encryption |archive-date=Jul 8, 2025 |access-date=Jul 9, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>
|-
|Not applicable/[[Device bricking]]
|There have been repeated incidents of various companies [[Device bricking|bricking devices]] owned by consumers. This requires a theme article to be finally made. May be ideal to have a sibling article titled [[Software bricking]].
|
|-
|Not applicable
|Factory reset and deconfiguration guides for removing personal/sensitive data from devices before change of ownership to avoid that data being used for identity theft, spear phishing and scams.
|<ref>{{cite web|title=ACCC Report Revelations Of Scams And Cyber Crime Not Surprising |website=Tech Business News |url=https://www.techbusinessnews.com.au/news/accc-report-revelations-of-scams-and-cyber-crime-not-surprising/ |publication-date=29 April 2024 |access-date=20 July 2025 |quote="Whilst there exists the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) and the Information Security Manual (ISM) which direct government and critical industry to use NAID AAA certified recyclers to destroy and sanitise data at end of life, there remains confusion over ownership of accountability."}}</ref>
|-
|Not applicable
|Users are being forced by law to violate their privacy to access adult websites, when numerous sites that won't follow the law exist and are unsafe.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ortutay |first=Barbara |date=27 Jun 2025 |title=What to know about online age verification laws {{!}} AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/internet-age-verification-supreme-court-def346d7bf299566a3687d8c4f224fec |url-status=live |access-date=19 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Jun 2025 |title=The Scam of Age Verification {{!}} PORNBIZ.COM |url=https://pornbiz.com/post/17/the_scam_of_age_verification/en#5 |url-status=live |access-date=19 Jul 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Microsoft uses software engineers based in China to work on US Defense Department systems with laughably ineffective precautions. I think this is relevant in the context of Microsoft's attitude towards cloud security. In the past, master keys have been stolen by Chinese hackers and from my understanding, it's not even clear to what extent those groups still have access to Microsoft's internal systems, and by extension, Microsoft customers'. This needs more research though.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dudley |first=Renee |date=2025-07-15 |title=A Little-Known Microsoft Program Could Expose the Defense Department to Chinese Hackers |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/microsoft-digital-escorts-pentagon-defense-department-china-hackers |website=ProRepublica}}</ref>
|-
|Not applicable
|[[Malicious Compliance]]
Companies like Apple comply with regulations such as those imposed by the EU by trying to follow the wording, but not the spirit of the legislation. For instance, there were early reports that Apple would support USB-C, but only with Apple certified devices and cables, allowing them to continue the lucrative "Made for iPhone" certification programme. They only backtracked when the EU indicated this would not be considered compliant with the USB-C mandate.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Malicious Compliance |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malicious_compliance |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>
|-
|Not applicable
|[[Financial Censorship]]
This came up in the recent Valve controversies about removing Games because of pressure from payment providers. It is the concept that US payment providers have pretty much a monopoly world-wide and can thus control which content websites can publish and what goods they can sell because they can threaten to revoke their access to payments.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=https://www.eff.org/issues/financial-censorship |url= |website=EFF}}</ref>
|-
|[[QIDI]]
|3D printer causes disastrous fire; subreddit staff attempts to cover up incident.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/ProgressLocal1511 |date=Mar 30, 2025 |title=R/QidiTech3d Permanently banned me for warning people after my family lost everything from a fire! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1jnuju1/rqiditech3d_permanently_banned_me_for_warning/ |access-date=Jul 23, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Potentially related to: [[Microsoft's anticompetitive practices]]
Mysteriously banned the developer of LibreOffice from his Hotmail Account; Automated systems handled the appeal process and refused to restore access to his account, potentially harming LibreOffice's development.
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Simms |first=Daniel |date=Jul 30, 2025 |title=Microsoft suddenly bans LibreOffice developer's email account, blocks appeal |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/108878-microsoft-suddenly-bans-libreoffice-developer-email-account-blocks.html |access-date=Aug 4, 2025 |work=TechSpot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Beri |first=Devesh |date=Aug 1, 2025 |title=Microsoft Bans Profile Belonging to Developer Behind Free Microsoft Office Alternative |url=https://tech.yahoo.com/business/articles/microsoft-bans-profile-belonging-developer-204536148.html |access-date=Aug 4, 2025 |work=ExtremeTech}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Rohit |date=Aug 3, 2025 |title=LibreOffice Developer Says Microsoft Blocked His Email Account Without Warning |url=https://www.alltechnerd.com/libreoffice-developer-says-microsoft-blocked-his-email-account-without-warning/ |access-date=Aug 4, 2025 |work=All Tech Nerd}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ubisoft]]
|On March 31st 2024, Ubisoft shut down servers for online game ''The Crew,'' after the game was pulled from digital storefronts some time in December of 2023. The game was online-only, despite the majority of the game not requiring multiplayer to progress through the story.
A few days before the servers were due to shut down, users who had purchased the game prior to its removal from storefronts had their licenses revoked. Whilst the game was still able to be downloaded and launched for some, the full game was not playable, only a demo. Those who launched the game on Steam after March 31st were prompted for a CD key, which was impossible to activate.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Mollie |date=12 Apr 2024 |title=Ubisoft is stripping people's licences for The Crew weeks after its shutdown, nearly squandering hopes of fan servers and acting as a stark reminder of how volatile digital ownership is |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/ubisoft-is-stripping-peoples-licences-for-the-crew-weeks-after-its-shutdown-nearly-squandering-hopes-of-private-servers-and-acting-as-a-stark-reminder-of-how-volatile-digital-ownership-is/ |url-status=live |website=PCGamer}}</ref>
|}

==See Also==

*[[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory]]

==Reference List==
<references />
[[Category:Sources]]

Google

2025-08-13T14:07:02Z

Perkeo: Create Epic v. Google in Anti-consumer legal cases (note: maybe this needs its own article?)

{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1998
| Industry = Technology
| Logo = Google.webp
| ParentCompany = Alphabet Inc.
| Type = Subsidiary
| Website = https://www.google.com/
| Description =
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Google|Google LLC]]''', founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is one of the most influential technology companies in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Largest tech companies by market cap |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/tech/largest-tech-companies-by-market-cap/ |url-status=live |website=companiesmarketcap.com}}</ref> Originally developed as a search engine to organize and index the growing amount of information on the internet, Google has since expanded into a wide range of services and products, becoming a central player in digital advertising, software, hardware, and cloud computing.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Google Products |url=https://about.google/products/ |access-date=10 Mar 2025}}</ref>

Google's search engine remains its most well-known service, but the company has significantly diversified its offerings. Key products include the [[Android]] operating system, the [[Google Chrome]] web browser, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Drive Google Drive] for cloud storage, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps Google Maps], [[YouTube]], and [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Google Play]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helpful products, built with you in mind |url=https://about.google/intl/ALL_us/products/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>{{Citation needed}} Additionally, the company provides digital advertising services through Google Ads, generating the majority of its revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Feb 2025 |title=Alphabet Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Results |url=https://abc.xyz/assets/a3/91/6d1950c148fa84c7d699abe05284/2024q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> In recent years, Google has also developed hardware products such as the Pixel smartphone and Nest smart home devices.

Google has faced ongoing scrutiny related to data privacy, competition, and its dominant position in the market, such concerns have stretched as far back as 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Adam |date=5 Mar 2012 |title=Will We Ever Get Strong Internet Privacy Rules? |url=https://ideas.time.com/2012/03/05/will-we-ever-get-strong-internet-privacy-rules/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Time}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 Sep 2023 |title=REPORT: Google at 25: From “Don’t Be Evil” To ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |url=https://techoversight.org/2023/09/06/google-at-25/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Tech Oversight Project}}</ref> The company has been the subject of various legal and regulatory challenges, particularly concerning antitrust issues, the use of personal data, and its impact on consumer choice.{{Citation needed}} The US government is currently engaged in an antitrust lawsuit against Google, with a decision expected early 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Nov 2024 |title=Closing Arguments, November 25: Once, Twice, Three Times a Monopolist |url=https://www.usvgoogleads.com/trial-updates/closing-arguments-november-25-once-twice-three-times-a-monopolist |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=US v Google}}</ref>

In December 2024, "Google announced to organisations that use its advertising products, that from 16 February 2025, it will no longer prohibit them from employing [[wikipedia:Fingerprint_(computing)|fingerprinting]] techniques."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Almond |first=Stephen |date=19 Dec 2024 |title=Our response to Google’s policy change on fingerprinting |url=https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/12/our-response-to-google-s-policy-change-on-fingerprinting/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ico.}}</ref>

==Anti-consumer incidents==

===Service shutdowns===

====Google Play Music shutdown====
[[wikipedia:Google_Play_Music|Google Play Music]] was a service that allowed users to purchase music, listen via streaming, and download to the local device; alternatively users could pay for a subscription to listen to all music available through streaming. It was publicly launched on the 16th November 2011 and later shutdown in December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=Google Play Music, Music Play Store & Music Manager are going away – everything you need to know |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/62843644/google-play-music-music-play-store-music-manager-are-going-away-%E2%80%93-everything-you-need-to-know?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=28 Oct 2020 |title=RIP Google Play Music, 2011 – 2020 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/10/rip-google-play-music-2011-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> Google Play Music further allowed users to upload their own songs to listen on all their devices, with a limit of up to 50,000 files.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=11 Jan 2017 |title=How to Upload Your Music Library to Google Play Music |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/288231/how-to-upload-your-music-library-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=How-To-Geek}}</ref> Users were able to purchase songs individually or buy whole albums that they could then download and listen to, or stream through the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Jan 2020 |title=How To Buy Music From Google Play (Now YouTube Music) |url=https://www.technobezz.com/buy-music-google-play |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Technobezz}}</ref>

In October 2020, Google announced that they would be shutting down Google Play Music, with it being fully shut down by December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=3 Dec 2020 |title=Google fully shuts down Play Music around the world |url=https://9to5google.com/2020/12/03/google-play-music-dead/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=9To5Google}}</ref> This went ahead with a warning to their users to begin migrating to [[wikipedia:YouTube_Music|YouTube Music]], and that they would be losing access to their purchased songs. Google recommended users should download their purchased songs before the service would shut down.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=YouTube Music will replace Google Play Music by end of 2020 |url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-music-will-replace-google-play-music-end-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=YouTube Official Blog}}</ref>

After the shut down, users lost access to the music they paid for, with no way to download them. Google justified this by transferring all playlists and purchase history to YouTube Music, and only refunding songs that were not directly available,<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Oct 2023 |title=What happened to my songs on Google Music? |url=https://darwinsdata.com/what-happened-to-my-songs-on-google-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Darwin's Data}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chaney |first=Sarah |date=5 Feb 2022 |title=What Happened to Google Play Music? |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/what-happened-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=MUO}}</ref> with no guarantee that the songs will remain available through the new service. Users found that their purchased songs were no longer able to stream at 320kbps on YouTube Music compared to Google Play Music unless they paid for the monthly subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cutlack |first=Gary |date=23 Dec 2012 |title=Google Music UK: everything you need to know |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/software/google-music-uk-everything-you-need-to-know-1120176 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=TechRadar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=L. Hald |first=Nicole |date=24 Mar 2025 |title=How Is YouTube Music Sound Quality in 2025? Is It Any Good? |url=https://www.noteburner.com/youtube-music-tips/youtube-music-audio-quality.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=NoteBurner}}</ref> If a user failed to initiate the transfer of their music library or locally download their songs by 24th February 2021, then they lost all access and all data associated with Google Play Music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sodhi |first=Tanishka |date=8 Feb 2021 |title=Google Play Music Data Will Be Deleted on February 24: Here’s How to Transfer to YouTube Music |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/how-to/news/google-play-music-data-deleted-february-24-youtube-how-to-transfer-files-playlists-billing-information-2365609 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Gadgets 360}}</ref> YouTube Music does not provide the option to download songs as MP3s, with local downloads requiring an internet connection every 30 days to stay up.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download music and podcasts to listen to offline |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/6313535?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>

====Google Stadia shutdown====
In January 2023, Google announced the shutdown of its cloud gaming service, Stadia, which was launched in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RIP Google Stadia: the latest news on the discontinued cloud gaming service |url=https://www.theverge.com/23380140/google-stadia-ending-shutdown-latest-news-gaming-tech |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Stadia required users to purchase games individually, unlike other gaming platforms that offer subscription-based access. Upon the service's closure, Google promised to refund consumers for their purchases, including both games and hardware. The refunds for games and software were issued automatically.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravenscraft |first=Erin |date=10 Nov 2022 |title=Stadia Is Dying. Here’s What’s in Your Refund and How to Get It |url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-your-google-stadia-refund/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Wired}}</ref>

Stadia users were effectively renting access to games, as the platform did not allow for traditional ownership or offline play. With the service discontinued, consumers were left without access to the content they had purchased. Stadia users who had bought controllers and other peripherals for the service were also impacted by the shutdown. While Google offered refunds to customers, many Stadia consumers were left with equipment that no longer performs the advertised functions and limited recourse for repurposing or reselling their devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashworth |first=Mack |date=5 Oct 2022 |title=Stadia Shut Down: How To Use Your Hardware Now Google’s Shutting It Down |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/852697-stadia-shut-down-how-to-use-controller-chromecast-without-app |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Game Revolution}}</ref>

Google Stadia controllers were limited to Wi-Fi connectivity, however upon shut down they started offering an update to allow them to connect through Bluetooth, the update service website was scheduled to shut down on the 31st December 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devine |first=Richard |date=17 Jan 2023 |title=Bluetooth support for Google Stadia Controller arrives — Here's how to enable it and play PC games |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/bluetooth-support-for-google-stadia-controller-arrives-heres-how-to-enable-it-and-play-pc-games |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Windows Central}}</ref>

===='''Manifest V2 shutdown'''====
On July 24, 2025, Google permanently disabled all Manifest V2 extensions for Chrome 138 users, and disabled the ability to turn them back on.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-23 |title=Manifest V2 support timeline |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250808191702/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline |archive-date=2025-08-08 |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref>

Manifest V3 disabled the <code>webRequestBlocking</code> permission in the <code>webRequest</code> API<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Replace blocking web request listeners {{!}} Chrome Extensions {{!}} Chrome for Developers |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614074559/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |archive-date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Chrome for Developers}}</ref>, preventing many ad content blockers from working.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-26 |title=Understanding Manifest V3 and the Future of uBlock Origin |url=https://ublockorigin.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812114916/https://ublockorigin.com/ |archive-date=2025-08-12 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=uBlock Origin - Free, open-source ad content blocker}}</ref> Google cites performance reasons <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Replace blocking web request listeners {{!}} Chrome Extensions {{!}} Chrome for Developers |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614074559/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |archive-date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Chrome for Developers |quote="In Manifest V2, blocking web requests could significantly degrade both the performance of extensions and the performance of pages they work with."}}</ref>, but the more likely reason is to restrict user conrol as content blockers impede their tracking and surveillance of users, decreasing their profits.

==Controversies==

===Google device repair program restrictions===
{{Main|Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair}}
Google's Service & Repair Program terms explicitly state that any device containing non-Google-authorized parts "will not be returned" to the customer.

===Target API level requirements for Google Play apps===
Google's policy of requiring apps for Android to target recent API levels to appear in the Play Store<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Aug 2024 |title=Policy Center |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11926878?hl=en |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Play Console Help}}</ref> creates a continuous cycle of maintenance and redevelopment that can be especially burdensome for smaller developers, indie creators, and consumers.

The requirement for apps to target newer APIs each year serves some legitimate security and feature purposes. However, it also effectively functions as a form of forced obsolescence. Even perfectly functional apps that don't need technical updates must be regularly reworked just to remain visible on the Play Store.

This creates several issues:

*Development resources must be allocated to updating apps rather than creating new features
*Smaller teams and individual developers are placed at a disadvantage attempting to keep up with the constant update cycle
*Legacy apps that are no longer actively maintained disappear, even if they're still useful
*The cost of maintaining apps increases, potentially making some projects financially nonviable
*Losing access to previously purchased apps when upgrading devices
*Users being unable to reinstall older apps that worked perfectly well for their needs
*Facing unexpected costs to replace functionality they've already paid for
*Dealing with the frustration of discovering favorite apps have disappeared

While Google argues this approach improves the Android ecosystem's security and functionality, it does place a significant burden on developers and can lead to the premature "death" of otherwise functional applications.

This creates a troubling disconnect in digital ownership. Consumers reasonably expect that when they purchase an app, they should maintain access to it across their devices over time. Instead, they discover their digital purchases can effectively vanish due to policy decisions beyond their control.

===Ban on third-party tech support ads===
Google prohibits tech support ads on their platform if they are not authorised by the manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graff |first=David |date=31 Aug 2018 |title=Restricting ads in third-party tech support services |url=https://blog.google/products/ads/restricting-ads-third-party-tech-support-services/ |website=Google}}</ref>

==Anti-consumer legal cases==

===Rodriguez v. Google LLC (5/21/21 - Present)===
Google's Web & App Activity setting had the ability to be paused. Reportedly, despite this setting being paused by consumers, Google would continue to collect consumer data regardless of consent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rodriguez v. Google LLC |url=https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/FAQ#faq1 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> This case is currently ongoing and has yet to receive a judgment.<ref>[https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/Documents Important Documents]</ref>

=== Epic Games, Inc. v. Google Inc. (8/13/20 - 5/31/25) ===
Google takes a 30% share of all revenue made through all sales made on the Play Store, which is a comparable figure to other digital storefronts such as the [[Apple App Store]] and [[Steam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Tom |date=7 Oct 2019 |title=Report: Steam's 30% Cut Is Actually the Industry Standard |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/07/report-steams-30-cut-is-actually-the-industry-standard |url-status=live |website=ign.com}}</ref> On 13th August 2020, [[Epic Games]] CEO Tim Sweeney updated both iOS and Android versions of ''Fortnite'' to redirect users to Epic Games' storefront to purchase in-game currency ("V-Bucks") alongside the respective first-party storefront, with incentives including cheaper prices if buying from Epic Games directly. This violated the Terms of Service of both Apple and Google's storefronts, and ''Fortnite'' was removed from both app stores the same day.

Epic Games would use this motion to file federal lawsuits against both Google and Apple, citing that these practices meant that the companies were engaging in anti-competitive behaviour.

==See also ==

===Products and Services===

[[List of Google products]]
===Controversies===

*[[Advertising overload]]
*[[Google follows Samsung, asserts the right to steal your phone during a repair]]
*[[Google Pixel Watches do not come with repair options]]
*[[HD Movie Purchases Google Movies/YouTube reduced to 480p on the web]]

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