Pluralistic: Apple fucked us on right to repair (again) (Cory Doctorow)
Pluralistic: Apple fucked us on right to repair (again) (Cory Doctorow)
Right to repair has no cannier, more dedicated adversary than Apple, a company whose most innovative work is dreaming up new ways to sneakily sabotage electronics repair while claiming to be a caring environmental steward, a lie that covers up the mountains of e-waste that Apple dooms our descendants to wade through.
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Today, it costs about a quarter to add a system-on-a-chip to even the tiniest parts. These SOCs can run DRM. Here's how that DRM works: when you put a new part in a device, the SOC and the device's main controller communicate with one another. They perform a cryptographic protocol: the part says, "Here's my serial number," and then the main controller prompts the user to enter a manufacturer-supplied secret code, and the master controller sends a signed version of this to the part, and the part and the system then recognize each other.
This process has many names, but because it was first used in the automotive sector, it's widely known as VIN-Locking (VIN stands for "vehicle identification number," the unique number given to every car by its manufacturer). VIN-locking is used by automakers to block independent mechanics from repairing your car; even if they use the manufacturer's own parts, the parts and the engine will refuse to work together until the manufacturer's rep keys in the unlock code:
No VIN locking in Europe, it's against the law.
https://www.kwik-fit.com/blog/motor-vehicle-block-exemption-extended#
Also, right to repair laws exist
https://www.thefirstmile.co.uk/the-big-picture/the-new-right-to-repair-law
The new law doesn’t cover smartphones, laptops, cookers, microwaves, hobs or tumble dryers.
Not exactly a complete law. Most of these right to repair laws have big holes in them that make them almost useless.
Tumble dryers and electric food heaters definitely need to be locked down. That totally makes sense! /s
Sure would be nice if our Representatives would pass a comprehensive right-to-repair law. I can't see it happening with our oligarchy running things, and consumers still making shitty buying choices.
VIN locking and any attempt at anything like it should be illegal, full stop.
I’m torn. While I highly support right to repair, I also support measures that make high-value theft targets like cellphones and catalytic converters worthless or extremely hard to convert to a payout.
That says more about your society that it feels a phone is worth stealing.
I didn’t realize that so many other societies had solved theft of easily accessible and easily convertible items that contains gobs of sensitive and useful data that’s very easy to access with a little effort and preparation.
Tell us please what society is free from this danger that we may all learn from their ways.
3 downvoters will only accept first-party Apple™ servicing of the iBoot™ on their tongue