Forced account

2026-05-10T23:38:35Z

Poorgeniu5: Added Canon Inc. to the Examples list for forcing account requirements for their "Canon Connect App".

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'''Forced''' '''account registration/sign-in/log-in''' is a practice committed by entities, where users must have (and use) a digital identity to perform simple tasks that may have otherwise been possible without any sort of identifiers.

Because forced accounts generally means anonymity is technically possible, entities that engage in this practice have little reason to do so outside of personal gain. They may find it favorable for several reasons, including:

#'''Identification and tracking of users''' - often accomplished through device identifiers, location information, and network connection.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>
#'''Increased digital integration''' - more integrating means more sharing data with payment processors, ad providers, and more.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>
#'''Increased centralization and dependency on big companies''' - further consolidates power and wealth into large companies, such as the tech companies who own the authentication [[wikipedia:Server_(computing)|servers]], as well as payment processors. While [[wikipedia:Decentralized_identifier|not all user identification mechanisms need centralization]], most corporations tend to prefer centralization.{{Citation needed}}

==Examples==

*[[Samsung]] and [[Google]] both deliberately limit what the user can do on the [[wikipedia:Galaxy_Store|Galaxy Store]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Do I Need a Samsung Account to Download Galaxy Store Apps? |url=https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/apps-services/do-i-need-a-samsung-account-to-download-an-app/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228134531/https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/apps-services/do-i-need-a-samsung-account-to-download-an-app/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-03-16 |website=Samsung UK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Adamya |date=2024-09-25 |title=A Samsung account is now mandatory to access the Galaxy Store |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-account-galaxy-store-access-3484730/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007130724/https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-account-galaxy-store-access-3484730 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2026-03-16 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> and [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Play Store]]{{Citation needed}}, respectively. Most features (such as updating and installing apps) are either completely blocked, or hidden from the main [[wikipedia:User_interface|UI]], nagging the user into signing-in to unlock the "extra" features.{{Citation needed}}
*[[LG]] mandates login to download (and update) apps on smart TVs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Aug 2015 |title=Can't sign in to LG account on TV |url=https://www.avforums.com/threads/cant-sign-in-to-lg-account-on-tv.1973633/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250405170128/https://www.avforums.com/threads/cant-sign-in-to-lg-account-on-tv.1973633/ |archive-date=5 Apr 2025 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=avforums}}</ref>
*[[Windows 11]] requires to log in with a [[Microsoft]] account in order to configure and use the operating system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Microsoft Corporation |date=2025-08-17 |title=Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817084049/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1#expand |archive-date=2025-08-17 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Microsoft Corporation}}</ref>
*Many social-media apps (both web and native), (such as: [[Meta|Facebook]], [[Instagram]], [[X Corp|Twitter/X]], [[Pinterest]], etc...) are well-known for nagging users that aren't logged-in.{{Citation needed}} Instagram is a especially anti-consumer example, as it deliberately nags users even if they disabled [[JavaScript]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernández Serrata |first=Ricardo |date=2025-08-16 |title=GTFO "meta Inc." |url=https://github.com/Rudxain/uBO-rules/pull/9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317064359/https://github.com/Rudxain/uBO-rules/pull/9 |archive-date=2026-03-17 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=GitHub}}</ref> going as far as blocking access to any media (images, videos and "reels") after the user has watched a few of them.<ref>https://mashable.com/article/instagram-requires-log-in-to-view-profiles</ref><ref>https://thenextweb.com/news/instagram-now-forces-people-to-sign-in-to-view-public-profiles</ref>
*[[Discord]] doesn't even allow viewing public guilds, unless the user has logged-in. This is especially bad for archival purposes, since they aggressively block "self-bot" accounts unless the bot has been officially registered.<ref>https://discord.com/guidelines</ref>
*[[Canon]] have started requiring an online account to use their [[Canon Camera Connect]] app as of version 3.4.0 on April 2025<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canon Inc. |first= |title=Canon ID make Canon products and services more convenient and enjoyable for you |url=https://app.ssw.imaging-saas.canon/app/en/canon-id.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260312004658/https://app.ssw.imaging-saas.canon/app/en/canon-id.html |archive-date=2026-03-12 |access-date=10 May 2026}}</ref> despite the app's image transfer feature and remote shutter control, operates purely over direct Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection to the camera respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Neil |date=26 Nov 2024 |title=The coming enshittification of Canon Camera Connect |url=https://neilturner.me.uk/2024/11/26/the-coming-enshittification-of-canon-camera-connect/ |url-status=live |access-date=10 May 2026}}</ref>
==See also==

*[[Forced identification]]
*[[Forced app download]]
*[[Dark pattern#Forced action|Dark pattern § Forced action]]
*[[Android Developer Verification]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Theme]]

Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Forced account