Just got done with our hearing in Massachusetts on #RightToRepair -- it was CHOCK FULL of examples of how stuff is getting harder to fix -- especially because repair is locked out by software. Let me share a few thoughts:
We heard example after example of how devices are being made to detect and block any repairs made outside of the manufactures universe. We also heard example after example of repairs that technicians were doing but manufacturers said were not possible.
From the little repair shop fixing phones and iPads in Walpole to the internationally known experts Louis Rossmann and Jess Jones, there are tons of repair that the manufacturers don't want to do, won't do for a reasonable price, and are locking other technicians out of.
Even wheelchairs. Art Torrey talked about how he can't even connect to the modern wheelchairs without a $700 dongle that by the way isn't for sale. So he can't fix any problems with the electronics of his wheelchair ... so he uses a 15 year old model
A student testified that his love of tinkering and repair got him into a career as an engineer, but that is at risk unless we get something done on Right to Repair.
A 30-employee recycler and refurbisher in Brockton talked about how the stuff he gets to process now he can fix and reuse, but the stuff coming onto the market now, he won't be able to. They can lock any individual part to a single owner "This is about the future"
Manufacturers came and read from their statements. They struggled to answer any questions that veered from their scripts. Mostly they claimed if they had to share repair info and other tools, it would be a cyber-security, health and safety, and intellectual property risk
Well luckily Paul from @securepairs and @0xmchow set the record straight on information security, which has nothing to do with broken hardware repair, and that "security by obscurity" means bad security.
I'm running out of steam here, but it was a good day for Right to Repair ONLY if we keep the momentum going. So please keep weighing in with your elected officials and speaking up about why Right to Repair matters.
