Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Friend app

2026-02-16T02:33:43Z

Toastom: Minor rewordings and fix italics

{{ProductCargo
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=FriendAI.png
|ReleaseYear=2025
|Category=AI chatbot, wearable
|ArticleType=Service
|Website= https://friend.com/?page=hardware
|Description=“Friend” is a wearable AI pendant device that claims to provide conversational companionship, raising concerns about continuous recording and privacy liability.
}}

'''Friend''' is a wearable [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) pendant device that aims to provide conversation and companionship.

==Consumer-impact summary==
Users of the Friend device may be subject to continuous recording of video, audio, and biometric data. The company’s policies shift liability for recordings involving bystanders onto users. The device’s data retention, model training, and deletion practices raise questions under evolving biometric data privacy laws such as Illinois’ BIPA & various state-federal frameworks.<ref name="FriendPPv2">{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>

There is a one-time payment to get the device. It is unclear how the company will be able to provide ongoing service without a user subscription.

==Capabilities & data practices==
Friend’s official privacy policy (v2) states that it serves as a “data controller” under GDPR & collects personal data from use of the services.<ref name="FriendPPv2" />

Key practices include:
*Collection of name, phone, email, account credentials, uploaded content, & ambient video/audio from device surroundings.<ref name="FriendPPv2" />
*Collection of biometric data including facial & voice recognition.<ref name="FriendPPv2" />
*Retention of data for over five years if “legal, regulatory, or technical reasons” prevent deletion.<ref name="FriendPPv2" />
*Use of personal data to train machine learning models powering Friend.<ref name="FriendPPv2" />

Media reporting highlights possible discrepancies:
*NBC Bay Area reported the company claims it “will not store any audio recordings.”<ref name="NBC">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |title=Meet the AI startup that wants to give you a friend |website=NBC Bay Area |date=2025-02-01 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
*Wired reported the pendant is always-on & continuously listening for conversation.<ref name="Wired">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |title=Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck |website=Wired |date=2025-03-15 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>

==Legal & regulatory environment==
The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) requires entities to obtain written consent before collecting biometric identifiers, provide retention schedules, & limit data storage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0994 |title=Biometric Information Privacy Act |website=Illinois General Assembly |date=2008 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0994 |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> The Illinois Supreme Court’s 2019 ''Rosenbach'' decision expanded standing for consumers to sue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/resources/source/2025-june/biometric-privacy-litigation/ |title=The Who, Why, and Where of Biometric Privacy Litigation |website=American Bar Association |date=2025-06-01 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/resources/source/2025-june/biometric-privacy-litigation/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>

Analysts warn that devices like Friend raise risks under BIPA & similar laws, especially when data is used for AI training.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf |title=Biometric Privacy and AI Legal Developments |website=LexisNexis |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> Federal & state regulators increasingly classify biometric identifiers as sensitive data requiring special protection.<ref name="KPMG">{{cite web |url=https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |title=AI and Privacy: A Look at Biometric Tech & Data |website=KPMG |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>

===Precedents & industry comparisons===
The [[Clearview AI]] litigation demonstrates how courts treat unauthorized biometric data collection. In 2025, Clearview agreed to a US$51.75 million settlement resolving claims under BIPA.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.regulatoryoversight.com/2025/04/51-75m-settlement-in-clearview-ai-biometric-privacy-litigation-illustrates-creative-resolution-for-startups-facing-parallel-litigation-and-enforcement-action/ |title=$51.75M Settlement in Clearview AI Biometric Privacy Litigation |website=Regulatory Oversight |date=2025-04-12 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.regulatoryoversight.com/2025/04/51-75m-settlement-in-clearview-ai-biometric-privacy-litigation-illustrates-creative-resolution-for-startups-facing-parallel-litigation-and-enforcement-action/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>

Competitor devices, such as the Limitless pendant, advertise a more limited data policy, not permitting ambient biometric capture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.limitless.ai/privacy |title=Privacy – Limitless |website=Limitless.ai |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.limitless.ai/privacy |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>

==Company responses & disputes==
The company asserts that:
*Friend does not store audio recordings permanently.<ref name="NBC" />
*Data deletion requests can be submitted, though model training may make deletion incomplete.<ref name="FriendPPv2" />

Operational issues have been reported; the company delayed initial shipments announced for Q1 2025 until at least Q3 2025.<ref name="TechCrunch">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ |title=Friend delays shipments of its AI companion pendant |website=TechCrunch |date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
==Consumer response==
Consumer advocates & analysts have identified key risks for consumers:
*Constant ambient recording of private environments.<ref name="Wired" />
*Shifting liability to users for privacy violations of third parties.<ref name="FriendPPv2" />
*Biometric sensitivity: face & voice identifiers are permanent.<ref name="KPMG" />
*Risk that deletion requests are ineffective once data is used to train AI models.<ref name="FriendPPv2" />

===Shipment delay (January 2025)===
Friend announced initial shipments to pre-order customers in Q1 2025 but later delayed deliveries until Q3 2025.<ref name="TechCrunch" />

==See also==
*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Biometric Information Privacy Act]]
*[[Clearview AI]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Friend AI Pendant]]
[[Category:Consumer electronics]]
[[Category:Privacy controversies]]

Article suggestions

2026-02-15T22:57:43Z

Toastom: Added Reticulum to list of companies that do good things

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

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

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

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

==Example==
Below is an example of what an entry should appear as:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|[[Nintendo]]
|In 2025, the company Nintendo stripped Switch 2 consoles that used the MIG switch cartridge of all online functionality
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3q0mg |archive-date=29 Jun 2025 |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game “backups” |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/mjErE |archive-date=18 Jun 2025 |access-date=Jun 19, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|}

==List of incidents not yet covered==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|[[ABC Financial Services]]
|Manages memberships and recurring service subscriptions for other companies. Prevents customers from being able to cancel a service by locking them into a never-ending cycle of auto renewals, and not allowing the customer to opt out of auto renewal.
|-
|Affinity / Canva
|Canva purchases Serif; the owner of perpetual license design software Affinity Publisher, Designer, and Photo on March 26th 2024. Provides a pledge to assure users that Canva will not "ruin" the suite. In October 2025, Affinity users are locked out of the community forum for a new "Creative Freedom" announcement on October 30th 2025. Complete radio silence for a whole month while they tease long term users on Twitter and Discord. Finally on October 30th 2025, the new Affinity software is announced as "free". Instead, all creative professionals that used the original software are forced to create a new Canva account to access the new Affinity and thus agree to Canva's ToS<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-30 |title=Canva Terms of Use |url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/dMkbz |archive-date=28 Dec 2025 |website=Canva Legal Trust Center}}</ref>. Affinity redirects the pledge page to an announcement for the new software, effectively burying the original pledge<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge |url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ |archive-date=2025-10-02 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref>. Questions about Canva now being able to monetize the work of professionals to train their own AI models sold to Canva users are left unanswered. Free, but at what cost?
EDIT: Initial article has been written but needs more work, citation, and verification. [[Canva adds arbitration clause for future Affinity Studio users|See this article here]].
|<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />
|-
|Amazon
|Amazon renders Fire TV Blaster unusable, offers Amazon gift card to affected customers
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Amazon-makes-Fire-TV-Blaster-unusable-11145570.html}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]]
|$17 000 Apple Watch 18 karat gold edition out of support only 8 years after its introduction (not end of sale!). This means no software support, and, crucially, no repair or replacement parts. If the battery dies, the watch is but a paperweight.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple will no longer fix the $17,000 gold Apple Watch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/2/23900158/apple-watch-edition-gold-2015-obsolete-unsupported-beyonce |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/n5uiO |archive-date=2 Oct 2023 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
|-
|Apple, Beats
|No support for Powerbeats (4th generation) despite the headphones being under 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale. The product is not listed as discontinued or vintage, and by Apple's own guidelines, should be eligible for replacement parts and repair. OEM replacement eartips cannot be purchased for any Beats earphones.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/daPkU |archive-date=20 Sep 2025 |access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Beats Repair and Service |url=https://support.apple.com/beats/repair |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BRUpE |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple store search for eartips |url=https://www.apple.com/us/search/eartips?src=alp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/k04XP |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]] iWork/Creator Studio
|The update that makes the iWork apps part of the new Apple Creator Studio subscription now adds tracking that is enabled by default and implemented as opt-out. The information about it is displayed in a first launch screen without any immediate way opt out, which qualifies as a dark pattern. Instead, the user has to go through a slightly convoluted path via the iPhone/iPad system settings app, and under the submenu "Apps" find each of the iWork apps and disable analytics there individually for each app. On Desktop, it is under a dedicated menu item under the "Pages"/"Numbers"/"Keynote" menu.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/}}</ref>
|-
|archive.today
|The website used JavaScript embedded into the website code to conduct a DDOS attack from users' devices against a blogger who has voiced criticism of the service in the past. This may make also cause legal issues for users.
NOTE: A similar technique has previously been used by Chinese search giant Baidu, so we might want to create a category or tag for this type of thing
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Archive-today-Operator-uses-users-for-DDoS-attack-11171455.html}}</ref>
|-
|'''Arduino''' (/ɑːrˈdwiːnoʊ/) is an Italian open-source hardware and software company owned by Qualcomm
|Arduino’s new terms of service worries hobbyists ahead of Qualcomm acquisition.
User shall not:

*translate, decompile or reverse-engineer the Platform, or engage in any other activity designed to identify the algorithms and logic of the Platform’s operation, unless expressly allowed by Arduino or by applicable license agreements …
|
|-
|Atlassian
|Users forced from on-premise to cloud only subscriptions
Edit: Page has been started [[Atlassian on premise to subscription|here]], more work, citation, and verification needs to be done.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ascend to the cloud: The next chapter for Atlassian and our customers |url=https://www.atlassian.com/blog/announcements/atlassian-ascend |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/1aKhy |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Axon]]
|Tazers sold with lease agreement that makes purchase effectively a subscription.
|[https://norwoodrecord.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/4/8/114832579/norwood_record_pages_1_to_12__4sep2025.pdf <nowiki>[69]</nowiki>]
|-
|[[Bayer]]/[[Monsanto]]
|[[wikipedia:Bayer|WP:B]]/[[wikipedia:Monsanto|WP:M]]. They abuse farmers and are a risk to public health.
|
|-
|[[Bluesky]]
|Introduced ID check for Direct Messaging to comply with laws in certain states and abroad, despite both the company and community being against it.
|
|-
|[[Chat control]]
|[[wikipedia:Regulation_to_Prevent_and_Combat_Child_Sexual_Abuse|Wikipedia]]. Notice how the "official" name just specifies the "purpose" but not the what or the how
|
|-
|[[Cloudary Holdings Limited / Webnovel]]
|Terms of service with binding Arbitration.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Webnovel ToS |url=https://www.webnovel.com/terms_of_service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0eNBo |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|-
|Devolo
|Devolo switches off servers and removes their app from stores for their "Home Control" system, thus severely reducing the functionality of their devices (apparently Z-Wave-based).
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=IT-News für Profis |url=https://www.golem.de/news/weiterbetrieb-verursacht-weitere-kosten-devolo-macht-smart-home-system-zum-grossteil-unbrauchbar-2508-199409.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/hclnK |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=Golem |language=de}}</ref>
|-
|Dell and HP
|HP and Dell have disabled HEVC (H.264/H.265) hardware encoding and decoding support built into their laptops’ CPUs using both Intel and AMD processors.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2025-11-21 |title=HP and Dell disable HEVC support built into their laptops’ CPUs |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/hp-and-dell-disable-hevc-support-built-into-their-laptops-cpus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251121083438/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/hp-and-dell-disable-hevc-support-built-into-their-laptops-cpus/ |archive-date=2025-11-21 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|-
|Discord
|Discord is pushing for Mandatory age verification, despite suffering a data breach that leaked 70,000+ users info a few months prior.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon|date=2026-03-09|title=The Verge-Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month
|url= https://www.theverge.com/tech/875309/discord-age-verification-global-roll-out/
|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212034635/https://www.theverge.com/tech/875309/discord-age-verification-global-roll-out
|archive-date=2026-03-09
|access-date=2026-03-09
|website=TheVerge }}</ref>
|-
|E621
|Terms of service that require agreement to forced arbitration to use the website.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-02 |title=E621 |url=https://e621.net/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/aumS8 |archive-date=26 Dec 2025 |website=E621}}</ref>
|-
|EcoVac
|Vacuum cleaner robots produced by company 'EcoVac' were found vulnerable to hacking over bluetooth allowing for remote control and access to camera feed. Security researcher Dennis Giese notified the company in December of 2023. In August of 2024, the issue was described by the company as "extremely rare in typical user environments and require specialized hacking tools and physical access to the device."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fell |first=Julian |date=2024-10-04 |title=We hacked a robot vacuum — and could watch live through its camera - ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-04/robot-vacuum-hacked-photos-camera-audio/104414020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/M7dfg |archive-date=4 Oct 2024 |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-09 |title=Ecovacs home robots can be hacked to spy on their owners, researchers say {{!}} TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/09/ecovacs-home-robots-can-be-hacked-to-spy-on-their-owners-researchers-say/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/tFdoZ |archive-date=10 Aug 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-15 |title=Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai on X: "Finally, Ecovacs responds to the researchers' findings, saying it won't fix the bugs. |url=https://x.com/lorenzofb/status/1823774980460388675 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/v02cw |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Elegoo Centauri Carbon|Elegoo]]
|The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3d printer has been proven to use open source Klipper software which requires them to publish their changes to the code.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-28 |title=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance |url=https://freethecode.lol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/q13z3 |archive-date=31 Aug 2025 |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance}}</ref>
|-
|Foxit Reader
|Updater uses dark pattern to trick unsuspecting users into installing a trial version of their paid product. The checkbox is enabled again by default with each update in the hope that the user misses it by accident at some point.
|
|-
|[[Google Chromecast]]
|Chromecast has transitioned from a standalone product to one that requires the Google Home app for setup and control. This change prevents customers who either don't own a smartphone or prefer not to use the app from accessing their Chromecast devices. As a result, certain televisions—such as the Caixon EC43S1UA, which relied on built-in Chromecast functionality—can no longer be used as intended. This effectively removes a key feature from a product that was already purchased, diminishing its value or rendering it unusable altogether.
|
|-
|Google TLS Changes
|Google's new requirements to certificate authorities require separate authority/signing chains to be used to issue Server Authentication and Client Authentication certificates. Therefore, starting 11 February 2026, Let's Encrypt will no longer include the Client Authentication EKU on default certificates
|
|-
|Google
|Google apparently plans to reduce the interval of publishing source code of security patches they consider non-critical. This is another blow to the custom ROM community.
Right now we don't have these incidents organised chronologically, maybe we should have a table with a timeline of measures Google takes to enshittify and close down Android (more APIs moved to Play Services, Developer verification, withholding AOSP device trees for Pixel devices to mess with Graphene OS, now delayed source code disclosure). What's worst, they always cite safety as a reason.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Google wants to make Android phones safer by switching to ‘risk-based’ security updates |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-url=https://archive.ph/XOCvC |archive-date=13 Oct 2025}}</ref>
|-
|Google, Mozilla, Apple, Microsoft, but largely Google-led
|Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari are removing XSLT 1.0 support, which could break critical parts of government's websites worldwide<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dimant |first=Dimitrii "Mamut" |date=2025-08-10 |title=XSLT removal will break multiple government and regulatory sites across the world #11582 |url=https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11582 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wGSr6 |archive-date=21 Aug 2025 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=Github (specifically the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group's HTML standards repo, controlled by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft and Apple)}}</ref>. There are valid security reasons for them to want to stop supporting this 1999-era standard, however they have had 26+ years to update to a newer standard (such as the 2017-era 3.1 standard, which is backwards compatible and would allow these sites to continue to work<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-21 |title="XML Path Language (XPath) 3.1: W3C Recommendation 21 March 2017" |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath-31/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/LhLaf |archive-date=1 Nov 2014 |website=W3C}}</ref>). The single unpaid developer maintaining these libraries has more or less retired after getting flooded with impossible to satisfy security requests from these companies<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wellnhoffer |first=Nick |date=2025-05-08 |title=Triaging security issues reported by third parties |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/issues/913 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/xDHrA |archive-date=19 Nov 2025 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>. There is an existing project called XRUST to implement the 3.1 standard<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-09 |title=XRust: XPath, XQuery, and XSLT for Rust |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Rust/markup-rs/xrust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Ta06Q |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>, which is 2/3rds of the way through supporting all the features of 1.0 - the XSLT part fully supports all the 1.0 features at this point. XSLT is part of the W3C Consortium's open web standards for formatting and presenting XML, and is also how RSS works, so RSS feeds would stop working as well, disrupting the livelihoods of podcasters<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rijo |first=Luis |date=2025-08-20 |title=Google targets RSS feeds in new XSLT removal proposal |url=https://ppc.land/google-targets-rss-feeds-in-new-xslt-removal-proposal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DFzJ4 |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=PPC-Land}}</ref>. This has led to questions of who owns the web - the public (including the government) who paid for and laid down the highways / web infrastructure - or a handful of large corporations? <ref>{{Cite web |last=Branscombe |first=Mary |date=2025-09-01 |title=XSLT Debate Leads to Bigger Questions of Web Governance |url=https://thenewstack.io/xslt-debate-leads-to-bigger-questions-of-web-governance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/K86A2 |archive-date=2 Sep 2025 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=The New Stack}}</ref>
|
|-
|[[GoPro]] Hero 12
|GoPro Hero 12 requires the GoPro app to be installed before you can use the camera. Many currently used devices are not compatible with the app, therefore making use of the camera difficult to impossible for new owners or upon camera factory reset. There's also the question of what data the app collects and whether it requires login and or camera activation.
|
|-
|[[Hikvision]]
|Chinese surveillance camera manufacturer complicit in Uighur genocide which used to advertise recognition of praying and ramadan fasting among its selling points. Similarly to [[Flock license plate readers|Flock]], they are in use world wide and likely feed directly into the Chinese government's surveillance infrastructure and could conceivably be used to find dissidents world-wide. Recently, [https://netzpolitik.org/2025/hikvision-hersteller-der-hamburger-ki-ueberwachungskameras-ist-fuer-menschenrechtsverletzungen-bekannt/ the city of Hamburg has installed them] ([https://netzpolitik-org.translate.goog/2025/hikvision-hersteller-der-hamburger-ki-ueberwachungskameras-ist-fuer-menschenrechtsverletzungen-bekannt/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp Google Translate Version in English]).
|
|-
|[[Internet radios]]
|I'd like a page where I can share information about internet radios "openness." Few allow you to enter a radio station's URL (which I would consider the least intrusive option). Most depend on third-party websites or apps; [https://www.sangean.com/uk/blog/149 some of which have already bricked devices].
|
|-
|[[IPVideo Corporation]] (owned by [[Motorola]])
|Manufacturer of surveillance hardware. The notable example that brought them to my attention is the Halo 3C/3C-PC Smart Sensor, which is deployed in places such as school bathrooms and subsidized/social housing. This system has a variety of sensors on it, from air quality ones (for detecting smoking/vape usage) all the way to microphones (ostensibly for audio analysis to identify aggression and gunshots, without the capability to stream the audio elsewhere, but this not a limitation built into the hardware and could be changed by a firmware update).
|<ref>{{Cite_web |last=Reynaldo |last2=nyx |name-list-style=amp |date=2025-10-10 |title=DEF CON 33 - Unmasking the Snitch Puck: IoT surveillance tech in the school bathroom |url=https://youtu.be/WCnojaEpF2I |publisher=DEF CON}}</ref><ref>{{Cite_web |access-date=2025-10-26 |url=https://www.pelco.com/sensors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250922000017/https://www.pelco.com/sensors |archive-date=2025-09-22 |title=HALO Smart Sensor Suite |website=PELCO}}</ref>
|-
|[[iRacing]]
|iRacing is a racing game that's subscription-based, requiring payment just to play the actual game in either online or offline mode.
|
|-
|[[itch.io]], [[Night School Studios]], [[Netflix]]
|In September 2024, users who purchased the game Oxenfree on itch.io were warned that the game was going to be pulled from the platform on October 1st. Consumers would not be able to download the installers after this date, so they would lose access unless they had them backed up. Users speculated that Netflix, the parent company of the development studio, had ordered the move; however, no response from Netflix or the developers was ever published. This is particularly notable because it is against itch.io's terms of service: "Users shall retain a license to this content even after the content is removed from the Service."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=itch corp |date=15 Apr 2023 |title=itch.io Terms of Service |url=https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907004719/https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |archive-date=7 Sep 2024 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=itch.io}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=ShawnS |date=31 Jan 2025 |title=OXENFREE |url=https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321070400/https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=9 Sep 2024 |title=Another reminder that your digital library isn't forever: Oxenfree will be completely removed from Itch.io next month |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523111125/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |archive-date=23 May 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>
|-
|[[The Japan Times|Japan Times, The]]
|The Japan Times uses the DMCA to take down an open source study resource for the Genki and Quartet workbooks.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clydesdale |first=Seth |date=2025-09-11 |title=Important Information Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Important-Information-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-D1D21L4B1S |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/C7iZH |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Update Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources DMCA Situation |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Update-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-Study-Resources-Y8Y21M1F5E |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AqwPB |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=All Exercises for Genki/Quartet Study Resources Have Been Removed |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/All-Exercises-for-GenkiQuartet-Study-Resources-Wi-R6R81M8LLN |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Xm44R |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|-
|KOSA
|KOSA claims to make kids safer, but it’s really a dangerous censorship bill that would give the U.S. government unprecedented control over the internet. This would put youth in danger by preventing them from accessing potentially life-saving resources.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first=Fight for the Future |date=2026-01-24 |title=Reject online censorship. Tell lawmakers to oppose KOSA! |url=https://www.stopkosa.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Stop KOSA}}</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250228145348/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Katy-ISD-blocks-LGBTQ-resources-suicide-16647274.php</ref>
|-
|LBRY Foundation, Odysee
|Community first decentralization & Odysseys plan to enable censorship by switching away from the opensource LBRY network.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The LBRY Foundation |url=https://lbry.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/SUzBN |archive-date=4 Sep 2019 |access-date=2025-08-08 |quote=The LBRY community invites everyone to join us in building a more free and open way to share content and information online.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Watson |first=RT |date=6 Jun 2024 |title=Decentralized YouTube alternative Odysee acquired by Forward Research despite content concerns |url=https://www.theblock.co/post/298888/decentralized-youtube-alternative-odysee-acquired-by-forward-research-despite-content-concerns |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/CL4UK |archive-date=28 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |work=The Block}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Li |first=Jun |last2=Grintsvayg |first2=Alex |last3=Kauffman |first3=Jeremy |last4=Fleming |first4=Charles |date=2020 |title=LBRY: A Blockchain-Based Decentralized Digital Content Marketplace |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9126007 |journal=2020 IEEE International Conference on Decentralized Applications and Infrastructures (DAPPS) |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=IEEE |doi=10.1109/DAPPS49028.2020.00005 |isbn=978-1-7281-6978-1 |via=IEEE Xplore}}</ref>
|-
|LG
|LG discontinued its LG Bluetooth Remote app (including plugins such as "btc4") making it non-public on the Play Store and making Bluetooth controllable devices (like for example the CM2630B) half as useful, without even publishing neither the protocol used to control such devices nor the source code of the app.
|
|-
|[[Lowe's]]
|Lowe's uses flock cameras and other AI powered cameras to collect data and build a profile on "prospective, current, or former Lowe's customers". Their cameras point away from their stores.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |date=6 Aug 2025 |title=Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data From Hundreds of AI Cameras With Cops |url=https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/n6mTn |archive-date=7 Aug 2025 |access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=404 Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Lowe’s U.S. Privacy Statement |url=https://www.lowes.com/l/about/privacy-and-security-statement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eGh91 |archive-date=5 Aug 2025 |access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=Lowe's}}</ref>
|-
|McDonald's/Taylor
|McDonald's US mandates which ice cream machine has to be used by franchise licensees. The company that makes these machines uses deliberately obfuscated error codes to force restaurant owners to use their expensive tech service to fix them and reset the machines. The company makes more money from these "repairs" support than with actual sales. Not strictly end consumer, but the pattern warrants documenting imo.
A similar problem exists with Doremi (Dolby) cinema projectors where their DRM leads to a ridiculous number of actions breaking the so-called "marriage" (projector-media block unity), requiring a costly technician to reset it. This one needs sources researched, though, as I don't have one on hand.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why McDonald's Ice Cream Machines Are Always Broken and How To Fix Them |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uCpY3tFTIA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IaCBe |archive-date=29 Aug 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[Meta]]/[[Facebook]], [[Yandex]]
|Automatic opt-in of user-generated content being used for the purposes of training AI.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borgesius |first=Frederik |date=Apr 24, 2025 |title=Post on akademienl.social |url=https://akademienl.social/@Frederik_Borgesius/114392662340468118 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vubno |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |website=akademienl.social}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=Apr 24, 2025 |title=AP: kom nu in actie als je niet wil dat Meta AI traint met jouw data |url=https://autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl/actueel/ap-kom-nu-in-actie-als-je-niet-wil-dat-meta-ai-traint-met-jouw-data |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ekCRd |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=Jun 25, 2025 |work=autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl}}</ref>
|-
|[[Meta]]/[[Instagram]]/[[Meta|Facebook]]
|If a user is detected to having suspicious activity, their account will be locked until they send selfie verification. This is said to be done in order to detect robots, minors, or accounts no longer controlled by its original owner. During selfie verification, the user will be instructed to slowly turn their head for the camera. The data may be sent to a third party to estimate the users age, scanned for the liveliness and biometrics, or compared to the users profile picture depending on the suspected issue. The data will be deleted once examined, which may take around a minute. Users have raised concerns on the privacy, safety, and honesty of the cooperations actions.
|[https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/1jcrhnb/comment/mrsbzlp/?force-legacy-sct=1]
[https://help.instagram.com/1053588012132894]
[https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-looks-to-expand-video-selfie-age-checking-abide-by-new-laws/753281/]
[https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/10/upload-a-video-selfie-to-get-your-facebook-or-instagram-account-back]
|-
|[[Meta]]/[[WhatsApp]]
|In a new lawsuit, an ex-engineer alleges that 1500 engineers had unrestricted access to WhatsApp user data and that the company "failed to remedy the hacking and takeover of more than 100,000 accounts each day, ignoring his pleas and proposed fixes and choosing instead to prioritize user growth". (ongoing)
|[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/08/meta-user-data-lawsuit-whatsapp]
|-
|[[Meta]]/[[WhatsApp]]
|Lawsuite citing whistleblower alledges that Meta can read WhatsApp conversation despite claiming otherwise, response from Meta only states communication is end-to-end encrypted, but this does not explicitly exclude the possibility of Meta exfiltrating conversations at the endpoints and sending copies to Meta or anyone else.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url= |archive-url=https://archive.ph/e47Rb}}</ref>
|-
|[[Meta]]
|A Reuters article revealed that Meta deliberately avoided cracking down on fraudulent ads, even going as far as disbanding the relevant team, because they make a substantial amount of money from said ads (10.1% of its revenue).
|[https://www.reuters.com/investigations/meta-is-earning-fortune-deluge-fraudulent-ads-documents-show-2025-11-06/]
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Microsoft uses software engineers based in China to work on US Defense Department systems with laughably ineffective precautions. I think this is relevant in the context of Microsoft's attitude towards cloud security. In the past, master keys have been stolen by Chinese hackers and from my understanding, it's not even clear to what extent those groups still have access to Microsoft's internal systems, and by extension, Microsoft customers'. This needs more research though.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dudley |first=Renee |date=2025-07-15 |title=A Little-Known Microsoft Program Could Expose the Defense Department to Chinese Hackers |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/microsoft-digital-escorts-pentagon-defense-department-china-hackers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/nbGhM |archive-date=1 Aug 2025 |website=ProRepublica}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft Windows 11]]
|The Windows 11 Bing Wallpaper app, which offers regularly changing desktop wallpapers, opens bing.com at every single click onto the desktop and tries to make bing.com the default search engine during launch. This is the latest step in a series of invasive actions to get Windows users to use Bing and Edge.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Oct 2025 |title=Windows 11’s Bing Wallpaper app opens <nowiki>Bing.com</nowiki> if you click anywhere on the desktop |url=https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/10/26/windows-11s-bing-wallpaper-app-opens-bing-com-if-you-click-anywhere-on-the-desktop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/nQ3K5 |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=Windows Latest}}</ref>
|-
|[[Mitsubishi Motors]]
|Mitsubishi Motors has a rich history of consumer protection, compliance issues and privacy breaches. These include concealing safety defects, falsifying fuel economy data, and being fined for false advertising. Following the trend of subscription services for the automotive industry, Mitsubishi paywalls built-in features including remote start, SOS, collision detection, and car tracking through its app Mitsubishi Connect subscription service.
|[https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mitsubishi-fined-42-million-by-japans-consumer-affairs-agency-115026.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com] [https://leakd.com/leaks/mitsubishi-motors-vietnam-customer-data-breached/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Motors?utm_source=chatgpt.com] [https://violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/?order=pen_year&parent=mitsubishi-motors&sort=&utm_source=chatgpt.com][https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/newsroom/newsrelease/2017/20171129_3.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
|-
|Multiple
|Several legal cases involving forced arbitration in some manner; many of these relate to other anticonsumer practices, such as when Wells Fargo illegally opened up ~3.5M fake checking and credit accounts in customers' names. Highly advised to deeply scrub for supplementary sources.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=Apr 16, 2019 |title=Fact Sheet: Cases Tossed Out of Court Because of Forced Arbitration Causes and Class Action Bans |url=https://www.centerjd.org/content/fact-sheet-cases-tossed-out-court-because-forced-arbitration-causes-and-class-action-bans#_ftn1 |access-date=Feb 12, 2026 |website=Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School}}</ref>
|-
|Navdy, Harman International
|Device discontinued and no updates, device can be used offline for 1 year until it stops working.
https://www.reddit.com/r/navdy/
|
|-
|Netgear (internet networking equipment)
|Almost every Netgear internet router requires the creation of a new account to function as a router, where the TOS includes an agreement to binding arbitration. Most if not all devices are locked into proprietary firmware with no option to change. Some automatic updates have reportedly cause loss of performance with option to revert to a previous version, "bricking" the device in some cases.
Engages in anti-consumer practices, requiring a subscription for basic WiFi-router features such as parental controls. According to a blogpost by a senior employee, grew from "45% in 2016 to over 60% in 2019" of the US consumer router market. In 2025, Netgear is "being sued by TP-Link for a 'Smear Campaign' to Advance US Router Ban [of it's competitor TP-Link].
|[https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions/ <nowiki>[62]</nowiki>]
[https://kb.netgear.com/000062104/What-subscription-plans-are-available-for-NETGEAR-Smart-Parental-Controls <nowiki>[63]</nowiki>]
[https://www.netgear.com/hub/author/abhorkar/ <nowiki>[64]</nowiki>]
[https://www.pcmag.com/news/tp-link-accuses-netgear-of-smear-campaign-to-advance-us-router-ban?test_uuid=04IpBmWGZleS0I0J3epvMrC&test_variant=B <nowiki>[65]</nowiki>]
|-
|Nothing
|Nothing brings home-screen ads (can be disabled manually) and [[bloatware]] to its lower end models despite previously boasting about being bloatware free
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Floemer |first=Andreas |date=2025-10-27 |title=Phone 3a: NothingOS 4.0 brings optional ads to the lock screen |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Phone-3a-NothingOS-4-0-brings-optional-ads-to-the-lock-screen-10904033.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vATHV |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>
|-
|OICA (European automotive lobby organisation)
|The OICA recently pushed for the right to emit sounds from quiet electric cars to make them as loud as conventional cars with combustion engine and against stricter noise regulation in cities. The fake engine noises in question are specifically not for safety purposes, but for emotional effect for the driver. However, instead of playing the noises only inside for just the driver to hear, the noise is to be played on speakers on the exterior, thus affecting the general public. Noise pollution has long been known to have adverse health effects. ''[NOTE: Similar to environmental aspects, greenwashing etc., we will have to find a good angle for how this fits the wiki. I would say it does match the general theme of manufacturers deliberately making their products worse for minor financial gain and lobbies pushing against things that are in public interest.]''
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=2026-01-07 |title=Sound Dictatorship vs. Quiet: The Battle for E-Car Roar |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ZxlXG |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2026-01-08 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>
|-
|[https://www.skystone.games/ Skystone Games]
|Boundary, a multiplayer online-only first-person shooter, got shut down just a year after its release by Skystone games, and its publishing rights relinquished, citing "ongoing delays and a lack of updates from the developer". Studio Surgical Scalpels (the developer) stated that the publisher decissions were "extremely sudden and unreasonable", and attempted to "regain the rights to boundary". The game has been offline for more than a year at the time of writing, and no refunds or communications to the userbase has been made by Skystone Games.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Boundary - End of service notice |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Steam}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Boundary Shut Down: Who's to Blame? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Slack]]
|Slack threatened to deactivate the Slack workspace and delete all message history of a nonprofit unless they agreed to a price hike of $200k yearly and also pay an extra $50k within a week. There were no prior warnings from Slack. A few years prior to this incident, they had agreed to migrate from the free nonprofit plan to a $5k per year plan.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-18 |title=Slack is extorting us with a $195k/yr bill increase |url=https://skyfall.dev/posts/slack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930075808/https://skyfall.dev/posts/slack |archive-date=2025-09-30}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sony]], Sony Online Entertainment/[[Daybreak Game Company]]
|Selling off SOE to the investment firm Columbus Nova, all games published by SOE were delisted without prior notice to consumers or developers, and licenses were revoked as well.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Shawn |date=Jun 10, 2016 |title=Akimi Village |url=https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/LvMtA |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Rachel |date=Feb 2, 2015 |title=SOE acquired, becomes Daybreak Game Company |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |work=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>
|-
|[[Superbox]]
|Android TV box manufacturer Superbox remotely locks consumers' devices if they were sold below the manufacturer's minimum specified prices and asks consumers to contact the retailer when they complain.
They are not the first to do something like this. [[Deye]] locked down inverters in the US that they suspected might be gray imports.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=You'll Own Nothing and Be Happy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5-rAyFQrk |website=YouTube |type=Video}}</ref>
|-
|UP3 By [[Jawbone]]
|Approximately 2011, Pioneering startup company from San Francisco, had revolutionary fitness trackers. In 2017 with no notice to customers they stole personal data and shut down app which in turn, bricked devices. Highly likely went bankrupt and sold to sister company to manipulate customer services and rights. Now owned by Aliph brands.
|
|-
|Vive
|In 2022, Vive discontinued the original Vive Facial Tracker module a year after the original release, then released an updated model with proprietary firmware that blocked use on other 3rd party VR headset, while only allowing the new model to work with their new locked-down headset. The 2021 version of the face tracker's long term support was seemingly cut overnight without any software updates since 2021.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vive Team |date=2022-08-07 |title=VIVE Focus 3 gets Facial Tracker, and Eye Tracker |url=https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619155201/https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |archive-date=2025-06-19 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Vive Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=StateKi |date=2023-10-10 |title=Post by StatekTi on X |url=https://x.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DiYbF |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=X (Formerly Twitter)}}</ref>
|-
|WHMCS
|Discontinuation of support and updates for WHMCS legacy “Owned” licenses, forcing users who want ongoing updates or technical support to switch to subscription licensing and pay recurring fees rather than continue with the original owned model. This change affects all holders of legacy owned licenses and alters the long-term terms under which those licenses were originally sold
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=WHMCS Knowledgebase |url=https://www.whmcs.com/members/index.php/knowledgebase/70/Support-and-Updates-Expiration.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Important pricing changes to your WHMCS owned license Mailer |url=https://www.whmcs.com/members/mailings/?k=price21-emailo}}</ref>
|-
|Wheatstone Corporation
|Wheatstone Corporation are a manufacturer of professional broadcast equipment, mainly audio consoles and interfaces that utilise their proprietary Wheatnet audio over IP protocol.
Wheatstone restricts access to firmware updates, software configuration tools and software. You must open a support ticked in order for them to send you a download link to these software tools, they make it very difficult to access software required to make their hardware audio interfaces work, even stating they want proof of purchase (not just a licence key) before they will even give you the download link. Managing licences is also non-existent and you will need to contact support, and as such a fee is imposed.
|
|-
|[[Wireless Power Consortium]]
|After monopolizing wireless charging market Qi turned from an open standard into a proprietary.
Version 1.3 introduced "secure authentication between the transmitter and the receiver", i.e. in order to operate every charger must include an expensive proprietary chip licensed only to certified members. This results in increased development and manufacturing costs directly passed onto consumer. Version 2.2, unlike previous versions, "is available for WPC Members only".
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qi Certification Is Changing and We've Got You Covered |url=https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/smarter-world-blog/BL-QI-CERTIFICATION-IS-CHANGING |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/C8IUW |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=NXP Semiconductors}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download the Qi Specifications |url=https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/knowledge-base/specifications/download-the-qi-specifications/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7dEYk |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=Wireless Power Consortium}}</ref>
|-
|Wolfgang Puck Bread Makers
|Some of the bread makers have anti repair screws in them to prevent people from repairing them themselves. Needs more citations.
|
|-
|[[World Orb]]
|World Network (Sam Altman/Open AI) scheme to collect biometric data on all people. Tied to cryptocurrency, AI schemes. Supposedly way for people to show they are human (run by the people who are trying to make a profit from AI).
|
|-
|Xcode support dropped for older MacBooks
|Apple has discontinued support for up to date versions of Xcode iOS development on older MacBook devices (discovered on my MacBook Pro 2017, but I’m sure it applies to other old devices as well), resulting in not being able to use a perfectly capable machine for iOS app development without having to go through countless loopholes. 1) you cannot commit new updates without utilizing a third-party medium, 2) the warning and error compiler is out of date due to not being able to update to the latest version, which of course supports the latest iOS release, so you have to figure it out on your own like it’s the 80’s 3) you must commit and release a new TestFlight build (through [1] loophole) to do any testing instead of being able to simulate on your Mac or even a connected device 4) this all really stems from the fact that the new Xcode updates require the new MacOS version which is also discontinued for older MacBooks. This means 8 year old device is basically just useless for such applications.
|
|}

==List of themes not yet covered==
Consumer Rights Wiki is not an encyclopedia.

*Before proposing or making a theme article, see if you can find an article that covers the topic on wikipedia, or some other reference. If you can, just use a reference to that.
*Check the list of theme articles [[:Category:common terms]], to be sure there isn't already an article on the topic, or one closely related. Sometimes a theme may be covered by generalizing an existing article.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Theme
!Summary of Theme
!Refs
|-
|Anti-rollback or ARB for device firmware
|most recent example being [[Oneplus phone update introduces hardware anti-rollback]] but ain't exclusive to it. Also implemented by [[Oneplus phone update introduces hardware anti-rollback#Comparison with other manufacturers|Samsung]], [https://mavicpilots.com/threads/not-be-able-to-degrade-firmfare-of-dji-mini2-from-01-06-0200.134806/#post-1518967 DJI] (link found from [[DJI]]) and likely many more.
|
|-
|[[SLAPP suits and legal intimidation]]
|There are increasing instances of companies using lawyers to silence product reviewers and other content creators by sending Cease & Desist letters to threaten and intimidate, and sometimes actually filing lawsuits against creators because they shared an opinion or exposed a flaw that makes the company look bad.
Rationale for inclusion on this Wiki: Honest product reviews serve to protect consumers from companies who manipulate and lie to customers about the quality, source, and real-world applicability of their products. Using lawyers to silence dissent directly hurts both content creators and consumers.
I believe Louis has covered or mentioned each of these Refs in his videos.
|<ref>{{cite_web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuDIMztL9OU}}</ref> <ref>{{cite_web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItSrtE-GHCc}}</ref> <ref>{{cite_web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STcKvMuYdf4}}</ref>
|-
|Unfinished, insanely buggy games pushed for release
|Games are continually being pushed for release without having been finished and/or the major kinks ironed out. If they were an alpha/beta release it'd be understandable but no its full blown "stable" release.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Isaac |first=Mike |last2=Browning |first2=Kellen |date=2020-12-19 |title=Cyberpunk 2077 Was Supposed to Be the Biggest Video Game of the Year. What Happened? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/19/style/cyberpunk-2077-video-game-disaster.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
|}

==List of companies doing the right thing==
It would be helpful to include examples of companies doing the right thing, even if they aren't, strictly speaking, consumer products.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Good deed
!Refs
|-
|APSystems
|After requests from users, the company released a firmware update that adds a local API to their EZ-1M solar micro inverter, allowing it to remain fully usable if the company ends support for the device
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=APsystems EZHI Local API User Manual |url=https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BBj54 |archive-date=9 Jan 2026 |website=global.apsystems.com}}</ref>
|-
|Concept2
|Readily provides parts and diagrams. Exists under a [https://www.concept2.com/about/perpetual-purpose-trust Perpetual Purpose Trust].
|
|-
|Core Devices (from creator of Pebble Smartwatches)
|Not strictly Core Devices, but when Pebble was sold to Fitbit, the servers remained online for some time, and the Pebble app was updated to allow the Rebble community project to take over some of the Pebble server-side functionality. All backers of the upcoming Pebble 2 series of watches were refunded in full, despite it being a crowd-funding campaign.
Following Google's acquisition of Fitbit and after many years, Google released much of the Pebble Smart Watch source code on github (excluding proprietary libraries). Core Devices and Rebble replaced the usage of the proprietary libraries with open source alternatives, and released new Android and iOS apps, not only supporting the new core devices, but bringing updated support to legacy Pebble devices.
|
|-
|GOG.com
|GOG provides DRM-free games that include offline backup game installers.
Through their game preservation program they help to keep older games playable on modern hardware.
|
|-
|Home Assistant
|Open-source smart home platform that provides local control, automation, and interoperability for a wide range of smart home devices. Provides support for many cloud devices after they're subject to [[discontinuation bricking]].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Assistant |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129222300/https://www.home-assistant.io/ |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>
|-
|Numatic International
|A UK based manufacture of commercial and consumer wet/dry floor cleaning products (vacuums, scrubbers, floor buffers) that provides a robust library of technical documents, parts breakdowns, data sheets and training for free on both new and existing products without the need to login, pay additional fees or be an approved repair facility.
|
|-
|Oral-B
|When installing the Android App, there is no login, and the user is asked for analytics tracking consent.
|
|-
|ratgdo
|A garage door opener controller developed by Paul Wieland, allowing you to locally control it (namely Chamberlain openers that would otherwise require the MyQ app for smart home features).
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wieland |first=Paul |title=About - ratgdo |url=https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213022055/https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>
|-
|Reticulum
|Reticulum is an open-source, decentralized networking stack designed to communicate between practically any wireless device, even without internet. Its purpose is to provide fully anonymous end-to-end encrypted communication by default, especially in the age of government surveillance. The Reticulum network, protocol, and hardware are not tied any company in particular but were initially created by Github user 'markqvist'. Honorable mention to NomadNet, which is a network of nodes that serve webpages, similar to the internet, that communicate via Reticulum.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=markqvist |title=Reticulum Network |url=https://reticulum.network/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Reticulum}}</ref>
|-
|stevesgames.co.uk
|Will never put ads or in-app purchases in their computer games and will make gamees available for free after securing the companys future.
|
|-
|Tektronix
|Provided extensive product data on unsupported products to a museum, vintageTEK, and thus to tekwiki and the rest of the community.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lenihan |first=Thomas F. |date=2012-02-28 |title=Copyright Notice |url=https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828004431/https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |archive-date=2025-08-28 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=vintageTEK museum}}</ref>
|-
|Ulanzi
|The company offers a tutorial on how users can mix their own fog juice to use with Ulanzi mini fog machines from readily available low-cost ingredients, whereas competitors sell proprietary fog juice at extortionate prices, refuse to release the formula and refuse to honour the warranty if users use anything but the OEM brand with their machines.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tutorial {{!}} How to DIY Ulanzi FM01 Fog Machine Juice? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM |type=Video}}</ref>
|}

==See Also==

*[[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory]]
*[[Other Channels - Video Directory|Other Channels - VIdeo Directory]]

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

Talk:Take Two

2026-02-15T22:28:47Z

Toastom: UPDATE: removed the mentioned table and unverified claim

== Unfair comparison to malware, CRW Editorial Guidelines ==

To me it seems the "Categories of Information Collected" section in this page breaks CRW Editorial Guidelines. The bullet list is fine, but the table and following paragraph in this section unfairly compare an unspecified (every?) Take Two game and/or service to malware. This section also comes to its own conclusion about the software and company rather than presenting only the facts. A reader finding this page and learning about Take Two for the first time might believe their computer has been infected. Much of the data reported to be collected ''is'' strictly necessary to do business and completely innocent, like securely processing credit card information so you can actually purchase and play a game. In addition this section may also invite a libel suit from Take Two against CRW for intentionally misrepresenting what they do. I don't represent anyone connected to them and I'm not defending the data collection but this section (or at least the table and ''literally claiming they spread malware'') needs to be removed. Thoughts? toastom 21:02, 15 February 2026 (UTC)

EDIT: After some consideration and reading the CRW guidelines as well as the Wikipedia edit guidelines, I decided to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_bold BE BOLD] and remove it myself. Apologies to the original author of that section, but I don't believe claims of a company spreading malware should be here unless it is officially documented by an outside source. Just trying to make sure this site stays alive.
toastom 22:28, 15 February 2026 (UTC)

Take Two

2026-02-15T22:17:03Z

Toastom: /* Categories of Information Collected */

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=
|Founded=1993
|Industry=Video games
|Logo=Take-Two_Interactive_logo.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Holding Company
|Website=https://www.take2games.com/
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Take-Two_Interactive|Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.]]''' is a New York City based video game holding company founded by Ryan Brant on September 30, 1993. The company owns three major publishing labels, [[Rockstar Games]], Zynga and 2K, which operate internal game development studios.

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

===2K - Faulty game launcher (''September 2022'')===
In September 2022, 2K released "quality of life" updates for the remastered versions of ''BioShock'', ''BioShock 2'', and ''BioShock Infinite'' on Steam, which required account linking and forced launching the games through the 2K launcher. This change rendered the games unplayable for Linux users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolens |first=Joshua |date=7 Sep 2022 |title=2K's 'quality of life' change for BioShock is that Linux users can't play it anymore |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/2ks-quality-of-life-change-for-bioshock-is-that-linux-users-cant-play-it-anymore/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907012552/https://www.pcgamer.com/2ks-quality-of-life-change-for-bioshock-is-that-linux-users-cant-play-it-anymore/ |archive-date=7 Sep 2022 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>

===2K - Personal data breaches (''September 2022'')===
In September 2022, 2K experienced a data breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=CJ |date=21 Sep 2022 |title=Rockstar owner Take-Two's hacking woes continue as 2K confirm attack on their support service |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rockstar-owner-take-twos-hacking-woes-continue-as-2k-confirm-attack-on-their-support-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921151800/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rockstar-owner-take-twos-hacking-woes-continue-as-2k-confirm-attack-on-their-support-service |archive-date=21 Sep 2022 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}}</ref> The stolen data was put up for sale including names, email addresses, and gamertags.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=11 Oct 2022 |title=2K confirms user data stolen and placed on sale after recent security breach |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2k-confirms-user-data-stolen-and-placed-on-sale-after-recent-security-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011204008/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2k-confirms-user-data-stolen-and-placed-on-sale-after-recent-security-breach |archive-date=11 Oct 2022 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}}</ref>

===Shuttered studios===
{{Incomplete section}}
-Private Division shutdown - Main project Kerbal Space Program 2 made abandonware in early access, players not refunded
[[wikipedia:2K_(company)|Wikipedia page ref]](note: use as springboard, find dedicated sources for history of buyouts and shuttering)

===''Spec Ops: The Line'' delisting (''January 2024'')===
On January 29, 2024, 2K removed ''Spec Ops: The Line'' from [[Steam]] without prior notice, due to expiring partnership licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=30 Jan 2024 |title=2K confirms Spec Ops: The Line has been removed from sale because of expiring 'partnership licenses' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/spec-ops-the-lines-sudden-removal-from-steam-baffles-its-director-why-has-this-happened/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130191822/https://www.pcgamer.com/spec-ops-the-lines-sudden-removal-from-steam-baffles-its-director-why-has-this-happened/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2024 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> Players who already owned the game can still download and play it.

===Microtransactions (MTX) and lootboxes===
{{Incomplete section}}
Ref should cover all 3 major companies owned by T2, ref covers 2k. Zynga's pioneering of predatory mtx needs to be covered (see cityville and Farmville games.) Rockstar, shark cards in GTAO? No clue how we could shoehorn this one.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Nick |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=NBA 2K Faces Lawsuit Over Controversial Microtransactions, Loot Boxes |url=https://screenrant.com/nba-2k-take-two-microtransactions-lawsuit-sports/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308194622/https://screenrant.com/nba-2k-take-two-microtransactions-lawsuit-sports/ |archive-date=8 Mar 2022 |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

===Borderlands Series - Terms of Service changes and alleged [[spyware]] (April 2025)===
{{Incomplete section}}
https://medium.com/@DarkRa/why-gamers-are-furious-over-take-two-and-2ks-new-terms-of-service-051e7a6a5594
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMKMhqKzHxs&pp=ygUMdGFrZSB0d28gdG9z

Risk of Rain video game series - EULA update, which is the same as the Borderlands Series. (Risk of Rain was published by Gearbox, which all their games were affected by this EULA update.)

Grand Theft Auto also has the same EULA update from Take Two Interactive as the Borderlands Series and Risk of Rain.

==Take-Two Interactive — Abuses Related to Data Collection and Game Ownership==

===Data Collection Practices===

*'''Always-on tracking''': Take-Two collects gameplay data continuously, even in single-player modes. This includes hardware identifiers, crash logs, user behavior, and telemetry.
*'''Cross-service aggregation''': Data is collected across all Take-Two titles (e.g. ''GTA'', ''Red Dead'', ''NBA 2K''), websites, customer support interactions, and third-party services. This enables behavioral profiling without user transparency.
*'''Cookies and marketing surveillance''': Persistent cookies and tracking pixels are used for analytics and targeted advertising. User data may be shared with external partners, with no meaningful opt-out mechanism.
*'''Mandatory acceptance''': Users must accept all data collection terms to access the games or services. Refusal may lead to denied access or reduced functionality.

===No Ownership Over Games or Content===

*'''License, not purchase''': All Take-Two products, including physical and digital copies, are legally considered ''revocable licenses'', not owned goods. The company retains all property rights.
*'''Game access can be revoked''': Take-Two’s Terms of Service allow them to ''terminate the license'' at any time, for any reason. Once terminated, users ''lose access'' to the game—even if they paid full price.
*'''No refunds or compensation''': Upon license termination or account ban, Take-Two has no obligation to offer a refund or reinstate access. Games, accounts, and virtual items can disappear permanently.
*'''Virtual goods not guaranteed''': In-game currency, cosmetics, or stats (e.g. ''GTA Shark Cards'', ''NBA VC'') can be removed, altered, or rendered inaccessible at any time. Ownership claims are explicitly denied.

===Sample Terms Extract===
<blockquote>"You agree that your rights to access and use the Services are limited by this Agreement and that your license is revocable, non-exclusive, and non-transferable. Take-Two may suspend, terminate, or modify your access at its sole discretion…" {{Citation needed}}</blockquote>

===Summary===
Take-Two uses its Terms of Service to maintain '''total control''' over user data, gameplay behavior, and access rights. Despite charging full retail prices, the company:

*Treats all products as ''temporary, licensed experiences''.
*Reserves the right to '''revoke access without refund'''.
*Enforces '''extensive data collection''' with no opt-out.
*Allows '''removal of games from users’ libraries''', even post-purchase.

These practices undermine consumer rights by '''removing ownership''', eroding '''user privacy''', and ensuring '''legal asymmetry''' in disputes.

Last Update: June 2025

==Categories of Information Collected==
The following describes the types of information collected by Take-Two, according to their privacy policy:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-01 |title=Take-Two Interactive Software Privacy Policy |url=https://www.take2games.com/privacy/en-US/#1-categories-of-information-collected |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Take2Games}}</ref><blockquote>The type of information we collect depends on how you use the Services. Generally, we collect the following information:

*'''Identifiers / Contact Information''': Name, user name, gamertag, postal and email address, phone number, unique IDs, mobile device ID, platform ID, gaming service ID, advertising ID (IDFA, Android ID) and IP address
*'''Protected Characteristics''': Age and gender
*'''Commercial Information''': Purchase and usage history and preferences, including gameplay information
*'''Billing Information''': Payment information (credit / debit card information) and shipping address
*'''Internet / Electronic Activity''': Web / app browsing and gameplay information related to the Services; information about your online interaction(s) with the Services or our advertising; and details about the games and platforms you use and other information related to installed applications
*'''Device and Usage Data''': Device type, software and hardware details, language settings, browser type and version, operating system, and information about how users use and interact with the Services (e.g., content viewed, pages visited, clicks, scrolls)
*'''Profile Inferences''': Inferences made from your information and web activity to help create a personalized profile so we can identify goods and services that may be of interest
*'''Audio / Visual Information''': Account photos, images, and avatars, audio information via chat features and functionality, and gameplay recordings and video footage (such as when you participate in playtesting)
*'''Sensitive Information''': Precise location information (if you allow the Services to collect your location), account credentials (user name and password), and contents of communications via chat features and functionality.
</blockquote>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Take-Two Interactive]]

Talk:Take Two

2026-02-15T21:02:06Z

Toastom: /* Unfair comparison to malware, CRW Editorial Guidelines */ new section

Talk:Mission statement

2026-02-15T19:31:19Z

Toastom: /* Missing context for Louis Rossmann mention */ new section

==Captcha system is bugged on user talk and discussion pages==

I went to a user's talk page and tried to add a topic. Wrote it up, clicked to save, it asked me for some Captcha text -- but while there was a text box to enter my answer, there was no Captcha to be seen. This behaviour is consistent across other users' talk pages, as well as this very discussion page: I'm circumventing it by editing the source directly, rather than adding a topic. Yes, I manually copied the following code from another comment: [[User:Skatche|Skatche]] ([[User talk:Skatche|talk]]) 00:01, 27 January 2025 (EST)

Hi; thanks for reporting this. Staff are already working on a fix for this; sorry it took someone so long to see. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 02:45, 4 February 2025 (UTC)

==Concern about mission statement==

The mission statement itself is a bit scaring. It's the first page to see and could turn away people that try to look up something in the future. This article has to move at some point to a more inviting page, maybe not in the next time tho. [[User:Tpat90|Tpat90]] ([[User talk:Tpat90|talk]]) 22:06, 14 January 2025 (UTC)

Agree, but until we are aiming to attract readers rather than contributors, I'm happy for us to keep it as is. It'll likely be a while before the wiki is useful to a casual reader [[User:Keith|Keith]]

==Thoughts on archiving sources==

It should be mentioned that this wiki could be used as an index for solicitation with copyright requests, or through some other method, to take down at any point any of the sources listed on each page. Those sources, then, should at least be checked to make sure that they have been captured by the Internet Archive, or through some other service. I think it'd be tedious and unhelpful for every source to directly link to an archive page, but there should be some kind of policy to make sure that these sources are archived. [[User:Liana]] ([[User talk:Liana|talk]]) 17:11, 17 January 2025 (UTC)

:I think it'd be a much better idea if the sources WERE directly archived and/or pertinent screenshots pushed into the articles themselves so that any replicas of this wiki have them too. The Wiki likely should be easy to replicate, by the way. Maybe with published wiki dumps or such. - [[User:Anonymous]] 20 January 2025

:My worry is that if we do not capture sources (and sources request to be omitted from Internet Archives), they could be lost as has happened before. Link Rot is very real..

:I had to use internet archive to download the original software for my Linx tablets (which are now sadly considered to be e-waste), and if I could even suggest people run the tablets on original software (MS Windows 8.1), I would re-upload it to my own website, as the Linx website is dead and nothing (inclusive of Wikipedia, Internet Archive, the copper/fiber providing the connectivity even) is 100% guaranteed to stay up for the rest of forever. - [[User:DrToxic]] ([[user talk:DrToxic|talk]]) 16:18 22 January 2025

==What is the line in the sand for "new" consumer protection?==

"A company remotely disabled software of consumers who posted bad online reviews" and "All consumer devices with needless cloud connection were bricked when a company went out of business" would be within scope for the wiki at the very top of the gradient of badness, but where along the gradient do these stories fall out of scope?

#A car manufacturer sells a heated seat subscription even though the consumer already purchased the hardware with their car, but the manufacturer is upfront & honest about it when they purchase the car
#A manufacturer that sells hardware also provides the software necessary to use said hardware, but it requires a subscription service lest the hardware becomes a brick which they are transparent about when purchasing the hardware
#Same as 2 with some free functionality in the software, but the software (for the hardware you already purchased and own) is designed to be frustrating to use (subjective guess) to force users to buy the software subscription
#Same as 2, but the software is a perpetual purchase at least (though still the hardware will be a brick without purchasing the software)
#*Does it make a difference between how "reasonable" the price is (subjective)? E.g. $100 purchase vs $5000 to keep your $5000 hardware from turning into a brick
#Company which sold yearly releases for software that users would own in perpetuity (think Photoshop CS6 or pre-365 Microsoft Office) changes to a subscription model for new releases going forward so that now users who relied on their software can never "own" it again
#*This is "okay" in today's climate due to the gradual erosion of consumer ownership, but would have been an outrage 40+ years ago
#Same as 5 except the company never sold perpetual licenses in the first place and is just riding on the coattails of other companies which have eroded consumer ownership
#A consumer device has a cloud connection, which hasn't yet been bricked because the company is still in business
#*It would be fair game once consumer devices are bricked, but do we have to wait? Is ''any'' cloud connection which can result in a loss of functionality the consumer paid for fair game even before it is lost? I imagine consumers would want to know that a device they plan on purchasing is at risk before they make the purchase
#"Schematics or Die": if the device is fully offline and cannot be affected by the manufacturer post-sale but they refuse to provide schematics to owners upon request, is that "intentionally [creating] obstacles to repair"?
#*Does it change if the reason is because they don't own all of the IP and can't legally release schematics? (would we even know the difference between whether this was the case or they were intentionally making it harder to repair if they did not directly tell us?)

These all "take away the consumer's right of ''ownership''." in the words of the mission statement, but have become increasingly accepted and "fair" with the erosion of consumer ownership over time. They are not even necessarily a "revocation" of ownership because the consumer was never provided the opportunity of ownership in the first place. [[User:DrewW]] ([[User talk:DrewW|talk]]) 06:58, 19 January 2025 (UTC)

:I'll try to tackle a few of these:
:For #1: yep, even if it's clearly communicated, it's taking away ownership and the ability to use your thing. The fact that it's clearly communicated and so on should be mentioned in the article for it.
:Similarly, for 2 through 4, I think we can apply similar logic - it's anti ownership even if reasonable. i do hesitate at #4 though, as I think in that case it might come down to reasonability, and whether the cost of the software was advertised as part of the cost of the package, or whether it was more hidden.

:Honestly, 5 and 6 are tricky... I'd need to think more about them.

:For 7: It's fair game, as the product would be bricked right now if a tree fell on their datacentre's powerline. it's a problem when a perfectly good product has the potential to be worthless just becausee someone else turns off their computer. Obviously, if nothing has yet happened, the article should reflect that, and state as much.

:For 8: I'd say so, though I think this might fall under the umbrella of 'old' consumer protection, and need to meet a size threshold. Situations like that one you mention with the IP being unreleaseable are exactly why tone is so important for this wiki - we should simply state that they are not releasing the schematics, that this is causing people problems, and any statements the company has publicly made. We should not ascribe intentionality to the company's actions when we do not know their intentions.

:For now, we're mostly going to be drawing the line by feel, as we don't want to discourage people from writing potentially relevant articles. In a month or so we might revisit exactly where the line lies.

:I think the key takeaway is that even if it's a relatively benign example, because we will be presenting things in a factual and neutral tone, it's fine to make an article about it. We will do our absolute best not to misrepresent things, so a benign example will read less severely to an extreme example when someone is reading an article.

:Consider also that somewhere in the policy (I forget where, but I definitely wrote it) it mentions that it's perfectly ok to write articles about relevant positive incidents, such as steam removing forced arbitration.

:Thank you very much for the question, and I hope this provides some insight as to our stance! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:59, 19 January 2025 (UTC)

Here’s my take on this:

The stories fall out of scope where they fail to address clear consumer deception, harm, or unethical practices that are integral to shaping consumer sentiment. This wiki, as I understand it, is about empowering consumers with knowledge of **how they’ve been misled or wronged** to prevent ongoing exploitation.

For example, a company transitioning from perpetual licenses to subscriptions might be **unpopular** but doesn’t inherently constitute deception or malpractice—it’s a business model shift, not a lie. However, **concealing predatory terms** (like subscription exit fees in the case of Adobe) or **breaking user trust** directly impacts consumer rights (and feelings) and fits squarely within scope.

The line is crossed when actions no longer directly reveal deceit, systemic exploitation, or a violation of consumer rights and expectations (and feelings).

[[User:Imolith|Imolith]] ([[User talk:Imolith|talk]]) 17:41, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

==Hiding the table of contents on the homepage==

Now that this page is much shorter, I think it would be a good idea to hide the table of contents by placing <nowiki>__NOTOC__</nowiki> at the top of the page (right above the first line, with no blank line in between). Right now, the table of contents takes up half of the available space on my screen. [[User:Waldo|Waldo]] ([[User talk:Waldo|talk]]) 07:05, 20 January 2025 (UTC)
:Steve from GN even hid it himself in his video: https://youtu.be/zdLr5CKFiJs?si=yL7pRnuAHhbtbTk5 [[User:Waldo|Waldo]] ([[User talk:Waldo|talk]]) 16:04, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

::Hey [[User:Waldo|@Waldo]] you are right, should have gotten that done yesterday! [[User:Kostas|Kostas]] ([[User talk:Kostas|talk]]) 16:13, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

:::Thanks! To be fair, I didn't ping anyone yesterday :) [[User:Waldo|Waldo]] ([[User talk:Waldo|talk]]) 16:15, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

==Rewriting the Main Page and some broader site organization work==

This is a vision I have for what the main page of this site could be, and how some organizational changes could be made on the site overall to make it more approachable, more educational, and easier to navigate. I've previously sent this to Support in Discord, but thought it might be good to share here. This proposal is better than the one I had sent in Discord.

In short, my vision is for the main page to be an intro to the website as a whole, and a central navigation point to help people get to the specific information they want, rather than a page focused on contribution to CAT.

A.) Title: Change this page's name from "Mission statement" to "Consumer Action Taskforce Wiki".

B.) Intro: Above the table-of-contents, add a one-paragraph summary of what the site is about/for. The Mission could be included here.

C.) Article/ToC: My proposal for the Table of Contents and overall article is to feature each major category of Consumer Rights, with Contribution and extra information toward the end.

ToC Proposal:
#What is "consumer protection" and how are we taking action?
#Right To Repair
#Right to Own / Right to Use What You Own
#Right to Privacy
#Right to the Justice System (Forced Arbitration)
#Right to Cancel
#Violations by Company
#Resources for consumers
#Fight for change / Take Action
#Contribute to this wiki

Each of these sections would be brief. The 'Right To Repair' section would introduce the issue, link to a couple of relevant articles for examples ('John Deere fails to uphold right to repair agreement' & 'Future Motion Onewheel skateboard...'), and link to a dedicated 'Right To Repair' page.

I would also suggest having the ToC be flat (i.e. no sublists)

D.) Dedicated Pages for each main topic

The dedicated 'Right To Repair' page would introduce the issue, feature a couple of example articles, and also catalogue all articles regarding 'Right To Repair'. 'Right To Own', 'Right To Privacy', and others would have dedicated pages in the same vein.

The catalogue of relevant articles on each dedicated page may be further organized. For example 'Tesla asks customers to vote against Right to Repair' might fall under a 'Political' category of R2R, whereas the Onewheel article might fall under a 'Devices' category. Some articles might appear on both 'Right to Repair' and 'Right to Own', so perhaps an additional section on each page for these multi-category articles.

E. Resources for Consumers (potentially off-topic)

'Resources for consumers' would include things like 'Privacy Not Included' from Mozilla, repair.wiki, iFixit.
It could additionally include recommendations for consumer-respecting devices and consumer-respecting software, but I know that product recommendations are off-topic for this site. The Editorial Guidelines state "This Wiki is not a place for product recommendations, and cannot be turned into a place for sneaky guerilla advertising, or the promotion of contributors' pet projects."
As an alternative, perhaps a guiding article for consumers of what to look for could be helpful when trying to choose consumer-respecting devices and software. Is it Open Source? Are Replacement Parts Available? Is a subscription required? Can it be remotely disabled? Is my data collected/sold? And then linking to other online resources where you can try to get answers to those questions.

F. 'Fight For Change / Take Action' (potentially off-topic)

The Editorial Guidelines state that "We will be especially vigilant against potentially harmful content, and take strong action against users who: (1)Advocate for direct action against malicious companies or individuals within articles themselves". So I don't know if a general guidance article on taking action for Consumer Rights is appropriate or not. Such an article, if it is appropriate, could direct folks toward contacting their representatives, using products that respect consumer rights, educating their friends, sharing the site.

This or a similar section of the site could also direct folks toward proposed legislation, failed legislation, maps of states that have addressed consumer issues, overview of the political process for getting R2R or other relevant legislation, and other legal/political resources of the sort.

G. Contribute to this Wiki

Provide brief summary of what does and does not belong on the wiki, and link to a dedicated 'Contributions' page that goes into more detail. Alternatively, brief summary then a list of links to more information.

A dedicated 'Contribute' page could give a numbered list of 'Before You Contribute', which then recommends things like 'Learn what belongs here', 'Learn what doesn't belong here', 'Read the Editorial Guidelines'. Then have a 'How To Contribute' section listing 'Edit Articles', 'Create New Articles', 'Discuss Changes' (talk page, discord), 'MediaWiki Formatting'. Then have a 'Contribute' section listing links to 'Convert Videos to Articles' (video directory), 'Articles in need of work', and whatever other avenues are recommended for contribution.

H. Navigation Menu

Suggestions:

*Put 'main page' at the top, followed by 'All Pages', then 'Categories', then the other links below those.
*Add a 'Consumer Rights' navigation box with the 'R2R', Right to Privacy, and dedicated-page links that I've suggested in the ToC section above.
+(added by Cire)+ On mobile navigation is clunky and there's no hyperlink or similar from the main page to the All pages search section. Mobile formats are what people will have all the time. Imagine if this wiki could be an app (or shortcut) on mobile and can be as easily referenced as one would a shoping list texted to you.

[[User:ReedyBear|ReedyBear]] 22:50, 20 January 2025 (UTC)

==Relevant biographical data==

This is in regards to companies and organizations. The information included about describing them should be info that supports CAT efforts. One point in particular is information that establishes a chain of responsibility for that company or organization so as to give consumers a pathway to approach problems with those most responsible for a policy or condition arising. For example the company info box I added a line item to identify if they are a public or privately held company, which would be information to establish who is responsible for the company's activities.

In the case of an organization such as government agencies or commissions, where that organization derives its authority from would also establish how to address its behavior. It doesn't need to be a history lesson, just the point of its inception and under what conditions it was allowed to be made, such as what specific law or action established it. [[User:MadMallard|MadMallard]] ([[User talk:MadMallard|talk]]) 09:33, 26 January 2025 (UTC)

==Scope: are intentionally habit forming products in scope?==

What about habit forming products? Do they fall within wiki scope, or out of scope, or borderline?

Designing products to be habit forming could be considered a more sophisticated version of hindering cancellation.

I am thinking products built on dark patterns, that manipulate or exploit the user to do things they would not otherwise do. Loot crates in video games. Betting apps.

If this is borderline, any thoughts/clarifications on how to distinguish where this border is?

See ''Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products'' by Nir Eyal

[https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/06/05/generative-ai-runs-on-gambling-addiction-just-one-more-prompt-bro/ Generative AI runs on gambling addiction]

[[User:Drakeula|Drakeula]] ([[User talk:Drakeula|talk]]) 16:43, 26 September 2025 (UTC)

:Dark patterns are in scope - Gambling in video games or anything digital can probably work as they are used in articles, but I don’t think you can base a whole article on it. Really doubt betting at all though, but if it is very hard to cancel some random subscription you have to do?? it might be worth mentioning. I think the [[project:Inclusion guidelines|Inclusion guidelines]] help a bit more as scope is its purpose.
:darn, i wrote an essay [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|<i><b>AnotherConsumerRightsPerson</b></i>]] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:32, 27 September 2025 (UTC)

== Missing context for Louis Rossmann mention ==

This is a very minor issue, but on this page in the "How this Wiki will be used" section, the second paragraph starts with "The base focus of the Wiki is expected to be on issues frequently discussed on Louis Rossmann’s channel..." This line doesn't explain who Louis is or why he is important or even that he is associated with the Consumer Rights Wiki at all. Ideally as this wiki grows you don't need to be a subscriber to have heard of it either. So I propose either adding some brief context for why he's mentioned or alternatively providing a link to his Youtube channel or Wikipedia page

toastom 19:31, 15 February 2026 (UTC) toastom 19:31, 15 February 2026 (UTC)