EULA roofie: Difference between revisions
Created page with " The term ''"EULA roofie"'' was coined by consumer rights advocate Louis Rossmann. It describes the practice of deliberately burying contentious terms in an End User License Agreement, rather than placing these terms front & center during the sale. Terms that would cause a customer to think twice before making a purchase are buried rather than presented upfront. The term draws a parallel to the negative practice of claiming someone provided consent for something they wou..." |
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The term ''"EULA roofie"'' was coined by consumer rights advocate Louis Rossmann. It describes the practice of deliberately burying contentious terms in an End User License Agreement, rather than placing these terms front & center during the sale. Terms that would cause a customer to think twice before making a purchase are buried rather than presented upfront. The term draws a parallel to the negative practice of claiming someone provided consent for something they would not consent to if they were not tricked into doing so. | The term ''"EULA roofie"'' was coined by consumer rights advocate Louis Rossmann. It describes the practice of deliberately burying contentious terms in an End User License Agreement, rather than placing these terms front & center during the sale. Terms that would cause a customer to think twice before making a purchase are buried rather than presented upfront. The term draws a parallel to the negative practice of claiming someone provided consent for something they would not consent to if they were not tricked into doing so. | ||
If the terms of the sale are so unconscionable that they'd cause reasonable people to reject them & not proceed with a purchase, but they are buried in the terms of service rather than prominently displayed on the product page, the term "'''EULA roofie"''' applies. In this instance, it is our opinion that the manufacturer of the product or service wishes for you to provide consent under false pretenses. | |||
== Core Concept == | == Core Concept == | ||
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Reading a 30 page terms of service before buying a movie is not practical. | Reading a 30 page terms of service before buying a movie is not practical. | ||
=== Smart Appliance | === Smart Appliance Application Data Collection & Sharing with Third Parties === | ||
[[File:LG ThinQ app terms of service part 1.webp|alt=LG ThinQ app terms of service from July 2024, for use of an LG smart washing machine|thumb|LG ThinQ app terms of service from July 2024, for use of an LG smart washing machine]] | [[File:LG ThinQ app terms of service part 1.webp|alt=LG ThinQ app terms of service from July 2024, for use of an LG smart washing machine|thumb|LG ThinQ app terms of service from July 2024, for use of an LG smart washing machine]] | ||
LG Electronics and other manufacturers require users to accept extensive terms of service and privacy policies to use basic "smart" features on home appliances. The time required to actually read these documents (often 3+ hours) would negate any time-saving benefits of the smart features themselves, making meaningful informed consent impractical. | [[File:LG ThinQ app TOS.webp|alt=LG ThinQ app terms of service from July 2024, for use of an LG smart washing machine: part 2 of 3.|thumb|LG ThinQ app terms of service from July 2024, for use of an LG smart washing machine: part 2 of 3.]] | ||
[[File:LG ThinQ app terms of service from July 2024, for use of an LG smart washing machine- part 3 of 3..webp|thumb]] | |||
LG Electronics and other manufacturers require users to accept extensive terms of service and privacy policies to use basic "smart" features on home appliances. The time required to actually read these documents (often 3+ hours) would negate any time-saving benefits of the smart features themselves, making meaningful informed consent impractical. See terms of service to the right. | |||
== Consumer Impact == | == Consumer Impact == | ||
The practice undermines informed consent in digital transactions by: | The practice undermines informed consent in digital transactions by: | ||
* Using lengthy documents (often 50+ pages) to hide | * Using lengthy documents (often 50+ pages) to hide terms that rob you of your privacy & rights as an American citizen(your day in court) | ||
* Employing complex legal language to obscure the real meaning of agreements | * Employing complex legal language to obscure the real meaning of agreements | ||
* Placing | * Placing important information deep within documents where they're unlikely to be found | ||
* Presenting one meaning of terms (like "purchase") in the user interface while legally defining them differently in hidden terms | * Presenting one meaning of terms (like "purchase") in the user interface while legally defining them differently in hidden terms | ||
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* Plain language requirements in consumer agreements | * Plain language requirements in consumer agreements | ||
* Prominent disclosure of significant terms | * Prominent disclosure of significant terms | ||
* Reform of digital ownership rights | * Reform of digital ownership rights | ||