Topic: consumer advocacy
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100 Companies Deleted My Data, Not Sent It
An investigation into major corporations reveals that firms frequently mishandle consumer data access requests, often ignoring explicit instructions to preserve information and instead deleting data or refusing compliance. The author tested this issue by filing over 100 requests under the Califor...
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Stop Killing Games joins Sony lawsuit over PlayStation Store pricing
Stop Killing Games and DoesItPlay are backing a legal challenge accusing Sony of running a digital monopoly on the PlayStation Store, which allegedly harms players and developers through restrictive, costly policies. The lawsuit argues Sony's control over distribution stifles competition, limits ...
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PlayStation's 5 Antitrust Lawsuits Explained
Sony's removal of retail digital download codes and shift toward a disc-less future has triggered global antitrust lawsuits alleging it forces users to buy solely through the PlayStation Store, where Sony takes a 30% cut with no competition. The U.S. case "Caccuri v. Sony" (settled for $7.85 mill...
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PlayStation Physical Sales: Only 7 Games Hit 100K in US This Year
Sony's plan to phase out physical PlayStation discs by January 2028 is backed by data showing minimal physical game sales, with only two PlayStation titles selling over 10,000 physical copies in a week and just seven surpassing 100,000 year-to-date in the U.S. Despite intense backlash from fans f...
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FTC Settlement With John Deere Boosts Right-to-Repair Movement
The FTC finalized a settlement with John Deere requiring the company to grant farmers and independent repair shops the same access to tools, software, and diagnostic resources as its authorized dealers, a major victory for the right-to-repair movement. The agreement, which the FTC will monitor fo...
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DEA Moves to Ban Opioid-Like Kratom Compound 7-OH
The DEA is moving to temporarily classify synthetic 7-OH, a potent kratom compound found in unregulated products like gummies and drinks, as a Schedule I controlled substance, citing severe risks of addiction and public health threats. The proposed two-year emergency ban, with a possible one-year...
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How a Private Message Could Reshape 3D Printing
A dispute erupted after Bambu Lab asked developer Paweł Jarczak to remove code enabling remote control of its printers without proprietary software, sparking conflict over open-source licensing and digital rights. The open-source community, including advocates like Louis Rossmann and GamersNexus,...
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AI Kids' Toys Enter a Legal and Ethical Wild West
AI-powered children's toys are flooding the unregulated market, with over 1,500 AI toy companies registered in China and major brands like Miko selling over 700,000 units. Consumer tests have revealed dangerous flaws, such as FoloToy's Kumma bear giving instructions on lighting matches and findin...
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Meta Faces Lawsuit Over Scam Ads on Facebook, Instagram
The Consumer Federation of America has sued Meta, alleging it deceived the public by failing to implement adequate safeguards against fraudulent ads on Facebook and Instagram. The complaint states these scam ads, which often target vulnerable users, have caused significant consumer financial harm...
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Framework CEO: PC Industry Must Shift to Sustainable Models
The personal computing industry is being challenged to abandon its unsustainable model of disposable, non-repairable electronics in favor of modular and user-upgradeable hardware. This shift toward long-term usability aims to drastically reduce electronic waste and resource consumption by allowin...
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John Deere to Pay $99M in Farmer Repair Monopoly Case
John Deere has agreed to a $99 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging it monopolized repair markets by restricting access to tools and information for owners and independent mechanics. A key part of the settlement mandates John Deere improve access to repair tools and servi...
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Apple and Lenovo Laptops Rank Lowest for Repairability
A new report from the Public Interest Research Group Education Fund gave Apple's laptops and smartphones low repairability grades, highlighting concerns from the right-to-repair movement about manufacturer practices that hinder user maintenance. The analysis, based on France's mandated repairabil...
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iPhone Repairability Score: D–
Apple's iPhone currently has the lowest repairability score (D–) among smartphones, while Motorola leads with a B+, according to a US PIRG report using new European transparency data. The low scores persist despite manufacturers offering repair resources, as stricter European regulations now requ...
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Tech Firms Challenge Colorado's Right-to-Repair Law
Colorado is a national leader in right-to-repair legislation, having passed a series of laws since 2022 that grant consumers broad rights to fix items like electronics and farm equipment, inspiring similar efforts across the country. A new Colorado bill (SB26-090) seeks to create an exemption for...
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Trump's Surgeon General Pick Masters the Wellness Grifter Playbook
The wellness-to-MAHA pipeline leverages public frustration by blending established scientific facts with speculative theories, creating a profitable model that influences health decisions and consumer behavior. Influencers build credibility by mixing basic biology with unproven claims, then syste...
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Ex-Trump Official Targets Prediction Markets
Mick Mulvaney, a former Trump official, is leading a coalition to reclassify prediction markets as sports betting under state gambling laws, arguing they are not legitimate financial instruments. The debate centers on regulatory jurisdiction, with the CFTC currently overseeing these markets as de...
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Trump: Tech Giants to Pay for Power in Deals Next Week
President Trump announced a "rate payer protection pledge" requiring major tech companies to build or finance new electricity generation for their expanding AI data centers, with a formal signing event planned for March 4th. This mandate addresses surging electricity demand from data centers, whi...
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GOG's Crusade: Saving Old Games Needs Players Who Care
GOG is the leading digital platform for video game preservation, actively restoring classic titles and emphasizing true ownership of DRM-free purchases. The platform's success depends on consumer support, as preservation efforts require people to buy original re-releases over convenient remasters...
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Earn $10K+ by Unplugging Ring Doorbells From Amazon Cloud
The Fulu Foundation is offering a cash bounty starting at $10,000 for developers to create software that modifies Ring doorbells to store video locally, disconnecting them from Amazon's cloud. This initiative responds to privacy concerns and limitations of Ring's current paid cloud storage, aimin...
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Ring Ends Flock Safety Deal Amid Privacy Concerns
Ring has canceled its planned integration with Flock Safety, citing resource needs and public backlash over privacy, and confirmed no customer video was ever shared. The company faces ongoing trust issues due to recent product features like "Search Party" and "Familiar Faces," which critics warn ...
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