A coalition of 17 advocacy groups is urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to require manufacturers to disclose the duration of support for smart devices. In a letter sent to FTC officials, organizations including Consumer Reports, the US PIRG, and iFixit highlighted the impact of \u201csoftware tethering\u201d—an increasingly common practice where devices rely on software updates from manufacturers.
This tethering can result in sudden functionalities being locked behind subscriptions or devices becoming obsolete due to lack of updates, a trend the letter authors term as \u201cdeath by a thousand cuts.\u201d Among recent examples cited was Spotify’s decision to cease support for its Car Thing and Peloton’s $95 activation fee for secondhand equipment.
The letter calls on the FTC for clearer guidelines requiring product packaging to include information about the minimum duration of support, including security updates and functional support. By mandating such transparency, the advocacy groups hope to empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and potentially reduce e-waste.
Despite some consumers receiving refunds when devices become obsolete, the letter emphasizes that the lack of consistent, enforced guidelines leaves many vulnerable to unexpected costs and functionality loss.