The Week in Repair: June 12-17
Tracking devices show returned home appliances end up in the landfill. Also: how Facebook funds an anti-regulatory attack dog to fight antitrust and anti-monopoly efforts.
Welcome back! Here are some of the top repair-related news stories from the past week.
Tracking Devices Show Returned Appliances Go To Landfill
Tracking devices planted in “faulty” small appliances have revealed where they go when returned to stores.
Many appliances such as mixers, blenders and toasters are sold with no repair advice and no spare parts available, making a longer lifespan challenging.
The situation lead Consumer NZ to investigate what happens to nearly new, but faulty appliances.
After buying benchtop mixers from Kmart, The Warehouse, Briscoes and Farmers stores in Wellington, its testers created easily-fixed “faults” by removing a power wire from the control board. (stuff.co.nz)
Facebook’s Antiregulatory Attack Dog Spends its Millions fighting Antitrust
Newly released documents and research are shining light on the expansive, and expensive, influence campaign being waged by American Edge Project (AEP), the Facebook supported anti-regulatory attack dog. In August 2020, AEP launched its first ad, a hopeful and uplifting spot highlighting the ways that technology has kept the country connected during a year of scarce in-person interaction. More than a year later, with bipartisan tech regulation bills lingering in the halls of Congress, the group’s tone has switched to one that is decidedly based around fear. The messages are amplified by AEP’s 24 member organizations. But a closer examination of AEP’s structure, messaging, and finances suggests that this chorus is being conducted by a single benefactor: Facebook. According to the 501(c)(4)’s 990 filing, AEP received a single donation between December 10, 2019 and October 31, 2020, for $4 million. In May 2020, a Facebook spokesperson told the Washington Post that Facebook was “contributing to” AEP. Put together, these facts imply that Facebook is not simply a contributor to the project, but its sole funder (techtransparencyproject.org)
Big Tech Monopolies Endanger American Security
The American Economic Liberties Project released a report entitled, “Big Tech Monopolies Endanger American Security” that details how Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft have repeatedly prioritized shareholder profit above all else, and in fact, consistently engage in behavior that is in direct contrast to U.S. national security interests in order to maintain their monopoly power. “We must emphatically refute the lie that Big Tech companies are flag bearers of our national security interests when time and time again, they’ve chosen to prioritize their market power over American interests,“ said Matt Stoller, Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project. “These companies have undermined American interests internationally and caved to the demands of authoritarian regimes, all the while stifling innovation in our own borders through anticompetitive behavior. A competitive, diversified economy that breeds innovation, not a handful of monopoly powers, is what strengthens our national power and allows us to adequately compete on the international stage.” (economicliberties.us)
New York’s Right to Repair Law may have Ripple Effects
As tech companies start complying with the new rules, “[c]onsumers will find that local cell phone, computer repair and TV repair will be able to do more repairs for more brands than previously,” said Gordon-Byrne.
And many of those repairs are likely to cost less.
Gordon-Byrne said she thinks the automotive repair industry could act as a guide. “In the auto world consumers expect roughly 30% savings from a local mechanic—and I think the same will apply.”
New York’s law “will drive competition, lower repair prices and parts prices for the average consumer, and prolong the lives of New Yorkers’ devices. It’s expected to save every New York family up to $330 per year. The average American family spends $1,400+ on household electronics every year already,” said Alexander Flood, spokesperson for New York assemblymember Patricia Fahy, the bill’s sponsor in the assembly, in an emailed response to The Markup. (TheMarkup.org)
Right to Repair revisited
When a farmer is at the mercy of their malfunctioning equipment, with few choices to resolve the issue, it delays their farm production and is costly. Overall, it puts the “little guy” at a disadvantage. It’s another challenge that makes it harder to compete or stay in business altogether.
In an interview with The Guardian, Walter Schweitzer, a farmer in Montana, recalls harvesting hay when his tractor broke down in the middle of the process. The tractor company told him that they couldn’t send a mechanic to fix the issue for at least a week. Farmers don’t have that kind of time to waste. Rain was forecasted and the hay needed harvesting or else the rest of his crop was at risk of being ruined. Luckily, he was able to use an old tractor to finish the harvest. His old tractor saved the day because his internet-connected tractor did not get fixed until a month later, not a week later, as promised. As illustrated in this farmer’s story, the present problem is that farmers must adhere to strict manufacturer rules that aren’t in their best interest. These rules prohibit farmers from repairing their equipment issues themselves or finding someone else who can. These rules create uncertainty in farmers and can cause loss in farm income, mental anguish, and contribute to a less resilient food supply chain.
Our industrial food system with unchecked consolidation and vertical integration has created this power imbalance. This is an example of how consolidation functions in helping drive independent producers out of business, while large agribusiness thrive, paving the way for bigger corporate farms. (foodwhistleblower.org)
Supporting Farmers in Right to Repair and holding Corporations accountable
Much like 2021, this year has seen numerous Right to Repair bills introduced across the nation, including 20 states with active bills. And much like 2021, most of these are likely to die before the year is out.
That’s because the barriers to passing meaningful Right to Repair legislation remain the same. As Weins explained, "We [almost] always have the votes; it's just a matter of lobbyists… we have large corporate entities that have a vested financial interest on the other side. [The barrier is] getting past them."
The importance of legislative wins also remains the same. While New York’s bill will have an outsized impact, it included some notable carve-outs: "The concern is, it doesn’t cover medical devices, home appliances or farm equipment," noted Weins.
This is why Colorado's important — albeit narrow — bill is critical. By protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs in Colorado, it is likely to protect that right across the nation. Should future state bills cover medical devices, home appliances and farm equipment respectively, we could see a patchwork of laws enshrining the Right to Repair across the nation.
Another thing that hasn’t changed? "Overwhelming support" and the unyielding pressure of Right to Repair advocates. Weins insisted, "We're gonna keep going… I like to say all humans are in favor of the right to repair. This is not a partisan issue." (greenbiz.com)
Companies Should Be More Repair Friendly – Rely on Warranties Less
Being pestered to buy pricey extended warranties is one of my (many) pet hates. After splashing out on a fancy new energy-efficient washing machine, I expect it to last a good few years. If it breaks before then you better believe I'll be demanding a repair or replacement.
So when registering my appliance with Hoover, its incessant prompts to 'enhance' my protection by paying £5.32 a month (£63.84 a year) were irritating to say the least. My machine needs to last only two years and one month before it is cheaper to pay the repair bill rather than buy the extra cover — and I really hope it can manage that!
So the only thing it seems I'll miss out on by forgoing the firm's enhanced protection policy is accidental damage cover. I'm quite clumsy but confident even I will struggle to accidentally damage an integrated washing machine. Unless I perhaps rammed it with an ironing board? But in that event, cosmetic damage such as dents and scratches are on a long list of exclusions not covered. (thisismoney.co.uk)
Why Meta Is Killing the Portal Line for Consumers
If you’re an end-consumer who relies on Meta’s Portal or Portal+ video-calling devices to communicate with your friends and family, work remotely, and Zoom or Netflix, you may want to brace up. Information suggests that Meta is planning to discontinue its Portal line of products for consumers and instead focus on its business clients.
But why is Meta discontinuing Portal? What are the implications for users like you? Will you still be able to use your Portal devices, and will there still be support? Or is Portal shutting down completely?
You’ll still be able to make video calls with your Portal devices. However, the discontinuation of the consumer product line will shrink the Portal video call user base. And with solid competition from the likes of Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show, it is only a matter of time before more Portal consumers port over to other Portal alternatives. (makeuseof.com)
Repairing That Old Smartphone May Be Worth It
For years, consumers faced with replacing an older, perhaps obsolete electronics product such as a laptop or mobile phone would weigh the cost of repairing an out-of-warranty product against a costlier but newer replacement product. Oftentimes, buying the newer product is chosen because the existing product can only be repaired through the manufacturer’s authorized repair facilities, who can set whatever price they want for the repair as well as control the distribution of replacement parts.
This form of planned obsolescence is the target of pending legislation in New York State that would guarantee consumers would be able to repair electronic equipment, whether it be smartphones, computers, or other equipment, at a fair price by repair shops, including mom-and-pop outfits. The bill, designated New York Senate Bill S410A and awaiting the signature of New York Governor Hochul, would require manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair service information and affordable replacement parts. (Design News)
Proposed Freedom to Repair Act Seems Unlikely to Make Streaming Piracy Worse
Passed almost a quarter of a century ago, the DMCA prevents citizens from repairing many of their own electronic devices. The proposed Freedom to Repair Act 2022 seeks to fix this problem by allowing circumvention in strictly limited circumstances. This week the proposal was labeled "pro-piracy legislation" but is that a fair assessment or an expected overreaction?
When Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998, section 1201 outlawed circumvention of technological protection measures controlling access to copyright works. The base concept is relatively simple. When technological systems are deployed by copyright holders (or on their behalf) to protect access to their copyrighted works, in most cases these systems cannot be circumvented without violating the DMCA. Section 1201 also prohibits trafficking in technology or services that facilitate the circumvention of such systems. (torrentfreak.com)
Tech is bracing itself as Lina Khan’s FTC agenda takes off
It’s not just Amazon.
One year after taking over as chair of the FTC, Lina Khan is just getting into the thorniest, farthest-reaching and most resource-intensive portion of her agenda — and most of the items on deck have nothing to do with the widely expected antitrust lawsuit against yet another tech giant.
Although Khan, 33, rocketed to the top ranks of competition law with her criticism of Amazon, she appears to be preparing rulemakings on privacy, the revision of the agency’s views on mergers, more work on kids’ data and the defense of the agency before hostile judges — even as many of those outside the FTC who could face its wrath are making their own preparations.
“The FTC follows and is in charge of the entire economy, basically,” said Matt Wood, vice president of Policy at media group Free Press. “When it comes to the signature issues, a lot of stuff is still in the works.” (protocol.com)
New Fair Repair Bill takes “Right to Repair” movement national
The Fair Repair Bill introduced to the Senate on March 14, if passed, will take the Right to Repair in the US one step nearer to building a sustainable future by codifying legislation on a national level. Manufacturers must make sure they are up to the challenge.
In this bipartisan bill, the widespread support for the Right to Repair across different political groups and industries is undeniable. There are clear implications for the environment and the economy. A prime example would be its impact on electronic and precious-metal waste, which has become a serious problem in the face of dwindling natural resources and global supply chain shocks. (smartindustry.com)
More mobile recycling urged to halt growing e-waste mountain
Technology has become a vital part of life over the past couple of decades, with new smartphones, laptops, wearables and other products appearing on the market every day.
But this range of choices comes with severe consequences, as the world faces an environmental crisis partly due to the amount of electronic waste produced by companies and households. One recent study estimated that in 2021 alone, the global mountain of e-waste outweighed the Great Wall of China, at 57 million tonnes.
Taking these findings into account, the Royal Society of Chemistry has called for a global effort from governments, businesses and the public to develop a stronger circular economy.
If action is not taken, experts say the UK could become the biggest e-waste producer per capita in Europe by 2024, overtaking current leaders Norway. (smartindustry.com)
IT Sustainability Think Tank: Aligning procurement with the principles of the circular economy
Applying the principles of the circular economy, we need to practise “reduce, reuse and recycle”. Eliminate waste by reusing, repairing, remanufacturing, refurbishing IT assets and digital devices. Continuing to mine the Earth for precious metals and minerals and make new devices is unsustainable. We simply can no longer continue to extract Earth’s resources to manufacture goods and use them, only to dispose of them into landfill. (computerweekly.com)
Farmers support right to repair laws
A February 2022 survey conducted by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and the National Farmers Union found that 92 percent of farmers surveyed believed that they could save money if they were allowed to repair their farm equipment themselves or engage independent repairmen. Over three-quarters of those surveyed indicated that in the past, they had opted to buy older model equipment in order to avoid high repair costs." (agweb.com)
Study: Circular economy could unlock more than a quarter million jobs in London by 2030
More than 250,000 new jobs could be created in London if the capital's businesses, citizens, and policymakers work together to expand the city's circular economy, according to research published by a waste and resource management partnership between the London boroughs and Mayor of London.
The ReLondon group has unveiled research which claims there are significant job creation and wider economic gains to be made by growing London's circular economy, arguing that previous modelling in this area has failed to account for the full range of jobs that could be unlocked by the "circular transition".
The group has calculated that 284,000 new "circular jobs" could be created if the Mayor's 2030 environmental goals are met, including the target to increase municipal recycling rates to 65 per cent. Such a scenario would nearly double the number of people employed in the capital's circular economy, which currently sits at around 231,000. (businessgreen.com)
Other Repair News...
Samsung will fix your cracked screen for just $50 for a limited time (Android Authority)
Mozilla Endorses Antitrust Bill Targeting Large Tech Platforms (MediaPost)
Is Apple’s Self-Service Repair Program Set Up to Fail? (makeuseof.com)
TrustedReviews.com adds sustainability criteria to reviews (Benzinga.com)
Loving repair revolution (Otago Daily Times)
Scarborough to host first ever Repair Cafe to beat 'throwaway culture' (The Scarborough)