Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Adobe

2025-12-12T04:13:25Z

Speedrunz: /* Lack of ownership */ added year

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Adobe
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Software
| Official Website = https://adobe.com/
| Logo = Adobe.svg
}}

[[wikipedia:Adobe_Inc.|'''Adobe''']] is a software company based in San Jose, California, that specializes in creative software, including photo editing, video editing, animation, illustration, web development, and more. Founded in 1982, the company developed the Portable Document Format (PDF) in 1992, along with a comprehensive suite of creative software. Widespread adoption of their products by novices, industry professionals, and nation-states has enabled Adobe to carve out a significant market share in the creative software industry. In FY24, Adobe's Digital Media Segment reported $15.86 billion in revenue to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). <ref>[https://www.adobe.com/cc-shared/assets/investor-relations/pdfs/adbe-2024-annual-report.pdf ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934] </ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Lack of ownership===
In 2013, Adobe switched from a perpetual license model to a subscription model (Creative Cloud).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2013-05-06 |title=Adobe’s Creative Suite is dead, long live the Creative Cloud |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/05/adobes-creative-suite-is-dead-long-live-the-creative-cloud/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Campbell-Dollaghan |first=Kelsey |date=2013-05-06 |title=Say Goodbye to Creative Suite: Adobe CS Is Now Creative Cloud |url=https://gizmodo.com/say-goodbye-to-creative-suite-adobe-rebrands-cs-as-cre-493155052 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2013-05-06 |title=Adobe heralds subscription-only future for Photoshop and Creative Suite |url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/06/Adobe-kills-perpetual-licenses-as-creative-suite-moves-to-creative-cloud-cc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622072403/http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/06/Adobe-kills-perpetual-licenses-as-creative-suite-moves-to-creative-cloud-cc |archive-date=2013-06-22 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Digital Photography Review}}</ref>

===Proprietary file formats===
Works created in Adobe software come in Adobe-exclusive file formats such as .psd for Photoshop<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Colin |date= |title=Most commonly used file types in Photoshop |url=https://photoshopcafe.com/commonly-used-file-types-photoshop/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Photoshop CAFE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Brendan |date=2023-10-12 |title=File Formats In Photoshop Explained (Complete List) |url=https://www.bwillcreative.com/file-formats-in-photoshop-explained/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Brendan Williams Creative}}</ref> and .indd for InDesign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Which File Format?: A Guide to INDD, IDML, INX and Everything In-Between |url=https://indesignskills.com/tutorials/open-indesign-files-in-earlier-versions/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=InDesign Skills}}</ref>

===Data breaches===
In 2013, Adobe disclosed a data breach affecting approximately 3 million customers. This number was later revised to approximately 38 million. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Finkle |first=Jim |date=29 Oct 2013 |title=Adobe data breach more extensive than previously disclosed |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/technology/adobe-data-breach-more-extensive-than-previously-disclosed-idUSBRE99S1DJ |website=reuters.com/}}</ref> This incident resulted in a $1,000,000 settlement and a commitment to implementing new security policies. <ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Nov 2016 |title=Adobe to Pay $1 Million, Update Security Policies to Resolve Multistate Investigation Into Data Breach |url=https://www.mass.gov/news/adobe-to-pay-1-million-update-security-policies-to-resolve-multistate-investigation-into-data-breach |website=mass.gov}}</ref> In 2019, researchers discovered that Adobe's Elasticsearch database was insecure, potentially exposing the information of approximately 7.5 million users. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Khandelwal |first=Swati |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Unsecured Adobe Server Exposes Data for 7.5 Million Creative Cloud Users |url=https://thehackernews.com/2019/10/adobe-database-leaked.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com}}</ref> Breaches impacting U.S. federal agencies and Adobe Commerce/Magento stores also occurred in 2023 and 2024, respectively. <ref>{{Cite web |date=5 Dec 2023 |title=Threat Actors Exploit Adobe ColdFusion CVE-2023-26360 for Initial Access to Government Servers |url=https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-339a |website=cisa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sansec Forensics Team |date=1 Oct 2024 |title=Thousands of Adobe Commerce stores hacked in competing CosmicSting campaigns |url=https://sansec.io/research/cosmicsting-fallout |website=sansec.io}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Transition to subscription-based software===
{{Hatnote|Read More: [[Adobe Lightroom]], [[Adobe Subscriptions]], [[Adobe CS Activation]] and
[[Adobe sued by FTC over hidden fees in subscription plans]]
}}

Adobe initially distributed its software with perpetual licenses, allowing its users to make a one-time payment to own and access a specific application or, through Adobe's Creative Suite, a collection of applications. In 2011, Adobe introduced Creative Cloud, a subscription service that provides users with access to individual applications or multiple applications for a monthly or yearly fee. In 2013, Adobe discontinued Creative Suite.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

As of 2025, the only means to access up-to-date versions of many Adobe applications legally is through Creative Cloud. Additionally, the activation servers for perpetual licenses of previous versions of these applications have been shut down, which prevents consumers from activating the software using a legitimate copy and a serial number.

Creative Cloud offers various subscription options, including monthly plans (with monthly or annual billing) or prepaid yearly plans. There are also plans for individual applications and bundles containing multiple applications. Prices of individual applications range from $22.99 per month or $263.88 prepaid annually. The Creative Cloud Pro subscription, which includes 22 applications and additional extras such as 100 GB of cloud storage, is priced at $69.99 per month or $779.88 per year prepaid.

Plans billed annually but paid monthly have a cancellation fee 14 days after purchase. This fee is set at 50% of the remaining contract balance. For example, if the user cancels the plan in the seventh month of an annual plan that costs $69.99 per month, they will incur a fee of $174.98. Prepaid annual plans do not offer refunds or cancellation options after the 14-day period.

===Alleged use of user data for AI training===
{{main|Adobe's AI policy}}
Adobe has been accused of using user information for the purpose of training artificial intelligence. In 2024, Adobe updated its Terms of Service, granting itself a "non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license" to users' content. This grants Adobe permission to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display, publicly perform, and sublicense their users' content. This change raises concerns over conflicts with existing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and intellectual property rights. Users were required to accept the new Terms of Service to access their previously stored content.

Adobe has stated that it does not use user content to train generative AI, but Adobe may use it for improving its machine learning systems, with an opt-out available. However, no opt-out option was presented during acceptance of the Terms of Service. 

===User documents forced into the cloud with no opt-out===
Some of Adobe's iPad applications, including, but not limited to, the digital painting application Adobe Fresco<ref>{{Cite web |author=PaulaArtist2 |date=2021-12-13 |title=[How To] Save work locally / work offline |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/fresco-discussions/how-to-save-work-locally-work-offline/m-p/12390252 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref> and the document scanning application Adobe Scan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagra |first=Ria |date=2021-06-14 |title=Does Adobe Scan offer a way to not utilize the Adobe Cloud |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/adobe-scan-discussions/does-adobe-scan-offer-a-way-to-not-utilize-the-adobe-cloud/m-p/12104402 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref>, require an account to access and do not offer any option to opt out of syncing all documents created in these applications with Adobe's cloud servers. Similarly, the new non-Classic versions of Lightroom are fundamentally built around uploading all images to Adobe's cloud.

There is no end-to-end encryption, i.e., Adobe has full access to all of these files. Disabling internet access allows you to work offline, but any files created in the affected apps will immediately sync to the cloud in the background as soon as the device is connected to a network again.

As an American company, Adobe is subject to the United States Cloud Act, which requires all US companies to grant the US government access to any user data, even if stored on servers outside their jurisdiction, and comply with requests to help with spy operations upon request.

===Tracking users' eBook reading activities===
In 2014, it was revealed that Adobe Digital Editions, Adobe’s e-book reading application, reported extensive information about users' reading habits back to Adobe. This included several unique identifiers, such as which e-books were added to the application, when each one was opened, and for how long, as well as the percentage read and page navigation information.

All of this information was transmitted completely unencrypted in plain text. This meant that someone else using the same public Wi-Fi as another user would have been able to track their reading activities in real-time, entirely undetected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |date=8 Oct 2014 |title=Adobe’s e-book reader sends your reading logs back to Adobe—in plain text |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/10/adobes-e-book-reader-sends-your-reading-logs-back-to-adobe-in-plain-text/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ArsTechnica]]}}</ref>

===User information leaks and data breaches===
In 2013, credit card information and personal data of 38 million users were exposed in a data breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Maaz |date=26 Mar 2023 |title=The Adobe Attack of 2013: A Cautionary Tale of Cybersecurity Failure |url=https://medium.com/@maazptl240602/the-adobe-attack-of-2013-a-cautionary-tale-of-cybersecurity-failure-1ef4ec74eb64 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Medium]]}}</ref>

In 2019, Adobe left approximately 7.5 million Creative Cloud customer records publicly accessible online due to gross negligence. The database was not protected with a password.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cimpanu |first=Catalin |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Adobe left 7.5 million Creative Cloud user records exposed online |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-left-7-5-million-creative-cloud-user-records-exposed-online/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[ZDNet]}}</ref>

===Paywalls Pantone colors and changes user files===
Adobe and Pantone change colors in users' existing files in Photoshop and Illustrator to black unless they pay an additional $15/month. <ref>{{Cite web |title=You now have to pay to use Pantone colors in Adobe products |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/1/23434305/adobe-pantone-subscription-announcement-photoshop-illustrator |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adobe Just Held a Bunch of Colors Hostage |url=https://www.wired.com/story/adobe-pantone-color-subscription-fee/ |website=Wired}}</ref>

==Products==

===Adobe Creative Cloud===
Adobe's previous line of creative software has been joined into a broader ecosystem called the ''Adobe Creative Cloud.'' The Creative Cloud includes updated versions of the previously purchasable software:

*Photoshop
*Lightroom
*InDesign
*After Effects
*Dreamweaver
*Illustrator
*XD
*and many more

Included with the Creative Cloud, depending on plan options, Adobe also offers cloud-based storage, typefaces, stock photos, and other stock files.

==References==
<references />
*{{cite web |author=((Wikipedia contributors)) |date=2025-02-03 |title=Adobe Inc. |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adobe_Inc.&oldid=1273676016 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Wikipedia}}
*{{cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=Adobe roofies all of their customers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXxMCm941WA |date=2024-06-07 |website=YouTube |access-date=2025-01-15}}

[[Category:Adobe]]

Nintendo

2025-12-12T03:58:48Z

Speedrunz: /* Patented gameplay mechanics (2025) */ small rephrasing and grammer edit

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Nintendo
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1889
| Industry = Electronics, Entertainment Software
| Official Website = https://nintendo.com/
| Logo = Nintendo.png
}}

Founded in 1889, '''[[Wikipedia:Nintendo|Nintendo Co., Ltd.]]''' is a multi-billion-dollar video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan with multiple subdivisions outside of Japan. They manufacture video game consoles and handhelds, the most recent of which being the [[Nintendo Switch|Switch 2]]. Some of their best-known systems include the Wii, Nintendo 64, [[Nintendo Switch|Switch]], GameCube, and Game Boy. They are well-known for various popular video game franchises, such as ''Super Mario'', ''The Legend of Zelda'', ''Pokémon'', and ''Metroid''.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*'''User freedom:''' Extensive history against hardware and software modification; currently disables online functionality completely on modded consoles, which can, in some cases, effectively brick a system.
*'''User privacy:''' Historically has ignored individual consumers; confirmed to be spying on [[Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch 2]] hardware [[Nintendo Switch bans|to detect modifications]].
*'''Business model:''' Hardware sales, software sales, more recently subscriptions such as [[Nintendo Switch Online]] and microtransactions.
*'''Market competition:''' Limited home console competition from [[Sony]] and [[Xbox]]; limited portable console competition coming from emulation handhelds and [[Valve]]'s ''Steam Deck''.

==Controversial Practices==
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:Nintendo|Nintendo category]].

===History against console emulation===
United States Copyright Law, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 117 effectively states that making a copy of a computer program that you still own the original copy of (e.g., a video game, like Super Smash Bros. Melee) is legal if copying it is necessary in order to use the program with a machine (e.g., the Dolphin emulator) and that it isn't used in any other way, or to archive the program<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=Chapter 1: Subject Matter and Scope of Copyright, Section 117 |url=https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=U.S. Copyright Office}}</ref>. Emulation is also legal in this context, as proven by ''Sony v. Connectix''<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2025 |title=Sony Computer Entertainment v. Connectix Corp. |url=https://casetext.com/case/sony-computer-entertainment-v-connectix-corp-2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331104619/https://casetext.com/case/sony-computer-entertainment-v-connectix-corp-2 |archive-date=31 Mar 2025 |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=CaseText}}</ref> and ''Sony v. Bleem''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Apr 2023 |title=Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. v. Bleem, LLC |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Sony_Computer_Entertainment_America,_Inc._v._Bleem,_LLC |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=Wikisource}}</ref>. Despite this precedent, however, Nintendo is well-known for their extensive history of combating emulation of their games and hardware.

====Examples:====

*In 1999, Nintendo sued Nintendo 64 emulator UltraHLE.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Hemos |date=12 Feb 1999 |title=Nintendo Confirms It Will Sue UltraHLE Creators 96 |url=https://games.slashdot.org/story/99/02/12/0943207/nintendo-confirms-it-will-sue-ultrahle-creators |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=games.slashdot.org}} </ref>
*On November 19th, 2020, The Big House, a Super Smash Bros. Melee and Ultimate tournament, announced that Nintendo had sent them a cease and desist because of their use of a Super Smash Bros. Melee modification that required the use of a GameCube and Wii emulator known as Dolphin.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=20 Nov 2020 |title=Nintendo shuts down Super Smash Bros. tournament for using mods to play online |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/20/21579392/nintendo-big-house-super-smash-bros-melee-tournament-slippi-cease-desist |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=@TheBigHouseSSB |date=19 Nov 2020 |title=The Big House on X (Twitter) |url=https://twitter.com/TheBigHouseSSB/status/1329521081577857036 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127080201/https://twitter.com/TheBigHouseSSB/status/1329521081577857036 |archive-date=27 Nov 2020 |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=X (Twitter)}}</ref> This led them to have to cancel the tournament. ''Full section: [https://consumerrights.wiki/Nintendo#The_Big_House_Online_Tournament_(2020) The Big House Online Tournament (2020)]''
*In 2024, Nintendo took down [[Nintendo Switch]] emulator Yuzu, as well as the Nintendo 3DS emulator Citra.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Joseph |date=11 Apr 2024 |title=Ninten-don’t: Breaking Down the Yuzu Emulator Lawsuit |url=https://www.romanolaw.com/ninten-dont-breaking-down-the-yuzu-emulator-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.romanolaw.com}} </ref>
*Nintendo has also pressured for restrictions to access emulators, such as Dolphin's non-inclusion as a core for the [[Steam]] version of RetroArch.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Jul 2023 |title=What Happened to Dolphin on Steam? |url=https://it.dolphin-emu.org/blog/2023/07/20/what-happened-to-dolphin-on-steam/?cr=it |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=it.dolphin-emu.org}}</ref>

===History against hardware modification===
<blockquote>''Further Reading: [[Game Genie lawsuit]], [[Le Hoang Minh lawsuit]], [[Team Xecuter and Gary Bowser lawsuit]], [[ModdedHardware lawsuit]], [[Nintendo's May 2025 Policy Updates]]'' 

''See also: [https://consumerrights.wiki/Nintendo#Controversial_agreements_and_policies Controversial agreements and policies]''</blockquote>Nintendo is known to frequently get into legal altercations with the creators of hardware modifications.

====Examples:====

*Nintendo has sued the creators of cheat code devices, such as the Game Genie<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Eric E. |date=31 Dec 2007 |title=Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc. in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 964 F. 2d 965 (9th Cir. 1992) |url=https://www.museumofintellectualproperty.org/features/game_genie.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.museumofintellectualproperty.org}}</ref> and 10NES circumvention<ref>{{Cite web |date=1992 |title=Atari Games Corp. v. Nintendo of Am. Inc |url=https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/summaries/atari-nintendo-fedcir1992.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.copyright.gov}}</ref> which allowed users to enter cheat codes into their games and bypass the security lockout chip to prevent [[piracy]].

*On November 18th, 2020, Nintendo of America sued Le Hoang Minh for selling RCM Loaders (plug in USB devices allowing unsigned/homebrew software to run on a Nintendo Switch), accusing him of selling piracy devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Nintendo sues more hack sellers, ‘a worsening international problem’ |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/18/21574488/nintendo-rcm-loader-jailbreak-lawsuit-switch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126071118/https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/18/21574488/nintendo-rcm-loader-jailbreak-lawsuit-switch |archive-date=26 Nov 2020 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref>
*On April 16th, 2021, Nintendo of America sued Gary Bowser, head of video game modchip development and sales group Team Xecuter for over $150,000, accusing him of selling piracy devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=17 Apr 2021 |title=Nintendo suing Bowser over Switch hacks |url=https://www.polygon.com/22388720/nintendo-bowser-lawsuit-team-xecuter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417151420/https://www.polygon.com/22388720/nintendo-bowser-lawsuit-team-xecuter |archive-date=17 Apr 2021 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref>In a subsequent criminal case, Bowser plead guilty to conspiracy to circumvent technological measures and received a 40 month sentence in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-10 |title=Public voice and principal salesperson for notorious videogame piracy group sentenced to 3+ years in prison for conspiracy |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/public-voice-and-principal-salesperson-notorious-videogame-piracy-group-sentenced-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ob2eg#selection-395.5-395.10 |archive-date=2022-02-11 |publisher=The United States Attorney's Office}}</ref> He was released after serving 14 months and reported to be destitute and struggling to pay rent as he owes Nintendo $14 million dollars.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=2024-02-01 |title=The man who owes Nintendo $14m: Gary Bowser and gaming’s most infamous piracy case |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/feb/01/the-man-who-owes-nintendo-14m-gary-bowser-and-gamings-most-infamous-piracy-case |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eZPwz |archive-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
*On June 28th, 2024, Nintendo sued modded game seller ModdedHardware for selling [[Nintendo Switch]] flashcarts, modded [[Nintendo Switch]] consoles, and a mail-in console modding service with the argument being raised that a modded system is capable of running pirated software alongside allegations of ModdedHardware pre-installing pirated games, despite citing no evidence in the legal document.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van der Sar |first=Ernesto |date=1 Jul 2024 |title=Nintendo Sues ‘Modded Hardware’ and r/SwitchPirates Moderator ‘Archbox’ |url=https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-sues-modded-hardware-and-r-switchpirates-moderator-archbox-240701/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710091021/https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-sues-modded-hardware-and-r-switchpirates-moderator-archbox-240701/ |archive-date=10 Jul 2024 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=TorrentFreak}}</ref>

*In May 2025, Nintendo updated their privacy policy<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Nintendo |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/privacy_policy/US?lang=en-US |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Nintendo Accounts}}</ref> to reserve the company the right to remotely disable consoles owned by consumers if it detects modified hardware or software attempting to run on the system.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo reserves the right to brick your console following "unauthorised use", in bid to prevent piracy |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref>

===De-listing/destruction of access to games===
<blockquote>''Further Reading: [[Storefront shutdown#Wii U/3DS eShops (2012–2023)]], [[Storefront shutdown#Wii Shop Channel (2006–2019)]]'' </blockquote>In late January of 2019, Nintendo shut down their first digital storefront, the Wii Shop Channel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=Wii Shop Channel Discontinuation |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27560/~/wii-shop-channel-discontinuation |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Customer Support}}</ref> Super Mario 3D All-Stars was pulled from the Nintendo eShop and store shelves on March 31st, 2021. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Martinez |first=Phillip |date=2021-03-02 |title='Super Mario 3D All-Stars' and More Still to be Removed by Nintendo in March |url=https://www.newsweek.com/super-mario-3d-all-stars-35-anniversary-game-watch-nintendo-removed-1573211 |work=Newsweek}}</ref> Anyone who downloaded the game or purchased a physical copy was granted access past the expiration date. On March 27, 2023, Nintendo shut down the Wii U and [[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]] eShops.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Apr 2023 |title=Notice of End of Purchases in Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DUpdate April 2023 |url=https://www.nintendo.com/au/support/articles/wii-u-and-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Support}}</ref> These shutdowns have made it nearly impossible to legally obtain new copies for hundreds of games. Titles affected include Splatoon, Super Mario Maker, Pokémon Picross, and more.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 Mar 2023 |title=These are the 1,000 digital-only 3DS and Wii U games disappearing next week |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/analysis-digital-only-wii-u-3ds-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.videogameschronicle.com}}</ref> As of now, over 1,000 digitally exclusive games can only be obtained through piracy, and a subset requires additional modification to run.

In early 2025, [[Nintendo Switch Online]] (NSO) delisted a game for the first time, Super Soccer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@GVG |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=First Game Removed from Nintendo Switch Online |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSz-wKls0Wk |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Glagowski |first=Peter |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Nintendo of Japan announces title will be removed from NSO library, first time since launch |url=https://nintendowire.com/news/2025/02/28/nintendo-of-japan-announces-title-will-be-removed-from-nso-library-first-time-since-launch/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Wire}}</ref> With the previously mentioned events of delisting of products a consumer owns for their consoles, such as a physical game on disc or a previously downloaded digital title, consumers still had the ability to play these games, and in some instances, even reinstall them. However, with [[Nintendo Switch Online|NSO]] acting as a [[streaming service]] for games it provides to consumers, when a title is delisted, consumers completely and totally lose access to the game, unless the company who requested the title to be delisted were to re-list the game on the service. This event has caused rightful concern among consumers, because this may set a dangerous precedent for access to retro games in the future.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flores Jr. |first=Johnny |date=1 Mar 2025 |title=Nintendo Is Delisting A Game From The Switch Online Library For The First Time |url=https://www.thegamer.com/nintendo-delisting-snes-game-from-switch-online-library/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=The Gamer}}</ref>

===Nintendo authorized repair===
<blockquote>Further Reading: [[Nintendo authorized repair]]

[[Nintendo refuses to repair water damaged Switch 2 console]]</blockquote>A man sent in their Nintendo Switch to Nintendo for repair of a broken charging port and was given an estimate of £132 (161.51 USD) to replace the entire motherboard, which would result in data loss and noted screen damage. This was despite the only damage to the console being to the charging port and a screen protector, and not the screen itself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=31 Jul 2021 |title=Why Nintendo authorized repair sucks: the incentives are at odds with a good repair experience |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxKJn35DK8k |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>  

======Rust in new units of Switch 2======
Around early-mid July 2025 there have been findings of brand new Nintendo Switch 2 having rust on internal components.

On June 30th, 2025 a YouTube channel "BGA TECH ASSISTÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA" uploaded a video titled "Swich 2 vs Oled, Technical Review, weight, motherboard, which has the biggest battery?". During the process of disassembly of the new device they discovered rust on an internal component (which can be seen in the video at around 17:16). <ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2025 |title=Swich 2 vs Oled, Technical Review, weight, motherboard, which has the biggest battery? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj_ne2cL_-U&t=1036s |website=youtube.com}}</ref>

On July 8th, 2025 a Nintendo customer made a post on Reddit<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-08 |title=Bricked Switch 2, Nintendo claiming water damage |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/consolerepair/comments/1lugq83/bricked_switch_2_nintendo_claiming_water_damage/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250715124737/https://old.reddit.com/r/consolerepair/comments/1lugq83/bricked_switch_2_nintendo_claiming_water_damage/ |archive-date=2025-07-15 |website=reddit.com}}</ref> describing how Nintendo refused to repair a defective device under warranty. In this case, customer's device stopped turning on about a week after a purchase, but it still kept drawing some power. Customer sent the device to Nintendo for repairs. Nintendo replied that "CPU and LCD housing were corroded due to water damage", refused to repair device free of charge under "twelve (12) month from the day of purchase" limited warranty<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warranty and Service Information |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/50404 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708231402/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/50404 |archive-date=2025-07-08 |website=nintendo.com}}</ref> and wanted to charge customer around 35,000 yen (~$240) for a repair. Nintendo also confirmed that water damage indicator stickers did NOT change color. Customer refused receiving a repair, received unit back and made an unboxing video of this device. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-13 |title=Unboxing my DEAD Switch 2 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Z4sWJK2J8 |website=youtube.com}}</ref>

===Joy-Con and Joystick related Hardware Failures===

[[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] are the included controllers (retailing for $80) for the Nintendo Switch, and they are prone to failure via "stick drift" within a few months of purchase. According to the 2022 study by the British consumer protection group '''Which?''<nowiki/>', 40% of [[Nintendo Switch]] owners experienced [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Con]] drift.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Andrew |date=14 Jun 2022 |title=Two in five UK Nintendo Switch Classic consoles blighted by Joy-Con drift |url=https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/two-in-five-uk-nintendo-switch-classic-consoles-blighted-by-joy-con-drift-aVaRY2j5RoO8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626212228/https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/two-in-five-uk-nintendo-switch-classic-consoles-blighted-by-joy-con-drift-aVaRY2j5RoO8 |archive-date=26 Jun 2022 |access-date=1 Jun 2025 |website=Which?}}</ref> This defect is also found in other official Nintendo controllers, like the Pro Controller (Pro-Cons), and the Switch Lite, a version of the Nintendo Switch that has its Joy-Cons built into the handheld system. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa apologized for the "inconvenience" and subsequently launched Nintendo's "free repair program."

The way the "free repair program" works is that the user will send the defective [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] to Nintendo for "repair," which, in most cases, involves replacing the defective [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] with new ones. The problem arises in cases involving limited edition [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]], where you have to sign off on consenting to the possibility of your limited edition or "non-standard colored" [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] being replaced with a standard color [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Con]] if they are sent to Nintendo for "repair." This leaves consumers with these limited edition [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] without a guaranteed way to get their products repaired if they use Nintendo's official repair service.

===The Big House Online Tournament (2020)===
On November 19th, 2020, The Big House, a Super Smash Brothers Melee and Ultimate tournament, announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that they had received a cease and desist from Nintendo of America, and would be forced to cancel the tournament.<ref name=":5" /> Nintendo had told The Big House that they were not allowed to host their online tournament because of their use of a game modification. The modification was Slippi, which runs through a GameCube and Wii emulator called Dolphin to enable online functionality for Super Smash Bros. Melee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About - What is Slippi? |url=https://slippi.gg/about |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=Slippi.gg}}</ref>

Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, The Big House tournament was going to be run online primarily for attendees' safety. Melee is a video game from 2001 that does not have built-in online functionality, so it would have been impossible to run an online tournament for it without the use of modifications. A Nintendo of America spokesperson claimed that the cease and desist was issued to "protect [Nintendo's] intellectual property and brands". The spokesperson also stated that allowing the tournament to run would "condone or allow piracy of [Nintendo's] intellectual property". In other words, the spokesperson claimed that using Slippi would have required the use of pirated copies of Melee<ref name=":4" />, despite the fact that professional Melee players typically play legitimate copies of the game on official hardware to practice and compete.

===Etika JOYCONBOYZ Charity Shutdown===
On or around June 19, 2019, popular YouTuber Desmond Daniel Amofah known by his YouTube username Etika was found deceased after having committed suicide following a series of mental health issues. He was known for his livestream reactions to Nintendo's online events such as Nintendo Direct presentations. Known for his over-the-top reaction style, his fanbase became unofficially known as the "JOYCONBOYZ". Among tributes following his passing, fellow YouTuber JoyConJames created custom shells for the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers known as Etikons which contained the official fan phrase "JOYCONBOYZ" printed on them with a proceed of sales for each shell going to mental health awareness and mental health research facilities. On December 6, 2020, JoyConJames uploaded a YouTube video announcing that he had received a cease & desist notice from Nintendo prohibiting him from selling the Joy-Con skins. The notion that the skins were being sold for charity and in honor of a fan of Nintendo and their work drew anger and criticism from the company's fan base.<ref>{{cite web |title=Custom Joy-Cons That Honor Deceased YouTuber Shut Down By Nintendo |url=https://screenrant.com/nintendo-switch-joycon-etika-joyconboyz-shut-down-charity/ |url-status=live |access-date=13 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Nintendo V. Pocketpair===
Nintendo is suing Pocketpair, the developers of the extremely popular video game Palworld,<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Palworld_EN |date=19 Sep 2024 |title=Palworld_EN on X |url=https://x.com/Palworld_EN/status/1836692701355688146 |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=X}}</ref> for patent infringement, despite filing the patent after Palworld was already released to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2024 |title=US Patent Application for STORAGE MEDIUM STORING GAME PROGRAM, GAME SYSTEM, GAME APPARATUS, AND GAME PROCESSING METHOD Patent Application (Application #20240278129) |url=https://patents.justia.com/patent/20240278129 |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=patents.justia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@PirateSoftware |date=17 Oct 2024 |title=Palworld Lawsuit |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4ZZx4wiofw |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=Nintendo Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks More |url=https://gamerant.com/nintendo-anti-palworld-patents-uspto-infringement-lawsuit-implications/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=GameRant}}</ref>

===Nintendo Creators Program===
{{Main|Nintendo Creators Program}}
In 2013, Nintendo placed advertisements on let's play videos where their games were played, taking 100% of all revenue made by said adverts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |date=15 May 2013 |title=Nintendo Forcing Ads On Some YouTube "Let's Play" Videos |url=https://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-507092383 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607222601/https://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-507092383 |archive-date=7 Jun 2013 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku}}</ref> In 2015, Nintendo started a YouTube partnership program, which required the removal of all non-Nintendo related videos on the channel, creators being given 60% of revenue per video or 70% of the channel's gross revenue. The program only allowed games on an internal Nintendo-made whitelist which infamously lacked multiple large/popular releases of the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=29 Jan 2015 |title=Nintendo to share up to 70 percent of ad revenue with game YouTubers |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/nintendo-to-share-up-to-70-percent-of-ad-revenue-with-game-youtubers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208085014/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/nintendo-to-share-up-to-70-percent-of-ad-revenue-with-game-youtubers/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2015 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> In 2017, Nintendo announced that live streaming wasn't allowed for creators in their Creator Program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=2 Oct 2017 |title=Nintendo no longer welcoming YouTube livestreams of its games |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/nintendo-cuts-off-ad-program-for-youtube-livestreamers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004040443/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/nintendo-cuts-off-ad-program-for-youtube-livestreamers/ |archive-date=4 Oct 2017 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> It ended in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=29 Nov 2018 |title=Nintendo ends controversial YouTube revenue-sharing program |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/11/nintendo-loosens-content-restrictions-ends-revenue-splitting-for-video-makers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130073206/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/11/nintendo-loosens-content-restrictions-ends-revenue-splitting-for-video-makers/ |archive-date=30 Nov 2018 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref>, with Nintendo stating they “encourage you to create videos that include your creative input and commentary” and that “Videos and images that contain mere copies of Nintendo Game Content without creative input or commentary are not permitted.”<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2 Sep 2024 |title=Nintendo Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/networkservice_guideline/en/index.html?n |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322224418/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/networkservice_guideline/en/index.html?n |archive-date=22 Mar 2025 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Nintendo}}</ref>

===Nintendo Switch 2 USB-C port anti-competitiveness===
Nintendo Switch 2 and its dock transfer information like all other USB-C connections, but they will talk in code effectively denying all other connections seeking to display video. Research from The Verge has shown that this language is almost exclusive to the Switch 2, but did find one notable exception: the Antank S3 Max TV dock at the lower price point of $29.99. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2025-07-02 |title=How Nintendo locked down the Switch 2’s USB-C port and broke third-party docking {{!}} The Verge |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/20250717114136/https://www.theverge.com/report/695915/switch-2-usb-c-third-party-docks-dont-work-authentication-encryption |archive-date=2025-07-17 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Antank S3 MAX TV Dock Station for Nintendo Switch 2 -- Antank Official Store |url=https://antank.net/products/s3-max?srsltid=AfmBOoqng_pXTXBmI-2YvHnJ4xniibP4VL8ovodbh-w5IPSgdrSGiDUE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816195135/https://antank.net/products/s3-max?srsltid=AfmBOoqng_pXTXBmI-2YvHnJ4xniibP4VL8ovodbh-w5IPSgdrSGiDUE |archive-date=2025-08-16 |website=Antank}}</ref> In practice, this means Nintendo has a near monopoly on docks and it would be possible for them to enact a firmware update to stop all independent companies who may have found a way to make their technology compatible. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Khullar |first=Kunal |date=2025-07-03 |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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816194217/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 |archive-date=2025-08-16 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> To buy an official Nintendo Switch 2 dock from the Nintendo store it costs $124.99 and many customers would prefer a cheaper alternative. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set - Nintendo Official Site |url=https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/nintendo-switch-2-dock-set-123791/?srsltid=AfmBOoq7cJk9ApjZW8IBGczhFHnf4gINg7U8BJsMyi5GH-wr_K-0TVf4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816193742/https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/nintendo-switch-2-dock-set-123791/?srsltid=AfmBOoq7cJk9ApjZW8IBGczhFHnf4gINg7U8BJsMyi5GH-wr_K-0TVf4 |archive-date=2025-08-16 |website=Nintendo}}</ref> Customers report the device's Ethernet port occasionally disconnects and others say it can overheat due to the poor design blocking ventilation. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Corsetti |first=Adam |date=2025-07-03 |title=USB-C port testing explains why a third-party Nintendo Switch 2 dock won't work with console - NotebookCheck.net News |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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816200245/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 |archive-date=2025-08-16 |website=Notebook Check}}</ref>

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.

On the 10th of November 2025, multiple users across social media started to report that a firmware update pushed to their consoles broke compatibility with Third-Party dock accessories<ref>{{Cite news |last=Corsetti |first=Adam |date= |title=Third-party Switch 2 docks stop working after firmware update, but accessory makers fight back |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/Third-party-Switch-2-docks-stop-working-after-firmware-update-but-accessory-makers-fight-back.1161611.0.html |url-status=live |work=NotebookCheck}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cubbins |first=Dwayne |title=Nintendo Switch 2 update 21.0.0 is breaking third‑party docks |url=https://piunikaweb.com/2025/11/12/switch-2-update-21-0-0-breaking-third%E2%80%91party-docks/ |url-status=live |work=PiunikaWeb}}</ref>

===Controversial agreements and policies===
{{Main|Nintendo's May 2025 Policy Updates}}
On May 8th, 2025, Nintendo changed their privacy policy<ref name="PrivacyPolicyMain">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/privacy_policy/US?lang=en-US |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo Accounts}}</ref><ref name="PrivacyPolicySummaryChanges">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy - What's Changed? |url=https://www.nintendo.com/us/privacy-policy/whats-changed/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo}}</ref> and Nintendo Account User Agreement,<ref name="EULAMain2">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Account User Agreement |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/eula/US?lang=en-US |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo Accounts}}</ref> with features inside both which have the potential to negatively impact consumers. Highlights such as Section 6 (Adherence to content guidelines), Section 13 (reservation to render hardware/software inaccessible), and section 16 (forced arbitration) are key features that come to the risk of right to ownership of hardware and software that consumers may have paid for.

Considerable backlash occurred especially over section 13, as both consumers<ref name="RunNGameYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Run N Game Entertainment |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Is Nintendo breaking the law? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOiD-lvaok |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="FashoKangYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Fasho |first=Kang |date=May 11, 2025 |title=The Switch 2 will RUIN Gaming [Full Controversy Explained] (Angry Rant) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8Pv97mt8U |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="NintenDeenYouTube">{{Cite web |last=NintenDeen |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Console Bans |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1H6cKTNxKM |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> and outlets<ref name="EurogamerBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo reserves the right to brick your console following "unauthorised use", in bid to prevent piracy |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref><ref name="GameFileEffectiveDate">{{Cite news |last=Totilo |first=Stephen |date=May 8, 2025 |title=Nintendo warns it may brick Switch systems whose users “bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with” their games and services |url=https://www.gamefile.news/p/nintendo-emulation-hacking-brick-warning-terms-of-service |access-date=May 15, 2025 |work=Game File}}</ref> believe this means Nintendo reserved the right to effectively "brick" consoles such as the [[Nintendo Switch]] or its successor.<ref name=":1" /> This also may concern repair shops, as they may be required to instead purchase proprietary repair software from Nintendo to run diagnostics for the console, or otherwise risk bricking the console running personal/community-developed software.

===Deliberately locking Switch 2 consoles behind an online-only patch===
Users have reported Switch 2 consoles being in stock in some stores,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Ollie |date=May 26, 2025 |title=US Retailers Are Reportedly Starting To Receive Switch 2 Stock |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/05/us-retailers-are-reportedly-starting-to-receive-switch-2-stock |access-date=May 28, 2025 |work=Nintendo Life}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Alleexxi |date=May 27, 2025 |title=The Nintendo Switch 2 is already in end users' hands. {{!}} Switch Locked behind Day 1 Patch |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1kwv8go/the_nintendo_switch_2_is_already_in_end_users/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527185423/https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1kwv8go/the_nintendo_switch_2_is_already_in_end_users/ |archive-date=May 27, 2025 |access-date=May 28, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> however for these users who did get their hands on the console early among a multitude of reasons, these consoles are locked behind a patch that requires an internet connection to Nintendo servers to use the consoles.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Kent |first=Bobby |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Nintendo Switch 2 Gets Out Early, But It’s Locked Behind A Day 1 Patch |url=https://gameluster.com/nintendo-switch-2-gets-out-early-but-its-locked-behind-a-day-1-patch/ |access-date=May 28, 2025 |website=Game Luster}}</ref> While this is a measure used to deter piracy ahead of the system's launch,<ref name=":3" /> this does mean that users will be required to connect to the internet to have any viable console functionality post-launch.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Drake |first=John |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Early Leak of Nintendo Switch 2 Get Locked Out By Day 1 Patch |url=https://gurugamer.com/pc-console/early-leak-of-nintendo-switch-2-get-locked-out-by-day-1-patch-24742 |access-date=May 28, 2025 |work=Guru Gamer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hagues |first=Alana |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Switch 2 Units Are Allegedly Out In The Wild, But You Might Need An Update For Switch 1 Games |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/05/switch-2-units-are-allegedly-out-in-the-wild-but-you-might-need-an-update-for-switch-1-games |access-date=May 28, 2025 |work=Nintendo Life}}</ref>

===Console bans stripping vital features===
{{Main|Nintendo Switch bans}}
There have been reports from users that the usage of the MIG Switch cartridge on the [[Nintendo Switch|''Nintendo Switch 2'']] will cause the device to be banned from all online services provided to the console,<ref name=":32">{{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>{{Cite journal |last=Faulkner |first=Cameron |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Nintendo will take your Switch 2 offline forever if you use a Mig flash cartridge |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/688483/nintendo-switch-2-ban-error-code-mig-flash-cartridge-online |journal=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ratchet Mods |date=Jun 20, 2025 |title=Nintendo BRICKS MIG Flash user's Switch 2 - The Difference between banning a Switch and BRICKING it |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn4969P2RIA |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> regardless of the usage of the cartridge for legitimately dumped software, homebrew, or otherwise. Compared to previous console generations, the online bans on the [[Nintendo Switch|''Nintendo Switch 2'']] will cause a soft-brick, as vital features such as the ''eShop'' or factory resetting the device are permanently disabled. <ref name=":02">{{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>

The disabling of the ''eShop'' in particular means the console cannot download games or updates, and in particular disables the functionality of [[Switch Game Key-Card|game-key cards]], which require access to the ''eShop'' to be capable of downloading the game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=Jun 5, 2025 |title=Buying Physical? Watch Out For the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/nintendo-switch-2-game-cards-vs-game-key-cards-vs-downloads-whats-the-difference |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |work=PC Mag}}</ref>

==='''Patented gameplay mechanics (2025)'''===
In September 2025, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company were granted U.S. patent [https://archive.org/details/12403397/page/n1/mode/2up US 12,403,397 B2], which covered a method of summoning a secondary character and instantly initiating a “fast mode” battle when an enemy occupies the location. While seemingly narrow, critics warn the wording is broad enough to overlap with common mechanics in MMORPGs, action RPGs, and other real-time combat games. Observers argue that enforcing such a patent could stifle creativity, complicate development of similar features in future titles, and even create legal uncertainty for existing games that already use comparable encounter or companion-summoning systems.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-10 |title=Patent No.: US 12,403,397 B2 |url=https://archive.org/details/12403397/page/n1/mode/2up}}</ref>

==Products==

===Console Hardware===

*[[Nintendo 3DS|3DS/2DS]]
*Nintendo Wii U
*[[Nintendo Switch]]/Switch 2

===Console peripherals/add-ons===

*[[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Con]]
*[[Switch Pro Controller]]
*[[Switch Game Key-Card]]

===Software===

*[[Nintendo Switch Online]]

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

Firefox

2025-12-12T03:51:44Z

Speedrunz: /* Mozilla removed the "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" in the Firefox TOS (10/06/2025) */ grammer: capitalized March

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|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Browser, Web Browser
|Website=https://www.firefox.com/
|Description=Firefox is a free and open-source browser created and owned by Mozilla.
|Logo=Firefox_Logo.svg}}

'''{{wplink|Firefox}}''' is a free and open-source web browser developed by the [[Mozilla]] Foundation. It is officially available on Windows (10 and above<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Firefox users on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 moving to Extended Support Release |url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-users-windows-7-8-and-81-moving-extended-support |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729074747/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-users-windows-7-8-and-81-moving-extended-support |archive-date=29 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 Aug 2025 |website=Mozilla Support}}</ref>), macOS and Linux.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Aug 2025 |title=Firefox for desktop |url=https://www.firefox.com/en-US/browsers/desktop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729082008/https://www.firefox.com/en-US/browsers/desktop/ |archive-date=29 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 Aug 2025 |website=Firefox}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
===User privacy===
Despite marketing itself as a security browser, by default "technical and interaction data" is sent to Firefox.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manage technical and interaction data collection settings in Firefox|url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/technical-and-interaction-data|website=Mozilla Support|access-date=August 31, 2025}}</ref> The [[opt-out]] option can be disabled easily using the GUI settings.

However, some options cannot be conveniently disabled, and requires fiddling the settings in <code>about:config</code>. Some of these examples include:
*Integrated Pocket technology as a built-in extension, which in its Privacy Policy uses Google Analytics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pocket|url=https://getpocket.com/privacy?t=privacypolicy|date=August 27, 2025|website=Pocket|access-date=August 31, 2025}}</ref>
*Google Analytics in the browser.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Analytics is used to track users. #3145|url=https://github.com/mozilla/addons/issues/3145|website=GitHub|access-date=August 31, 2025}}</ref> Firefox stated they will not "give the 'data directly to Google'" but will "[collect] aggregate and non-identifiable data in numbers to ensure our development/UX changes are met well. [...] We need some data, anonymised and aggregated, to do this."

===User freedom===
*Heavily configurable via <code>about:config</code>.

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

===Mozilla introduces TOS to Firefox (''02/27/2025'')===
{{Main|Mozilla introduces TOS to Firefox}}
On February 26th, 2025 Mozilla announced in their blog that they are introducing Terms of Use to Firefox, effective June 10th, 2025. <ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-02-26 |title=Firefox Terms of Use |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Mozilla}}</ref> Their reasoning is to "give [the user] more transparency over [their] rights and permissions as [they] use Firefox".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Varma |first=Ajit |date=2025-02-26 |title=Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/firefox-terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |website=Mozilla Blog}}</ref> In the same blog post they announce an update to their Privacy Policy.

Under section "Mozilla Can Update or Terminate This Agreement" in the ToS, it is announced that updates to it will be posted online, and continued use of Firefox is taken as the user's acceptance of the new terms. No mention is made of any other commitment to notify the user (in-browser notification, etc.). In the next section, "Termination", it is explicitly stated that Mozilla will "try to notify [the user]" at their email address or next time they try to access their account, in case Mozilla denies or suspend anyone's access to Firefox.

===Mozilla removed the "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" in the Firefox TOS (10/06/2025)===
On June 10th, 2025 Mozilla has removed the "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" in the "[https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/#you-give-mozilla-certain-rights-and-permissions You Give Mozilla Certain Rights and Permissions]" page of where the controversial [[terms of service]] clause used to be last seen<ref>{{Cite web |title=Firefox: About Your Rights |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515140703/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |archive-date=15 Mar 2025 |access-date=20 Oct 2025 |website=Mozilla}}</ref> on March 15th of 2025. It is currently unknown why this change was made, as of current writing.

==Alternatives==
*[https://floorp.app/en-US Floorp]
*[https://librewolf.net/ LibreWolf]
*[http://mullvad.net/browser Mullvad Browser]
*[https://zen-browser.app/ Zen Browser]

==See also==
*[[Brave browser|Brave]]
*[[DuckDuckGo Browser|DuckDuckGo Browser]]
*[[Google Chrome]]
*[[Microsoft Edge]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

4k Video Downloader+

2025-12-12T03:43:07Z

Speedrunz: edited so sentence flows better

{{Stub}}


<div class="infobox">
<div class="infobox-title">{{PAGENAME}}</div>
<div class="infobox-image">[[File:Videodownloaderplus.svg|200px]] </div> <table class="infobox-table"><tr><th>Release Year</th><td>2018</td></tr><tr><th>Product Type</th><td>Software</td></tr><tr><th>In Production</th><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><th>Company Name</th><td>Interpromo GMBH</td></tr><tr><th>Prior Company Name</th><td>Open Media OOO</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Official Website</th>
<td>[https://www.4kdownload.com/products/videodownloader-42 4KDownload.com]</td>
</tr></table>
</div>

'''4k Video Downloader+''' is a program created by [https://interpromo.co/ InterPromo GMBH] used to download videos from YouTube and other video sources.
==Consumer impact summary==
Consumers who purchased a lifetime license for "4K Video Downloader" will no longer receive additional software updates<ref name="4KVD">[[:File:4K VD no new features.png|4KVideoDownloader FAQ: No New Features]]</ref> as the application is being phased out in favor of the newer "4K Video Downloader+".

==Company rebranding==
The earlier version "4K Video Downloader" is branded in the "About" menu as "Copyright 2025 Open Media OOO." The latest version "4K Video Downloader+" is branded as "Copyright 2025 InterPromo GMBH". It's not clear at this time if an acquisition was a precursor for the re-release of the program.

==Code review and versioning==
A cursory review of the libraries and files<ref name="4KDL">[[:File:4K DL vs 4K DL Plus Ophaned (New) Files.png|4K DL Update Comparison]]</ref> from both applications shows that "4K Video Downloader+" has only six new files not existing in the prior version (see screenshot). Also, about 27 files were eliminated/not included in the new version.

Despite having been released relatively recently, the "4K Video Downloader+" .exe file shows it is version "25.0.0.182", which may suggest it is a continuation of the prior version.
==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Discontinuation of lifetime license (''2023'')===
The developer has sold Lifetime Licenses for 4k Video Downloader since 2012,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|title=4k Video Downloader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723220906/http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> but has discontinued it to sell 4k Video Downloader+, starting July 26, 2023. The old license key is not valid for 4k Video Downloader+ because they are "two different programs," according to InterPromo GMBH.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|title=4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers|date=2023-07-26|author=Klara|access-date=2025-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124025437/https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Widespread downloading issues (''2025)''===
In April 2025, users of both the 4k Video Downloader and 4k Video Downloader+ were experiencing a number of similar issues to one another, with users of the new version stating that the newer version is less user-friendly than before, but can no longer utilize the old version. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://geekermag.com/4k-video-downloader-failed-to-download-videos|title=4K Video Downloader failed to download videos|date=2025-04-26}}</ref>

==Questions regarding the company's explanation for a new version==
According to the company's FAQ,<ref name=":0" /> the reason for the new version is "the outdated technology stack" is simply impossible to fix.

While the company (InterPromo GMBH, the current company name used on the footer of the website) claims that updating the original 4K Video Downloader was "impossible" due to an outdated technology stack, this explanation lacks technical detail and may oversimplify the issue. In software development, very few features are truly impossible to implement—more often, they are deprioritized due to cost, complexity, or strategic business decisions. Without transparency about the specific limitations, it's reasonable to question whether the shift to a new app was driven more by monetization goals than technical necessity.

Additionally, a stack update (libraries, frameworks, etc.) would typically include minor UI/UX changes because of the underlying changes. Based on the visual appearance and menu behaviors of both applications, it's not clear a large-scale rewrite was performed as the applications are visually identical to one another.

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

Age verification

2025-12-12T03:41:35Z

Speedrunz: /* Privacy */ grammer edits

{{Incomplete}}
{{See also|Forced identification|De-anonymization}}

'''Age Verification''' (AV), also referred to as '''Age Affirmation''' (AA), is the process in where a business requires some form of identification to verify your age. This is usually done for more explicit or mature content. This practice has been widely spreading since the [[UK Online Safety Act|UK's Online Safety Act (OSA)]] has passed; requiring all individuals to verify themselves before accessing mature content. Ways of checking age include, but are not limited to: checking for a valid credit card, facial age estimation tools, government-issued ID, biometric data, account history behavior, and more.

==How it works==
When accessing a platform or website that may contain content not suitable for all audiences may force you to register for the platform along with verifying your age by one of the methods mentioned previously. Sites that likely don't use any form of account system will probably have a popup instead requiring you to verify your age before even serving the content you were trying to access.

==Why it is a problem==

===Privacy===
Having companies easily able to identify you means they can track you more efficiently and sell that shared profile to other companies such as ad agencies that then start targeting you specifically.

Governments can also more easily track online movements and find out who you are. Saying something that may go against their own agenda may end up with a police raid, heavy interrogation, and prison time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liu |first=John |date=2025-06-20 |title=China tightens internet controls with new centralized form of virtual ID |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/20/tech/china-censorship-internet-id-hnk-intl#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20a%20state%2Dled,an%20infrastructure%20of%20digital%20totalitarianism.%E2%80%9D |access-date=2025-09-04 |work=CNN}}</ref>

===Censorship===
Certain topics, such as adult content, politics, and LGBT+ topics, will likely be unfairly censored by the governing body or company that has a say on what platform has the '''potential''' to be inappropriate for minors or other age groups.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-01 |title=Strict Age Verification Laws: Balancing Content Restriction and Educational Rights |url=https://www.thinkacademy.ca/blog/strict-age-verification-laws-impact-k12-education/#:~:text=Impact%20on%20K12,affect%20these%20groups |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Think Academy}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Jason |last2=Mackey |first2=Aaron |last3=Mullin |first3=Joe |date=2024-02-15 |title=Don’t Fall for the Latest Changes to the Dangerous Kids Online Safety Act |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/02/dont-fall-latest-changes-dangerous-kids-online-safety-act |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref>

Platforms that host this type of content may also be more proactive in deleting/hiding posts that may get them in trouble or fined by laws or policies by local governments, leading to a more censored internet where opinions are streamlined to fit a set narrative or outlook.<ref name=":0" />

===Increased inequality and denial of service===
Some stores, such as grocery stores, prohibit young people from viewing their web sites or using [[loyalty cards]], which provide discounts and digital coupons. Age verification means that young people and families where the young person does the shopping pay more for essentials like food.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pell |first=Miranda |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=Tesco, Lidl and Sainsbury's shoppers issued warning over little-known 'age limit' rules |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/tesco-lidl-sainsburys-shoppers-issued-30233318 |access-date=20 Sep 2025 |work=Manchester evening news}}</ref> Those who do not have ID, or do not chose to use it (for instance, those who fear domestic violence, or are members of a group subject to persecution) may also be locked out or have to pay more.

===Storage of private and biometric Information by age verification service providers===
A study commissioned by the Australian government found that age verification service providers accumulate a concerning amount of personal information, sometimes even biometric in nature, even when that was not necessary to provide the age verification service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meineck |first=Sebastian |date=2025-09-03 |title=Anbieter von Alterskontrollen horten biometrische Daten [Age Verification Providers are hoarding biometric Data] |url=https://netzpolitik.org/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/ |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Netzpolitik.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meineck |first=Sebastion |date=2025-09-03 |title=Anbieter von Alterskontrollen horten biometrische Daten [Google Translate English Version] |url=https://netzpolitik-org.translate.goog/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Netzpolitik.org}}</ref>

===Driving users towards smaller and completely unregulated offerings===
Big platforms can be regulated and forced to comply with applicable laws since they need to have infrastructure such as servers in all major markets. Only these will be affected by the age restriction requirement.

However, users who do not wish to compromise their privacy or who are not of age will then go looking towards smaller niche platforms, often in other regions not affected by the regulation or the darknet.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kaleta |first=Miroslav |date=2025-08-20 |title=The Cost of Data Privacy Negligence (And How to Avoid It) |url=https://countly.com/blog/data-privacy-negligence#:~:text=2.%20Losing%20Customer,IBM%20Report. |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Countly Blog}}</ref> With these offerings, there is little to no leverage with regards to removal of illegal content. Increased exposure to illegal content can then lead to both a strengthening of illegal content providers<ref>{{Cite web |last=Branley |first=Dawn |last2=Covey |first2=Judith |date=2016-06-06 |title=Is exposure to online content depicting risky behavior related to viewers' own risky behavior offline? |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217303357 |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=ScienceDirect}}</ref> and significantly increased danger to minors, who may not yet be able to differentiate between legal and illegal content as well as an adult.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04 |title=Potential risks of content, features, and functions: The science of how social media affects youth |url=https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/youth-social-media-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416042251/https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/youth-social-media-2024 |archive-date=2024-04-16 |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=American Psychological Association}}</ref>

===Increased damage from data breaches===
Platforms which implement age checks that require sensitive information such as a government-issued ID will likely be more of a target for cyber criminals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-02 |title=Cybercriminals Target These Industries the Most – Here’s Why and How to Stay Safe |url=https://brandefense.io/blog/cybercriminals-target-these-industries/#:~:text=The%20Most%20Vulnerable%20Industries%20to,information%20stored%20within%20their%20networks. |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Brandefense}}</ref> As more platforms comply with the age checks, it becomes more likely that a data breach on at least one of these platforms can reveal extremely sensitive information. In the case of a data breach, it can be catastrophic if users' sensitive information were exposed, which can likely result in identity theft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Popov |first=Cristina |date=2023-03-22 |title=Why breaches can affect you long after they occur |url=https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/why-breaches-can-affect-you-long-after-they-occur#:~:text=%232%3A%20Breaches%20can,for%20online%20accounts. |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Bitdefender}}</ref>

Platforms already experience major losses and consumer distrust from data breaches that reveal information less sensitive than government-issued IDs or biometric data.<ref name=":1" /> A data breach involving information this sensitive will seriously damage a business, and the users even more so. As stated previously, users who foresee these privacy risks will turn away from platforms which implement the policy, and towards niche platforms.

==Examples==
*[[YouTube]]'s Age verification and account estimation algorithm. (See [[Youtube age verification]] for more information)

*[[Spotify]]'s Age affirmation for MA rated songs and content.

*[[Discord]]'s Age verification for accounts determining what eligible servers are available.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]

Google

2025-12-10T23:38:01Z

Speedrunz: /* Manifest V2 shutdown */ added example of ad blocker effected

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1998
|Industry=Technology
|Logo=Google.webp
|ParentCompany=Alphabet Inc.
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.google.com/
}}
'''[[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> {{UpdateNeeded|date={{subst:August}} {{subst:2025}}|reason=We need updates on this situation.}}

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 continue working offline.<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 as well as making Chromium (a browser that many other browsers use as their base) switch to Manifest V3, 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 (such as uBlock Origin) 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 this is dubious; restricting content blockers prevents users from impeding their tracking and surveillance, meaning they can create a larger profit from the data gained. This is likely the ulterior motive, although unproven.

===='''Google Jamboard shutdown'''====
In September 2023, Google revealed plans to retire its Jamboard service, as the product would be transitioned to a view-only format by October 1, 2024, and completely shut down by December 31, 2024. As a result, users had little time to transfer their data before the final transition and no refunds were ever issued to hardware buyers.

The Jamboard product was a $5,000 device that Google pitched as a collaborative tool through its Google Workspace service. After the service no longer existed, however, the device became a brick and the users as well as the buyers were left unsupported and uncompensated.

Situations like this highlight the vulnerability of the consumer market since proprietary products are completely at the hands of developers who can cut services on a whim. Thus, consumer protection must be taken to another level to ensure that no matter what companies get rid of, support and compensatory avenues exist.

===Google Assistant 3rd Party List Support===
On June 20th, 2023, Google disabled 3rd party list support for Google Assistant<ref>{{Cite web |access-date=2025-09-16 |title=Where are my old lists? |url=https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/9415862#zippy=%2Cwhere-are-my-old-lists |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427212604/https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/9415862#zippy=%2Cwhere-are-my-old-lists |archive-date=2025-04-27}}</ref>. This feature allowed lists through 3rd party services such as AnyList or Todoist to be managed via Google Assistant. The only list provider available through Google Assistant after this change was Google Keep<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Chandraveer |website=Android Police |date=2023-05-31 |title=Google Assistant is killing support for notes and lists integration with third-party apps |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-assistant-ending-support-third-party-notes-lists/}}</ref>.

==='''Pixel 4a battery reduction update'''===
{{Main|Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program}}
On January 6, 2025, Google issued a software update to the Pixel 4a that significantly decreased battery capacity on "Impacted Devices". Not all units were affected. It's speculated that the affected units have defective batteries and may pose a safety risk if the update is not applied, but Google never disclosed the reason(s) that the update was deemed necessary. Google removed all factory images for previous versions of the system software from their website, making it difficult to revert the update.

As compensation, Google offered a free battery replacement only in select countries. In other countries, you could choose between a $50 USD payment or $100 USD worth of Google Store credits. However, some users reported difficulty obtaining their compensation.

===Blocking sideloading of unverified Android apps===
{{Main|Google blocking sideloading of unverified Android apps}}
On 25 August 2025, '''[[Google]]''' announced that starting in 2026 it will block the installation of Android apps from outside the Play Store unless the developer has verified their identity with Google. The policy will first roll out in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand in September 2026, with global enforcement targeted for 2027.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Frey |first=Suzanne |date=25 Aug 2025 |title=A new layer of security for certified Android devices |url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-android-security.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 Aug 2025 |website=Android Developers Blog}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=25 Aug 2025 |title=Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/25/google-will-require-developer-verification-for-android-apps-outside-the-play-store/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Aug 2025 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref> This marks a significant change to Android's long-standing support for sideloading apps.

Devices without [[Google Mobile Services]] or running custom ROMs are exempt.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Tim |date=2025-08-26 |title=Google kneecaps indie Android devs, forces them to register |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/android_developer_verification_sideloading |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250829170329/https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/android_developer_verification_sideloading |archive-date=2025-08-29 |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=The Register}}</ref> Critics argue this restricts user freedom, impacts independent developers, and may enable Google to block apps it disapproves of, such as ad-blockers, raising concerns about privacy and control over personal devices.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Tim |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Google kneecaps indie Android devs, forces them to register |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/android_developer_verification_sideloading |url-status=live |access-date=26 Aug 2025 |website=The Register}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |first= |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/810335/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-starting-next-year |url-status=live |access-date=26 Aug 2025 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref>

===Not providing a solution for Pixel devices bricked due to switching slots, flashing certain ROMs, downgrading the OS, or installing the June 2025 update===
Numerous Google Pixel phones have gotten bricked as a result of different use cases, such as accidentally switched slots, flashing custom ROMs or downgrading the bootloader version of the device after an Anti-Rollback (ARB) increment, accidentally or otherwise<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simons |first=Hadlee |date=2025-08-26 |title=Some Pixels are bricked and Google apparently won't help revive them |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-phones-bricked-3591218/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Android Authority}}</ref>. The device enters an emergency download state called Pixel ROM Recovery, which is a Google modification of Samsung's EUB mode on Exynos chipsets. In this mode, it refuses to enter Android recovery or Fastboot, making it near impossible to restore the operating system on the device. The only way to fix it is to use Pixel ROM Recovery to boot a special, Google-signed recovery bootloader into RAM and flash a working version of Android from there.

This recovery bootloader is just a regular bootloader as it appears in Google factory images, but with a special "USB boot" bit flag set to 1. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-11 |title=Pixel devices getting bricked / stuck in Pixel ROM Recovery after flashing AOSP-based builds with Android 15 QPR2 (BP1A.250305.019) |url=https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/402455330#comment19}}</ref>

However, this recovery bootloader is inaccessible to the public, and is not possible to recreate it without Google's private keys. This makes it impossible to repair a device in this state, other than to do a technically challenging repair involving desoldering the UFS chip to repopulate its contents or by replacing the motherboard altogether. Google stores and service centers outside of the US do not offer support for the device if it is out of warranty, even though the issue is completely fixable by software.

Numerous developers have worked on trying to find a solution to this issue, and have succeeded to varying extents. However, devices bricked due to the ARB trigger remain impossible to fix. Google has not provided any recovery images to resolve this issue, despite there being a sizable post on their bug tracker.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-10 |title=Pixel recovery bootloaders lack security reasoning for guarding |url=https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/437705274 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Google IssueTracker}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Pixel devices getting bricked / stuck in Pixel ROM Recovery after flashing AOSP-based builds with Android 15 QPR2 (BP1A.250305.019) |url=https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/402455330 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Google IssueTracker}}</ref> despite the fact that Google providing the recovery images for the repair will not compromise security, as explained by one of the developers in their report.<ref name=":4" />

==Controversies==

===Account lockouts===
Google has been reported to have randomly locked people out of their accounts due to ostensible security reasons, which are not lifted even if the user had provided the correct credentials and/or even if the user have correctly followed all the verification prompts such as SMS verification. These have caused anguishes for many affected users who are unable to access their contents, emails and services as a result. Furthermore, some had reported that they are forced to undergo SMS verification even when recovery email addresses are already configured to their accounts, thereby likely constituting instances of [[Forced identification|forced verification]] in broad senses.<ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/n5card/mike_rose_no_more_robots_publisher_locked_out_of/</ref><ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/oy8qb8/fyi_google_can_lock_you_out_of_your_account_for/</ref><ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/154yht0/dae_noticed_that_google_had_taken_security/</ref>

===Deletion of inactive accounts===
In May 2023, Google announced that [[Inactive account deletion|deletion of inactive user accounts]] would occur starting in December 2023, citing security reasons, noting that old and unused accounts are more likely to be compromised. Google claimed that "Forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, have not had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user," while saying that Google "has no plans to delete [[YouTube]] videos".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawler |first1=Richard |title=Google might delete your Gmail account if you haven't logged in for two years |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/16/23725438/google-gmail-deleting-inactive-accounts |website=The Verge |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=en |date=16 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Jon |title=Reminder: Google is about to start purging inactive accounts |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/28/23979178/google-inactive-accounts-deletion-december-2023-psa-reminder |website=The Verge |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=en |date=28 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Amadeo |first1=Ron |title=Google's new "inactive account" policy won't delete years of YouTube videos |url=https://arstechnica.com/google/2023/05/googles-new-inactive-account-policy-wont-delete-years-of-youtube-videos/ |website=Ars Technica |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=en-us |date=17 May 2023}}</ref> The decision to delete inactive accounts has sparked some criticism and backlash. The cited security rationale behind such decision was ridiculed and was compared to a hypothetical scenario where a bank should be burned down if it is not secure against robbers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Novet |first1=Jordan |title=Google's plan to purge inactive accounts isn't sitting well with some users |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/19/google-faces-criticism-of-plan-to-purge-inactive-accounts.html |website=CNBC |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=en |date
=19 August 2023}}</ref> Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries which have prolonged internet shutdowns. Moreover, the Anonymous hacktivist collective has protested against the decision to delete inactive accounts multiple times, describing them as "harsh" and saying that the decision will "destroy history".<ref>{{cite web |date=18 July 2023 |title=Anonymous puts Taiwan flag, national anthem on 2 UN websites {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} 2023-07-18 09:56:00 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4946597 |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Taiwan News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=18 October 2023 |title='Anonymous' hacks Chinese government site to protest Israel–Hamas war {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} 2023-10-18 19:03:00 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5022840 |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Taiwan News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=8 December 2023 |title=Anonymous posts Taiwan flag on UN site {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} 2023-12-08 17:26:00 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5055454 |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Taiwan News}}</ref>

===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 behavior. Google lost in the lawsuit, but attempted to appeal the decision, in which they lost again.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=31 July 2025 |title=Epic just won its Google lawsuit again, and Android may never be the same |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/716856/epic-v-google-win-in-appeals-court |access-date=21 August 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

==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 Nest Protect forced to use Google app]]
*[[Google Nest thermostat smart features disabled]]
*[[Google Pixel Watches do not come with repair options]]

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