Right to Repair gets an important ally: the FTC
TL; DR
- The FTC has voted to crack down on violations of the right to repair in the United States.
- Companies that limit their repairs can take legal action.
- It might be easier to get your phone fixed and get third-party repairs.
The US government is acting swiftly on President Biden’s right to repair order. The Federal Trade Commission has voted to “toughen” law enforcement against manufacturers who make it difficult for individuals and businesses to repair their equipment.
The FTC promised to focus on right to repair violations that violate antitrust laws. Warnings have also been invited about Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act violations, forcing you to use a particular service or product in order to keep your warranty intact.
Connected: Should we tolerate devices that are difficult to repair?
FTC chairman Lina Khan, a well-known critic of large tech companies, said it was important to fight restrictions on your right to repair products. These restrictions not only raise prices, create e-waste and restrict third-party repair shops, but “stifle innovation” and “undermine resilience,” Khan said.
The commission didn’t name any target companies or specific criminal offenses, but it did point out practices often seen by companies like Apple, Samsung, and even tractor giant John Deere. This includes glued-in components, limited access to parts, and little to no access to diagnostic software. Companies often restrict third party repairs because they claim that poor quality or unsafe hardware could make your devices unsafe.
This doesn’t necessarily mean businesses will be forced to rethink hard-to-repair phones and PCs. However, it could discourage companies from developing products to thwart Right to Repair efforts. The FTC could also require that equipment manufacturers give independent repairers access to many of the same tools. This could not only make it easier to get service beyond official business, but also to repair things yourself in an emergency.
