Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Happy Bar & Grill biometric surveillance tool development

2026-03-14T12:05:06Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Abuse report */ added a new section

Happy Bar & Grill, a Bulgarian restaurant chain, faced public backlash surrounding the discovery of a vendor product page for an AI facial recognition system which had been developed by IP Biometrix, that biometrically profiles customers and had been designed for use in Happy Bar & Grill restaurants. The system appeared to have the capability to track physical attributes, infers ethnicity categories, and analyses emotional states of customers, as well as monitor the amount of time employees spent smiling.<ref name="ip-biometrix" /> Narru, the parent company of Happy Bar & Grill, later acknowledged considering procurement of the system in late 2023 before rejecting it on 14 December 2023, and asserted that the system was never deployed in any of their restaurants.<ref name="mobilebulgaria" />

==Background==
Happy Bar & Grill is a Bulgarian restaurant chain operating multiple locations across Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.<ref name="happy-bg" /> According to an official statement released in 12 March 2026, the chain received an offer for an AI-powered facial recognition system from Bulgarian security vendor IP Biometrix in 2023. The company stated the system was assessed between September and December 2023<ref name="burrata-bg" /> before being officially rejected on 14 December 2023.<ref name="happy-statement" /> Archived evidence from IP Biometrix's portfolio displays data seemingly taken from a restaurant, though whether this represents live deployment or the use of prerecorded training data is unknown. <ref name="ip-biometrix" />

==Biometric surveillance capabilities==
[[File:Customer Analysis Report.png|thumb|300px|''Demographic Data (Age and Gender distribution) generated by the AI facial recognition system'']]
IP Biometrix's portfolio page describes the system processing both employees and customers. A sample image shows multiple individuals labelled as "Subject 6053," "6054," and "6055" with extensive biometric attributes tracked. Displayed percentages (e.g., ethnicity scores) appear to represent AI confidence levels regarding specific selected individuals, rather than aggregate counts of demographics within the venue.<ref name="ip-biometrix" /> Tracked attributes include:

*Physical features: glasses, dark glasses, beard, moustache, blink, mouth open, mask presence, "face quality"
*Ethnicity classifications: white, black, Asian, Hispanic, Indian, Arabian
*Emotional states: neutral, anger, contempt, disgust, fear, and others

IP Biometrix's portfolio page was captured by the Internet Archive on 2 January 2026. Demonstration images within the portfolio contain filenames dated to at least 9 November 2024 (e.g., "Screenshot-2024-11-09-120029.png"), however the images may have been prepared at an earlier time.<ref name="ip-biometrix" />

Patrons entering Happy Bar & Grill received no visible signage at entrances or within dining areas informing them that their facial biometrics were being captured, analysed, or stored during the testing period{{CitationNeeded}}. Happy's published privacy policy makes no mention of facial recognition, biometric processing, or AI surveillance systems in restaurants.<ref name="happy-privacy" /> This is consistent with their representation that the system has never been deployed.

[[File:AI Surveillance Dashboard.png|thumb|center|500px|''Real-Time Biometric Profiling of Customers (Subjects 6053–6055), Including Ethnicity Inference and Emotion Detection (Burrata Italiana Varna, Varna, Bulgaria)'']]
==Legal context==
Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), facial recognition constitutes processing of biometric data—a "special category" of personal data requiring explicit consent or another narrow legal basis under Article 9.<ref name="gdpr-article9" /> Inferring ethnicity and emotional states triggers additional restrictions as these reveal "racial or ethnic origin" and constitute sensitive psychological profiling. The absence of transparent notice before data collection violates GDPR Articles 13–14, while processing customers' biometrics for staff performance monitoring lacks a proportionate legal basis under Articles 6 and 9.<ref name="gdpr-article9" /> Under Bulgarian national guidance, the Commission for Personal Data Protection (CPDP) has stated that processing biometric data in shops and restaurants for the purpose of analyzing customer behavior, gender, or age cannot be based on "legitimate interest." The CPDP emphasizes that placing information signs is insufficient to achieve "explicit consent."<ref name="cpdp-opinion" />

== Abuse report ==
On 12 March 2026, Happy Bar & Grill filed an abuse complaint against Consumer Rights Wiki, attempting to pull down the website. Some have criticized the decision, believing that the controversy [[wikipedia:Streisand_effect|could create more publicity]] over their business practises.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-03-13 |title=Someone Submitted an Abuse Report to the Consumer Rights Wiki's Host |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D7hdJF2AwU |access-date=14 Mar 2026}}</ref>

==Company's response==
On 12 March 2026, Happy Bar & Grill issued an official statement addressing the allegations. The company categorically denied current use of the system, stating that no such software or technology is currently used in Happy restaurants. They acknowledged receiving an offer from GI Mobility Services (linked to IP Biometrix) in 2023 and confirmed testing occurred between September and December 2023. The company stated they officially rejected the proposal on 14 December 2023, stating that the solution was unnecessary for their operations.<ref name="happy-statement" />

Narra contacted the administrators and hosting provider of the Consumer Rights Wiki, requesting a complete removal and retraction of the article<ref name="mobilebulgaria" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2026-03-13 |title=Nice try... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D7hdJF2AwU |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=YouTube}}</ref>. The article initially stated that evidence supported that widespread implementation of the system had occurred, however this has since been changed. IP Biometrix removed the portfolio page showcasing the Happy Bar & Grill implementation during a site renovation prior to March 2026. The content is now preserved through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine capture from 2 January 2026.<ref name="ip-biometrix" />

==Community response==
Consumer awareness of the surveillance system gained traction on 11 March 2026, following a post on the subreddit r/bulgaria featuring the wiki page{{cite web|title=Biometric data collection cameras in Happy|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/bulgaria/comments/1rqxn90/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B2_%D1%85%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B8/|access-date=14 March 2026}}, and the publication of a number of news articles<ref name="mobilebulgaria" /><ref name="happy-statement" /><ref name="kaldata" />. Much of the community response reflects the initial statements by this article that widespread deployment of the system had occurred.

Additional concerns have been raised following scrutiny of IP Biometrix's other projects, including camera systems at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) which shared the implementation on their Instagram account<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Dec 2025 |title=📣🎓Students be wary‼️ 🆔checks from this session |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSUYij0jLkY |url-status=live |access-date=14 Mar 2026 |website=Instagram}}</ref>, and their list of partners, which was removed from their website{{CitationNeeded}}.
==References==
<references>
<ref name="ip-biometrix">{{Cite web |title=Face recognition solution for Happy Bar & Grill |url=https://ip-biometrix.com/portfolio/happy-face-recognition/ |website=IP Biometrix |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260102224149/https://ip-biometrix.com/portfolio/happy-face-recognition/ |archive-date=2 January 2026 |access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="happy-bg">{{Cite web |title=Happy Bar & Grill |url=https://happy.bg/ |website=happy.bg |access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="happy-privacy">{{Cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://happy.bg/en/privacy_policy |website=happy.bg |access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="happy-statement">{{Cite web |title=Official Statement regarding AI camera allegations |url=https://boulevardbulgaria.bg/articles/happy-tvardeniyata-che-verigata-sledi-klientite-si-s-ai-kameri-sa-absolyutno-neverni |archive-url=https://archive.ph/zdiAC |archive-date= 13 March 2026 |website=Boulevard Bulgaria |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="gdpr-article9">{{Cite web |title=Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Article 9 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/art_9/oj |publisher=EUR-Lex |access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="cpdp-opinion">{{Cite web |title=Statement of the CPDP regarding the use of video surveillance with biometric data |url=https://cpdp.bg/%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%89%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BA%D0%B7%D0%BB%D0%B4-%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-2/ |website=cpdp.bg |access-date=11 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="burrata-bg">{{Cite web |title=Burrata Italiana - About |url=https://burrata.bg/about |website=burrata.bg |access-date=11 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="kaldata">{{Cite web |title=AI cameras in restaurants? A facial recognition and emotion analysis system in a popular Bulgarian chain raises serious questions |url=https://www.kaldata.com/it-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/ai-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7-650764.html |author=Zhelev, Svetlin |date=12 March 2026 |website=kaldata.com |access-date=13 March 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="mobilebulgaria">{{Cite web |title=Facial recognition with AI monitors customers and employees in Happy restaurants? (Updated with an opinion from the company) |url=https://mobilebulgaria.com/news/izpolzva-li-happy-bar-grill-litsevo-razpoznavane-s-ai-v-restorantite-si |author=Behar, Mikhail |date=12 March 2026 |website=mobilebulgaria.com |access-date=13 March 2026}}</ref>
</references>
[[Category:2026 incidents]]

User:NinjaWeeb/pages

2026-01-22T22:00:58Z

NinjaWeeb:

Pages created by NinjaWeeb on the Consumer Action Taskforce Wiki. For my contributions on Wikipedia, see - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:NinjaWeeb/myPages]

*[[CAMI Research]]
*[[Collective Shout]]
*[[Memrise]]
*[[Vulcan Strength]]
*[[Tesla Switches Full Self-Driving to Subscription Only]]

Tesla

2026-01-22T21:57:24Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Full Self-Driving switching to subscription only */

{{Incomplete}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American electric vehicle and power company.
|Founded=2003
|Industry=Automotive
|Logo=Tesla_logo.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://tesla.com/
}}

'''[[Wikipedia:Tesla, Inc.|Tesla, Inc.]]''' (formerly '''Tesla Motors''') is a company founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003. In 2008, it was funded and taken over by Elon Musk, when both original founders left their positions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreiber |first=Barbara A. |last2=Gregersen |first2=Erik |last3=Ashburn |first3=Doug |date=21 Mar 2025 |title=Tesla, Inc. |url=https://www.britannica.com/money/Tesla-Motors |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Britannica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Qai group |date=29 Sep 2022 |title=Tesla: A History Of Innovation (and Headaches) |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2022/09/29/tesla-a-history-of-innovation-and-headaches/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Forbes}}</ref>

==Controversies==
After the company was bought by Elon Musk it has been involved in a number of controversies such as requiring subscriptions or requiring a Tesla technician to fix 2012's Model S,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 Tesla Model s problems |url=https://www.slotcar-today.com/problems/tesla/model-s/2012 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=SlotCar Today}}</ref> With cases such as the continued denial of adding Apple Carplay or Android Auto to their vehicles, putting an expiry date on their cars, and making a $100,000 utility vehicle whose warranty is void by a car wash.

This is a list of all consumer protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:Tesla|Tesla category]].

===[https://www.reuters.com/technology/tesla-workers-shared-sensitive-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/ Privacy Concerns]===
Tesla employees have allegedly viewed and shared embarrassing, disturbing, and potentially explicit recordings of Tesla through internal messaging systems; Tesla claims that all recordings are anonymous regardless of anonymity, it raises some privacy concerns, such as the fact that employees can even access those recordings in the first place, there don't seem to be effective measures in place to prevent those videos from being shared and they use these recordings to train their artificial intelligence which posses other privacy concerns.

===Artificially disabling functionality===
Tesla was among the early automakers to implement feature gating through software updates. For example, the company introduced an "acceleration boost" for certain vehicles that increased acceleration performance once the software feature was purchased, despite the necessary hardware already being present in the car.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agatie |first=Cristian |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=Refreshed Tesla Model 3 Gets Acceleration Boost in Certain Markets, US Still Waiting |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/refreshed-tesla-model-3-gets-acceleration-boost-in-certain-markets-us-still-waiting-243025.html |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=autoevolution}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Iqtidar |date=22 November 2024 |title=Tesla starts offering Acceleration Boost for the Model 3 Highland Long Range variant |url=https://www.teslaoracle.com/2024/11/22/tesla-starts-offering-acceleration-boost-for-the-model-3-highland-long-range-variant/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Tesla Oracle}}</ref>

Tesla initially promoted the inclusion of radar hardware in its Model 3 vehicles, highlighting its role in enhancing driver assistance features. In subsequent production runs, however, the company discontinued radar hardware in new Model 3 units, while continuing to include it in higher-end models such as the Model S (and later the Model X). Later, Tesla issued an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disabled the radar hardware in existing Model 3 vehicles equipped with it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Jan 2024 |title=Tesla’s Relationship With Radar |url=https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/01/teslas-relationship-with-radar/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Edge AI and Vision Alliance}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Klender |first=Joey |date=10 Jun 2023 |title=Tesla owners claim their radar was disabled during service visits |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-disables-radar-model-3-model-y-service-visits/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Teslarati}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dnistran |first=Iulian |date=22 Mar 2023 |title=Elon Musk Overruled Tesla Engineers Who Said Removing Radar Would Be Problematic: Report |url=https://insideevs.com/news/658439/elon-musk-overruled-tesla-autopilot-engineers-radar-removal/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=InsideEVs}}</ref> As a result, these vehicles saw changes such as a reduced range of following distance options in Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC), from 1-7 to 2-7. Reports also indicated degraded performance in driver assistance systems, including instances of unexpected braking behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=rwiegand |date=22 Jul 2024 |title=Unfortunate new panic braking behavior from TACC |url=https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/unfortunate-new-panic-braking-behavior-from-tacc.331045/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |via=Tesla Motors Club}}</ref>

Tesla has also phased out other commonly expected vehicle features, such as ultrasonic parking sensors, reportedly as a cost-saving measure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tesla Vision Update: Replacing Ultrasonic Sensors with Tesla Vision |url=https://www.tesla.com/support/transitioning-tesla-vision |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Tesla}}</ref> These changes are often implemented without formal announcements. Additionally, Tesla has removed dedicated rain sensors from some vehicles, with similar impacts on feature performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Jeremy |date=8 Dec 2023 |title=Are Softening Tesla Model Y Sales In Europe Really Due to $119 Worth of Sensors Removal? |url=https://www.torquenews.com/14335/are-softening-tesla-model-y-sales-europe-really-due-119-sensor-removal |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Torque News}}</ref>

===Wrongful legal threats===
Tesla once sent a legal threat to a Swedish car repair company called "Grufman Bil AB" to take down a YouTube video that they had posted that showed them smashing a car component that was supposed to hold up a wheel with a big hammer, showing how that component was made of metal that was a lot weaker than one could reasonably expect. Grufman Bil decided to quickly take down that video and when someone asked them why, Grufman Bil said "because it's not worth getting sued over," which indicates that Tesla was possibly threatening to sue people who show important car defects.


===Resale restrictions===
Tesla has recently started prohibiting the resale of its vehicles within one year of purchase, imposing fines of up to $50,000 on owners who violate the policy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hood |first=Bryan |date=4 June 2024 |title=A Man Says Tesla Won’t Let Him Sell His Cybertruck—Even Though It’s Too Big for His Parking Spot |url=https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/tesla-cybertruck-owner-cannot-sell-ev-parking-space-1235638981/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Robb Report}}</ref> This is done without regard for situations that may necessitate a resale, and appears to align with practices adopted by other companies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foote |first=Brett |date=7 Jan 2022 |title=2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Will Come With One Year No-Sale Provision |url=https://fordauthority.com/2022/01/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-will-come-with-one-year-no-sale-provision/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Ford Authority}}</ref>

===Full Self-Driving switching to subscription only===
''Full Article: [[Tesla Switches Full Self-Driving to Subscription Only]]''

On January 13th, Elon Musk announced that Tesla will stop selling their "Full Self-Driving" (or "FSD") feature as a one-time purchase for $8,000 USD, instead offering only a subscription option for $99 USD per month.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Subscriptions |url=https://www.tesla.com/support/full-self-driving-subscriptions |url-status=live |access-date=22 Jan 2026 |website=Tesla Support}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Musk |first=Elon |date=13 Jan 2026 |title=Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. |url=https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2011324998653513810/ |url-status=live |access-date=22 Jan 2026 |website=X}}</ref>

==See Also==

*[[Tesla asks customers to vote against Right to Repair]]
*[[Tesla blames drivers for part failures it admits were defective]]
*[[Tesla locks battery range behind paywall]]
*[[Tesla locks heated rear seats behind paywall]]
*[[Tesla locks horsepower behind paywall]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Tesla]]

Collective Shout

2025-11-25T17:47:17Z

NinjaWeeb: grammar and punctuation fixes

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Collective Shout
| Type = Private
| Founded = 2009
| Industry = Lobbying, Activism
| Official Website = https://www.collectiveshout.org/
| Logo = Collective-shout-logo.png
}}

Collective Shout is an Australian activist group founded in 2009 by its current director, {{Wplink|Melinda Tankard Reist}}. It identifies itself as: "''A grassroots movement challenging the objectification of women and sexualization of girls in media, advertising and popular culture''".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Collective Shout |url=https://www.collectiveshout.org/faq |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250720102043/https://www.collectiveshout.org/faq |archive-date=20 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Aug 2025 |work=Collective Shout}}</ref>

The group became prominent in 2025 after their campaign against payment processors caused online gaming platforms [[Steam]] and [[Itch.io]] to de-list hundreds of games that are believed to victimize women.<ref>{{cite web|first=Josh|last=Taylor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/29/mastercard-visa-backlash-adult-games-removed-online-stores-steam-itchio-ntwnfb|title=Mastercard and Visa face backlash after hundreds of adult games removed from online stores Steam and Itch.io|website=The Guardian|date=2025-07-28}}</ref> While the advocacy is based in Australia, their movement has had an impact on other countries. {{Citation needed}}

Some media outlets have expressed concern that the organization's censorship of adult content in the video game industry negatively impacts creative freedom.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farokhmanesh |first=Megan |date=30 Jul 2025 |title=Gamers Are Furious About the Censorship of NSFW Games—and They’re Fighting Back |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823055403/https://www.wired.com/story/gamers-are-furious-about-the-censorship-of-nsfw-games-and-theyre-fighting-back |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823055403/https://www.wired.com/story/gamers-are-furious-about-the-censorship-of-nsfw-games-and-theyre-fighting-back/ |archive-date=23 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=WIRED}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodds |first=Io |date=18 Aug 2025 |title=‘Financial companies shouldn’t be in this position’: How more than 20,000 NSFW video games fell under censorship |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/video-game-censorship-visa-mastercard-b2809867.html |website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Marley |date=2 Aug 2025 |title=This Advocacy Group is Threatening Video Games as We Know It |url=https://www.cbr.com/collective-shout-video-game-censorship/ |website=CBR}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Protest against ''Grand Theft Auto V''===
In 2014, the group started a petition against ''{{Wplink|Grand Theft Auto V}}'' it read, "It's a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment. The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'health' points." <ref name=":0" /> The video game was banned from two Australian department stores later that year.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30328314|title='Sexually violent' GTA 5 banned from Australian stores|website=BBC|date=4 Dec 2014}}</ref>

===Lobbyist campaign against payment processors===
{{Main|Valve allows ISPs and payment processors to censor content on Steam|Valve complying with ISPs and payment processors}}

In July 2025, Collective Shout launched a public campaign "demanding credit card companies and PayPal block payments" for games on Steam and Itch.io.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Bita |first=Natasha |date=15 Jul 2025 |title=Child safety group finds 500 online 'games' role-playing rape and incest |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/education/child-safety-group-finds-500-online-games-roleplaying-rape-and-incest/news-story/b30c59f85ff22934844269cb3beff538 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/koDk8 |archive-date=18 Jul 2025 |access-date=18 Jul 2025 |work=The Australian}}</ref><ref name="RPSCS">{{Cite news |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=22 Jul 2025 |title=Anti-porn group who tried to ban GTA 5 claim credit for Steam's sex game crackdown |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/anti-porn-group-who-tried-to-ban-gta-5-claim-credit-for-steams-sex-game-crackdown |access-date=23 Jul 2025 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun}}</ref> Itch.io responded by de-indexing games with explicit content on July 24.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content|title=Update on NSFW content|website=Itch.io|date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> On July 31, they re-indexed free games with explicit content.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itch.io/t/5149036/reindexing-adult-nsfw-content|title=Reindexing adult NSFW content|website=Itch.io|date=31 Jul 2025}}</ref>

De-indexing continued on August 10th, this time of games with explicit content and of LGBTQ+ games without explicit content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lazine |first=Mira |title='I feel violated' - Queer Creators Lose Livelihoods in Itch.io Bans |url=https://transnews.network/p/i-feel-violated-queer-creators-lose-livelihoods-in-itch-io-bans |website=Trans News Network |date=9 Aug 2025 |access-date=24 Aug 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819013331/https://transnews.network/p/i-feel-violated-queer-creators-lose-livelihoods-in-itch-io-bans |archive-date=19 Aug 2025}}</ref>

The group claims to have lobbied payment processors after sending 3,000 emails to Steam and receiving no response.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam at Collective Shout |url=https://www.collectiveshout.org/tags/steam |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250720103220/https://www.collectiveshout.org/tags/steam |archive-date=20 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Aug 2025 |website=Collective Shout}}</ref><ref name="CBCCards">{{Cite news |last=Ore |first=Jonathan |date=31 Jul 2025 |title=How an anti-porn lobby on payment processors censored thousands of video games |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/steam-itch-takedowns-credit-cards-1.7597563 |access-date=1 Aug 2025 |work=CBC}}</ref>

Alongside explicit content, the group also expressed a desire to have ''{{Wplink|Detroit: Become Human}}'' de-listed from gaming platforms for purported depictions of physical abuse against women and children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbe |first=Rebecca |date=6 Dec 2017 |title=Stop video game Detroit: Become Human, depicting child abuse being sold in Australia |url=https://www.change.org/p/the-hon-christian-porter-mp-stop-video-game-depicting-child-abuse-being-sold-in-australia |url-status=live |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=change.org}}</ref>

The owner of the journalism website ''{{Wplink|Vice (magazine)|Vice}}'' allegedly instructed certain articles related to Collective Shout to be removed from their website due to "controversial subject matter." The author of the articles and several of her co-workers resigned soon afterwards in protest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/After-payment-processors-prompt-removal-of-Steam-games-journalists-investigating-the-censorship-resign.1063259.0.html|title=After payment processors prompt removal of Steam games, journalists investigating the censorship resign|website=notebookcheck.net|date=16 Aug 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Steam]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Duolingo

2025-11-21T18:00:46Z

NinjaWeeb:

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2011
|Industry=Education, Software
|Logo=Duolingo.svg
|Type=Public
|Website=https://duolingo.com
|Description=A language learning app with a mission to make learning "universally available". In the 2020s, paywalled content and data breaches affected users.
}}

'''[[wikipedia:Duolingo|Duolingo]]''' is a publicly owned, American language-learning website founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://press.duolingo.com/#about|title=Our Mission|work=Duolingo Press Room|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319203900/https://press.duolingo.com/#about|archive-date=2025-03-19|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 28, 2021, the company began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://investors.duolingo.com/news-releases/news-release-details/duolingo-announces-pricing-initial-public-offering|title=Duolingo Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering|date=2021-07-27|work=Duolingo Press Room|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124122817/https://investors.duolingo.com/news-releases/news-release-details/duolingo-announces-pricing-initial-public-offering|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref> As of Q3 2024, the app has over 37 million daily active users and 8.6 million paid subscribers, with a net income of $23.4 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://investors.duolingo.com/financials|title=Financials|work=Duolingo Press Room|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124101114/https://investors.duolingo.com/financials|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Consumer-impact summary==
====Freedom====
Users can delete their Duolingo account through the app settings and request their account data through the "[https://drive-thru.duolingo.com/ Duolingo Data Vault]". Users can also allow or deny the collection of optional information through the settings, such as location and anonymous speech data.

====Privacy====
According to the privacy policy, if a Duolingo Max user utilizes artificial-intelligence (AI) features, a copy of their text or audio data will be shared with vendors such as [[OpenAI]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.duolingo.com/privacy|title=Privacy Policy|work=Duolingo|date=2024-09-11|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124094802/https://www.duolingo.com/privacy|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref> This is also similar for non-AI features, as Duolingo "may also collect and analyze your speech to help [it] understand the effectiveness of [its] lessons and to improve the product", though the data are anonymized.

It is also mentioned that when completing a lesson, a video of a user's lesson "will be logged by a service called FullStory". This service records usage patterns, device specs, and learning activity, and is only disabled by default for child users. Opting out requires going to FullStory's website.

The policy states the app works with third-party advertising networks to personalize advertising, such as with [[Google]], [[Meta]], [[OAuth]], and [[Unity]]. Personalized advertising can be disabled in the app's settings.

The Exodus Privacy project lists as many as 13 tracking, advertising and analytics service libraries being present in the Android version of the app.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/de/reports/com.duolingo/latest/|title=Report for com.duolingo 6.22.3|work=exodus|date=2025-03-25|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250326193207/https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/de/reports/com.duolingo/latest/|archive-date=2025-03-26|url-status=live}}</ref> The app does not work for more than about one lesson without internet access, hence turning off internet access is not an option to prevent data exfiltration. The [https://trackercontrol.org/ F-Droid version of Tracker Control] can help with blocking some of the traffic to these services without impacting the functionality of the app.

====Business model====
Duolingo relies on in-app advertising and paid memberships for revenue. The company also sells merchandise on their website.

====Market control====
Duolingo is the most popular language-learning application, having 60% market control as of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessofapps.com/data/language-learning-app-market/|title=Language Learning App Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025)|first=David|last=Curry|date=2025-02-27|work=Business of Apps|access-date=2025-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112232036/https://www.businessofapps.com/data/language-learning-app-market/|archive-date=2025-01-12|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Incidents==
===Data breach (2023)===
In January 2023, the data of 2.6 million users were posted to an online hacking forum for $1,500.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/scraped-data-of-26-million-duolingo-users-released-on-hacking-forum/|title=Scraped data of 2.6 million Duolingo users released on hacking forum|first=Lawrence|last=Abrams|work=Bleeping Computer|date=2023-08-22|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250309233352/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/scraped-data-of-26-million-duolingo-users-released-on-hacking-forum/|archive-date=2025-03-09|url-status=live}}</ref> The data were scraped from a vulnerable API, with email addresses, usernames, languages spoken, and real names being included.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://haveibeenpwned.com/PwnedWebsites#Duolingo|title=Pwned websites|work=haveibeenpwned.com|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250309182649/https://haveibeenpwned.com/PwnedWebsites#Duolingo|archive-date=2025-03-09|url-status=live}}</ref> A spokesperson for Duolingo stressed that "these records were obtained by data-scraping public profile information" and "no data breach or hack has occurred".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://therecord.media/duolingo-investigating-dark-web-post-offering-data-from-2-6-million-accounts|title=DuoLingo investigating dark web post offering data from 2.6 million accounts|first=Jonathan|last=Greig|date=2023-01-23|work=The Record.|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307194542/https://therecord.media/duolingo-investigating-dark-web-post-offering-data-from-2-6-million-accounts|archive-date=2025-03-07|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Paywalled content (2023)===
On March 14, 2023, a new subscription service was released called "Duolingo Max", that promised highly personalized language learning with [[ChatGPT]]-4 integration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.duolingo.com/duolingo-max/|title=Duolingo Max Uses OpenAI's GPT-4 For New Learning Features|author=Duolingo Team|date=2023-03-14|work=Duolingo Blog|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304001440/https://blog.duolingo.com/duolingo-max/|archive-date=2025-03-04|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2024, a new feature was added to the subscription that allowed users to interact with a character named Lily.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.duolingo.com/video-call/|title=Duolingo's Video Call Offers Realistic Conversation Practice|author=Duolingo Team|date=2024-09-24|access-date=2025-03-26|work=Duolingo Blog|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306000114/https://blog.duolingo.com/video-call/|archive-date=2025-03-06|url-status=live}}</ref> This subscription feature would show on the "learning path"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.duolingo.com/new-duolingo-home-screen-design/|title=The Science Behind Duolingo's Home Screen Redesign|first1=Holly|last1=Munson|first2=Anton|last2=Yu|first3=Ananya|last3=Rajgarhia|first4=Aj|last4=Noh|work=Duolingo Blog|date=2022-05-06|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302080539/https://blog.duolingo.com/new-duolingo-home-screen-design/|archive-date=2025-03-02|url-status=live}}</ref> for all users, regardless of their subscription status.

On September 3, 2024, users alleged they could not make a lesson have "legendary" status unless they paid for the "Duolingo Max" subscription to access the video-call lessons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/duolingo/comments/1f7wlul/how_am_i_supposed_to_legendary/|title=How am I supposed to legendary?|author=u/ChasingKilts|date=2024-09-03|work=Reddit|access-date=2025-03-27|archive-url=https://archive.ph/mwuQE|archive-date=2025-03-26|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time, the subscription was $30 per month and to get a legendary status for a lesson, each attempt would be 100 gems for free users<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/duolingo/comments/1f7wlul/comment/llbedvt/|title=Bluerious518 comments on How am I supposed to legendary?|author=u/Bluerious518|work=Reddit|date=2024-09-03|access-date=2025-03-27|archive-url=https://archive.ph/O5qvQ|archive-date=2025-01-23|url-status=live}}</ref> (not including Super Duolingo users).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.duolingo.com/super-duolingo-launch/|title=Super Duolingo Is Duolingo's New Premium Product|first=Jay|last=Fanelli|work=Duolingo Blog|date=2022-06-08|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124090707/https://blog.duolingo.com/super-duolingo-launch/|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref> Some users were able to fix the behavior, though the "go to legendary" button would still not bring users to a skipped or new level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/duolingo/comments/1f7wlul/how_am_i_supposed_to_legendary/m6uspad/|title=haa888 comments on How am I supposed to legendary?|author=u/haa888|work=Reddit|date=2025-01-13|access-date=2025-03-27|archive-url=https://archive.ph/Jzon1|archive-date=2025-01-23|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Implications====
According to Duolingo's mission statement, the goal of Duolingo is to make language learning "universally available."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://investors.duolingo.com/|title=Investor Relations|work=Duolingo Investors|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123181839/https://investors.duolingo.com/|archive-date=2025-01-23|url-status=live}}</ref> It states, "We created Duolingo so that everyone could have a chance. Free language education – no hidden fees, no premium content, just free."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.duolingo.com/info|title=About Us|work=Duolingo|access-date=2025-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123075248/https://www.duolingo.com/info|archive-date=2025-01-23|url-status=live}}</ref> It goes on to say, "We believe true equality is when spending more can't buy you a better education."

===Pay-to-win pattern===
Recently, some of the timed learning games inside the app are impossible to complete in the time allowed, even for a native speaker of the language. In order to win, the user needs to pay for a subscription to buy more time. This also means that the learning high scores can essentially be bought.

==Products==
*Learn to Read – Duolingo ABC (2021)
*Duolingo Math (2022)<ref name="blog">{{Cite web|url=https://blog.duolingo.com/new-subjects/|title=Duolingo is bringing language, math, and music under one roof!|date=2023-10-11|work=Duolingo Blog|access-date=2025-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120233940/https://blog.duolingo.com/new-subjects/|archive-date=2025-01-20|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Duolingo Music (2023)<ref name="blog" />

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Duolingo]]

User:NinjaWeeb/pages

2025-11-21T17:59:09Z

NinjaWeeb:

Vulcan Strength

2025-11-21T17:58:37Z

NinjaWeeb:

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Vulcan Strength
| Type = Private
| Founded =2008
| Industry = Fitness Equipment
| Official Website = https://www.vulcanstrength.com
| Logo = Vulcan strength logo.png
}}Vulcan Strength is a North Carolina-based company that manufactures and supplies fitness equipment. They were founded in 2008, registering as a Small Disadvantaged Business with the U.S. Small Business Administration.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Rijo |first=Luis |date=Nov 4, 2025 |title=Fitness equipment maker files defamation suit against YouTuber |url=https://ppc.land/fitness-equipment-maker-files-defamation-suit-against-youtuber/ |access-date=21 November 2025 |website=PPC Land}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Defamation Lawsuit against Adrian Gluck===
Vulcan Strength sued the fitness YouTuber Adrian Gluck and his company Gluck's Gym LLC. on October 31, 2025 for criticising the TALOS All-In-One Gym, in a video titled: "This Is The Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed...". Filed in the Western District of North Carolina's Charlotte Division under case number 3:25-cv-878, Vulcan Strength claimed that the video is "defamation". <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gluck |first=Adrian |date=2025-09-11 |title=This Is the Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUmEEvx5MM0}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10/31/25 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION |url=https://ppc.land/content/files/2025/11/gov.uscourts.ncwd.121655.1.0.pdf}}</ref>

In response to the lawsuit, Gluck raised over $50,000 in public fundraising. The case is controversial, raising questions on freedom of expression. Gluck himself decided to keep the video public on YouTube, citing their lack of receptiveness towards consumer feedback. He also claimed that the lawsuit was a tactic to bully him into silence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Help Gluck's Gym Defend Against The Vulcan Strength Lawsuit |url=https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-glucks-gym-defend-against-vulcan-strengths-lawsuit}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External Links==

*"'''This Is the Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed'''" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUmEEvx5MM0

Vulcan Strength

2025-11-21T17:49:35Z

NinjaWeeb:

Vulcan Strength

2025-11-21T17:42:46Z

NinjaWeeb:

File:Vulcan v Gluck.pdf

2025-11-21T17:40:54Z

NinjaWeeb: Vulcan Strength's lawsuit against Adrian Gluck

== Summary ==
Vulcan Strength's lawsuit against Adrian Gluck
== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse}}

Vulcan Strength

2025-11-21T17:33:17Z

NinjaWeeb: ill add more info later

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Vulcan Strength
| Type = Private
| Founded =
| Industry = Fitness Equipment
| Official Website = https://www.vulcanstrength.com
| Logo = Vulcan strength logo.png
}}Vulcan Strength is a company that supplies fitness equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rijo |first=Luis |date=Nov 4, 2025 |title=Fitness equipment maker files defamation suit against YouTuber |url=https://ppc.land/fitness-equipment-maker-files-defamation-suit-against-youtuber/ |access-date=21 November 2025 |website=PPC Land}}</ref>

== Incidents ==

=== Defamation Lawsuit against Adrian Gluck ===

File:Vulcan strength logo.png

2025-11-21T17:28:49Z

NinjaWeeb: Logo of Vulcan Strength

== Summary ==
Logo of Vulcan Strength
== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse}}

User:NinjaWeeb/pages

2025-08-09T16:13:09Z

NinjaWeeb:

Valve allows ISPs and payment processors to censor content on Steam

2025-08-07T01:26:42Z

NinjaWeeb: /* July 11, 2025: Collective Shout campaign */ Linked to new page

{{OngoingEvent}}{{Incomplete}}

At an unknown date in 2025, [[Valve]] updated its Rules and Guidelines for developers on [[Steam]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Steamworks Documentation - Onboarding |url=https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/gettingstarted/onboarding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250719092925/https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/gettingstarted/onboarding |archive-date=Jul 19, 2025 |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=Steamworks Documentation}}</ref> Within these rules, they granted [[wikt:Internet_service_provider|internet service providers]] (ISPs) and banks/transaction providers the power to delist games from their platform.<ref>{{Cite news |last=techopse |date=Jul 18, 2025 |title=Valve Submits to VISA and MasterCard's Moral Crusade, Escalating Censorship of "Problematic" Games on Steam |url=https://www.techopse.com/valve-submits-to-visa-and-mastercards-moral-crusade-escalating-censorship-of-problematic-games-on-steam/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Techopse}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Bonk |first=Lawrence |date=Jul 16, 2025 |title=Steam now bans games that violate the 'rules and standards' of payment processors and banks |url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steam-now-bans-games-that-violate-the-rules-and-standards-of-payment-processors-and-banks-164222173.html |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Engadget}}</ref> Consumers have shown considerable criticism despite the nature of the content removed from the platform due to the vagueness of these rules leaving a window open for expanded censorship.

==Background==
===Steam's content policies===
Prior to 2025, Steam maintained a permissive stance towards adult content, following their 2018 policy change that allowed "everything" except illegal content or "obvious trolling."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam rules updated to prohibit content that violates rules set forth by payment processors and banks |url=https://automaton-media.com/en/news/steam-rules-updated-to-prohibit-content-that-violates-rules-set-forth-by-payment-processors-and-banks/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=AUTOMATON WEST}}</ref> This policy allowed a diverse range of adult-oriented games on the platform, including visual novels, dating simulators, & games with mature themes.

===Payment processor precedents===
The gaming industry observed similar payment processor interventions in other digital platforms. In December 2020, Mastercard & VISA suspended services to Pornhub following allegations of illegal content, resulting in the removal of over 10 million videos from the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Dec 14, 2020 |title=Mastercard, Visa and Discover cut ties with Pornhub following allegations of child abuse |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/business/mastercard-visa-discover-pornhub/index.html |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=CNN Business}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=Dec 10, 2020 |title=Mastercard severs ties with Pornhub, citing illegal content |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/10/pornhub-mastercard-ban-mindgeek/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref>

==Unfair content policy creation==

At an unknown time within 2025, the Rules and Guidelines for developers on [[Steam]]<ref name=":0" /> was updated by [[Valve]] due to pressures from payment vendors to delist content published with excessively mature content,<ref name=":1" /> however due to the vagueness of the following new rule within the policy:

<blockquote>15. Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam's payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers. In particular, certain kinds of adult only content.</blockquote>

Has brought concern from consumers and the press, as this enables payment processors, banks, and even ISPs to delist content based on what they solely deem to be unsuitable, which may extend beyond sexually explicit content.

===Timeline of events===
====July 11, 2025: Collective Shout campaign====
The Australian advocacy group [[Collective Shout]] published an open letter to payment processors titled '''"Open letter to payment processors profiting from rape, incest + child abuse games on Steam."'''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=Jul 11, 2025 |title=Open letter to payment processors profiting from rape, incest + child abuse games on Steam |url=https://www.collectiveshout.org/open-letter-to-payment-processors |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=Collective Shout}}</ref> The letter was addressed to the CEOs of PayPal, Mastercard, & Visa, demanding they ''"immediately cease processing payments on Steam and itch.io."''<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=Jul 17, 2025 |title=Australian anti-porn group claims responsibility for Steam's new censorship rules in victory against 'porn sick brain rotted pedo gamer fetishists', and things only get weirder from there |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/australian-anti-porn-group-claims-responsibility-for-steams-new-censorship-rules-in-victory-against-porn-sick-brain-rotted-pedo-gamer-fetishists-and-things-only-get-weirder-from-there/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref>

====July 15-16, 2025: Rule implementation====
Steam updated its developer guidelines to include Rule 15.<ref name=":1" /> SteamDB tracking indicated that over 100 games were removed from the platform within 16 hours of the policy change.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Phillip |date=Jul 18, 2025 |title=Steam Payment Processor Update / Collective Shout Controversy |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/steam-payment-processor-update-collective-shout-controversy |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Know Your Meme}}</ref> The removed games primarily featured adult themes, with particular focus on titles containing incest narratives, sexual violence simulations, or slavery themes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jul 16, 2025 |title=Steam takes down tons of porn games after new rule — here's what changed |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/steam-takes-down-tons-of-porn-games-cracks-down-on-certain-kinds-of-adult-only-content |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Windows Central}}</ref>

====July 17, 2025: Collective Shout claims victory====
Collective Shout published a follow-up article claiming credit for the policy change, titled "Win – New policy on Steam and rape + incest games removed."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Win – New policy on Steam and rape + incest games removed |url=https://www.collectiveshout.org/win-new-steam-policy-games-removed |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=Collective Shout}}</ref> Co-founder Melinda Tankard Reist made statements that were characterized by gaming media as inflammatory.<ref name=":4" />

Currently, the content being removed from the platform has included excessively sexual and mature topics,<ref name=":2" /> however, no significant game without this questionable content has been labeled as ''retired'' according to SteamDB currently.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SteamDB History |url=https://steamdb.info/history/events/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=SteamDB}}</ref>

===Valve's response===
The gaming news website Gaming on Linux contacted Valve regarding the matter, with its press team responding with:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=16 Jul 2025 |title=Valve gets pressured by payment processors with a new rule for game devs and various adult games removed |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2025/07/valve-gets-pressured-by-payment-processors-with-a-new-rule-for-game-devs-and-various-adult-games-removed/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Gaming on Linux}}</ref>

<blockquote>We were recently notified that certain games on Steam may violate the rules and standards set forth by our payment processors and their related card networks and banks. As a result, we are retiring those games from being sold on the Steam Store, because loss of payment methods would prevent customers from being able to purchase other titles and game content on Steam.

We are directly notifying developers of these games, and issuing app credits should they have another game they'd like to distribute on Steam in the future.</blockquote>

GamesRadar+ reported that Valve confirmed the removals were due to pressure from banks and card companies, with the company stating that losing payment methods would prevent customers from purchasing any content on the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Valve confirms pressure from banks and card companies is to blame for the storefront axing adult Steam games |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/valve-confirms-pressure-from-banks-and-card-companies-is-to-blame-for-the-storefront-axing-adult-steam-games-loss-of-payment-methods-would-prevent-customers-from-being-able-to-purchase-other-titles/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=GamesRadar+}}</ref>

==Impact on other platforms==
===Itch.io===
On July 19, 2025, the indie gaming platform itch.io announced it would be "deindexing" adult content due to payment processor scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Itch.io is removing NSFW games to comply with payment processors' rules |url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/itchio-is-removing-nsfw-games-to-comply-with-payment-processors-rules-133045491.html |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Engadget}}</ref> The platform's founder, Leaf Corcoran, stated they were "actively reaching out to other payment processors" and acknowledged having "limited ability to push back" compared to larger platforms like Valve.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Itch.io is 'actively reaching out to other payment processors' after pressure from credit card companies to curtail NSFW content |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/game-development/itch-io-is-actively-reaching-out-to-other-payment-processors-after-pressure-from-credit-card-companies-to-curtail-nsfw-content-and-that-compared-to-valve-it-has-limited-ability-to-push-back/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref>

Rascal News reported that itch.io had deindexed over 21,000 adult games, making them invisible in searches while technically remaining hosted.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Itch.io delists, bans games under pressure from payment processors and an Australian anti-porn group [Updated] |url=https://www.rascal.news/itch-io-delists-bans-games-under-pressure-from-payment-processors-and-an-australian-anti-porn-group/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Rascal News}}</ref> The platform later announced that free adult content would be re-indexed with improved content warnings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Update on NSFW content |url=https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=itch.io}}</ref>

==Consumer response==

Consumer response is currently split, while many recognize that the content that has been taken down so far contains questionable topics,<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/HelloitsWojan |date=Jul 16, 2025 |title=Steam has added a new rule disallowing games that violate the rules and standards set forth by payment processors and card networks, or internet network providers. At the same time, many incest themed games were removed from the store. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/1m17v49/steam_has_added_a_new_rule_disallowing_games_that/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> a majority both notice and dread the flaws of allowing third-parties to control what content would be allowed to be sold on [[Steam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=OhNoItsAlexx |date=Jul 18, 2025 |title=The Steam Censorship Situation Is INSANE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqqw53LTf7A |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=SomeOrdinaryGamers |date=Jul 18, 2025 |title=Steam's Payment Processor Censorship Controversy... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEflTJjtn5w |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> A [[Reddit]] post written by u/TeaLycan shared their concerns about how the new rule can be abused to unfairly delist content via nondescript rules on the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/TeaLycan |date=Jul 16, 2025 |title=Concerned about Payment Processors policing Steam |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/1m167jz/concerned_about_payment_processors_policing_steam/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Petitions and organized campaigns===
A Change.org petition titled "Tell MasterCard, Visa & Activist Groups: Stop Controlling What We Can Watch, Read, or Play" gained over 200,000 signatures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tell MasterCard, Visa & Activist Groups: Stop Controlling What We Can Watch, Read, or Play |url=https://www.change.org/p/tell-mastercard-visa-activist-groups-stop-controlling-what-we-can-watch-read-or-play |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Change.org}}</ref> Game Rant reported that the petition was "blowing up" as Steam users rallied against the censorship.<ref>{{Cite news |title=New Steam Petition is Blowing Up |url=https://gamerant.com/steam-anti-censorship-petition-adult-games-popular/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Game Rant}}</ref>

TheGamer reported that Steam users were coordinating campaigns to contact Visa directly about the game removals.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam Users Are Banding Together To Contact Visa Over Removal Of Adult Games |url=https://www.thegamer.com/steam-gaming-industry-visa-payment-processors-adult-games-banned/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=TheGamer}}</ref> TweakTown later reported that Visa had responded to the backlash, though the company's statement did not directly address the Steam situation.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Visa responds to backlash over its moral policing of video games on Steam |url=https://www.tweaktown.com/news/106699/visa-responds-to-backlash-over-its-moral-policing-of-video-games-on-steam/index.html |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=TweakTown}}</ref>

===Community discussions===
Steam Community forums saw extensive discussion about the payment processor influence, with users expressing concern about the precedent being set.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visa and Mastercard delisting games :: Steam Discussions |url=https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/601910081412467067/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Steam Community}}</ref> PC Gamer characterized the new rule as putting "the kibosh on 'certain kinds of adult only content' that make Visa and Mastercard sad."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam's got a new rule that puts the kibosh on 'certain kinds of adult only content' that make Visa and Mastercard sad |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/steam-introduces-new-rule-prohibiting-certain-kinds-of-adult-content-that-might-make-visa-or-mastercard-unhappy-financial-deplatforming-in-action/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref>

Consumers have linked this incident<ref name=":2" /> to an open letter written by the lobbyist group ''Collective Shout'',<ref name=":3" /> especially since the delisted content matched closely to the content decried by the aforementioned letter.

It has also raised questions about the dominance of traditional payment providers and users have been suggesting various open and privacy friendly alternatives to established systems that would not allow for such influence to be exercised on the kinds of goods being sold and could even allow for anonymity when purchasing digital goods.<ref>{{Cite web |title= You could use GNU Taler which simply digitalizes cash transactions even providing the buyer anonymity. That is just using existing currencies like the Euro. So that would work on whole EU scale. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/1m18fj4/comment/n3ffcmh/|author=u/TheJackiMonster|work=Reddit|date=2025-07-16|access-date=2025-08-04}}</ref>

==Industry and media response==
===Game developers===
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) issued a statement expressing concern about the removals, stating that they were "materially harmful to game developers" and that games featuring "consensual adult content, including queer, kink-positive, or romantic narratives, are easily targeted under vague or overly cautious enforcement."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Game industry fires back as certain adult games continue to be delisted from Steam and Itch.io |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/game-industry-fires-back-as-certain-adult-games-continue-to-be-delisted-from-steam-and-itch-io-financial-institutions-are-now-influencing-which-stories-can-be-told-and-sold-in-games/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=GamesRadar+}}</ref>

NoobFeed reported that multiple developers were caught off-guard by the sudden removals, with many learning about their games' delisting through community reports rather than direct notification from Valve.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam Under Fire After Game Removals Spark Payment Processor Controversy |url=https://www.noobfeed.com/news/steam-game-removal-payment-processor-controversy |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=NoobFeed}}</ref>

===Gaming media coverage===
Kotaku published an article titled "The War Over Credit Cards Censoring Games Is Just Getting Started,".<ref>{{Cite news |title=The War Over Credit Cards Censoring Games Is Just Getting Started |url=https://kotaku.com/steam-itch-io-sex-game-nsfw-censor-visa-mastercard-1851787281 |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Kotaku}}</ref>

VICE reported on user anger toward Valve for "Banning Adult-Only Games off Its Platform."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam Users Are Mad at Valve for Banning Adult-Only Games off Its Platform |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/steam-users-are-mad-at-valve-for-banning-adult-only-games-off-its-platform/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=VICE}}</ref>

NotebookCheck reported that journalists investigating the censorship had resigned from their positions, though specific details were not provided.<ref>{{Cite news |title=After payment processors prompt removal of Steam games, journalists investigating the censorship resign |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/After-payment-processors-prompt-removal-of-Steam-games-journalists-investigating-the-censorship-resign.1063259.0.html |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=NotebookCheck}}</ref>

==Alternative payment methods==
===Cryptocurrency options===
Following the controversy, services offering Steam gift cards for cryptocurrency got more attention. PayRam reported a 300% increase in gaming-related cryptocurrency transactions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=STEAM'S SHOCK RULE 15: How Payment Giants Seized Control & Your 2025 Survival Guide |url=https://payram.com/blog/steams-shock-rule-15-how-payment-giants-seized-control-your-2025-survival-guide |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=PayRam}}</ref> Multiple services including Bitrefill, Coinsbee, and CryptoRefills offer Steam gift cards you can buy with different cryptocurrencies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buy Steam Gift Card with Bitcoin, USDT, ETH or Crypto |url=https://www.bitrefill.com/us/en/gift-cards/steam-usa/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Bitrefill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Buy Steam gift card with Crypto |url=https://www.cryptorefills.com/en/steam-bitcoin |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=CryptoRefills}}</ref>

Steam previously accepted Bitcoin directly from 2016 to 2017 but discontinued the service citing high fees and volatility.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam is no longer supporting Bitcoin |url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/1464096684955433613 |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Steam Community}}</ref>

==Scary precedents set==
===Financial censorship concerns===
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has characterized payment processor restrictions as creating ''"choke points to accomplish widespread censorship."''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Financial Censorship |url=https://www.eff.org/issues/financial-censorship |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref> The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) issued a statement on free speech and online payment processors, noting concerns about the expanding influence of financial intermediaries on digital content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIRE Statement on Free Speech and Online Payment Processors |url=https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/fire-statement-free-speech-and-online-payment-processors |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression}}</ref>

Aftermath published an article titled ''"Controversial Opinion, But Faceless Payment Processors Probably Shouldn't Be Able To Run The Whole World From The Shadows,"'' bringing up concerns about unaccountable financial censorship.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Controversial Opinion, But Faceless Payment Processors Probably Shouldn't Be Able To Run The Whole World From The Shadows |url=https://aftermath.site/aftermath-hours-podcast-steam-itch-porn-payment-processors |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Aftermath}}</ref>

===International responses===
CBC Radio reported on the situation as "How an anti-porn lobby on payment processors censored thousands of video games."<ref>{{Cite news |title=How an anti-porn lobby on payment processors censored thousands of video games |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/steam-itch-takedowns-credit-cards-1.7597563 |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=CBC Radio}}</ref>

Japanese gaming news outlet GIGAZINE reported that "'Gamer Outrage' became a trending topic on Japan's X (formerly Twitter)" following the removals and Collective Shout's statements.<ref>{{Cite news |title=After Steam removed a large number of adult games, an anti-pornography group declared a 'victory against pedophile gamers' |url=https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20250722-steam-introduced-confusing-new-rules-adult-content/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=GIGAZINE}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Collective Shout]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Steam]]
[[Category:Valve Corporation]]
[[Category:Payment processors]]
[[Category:Digital distribution]]
[[Category:Internet censorship]]
[[Category:2025 controversies]]
[[Category:CRW]]

Collective Shout

2025-08-07T01:25:45Z

NinjaWeeb: created a page on collective shout. I will populate it more later

File:Collective Shout logo.png

2025-08-07T01:13:29Z

NinjaWeeb: Logo of Collective Shout

== Summary ==
Logo of Collective Shout
== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse}}

Belkin

2025-07-14T01:10:06Z

NinjaWeeb:

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Belkin International, Inc.
| Type = Subsidiary
| Founded = April 18, 1983
| Industry = Consumer electronics
| Official Website = www.belkin.com
| Logo = Belkin logo.png
}}Belkin is an American electronics company, located in headquartered in El Segundo, California. It produces phone/computer accessory and connectivity devices, such as: powerbanks, wireless chargers and screen proectors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=2018-03-27 |title=Foxconn buys Belkin, Linksys, and Wemo |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/26/17166272/foxconn-buys-belkin-fit-linksys-wemo |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>

==End of support for Wemo smart devices==
Wemo, a subsidiary of Belkin plans to discontinue support for mpst Wemo smart devices by January 2026 without setup with Apple HomeKit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Dominic |date=2025-07-11 |title=Belkin is ending support for nearly all its Wemo smart home devices |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/705136/belkin-wemo-smart-home-support-ending-homekit-thread |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

Belkin

2025-07-14T01:09:30Z

NinjaWeeb:

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Belkin International, Inc.
| Type = Subsidiary
| Founded = April 18, 1983
| Industry = Consumer electronics
| Official Website = www.belkin.com
| Logo = Belkin logo.png
}}Belkin is an American electronics company, located in headquartered in El Segundo, California. It produces phone/computer accessory and connectivity devices, such as: powerbanks, wireless chargers and screen proectors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=2018-03-27 |title=Foxconn buys Belkin, Linksys, and Wemo |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/26/17166272/foxconn-buys-belkin-fit-linksys-wemo |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>

== End of support for Wemo smart devices ==
Wemo, a subsidiary of Belkin plans to discontinue support for mpst Wemo smart devices by January 2026 without setup with Apple HomeKit.

== References ==
<references />

Wemo

2025-07-14T01:05:14Z

NinjaWeeb:

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type = Subsidiary
| Founded = 2011
| Industry = Smart home
| Official Website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20230410053217/wemo.com wemo.com] (https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/)
| Logo = Wemo.png
}}
[[Wikipedia:WEMO|'''Wemo''']] is a subsidiary of [[Belkin]] founded in 2011. They are known for smart home devices such as plugs and light switches that use the HomeKit and Thread protocols.

==Consumer impact summary==
====Freedom====
[[File:WEMO account closure.PNG|thumb|right|alt=|Screenshot of account closure screen.]]
Through the app, users can delete their account by pressing the "close account" button, which will warn that Wemos cannot be controlled through the app once account data is deleted. The devices can also work by only using the Apple Home app, which does not require a Wemo account to set up.

====Privacy====
Since late 2023, the [https://www.belkin.com/legal/privacy-policy/ privacy policy] of Belkin and Wemo have merged, sharing the same terms with each other. The data collected on users includes account information such as email and password, device information, first and third-party cookies, age, location, and IP address.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WeMO PRIVACY POLICY |url=https://www.wemo.com/privacy-policy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107062703/https://www.wemo.com/privacy-policy/#typesofinformation |archive-date=7 Jan 2023 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Wemo]]}}</ref> Belkin shares this info with marketing partners unless the user opts-out.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 2024 |title=Marketing |url=https://www.belkin.com/legal/privacy-policy/#marketing-anchor |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref> Users are allowed to make requests to access, withdraw consent, object, and delete most of the information Belkin has collected on them.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 2024 |title=Your Rights in relation to your Personal Information |url=https://www.belkin.com/legal/privacy-policy/#your-rights-in-relation |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref> Belkin states they may need to hold onto information to "Defending Belkin against legal claims" or "Needing to respond to customer complaints and queries".<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 2024 |title=Retention of Personal Information |url=https://www.belkin.com/legal/privacy-policy/#retention-of |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref>

====Business model====
The business model of Wemo is to sell smart home devices without the user paying for a subscription service. Although this may seem like a pro-consumer move, the Wemo experience has been diminished due to the lack of income streams. According to the App Store, the app once had a 3-year window without updates, which lasted between February 23, 2021 and May 28, 2024 (the current version as of February 24, 2025).<ref name="AAS">{{Cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wemo/id511376996|title=Wemo on the App Store|work=Apple|access-date=2025-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313120121/https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wemo/id511376996|archive-date=2025-03-13|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Market control====
Market control of Wemo has been decreasing over the years, as Wemo is only selling three devices,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Home |url=https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225173134/https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/ |archive-date=25 Feb 2024 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref> down from nine the year prior.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Home |url=https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201232551/https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/ |archive-date=1 Feb 2023 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref>

==Incidents==
===Security vulnerabilites (''2013-2023'')===
On November 5, 2013, Wemo updated its API to prevent future XML injection attacks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo® and Security |url=https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=80322 |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref>

On May 16, 2023, multiple websites reported a Sternum study regarding a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Wemo Mini Smart Plug V2.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Serper |first=Amit |last2=Yakar |first2=Reuven |date=16 May 2023 |title=‘FriendlyName’ Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Wemo Smart Plug V2 |url=https://sternumiot.com/iot-blog/mini-smart-plug-v2-vulnerability-buffer-overflow/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Sternum}}</ref> The study mentions the device could be exploited through a program called pyWemo<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakshmanan |first=Ravie |date=17 May 2023 |title=Serious Unpatched Vulnerability Uncovered in Popular Belkin Wemo Smart Plugs |url=https://thehackernews.com/2023/05/serious-unpatched-vulnerability.html |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=The Hacker News}}</ref> and potentially through cloud controls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Wes |date=16 May 2023 |title=PSA: time to recycle your old Wemo smart plugs (if you haven’t already) |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/16/23725290/wemo-smart-plug-v2-smart-home-security-vulnerability |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> In their official response, Wemo stated "we believe that bad actors cannot exploit this vulnerability unless they have access to the user’s local network",<ref>{{Cite web |last=@WEMOcares |date=18 May 2023 |title=firms will speak to official spokespersons before issuing stories of this nature. In this specific instance outlined by Sternum, we believe that bad actors cannot exploit this vulnerability unless they have access to the user’s local network. |url=https://x.com/WEMOcares/status/1658963426230562819 |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> and "We discontinued the Wemo Mini Smart Plug v2 (F7C063) in 2020"<ref>{{Cite web |last=@WEMOcares |date=18 May 2023 |title=We discontinued the Wemo Mini Smart Plug v2 (F7C063) in 2020 and currently only produce and sell the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread (WSP100) which is built to leverage one of the most secure home networks, Apple HomeKit. |url=https://x.com/WEMOcares/status/1658963635882938374 |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> despite not making this information publicly available prior. During this report, the Wemo app hadn't been updated in 2 years, with the most recent update being on February 23, 2021, as previously mentioned.<ref name="AAS" />

===Connection issues (''2018-2026'')===
Since 2018, there have been reports of Wemo devices losing connection to networks frequently.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The most common problems and issues with Wemo devices |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/8sv90i/the_most_common_problems_and_issues_with_wemo/ |author=u/luisfpinto_|date=2018-06-21|archive-url=https://archive.ph/JZPAU|archive-date=2025-02-26|url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This has been the case for dimmers,<ref>{{Cite web |title=My dimmer stopped working out of the blue this evening. When I rebooted it (pressed the reset button, flipped breaker and pulled the wiring because I could not get it to work), the dimmer would go through the setup process fine. When it went to connect to the internet, it would connect (my ATT wifi app sees it out there), but it would not show up on the Wemo app. Tried a dozen different things (reset router, cleared cache, etc.). After pulling the wires, rewiring, and going through setup process, the wemo app would state there was an unlinked device on the wifi network. When trying to connect it would always fail. When it first went down, Google could still see it. Once I reset it, Google can no longer see it. Is this experience similar to what you all are experiencing? Everything works but then can’t use it besides for a traditional switch. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/zwb7wr/comment/j1xqs3h/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> plugs,<ref>{{Cite web |title=I have 3 lights on WeMo smart plugs and one light switch dimmer. I run both Apple Home and Google Smart Home- I had to upgrade my thermostat that required Apple Home for full functionality. The smart plug lights are on a program to switch on and off based on dusk and dawn while the dimmer is strictly voice control. The outlets seem to follow the schedule however when I query Google as to "What lights are on" I frequently get a "I can't reach WeMo " response. I'm going to have to ultimately replace these and according to this thread, Kasa seems to be the way to go. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/17ur9b2/comment/k97i0dp/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and switches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I seem to have averted eliminating of all my WeMo smart plugs and switches. After a week of frustration following a power failure nothing was working as I tried everything to get my ten odd Wemos back on line. They always seem to get fussy following a power failure. I found restoring these devices tended to get harder after HomeKit came along. This time I tried deleting HomeKit and rebooting my iPad. Voila! All the Wemos came back on line with very little coaching. HomeKit has been deleted. No problem I have reason for app at this time. I have been in smart plug Nivana Nirvana since. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/18iidjr/comment/m6utdkq/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Device rules created through the Wemo app have also been described as unreliable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I have had Wemo since 2013 when a single plug used to cost around $50. It stayed at that price for some years and I rarely bought any and would often only get more at Christmas or Birthday time. Slowly they started becoming cheaper while newer competition significantly undercut their prices. For a while that was okay because the newer cheaper stuff at the time did not have WeMo’s capabilities with the rules stacking and other stuff. However, with more time that started not becoming the case anymore. A few years ago I started noticing that when I would set my Wemo rules they no longer always worked. I thought it was just some bugs that would eventually get ironed out but I still have those issues today. I have spent hours resetting them clearing the settings/rules etc.…blah blah blah. Then more recently I tried to re add some plugs that had been unplugged for a while. Now, I cannot even re add those plugs to my account anymore. I was like WTF!!! Starting to feel like my WeMos have been slowly turning into bricks and are stuck in a progressing slow moving spiraled down part of life. I recently replaced my routers and I know it is not anything on my end. I also started getting Wyze plugs a few years ago when I saw them in a bin at Home Depot at a fire sale price of $5/each. At first they were a pain but I realized it was my router (only recently) and now they are fine but my WeMos are still suffering and doing weird things. For instance one of my outdoor lights that I have programmed to turn on at sunset and off at 11:00pm randomly works when it wants to. I have literally only 2 rules and they are not overlapping each other. So again, WTF!!!

Going into 2024, I have no confidence in investing in Wemo products anymore. One of my neighbors also has WeMo and is having similar issues as me. He works in IT so I know it is not his network. My guess is some/a lot/all of Wemo has become unprofitable and their original business model has run its course and they are just limping the system along struggling to somewhat keep it alive. They do not have a subscription model to keep up with their on going development costs and increasing server costs that I know of. Some of us who used to know Wemo when it was a premium product are seeing/have seen this starting to show in the quality and reliability. So, going forward I am not going to put all my eggs in one basket again. Going to use different brands and toss out what starts not working. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/18iidjr/comment/kdr6n38/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> In some cases, the Wemo cloud becomes offline, with users being led to 404 pages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belkin Wemo is the worst! The App is full of bugs, the cloud is "drifted away" every other day, and even their link to the "more info" is dead! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/zkd9xc/belkin_wemo_is_the_worst_the_app_is_full_of_bugs/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Users have reported the devices only working with Apple Homekit<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Plugs and some Switches/Dimmers suddenly no longer detected |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1h0ec6v/wemo_plugs_and_some_switchesdimmers_suddenly_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>, which can be inconvenient for users without Apple accounts or compatible devices.

Some users have mediated these issues by self-hosting a local server for Wemo devices, such as AutomationManager and Home Assistant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WARNING: UNPOPULAR OPINION I have a dozen Wemo devices (2nd-Gen single-pole switches and Mini plugs). I have used them for four years. I LOVE THEM. I control my Wemoes with a 3rd-party app, AutomationManager (AM). Software-wise, I am completely divested from Belkin. Simply put, with AM my Wemo network is 100% rock-steady. Thanks to AM, I do things with my Wemo devices that no other platform can do (including Kasa, Lutron, etc.). Without Wemo, I would've had to design and install my own embedded-control network, run romex through foundation walls, etc. No other smart-home architecture offers a local API as sophisticated as Wemo's, and AM makes excellent use of this API. Because I run my own local server through AM, I don't rely on Belkin's cloud service; remote control is administered through my Google Drive account, to which I have access and which I can manage on my own. Consequently, my Wemo network is much more secure than any platform that relies on a privately-held cloud service (many of which are based in China...). BTW, if your router's firewall is so weak that your Wemo Mini can be hacked remotely, then you have much bigger problems than someone hacking your Wemo Mini. 4) AM's developer (MikeP) maintains his app, and updates it as needed (which isn't often). 5) I don't want Belkin to update my device's firmware, because everything already runs as it should. I also don't want some future update breaking the local API! I will be sorry when my Wemo hardware finally dies, because I don't see any other company stepping up to offer a control architecture (local or cloud-based) that will allow me to do what I currently do with Wemo. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/18iidjr/comment/kf6plao/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===DNS activity (''2024'')===
Some users of Wemo have noticed their switches connect to multiple unrelated domains, such as to CNN and Fastly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fun fact: Wemo switches act as a DNS server |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1auslst/fun_fact_wemo_switches_act_as_a_dns_server/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Other reports mention each Wemo device making 160,000+ DNS requests in a 24 hour timeframe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is that why they make 83,500+ queries to belkin.com every month? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1auslst/comment/ktxkqx8/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=I see them all querying DNS for "a38uzlrxc8a6s4-ats.iot.us-east-1.amazonaws.com" nonstop (506,143 in 24 hours!😳) They also try to reach out on port 8883 to about 61 AWS hosts (one example: ec2-52-20-40-53.compute-1.amazonaws.com ) over 24 hours. All blocked, but it is interesting. Mind you, any IOT device comes with privacy concerns but this is an odd one. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1auslst/comment/krb0i1o/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Discontinuation of cloud service (''2026'')===
[[File:Wemo affected products after cloud shutdown.png|right|thumb|List of affected products from the discontinuation of cloud services]]
On July 10, 2025, Wemo users were emailed regarding the future state of the Wemo cloud services, including voice assistant and app support.<ref name="WemoEmail">{{Cite web|url=https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/web-view?a=R7Hguj&c=01JZTNY2H9Y0ASQJB31R4SSGWX&k=9608f1679c229fc5b19e55abd9f9b99b&g=Y7Tbn5&m=RkSqQ9&r=01JZTS07RGZ7S0AWSAX0JP5FH3&e=01JZTNY2H9Y0ASQJB31R4SSGWX|title=After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to end technical support for older Wemo products, effective January 31, 2026.|work=Belkin|access-date=2025-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250710212840/https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/web-view?a=R7Hguj&c=01JZTNY2H9Y0ASQJB31R4SSGWX&k=9608f1679c229fc5b19e55abd9f9b99b&g=Y7Tbn5&m=RkSqQ9&r=01JZTS07RGZ7S0AWSAX0JP5FH3&e=01JZTNY2H9Y0ASQJB31R4SSGWX|archive-date=2025-07-10|url-status=live}}</ref> Devices that weren't designed for Apple HomeKit integration would cease to function after January 31, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.belkin.com/uk/support-article/?articleNum=335419|title=Wemo Support Ending – What You Need to Know|date=2025-07-10|work=Belkin|access-date=2025-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250710221219/https://www.belkin.com/uk/support-article/?articleNum=335419|archive-date=2025-07-10|url-status=live}}</ref> Users who had non-Homekit Wemo devices were angry at Belkin for this decision, as without software like Home Assistant, the devices cannot be used.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1lwilvc/its_officially_ending_i_just_got_this_email_glad/|title=It’s officially ending. I just got this email. Glad I started switching to Zigbee last week.|author=u/Connir|date=2025-07-10|work=Reddit|access-date=2025-07-10|archive-url=https://archive.ph/BLeK7|archive-date=2025-07-10|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Products==
*Dimmers
**Wemo Smart Dimmer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Dimmer (WDS070) |url=https://www.belkin.com/smart-dimmer/P-WDS070.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130043724/https://www.belkin.com/smart-dimmer/P-WDS070.html |archive-date=30 Nov 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>
**Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer 2-Pack (WDS060-BD2) |url=https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-dimmer/P-WDS060.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129001529/https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-dimmer/P-WDS060.html |archive-date=29 Nov 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>

*Doorbells
**Wemo Smart Video Doorbell<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Video Doorbell (WDC010) |url=https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-video-doorbell/WDC010.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219094510/https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-video-doorbell/WDC010.html |archive-date=19 Feb 2025 |access-date=17 Mar 2025 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>

*Light switches
**Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread (WLS0503) |url=https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-light-switch-with-thread/WLS0503.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121215711/https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-light-switch-with-thread/WLS0503.html |archive-date=21 Jan 2025 |access-date=17 Mar 2025 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>
**Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch (WLS040-CA) |url=https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-light-switch/WLS040-CA.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130045654/https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-light-switch/WLS040-CA.html |archive-date=30 Nov 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>
**Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way 2-Pack (WLS0403-BDL) |url=https://www.belkin.com/smart-light-switch-3-way/P-WLS0403.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129145512/https://www.belkin.com/smart-light-switch-3-way/P-WLS0403.html |archive-date=29 Nov 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>

*Plugs
**Wemo Smart Plug with Thread<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Plug with Thread (WSP100) |url=https://www.belkin.com/smart-plug-with-thread/WSP100.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002205640/https://www.belkin.com/smart-plug-with-thread/WSP100.html |archive-date=2 Oct 2023 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>
**Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug (WSP090) |url=https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-outdoor-plug/WSP090.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201141200/https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-outdoor-plug/WSP090.html |archive-date=1 Dec 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>

*Scene controller
**Wemo Scene Controller with Thread<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Scene Controller with Thread (WSC010) |url=https://www.belkin.com/p/scene-controller-with-thread/WSC010.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304111821/https://www.belkin.com/p/scene-controller-with-thread/WSC010.html |archive-date=4 Mar 2025 |access-date=17 Mar 2025 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Wemo]]

Belkin

2025-07-14T01:04:01Z

NinjaWeeb:

File:Belkin logo.png

2025-07-14T01:00:49Z

NinjaWeeb: Belkin Logo

== Summary ==
Belkin Logo

Belkin

2025-07-14T00:59:59Z

NinjaWeeb:

Belkin is an American electronics company

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Belkin International, Inc.
| Type = Subsidiary
| Founded = April 18, 1983
| Industry = Consumer electronics
| Official Website = www.belkin.com
| Logo = QuestionMark.svg
}}

Belkin

2025-07-14T00:57:03Z

NinjaWeeb: Created page with "New page"

New page

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-14T00:49:30Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Consumer response */ added user comment

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]

Futurehome ransomed customer devices after bankruptcy, forcing them to pay a subscription fee or face disabled core functionality.

==Company info==
[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]
'''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> is a Norwegian smart-home gateway '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant.

After the company’s 2025 bankruptcy and relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117); households that decline are locked out of the app, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==Background==
'''Futurehome AS''', founded in Stavanger, Norway, in 2013, sold the '''Futurehome Smarthub;''' a central hub that connects and controls various IoT devices using standards like Zigbee and Z-Wave. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

'''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost. '''Users could remotely monitor and control their smart homes through the Futurehome app without any subscription fees.'''

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20, 2025. The platform and its services were acquired in a 50/50 split by Sikom Connect AS and the former Futurehome owners. The business was relaunched under a new entity: '''FHSD Connect AS.'''<ref name=":0" />

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
Following the relaunch, FHSD Connect announced that a mandatory subscription would be required to continue using the Smarthub platform. On June 26, 2025, a four-week trial period ended and the new pricing model took effect. The fee: '''1,188 NOK per year (≈ $117 USD)'''.<ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

Customers had until June 26, 2025 to activate this subscription. '''Failing to pay leads to the following restrictions''':<ref name=":0" />

*App becomes inaccessible (both remote and LAN/local usage)
*Local API and MQTT interface are disabled after a short "grace period"
*Automations, modes, shortcuts, and energy services are locked
*Manual control of paired devices remains, but only via physical interaction

These restrictions are enforced by a firmware update delivered through the app. A Futurehome software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed this is a deliberate lockout mechanism designed to force users to subscribe.

The hub is installed in over 38,000 Norwegian households.<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/no/ (Norwegian version lists 38,000 homes as of July 2025)</ref>

<gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a feedback form (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD CEO Øyvind Fries justified the subscription model as necessary to ''“secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support,”'' according to statements given to [[Tek.no]] and reiterated in the FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref>

==Consumer response==
The reaction from Futurehome’s user base was negative. Norwegian customers described the move as a betrayal, given that the original sale included full functionality with no indication that a subscription would be introduced later.

On Reddit’s r/norge, there is an active discussion thread filled with outrage, legal concerns, and comparisons to ransomware tactics.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en</ref>

One user, muffinmeistro, wrote:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref></blockquote>Another user posted (in Norwegian) expressing concern for the pushing a subscription, as well as a poor user experince:<blockquote>''I want to spend my money somewhere else than paying over 1000 kroner a year for half-hearted functionality. What options do I have? I currently have lights and thermostats from Futurehome. Can these devices be used with Home Assistant?<ref>{{Cite web |last=MrGeniusL |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=r/norge}}</ref>''

(Translated from Norwegian)</blockquote>

Norway, though not an EU member, adheres to European Economic Area (EEA) consumer protections that bar unfair commercial practices. Whether this retroactive subscription violates those laws remains to be seen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement {{!}} Access2Markets |url=https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/european-economic-area-eea-agreement#:~:text=links%20and%20documents-,At%20a%20glance,part%20of%20EEA%20countries'%20legislation. |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
One especially frustrating consequence for advanced users is that '''the subscription disables all third-party integrations'''. Futurehome previously allowed integration with:

*[[Home Assistant]] via a custom MQTT bridge<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref>
*[[Homebridge]] via NPM plugin for Apple HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref>

These relied on the hub’s local API and MQTT server. Once disabled, no data is sent or received, breaking compatibility with these platforms.

While some users may migrate to other smart home ecosystems using open protocols like Zigbee2MQTT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigbee2MQTT Supported Devices – Futurehome |url=https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome}}</ref>, some Futurehome-branded devices (e.g., the HAN-Sensor and Futurehome Charge EV charger) may lose core features or become inaccessible due to lack of open community drivers.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
Futurehome doesn't prominently disclose the new subscription requirement in product listings or on its homepage.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|The only mention of a subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] is in fine print on the second scroll page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|Landing view of homepage with no subscription mention.
</gallery>

Further, product and app store pages list only hardware prices, creating the false impression of a one-time purchase.

<gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple App Store listing for Futurehome, no mention of required subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Google Play listing for Futurehome app, no mention of subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|HAN Sensor product page: no mention of subscription requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|Modusbryter page omits any disclosure of subscription lock-in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Futurehome]]
[[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
[[Category:Forced subscription activation]]
[[Category:Consumer rights]]

User talk:Rae

2025-07-14T00:41:40Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Hello Rae */ new section

== Hello Rae ==

How ya doing? [[User:NinjaWeeb|NinjaWeeb]] ([[User talk:NinjaWeeb|talk]]) 00:41, 14 July 2025 (UTC)

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-14T00:37:54Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Company info */ Let's go, Louis! (split intro into paragraph)

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]

Futurehome ransomed customer devices after bankruptcy, forcing them to pay a subscription fee or face disabled core functionality.

==Company info==
[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]
'''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> is a Norwegian smart-home gateway '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant.

After the company’s 2025 bankruptcy and relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117); households that decline are locked out of the app, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==Background==
'''Futurehome AS''', founded in Stavanger, Norway, in 2013, sold the '''Futurehome Smarthub;''' a central hub that connects and controls various IoT devices using standards like Zigbee and Z-Wave. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

'''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost. '''Users could remotely monitor and control their smart homes through the Futurehome app without any subscription fees.'''

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20, 2025. The platform and its services were acquired in a 50/50 split by Sikom Connect AS and the former Futurehome owners. The business was relaunched under a new entity: '''FHSD Connect AS'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=End user – Futurehome |url=https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/categories/200177446-End-user |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=support.futurehome.no}}</ref>

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
Following the relaunch, FHSD Connect announced that a mandatory subscription would be required to continue using the Smarthub platform. On June 26, 2025, a four-week trial period ended and the new pricing model took effect. The fee: '''1,188 NOK per year (≈ $117 USD)'''.<ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

Customers had until June 26, 2025 to activate this subscription. '''Failing to pay leads to the following restrictions''':<ref name=":0" />

*App becomes inaccessible (both remote and LAN/local usage)
*Local API and MQTT interface are disabled after a short "grace period"
*Automations, modes, shortcuts, and energy services are locked
*Manual control of paired devices remains, but only via physical interaction

These restrictions are enforced by a firmware update delivered through the app. A Futurehome software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed this is a deliberate lockout mechanism designed to force users to subscribe.

The hub is installed in over 38,000 Norwegian households.<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/no/ (Norwegian version lists 38,000 homes as of July 2025)</ref>

<gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a feedback form (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD CEO Øyvind Fries justified the subscription model as necessary to ''“secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support,”'' according to statements given to [[Tek.no]] and reiterated in the FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref>

==Consumer response==
The reaction from Futurehome’s user base was negative. Norwegian customers described the move as a betrayal, given that the original sale included full functionality with no indication that a subscription would be introduced later.

On Reddit’s r/norge, there is an active discussion thread filled with outrage, legal concerns, and comparisons to ransomware tactics.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en</ref>

One user, muffinmeistro, wrote:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref></blockquote>

Norway, though not an EU member, adheres to European Economic Area (EEA) consumer protections that bar unfair commercial practices. Whether this retroactive subscription violates those laws remains to be seen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement {{!}} Access2Markets |url=https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/european-economic-area-eea-agreement#:~:text=links%20and%20documents-,At%20a%20glance,part%20of%20EEA%20countries'%20legislation. |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
One especially frustrating consequence for advanced users is that '''the subscription disables all third-party integrations'''. Futurehome previously allowed integration with:

*[[Home Assistant]] via a custom MQTT bridge<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref>
*[[Homebridge]] via NPM plugin for Apple HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref>

These relied on the hub’s local API and MQTT server. Once disabled, no data is sent or received, breaking compatibility with these platforms.

While some users may migrate to other smart home ecosystems using open protocols like Zigbee2MQTT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigbee2MQTT Supported Devices – Futurehome |url=https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome}}</ref>, some Futurehome-branded devices (e.g., the HAN-Sensor and Futurehome Charge EV charger) may lose core features or become inaccessible due to lack of open community drivers.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
Futurehome doesn't prominently disclose the new subscription requirement in product listings or on its homepage.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|The only mention of a subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] is in fine print on the second scroll page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|Landing view of homepage with no subscription mention.
</gallery>

Further, product and app store pages list only hardware prices, creating the false impression of a one-time purchase.

<gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple App Store listing for Futurehome, no mention of required subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Google Play listing for Futurehome app, no mention of subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|HAN Sensor product page: no mention of subscription requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|Modusbryter page omits any disclosure of subscription lock-in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Futurehome]]
[[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
[[Category:Forced subscription activation]]
[[Category:Consumer rights]]

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-14T00:15:30Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Futurehome's reply */

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]
'''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> is a Norwegian smart-home gateway '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant. '''After the company’s 2025 bankruptcy and relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117); households that decline are locked out of the app, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.'''<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==Background==
'''Futurehome AS''', founded in Stavanger, Norway, in 2013, sold the '''Futurehome Smarthub''' - a central hub that connects and controls various IoT devices using standards like Zigbee and Z-Wave. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

'''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost. '''Users could remotely monitor and control their smart homes through the Futurehome app without any subscription fees'''.

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20th, 2025. The platform & its services were purchased with 50/50 ownership by Sikom Connect & the old Futurehome owners. The business now operates under FHSD Connect AS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=End user – Futurehome |url=https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/categories/200177446-End-user |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=support.futurehome.no}}</ref>

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
'''On 20 May 2025''' Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt. Shortly after, the Futurehome platform and services were acquired by a new joint venture, '''50% held by the original owners and 50% by Sikom Connect AS''', a Norwegian IoT company, and operations resumed under a new entity, called '''FHSD Connect AS'''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

'''On 26 June 2025''' a mandatory subscription was activated in the app, with the existing households being granted a four-week free trial. After the trial, continued use of the hub requires '''1,188 NOK per year (≈ US $117)'''; non-subscribers are locked out of the app, automations, and local API.

Customers had until June 26, 2025 to activate this subscription. '''Failing to pay would lead to the following:'''<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-13 |title=FAQ Subscription – Futurehome |url=https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription |website=FAQ Subscription – Futurehome}}</ref>

*Loss of application function: remote AND LAN app control disabled
*Local API/MQTT(mosquitobroker) interface is disabled after a short ''"grace period"'' is up
*The '''app is locked''' and most paid features become unavailable.
*You lose access to controls, automations, modes, shortcuts, and energy services.
*Local devices still work manually, but without app control.

This is enforced via a forced firmware update that disables functionality if a subscription is not paid for, according to a software engineer

The hub is installed in over 38,000 households across Norway.<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/no/ (The updated figure of 38,000 is listed only on the Norwegian version of the site)</ref><gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a feedback form (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
Øyvind Fries, CEO of FHSD, commenting on Tek.no, a Norwegian technology guide, justified the fee as necessary to “secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support”, according to FAQ.<ref name=":022">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref><ref name=":12">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref>

==Consumer response==
The response from Futurehome’s user base in Norway was overwhelmingly negative. Many customers expressed shock, anger, and a sense of betrayal at what they saw as a '''sudden “paywall” imposed on equipment they had purchased''' in good faith. On the Norway discussion forum Reddit (r/norge), a thread about Futurehome’s new policy quickly filled with outraged comments.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en (Translated by Reddit)</ref>

Norwegian consumers questioned the legality of what FHSD Connect AS did under EU consumer protection law. Muffinmeistro commented the following:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>''</blockquote>

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
One particularly painful aspect for advanced users is that '''the subscription lockout also breaks any third-party integrations.''' Futurehome’s ecosystem wasn’t completely closed – prior to this change, enthusiasts could integrate the Smarthub with systems like '''Home Assistant''' (an open source smart home platform)<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref> or use '''Homebridge''' to link with Apple’s HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref>. These integrations typically relied on Futurehome’s '''local API or MQTT''' interface to communicate with the hub. Once Futurehome disables the local API/MQTT (after the grace period), such solutions '''will stop functioning'''. The hub won’t respond to local requests or publish updates, effectively '''cutting off Home Assistant, Homebridge, or any other external smart home controller''' from accessing the devices.

The only path for unhappy customers is to '''migrate to a completely different smart home system''', re-using the devices but abandoning the Futurehome hub. Fortunately, because Futurehome devices use standard protocols, many of them can be directly enrolled into other hubs or services.

Some hardware is harder to re-home. The Futurehome Charge EV-charger (connected via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/charge</ref>) relies on the Smarthub for smart-charging logic and may revert to basic, un-scheduled charging elsewhere. Likewise, the Futurehome HAN sensor (smart-meter reader) has no community driver listed on projects such as zigbee2mqtt.io<ref>https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome</ref>, so its data may be inaccessible without the original hub.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
The fact that the products utilize a subscription based model is not clearly communicated to a visitor to the main website. The homepage only makes mention of a subscription based model on the 2nd page, in very small print font. Screenshots have been taken below of the site with Brave browser maximized on a 4k display, with the only mention of a subscription on the homepage enclosed in red with the arrow going to it.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|User must scroll to 2nd page of [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] <ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome}}</ref> and read very small text at the bottom to realize product is a subscription.
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|No mention of subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] <ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome}}</ref> when you first land on the page.
</gallery>Further, the product pages only show the cost of the individual parts, without ever making mention of the subscription model. <gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple app store page for Futurehome app, makes no obvious mention that this will require subscription to work. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome on the App Store}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Futurehome on Google Play store, makes no obvious mention that will require a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|The product page for the hansensor makes no obvious mention that this works within an ecosystem that now forces subscriptions on the user. It only makes mention of hardware price, giving incomplete impression of cost of ownership. Hansensor product page on Futurehome.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|modusbryter page on futurehome site. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome}}</ref> It makes no obvious mention of the fact that this works within an ecosystem that now forces subscriptions on the user, only makes mention of hardware price, giving incomplete impression of cost of ownership.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Placeholder box|[[mw:Help:VisualEditor/User_guide#Editing_categories|Add a category]] with the same name as the product, service, website, software, product line or company that this article is about.

The "Incidents" category is not needed.}}

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-14T00:01:52Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Background */ added citation

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]
'''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> is a Norwegian smart-home gateway '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant. '''After the company’s 2025 bankruptcy and relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117); households that decline are locked out of the app, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.'''<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==Background==
'''Futurehome AS''', founded in Stavanger, Norway, in 2013, sold the '''Futurehome Smarthub''' - a central hub that connects and controls various IoT devices using standards like Zigbee and Z-Wave. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

'''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost. '''Users could remotely monitor and control their smart homes through the Futurehome app without any subscription fees'''.

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20th, 2025. The platform & its services were purchased with 50/50 ownership by Sikom Connect & the old Futurehome owners. The business now operates under FHSD Connect AS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=End user – Futurehome |url=https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/categories/200177446-End-user |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=support.futurehome.no}}</ref>

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
'''On 20 May 2025''' Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt. Shortly after, the Futurehome platform and services were acquired by a new joint venture, '''50% held by the original owners and 50% by Sikom Connect AS''', a Norwegian IoT company, and operations resumed under a new entity, called '''FHSD Connect AS'''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

'''On 26 June 2025''' a mandatory subscription was activated in the app, with the existing households being granted a four-week free trial. After the trial, continued use of the hub requires '''1,188 NOK per year (≈ US $117)'''; non-subscribers are locked out of the app, automations, and local API.

Customers had until June 26, 2025 to activate this subscription. '''Failing to pay would lead to the following:'''<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-13 |title=FAQ Subscription – Futurehome |url=https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription |website=FAQ Subscription – Futurehome}}</ref>

*Loss of application function: remote AND LAN app control disabled
*Local API/MQTT(mosquitobroker) interface is disabled after a short ''"grace period"'' is up
*The '''app is locked''' and most paid features become unavailable.
*You lose access to controls, automations, modes, shortcuts, and energy services.
*Local devices still work manually, but without app control.

This is enforced via a forced firmware update that disables functionality if a subscription is not paid for, according to a software engineer

The hub is installed in over 38,000 households across Norway.<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/no/ (The updated figure of 38,000 is listed only on the Norwegian version of the site)</ref><gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a feedback form (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD justified the fee as necessary to “secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support”, according to FAQ.<ref name=":022">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref><ref name=":12">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref>

==Consumer response==
The response from Futurehome’s user base in Norway was overwhelmingly negative. Many customers expressed shock, anger, and a sense of betrayal at what they saw as a '''sudden “paywall” imposed on equipment they had purchased''' in good faith. On the Norway discussion forum Reddit (r/norge), a thread about Futurehome’s new policy quickly filled with outraged comments.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en (Translated by Reddit)</ref>

Norwegian consumers questioned the legality of what FHSD Connect AS did under EU consumer protection law. Muffinmeistro commented the following:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>''</blockquote>

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
One particularly painful aspect for advanced users is that '''the subscription lockout also breaks any third-party integrations.''' Futurehome’s ecosystem wasn’t completely closed – prior to this change, enthusiasts could integrate the Smarthub with systems like '''Home Assistant''' (an open source smart home platform)<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref> or use '''Homebridge''' to link with Apple’s HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref>. These integrations typically relied on Futurehome’s '''local API or MQTT''' interface to communicate with the hub. Once Futurehome disables the local API/MQTT (after the grace period), such solutions '''will stop functioning'''. The hub won’t respond to local requests or publish updates, effectively '''cutting off Home Assistant, Homebridge, or any other external smart home controller''' from accessing the devices.

The only path for unhappy customers is to '''migrate to a completely different smart home system''', re-using the devices but abandoning the Futurehome hub. Fortunately, because Futurehome devices use standard protocols, many of them can be directly enrolled into other hubs or services.

Some hardware is harder to re-home. The Futurehome Charge EV-charger (connected via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/charge</ref>) relies on the Smarthub for smart-charging logic and may revert to basic, un-scheduled charging elsewhere. Likewise, the Futurehome HAN sensor (smart-meter reader) has no community driver listed on projects such as zigbee2mqtt.io<ref>https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome</ref>, so its data may be inaccessible without the original hub.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
The fact that the products utilize a subscription based model is not clearly communicated to a visitor to the main website. The homepage only makes mention of a subscription based model on the 2nd page, in very small print font. Screenshots have been taken below of the site with Brave browser maximized on a 4k display, with the only mention of a subscription on the homepage enclosed in red with the arrow going to it.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|User must scroll to 2nd page of [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] <ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome}}</ref> and read very small text at the bottom to realize product is a subscription.
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|No mention of subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] <ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome}}</ref> when you first land on the page.
</gallery>Further, the product pages only show the cost of the individual parts, without ever making mention of the subscription model. <gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple app store page for Futurehome app, makes no obvious mention that this will require subscription to work. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome on the App Store}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Futurehome on Google Play store, makes no obvious mention that will require a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|The product page for the hansensor makes no obvious mention that this works within an ecosystem that now forces subscriptions on the user. It only makes mention of hardware price, giving incomplete impression of cost of ownership. Hansensor product page on Futurehome.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|modusbryter page on futurehome site. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome}}</ref> It makes no obvious mention of the fact that this works within an ecosystem that now forces subscriptions on the user, only makes mention of hardware price, giving incomplete impression of cost of ownership.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Placeholder box|[[mw:Help:VisualEditor/User_guide#Editing_categories|Add a category]] with the same name as the product, service, website, software, product line or company that this article is about.

The "Incidents" category is not needed.}}

Stop Killing Games

2025-06-26T23:11:06Z

NinjaWeeb: Added infobox

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Stop Killing Games
| Type = Public Campaign
| Founded = 2024
| Industry = Videogame Consumer Rights
| Official Website = https://www.stopkillinggames.com/
| Logo = Stop killing games.jpeg
}}

'''Stop Killing Games''' ('''SKG''') is a campaign intended to spread awareness regarding publishers revoking licenses for consumers and removing game functionality so that they are no longer in a playable state. The campaign was announced on April 2, 2024 by Accursed Farms, better known as Ross W. Scott, an American YouTuber and consumer activist who is best known for his [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SQhfkpX9bc&list=PL6PNZBb6b9LvDWpI-5CPYUxG1Rnm-vr9V Freeman's Mind] series.

==Campaign history==
On April 2, 2024, Accursed Farms posted the video "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"] ''Accursed Farms.'' April 2, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.</ref>. In the video, Ross Scott explains the issue with modern gaming, where video game publishers often take advantage of laws.

===UK Parliament petition===
On April 16, 2024, a UK Parliament petition titled "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"<ref name=":0">[https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/659071 "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"] ''UK Parliament Petitions.'' December 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2025.</ref> began collecting signatures. The petition intended to create laws to prevent publishers from removing the ability to play games after purchase. The petition was subsequently closed on May 30, 2024 due to the UK general elections<ref name=":0" />, preventing further signatures. It reached 27,341 signatures and was originally scheduled to close on October 16, 2024<ref>[https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign "UK government responds to Stop Killing Games campaign"] ''Games Industry.'' May 15, 2024. Retrieved on January 24, 2025.</ref>.

On January 14, 2025, Lewis Evans created a petition titled "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"<ref name=":1">[https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"] ''UK Parliament Petitions.'' January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2025.</ref> closely following the prematurely closed petition in 2024. It is yet to receive a government response and is due for one on January 30.

On February 3, 2025, The UK Government responded to the Petition, “There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, and we will continue to monitor this issue.”<ref name=":1" /> The petition must reach 100,000 signatures by July 14, 2025, to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament.

===European Citizens' Initiative===
On June 19, 2024, "Stop Destroying Videogames"<ref>[https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en "Stop Destroying Videogames"] ''European Citizens' Initiative.'' 19 July, 2024. Retrieved on January 24, 2025.</ref> was registered as a European Citizens' Initiative by Daniel Ondruska. A month and a half later, on July 31, 2024, the initiative began collecting signatures. Accursed Farms later posted the video "Europeans can save gaming!"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI "Europeans can save gaming!"] ''Accursed Farms.'' July 31, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.</ref> on the same day, encouraging European citizens to sign the initiative. The deadline of the initiative is on July 31, 2025, and as of June 25th 2025, there are over 500,000 signatures.

Soon after, Thor of PirateSoftware published a video covering SKG, with the intent to negatively criticize SKG. His false assumptions were cited by Accursed Farms as the cause for signatures on the European Citizens' Initiative petition to dry up.

==Video game preservation==
{{Main|Video game preservation}}
There are also efforts to restore older games, or to allow the community of games to have access to the source code of games themselves. In 2025 there were several developments by major publishers, such as [[Valve]] and [[EA]]. Valve released the source code of Team Fortress 2 in February.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2025 |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=BitSkins}}</ref> EA released the source code of [[EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles|classic command and conquer titles]], also in February 2025.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Consumer activism]]

File:Stop killing games.jpeg

2025-06-26T23:10:22Z

NinjaWeeb: Logo for Stop Killing Games

== Summary ==
Logo for Stop Killing Games

User:NinjaWeeb

2025-06-23T11:59:04Z

NinjaWeeb:

[[User:NinjaWeeb/pages|Pages I have created]]. With that being said, make sure to read the terms of service.

===Terms of Service===
Here is the TOS for purchasing my super-fire mixtape.

=====§1 Definitions=====
I am Mi and he is Yu. And you are you.

=====§2 Ownership=====
When you "purchase" my mixtape (which is pretty fire), you are actually licensing it, you don't own it. Your access can be revoked at any time, for any reason (like if i feel like it). I will send an agent to personally purloin the mixtape from you, to enforce this action. You will own nothing, and be happy.

=====§3 Privacy Policy=====
We will store your personal data unencrypted on our database. Also, because Jimmy keeps forgetting the db access password, I will write it here once and only once. It's password123. We'll probably also sell it to McDonalds, Jeff Bezos and all your favourite dictators. Also, AI (helps gets the investors on board)

If you're mad about that, contact us as instructed in §5

=====§4 Forced Arbitration=====
If you agree to my TOS, you can't sue me. Instead, my buddy John from the diner will moderate and arbitrate any of that trash you have against me.

=====§5 Cancellations=====
If you want to cancel your subscription, you may do so at any time. Just send me a certified letter with a 2 inch stamp, a 4:3 width:length ratio, on gold leaf paper, tagged with antimatter europium security strips, and also a cobalt blue tint because it looks pretty.

Or you can send an email, about how you are so desperate for your money, which we may or may not read within 90 business days (or at all). Actually, probably not, but hey, one can dream.
[[File:Copyright symbol.png|thumb|<nowiki>I'll DMCA anyone who mutters my mixtape in public >:]</nowiki>]]

=====§6 Copyrights=====
Whats mine is mine, and whats yours is also mine.

=====§7 Changes to the TOS=====
This terms of service might change. We'll make it as predictably random so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the higher prices until you head to the hardware store to buy that cobalt blue to send that certified mail.

=====§8 Juristriction (or however the heck you spell it)=====
This TOS is valid in all countries including the United Kingdom of America, Canada, that one country where they make everything, as well as the fake countries like Finland and Australia. It is also valid in Outer Space, the Moon, the planet where Spock lives and the Death Star.

User:NinjaWeeb/pages

2025-06-23T11:58:01Z

NinjaWeeb: Created page with "Pages created by NinjaWeeb on the Consumer Action Taskforce Wiki. For my contributions on Wikipedia, see - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:NinjaWeeb/myPages] * CAMI Research * Memrise"

Pages created by NinjaWeeb on the Consumer Action Taskforce Wiki. For my contributions on Wikipedia, see - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:NinjaWeeb/myPages]

* [[CAMI Research]]
* [[Memrise]]

User:NinjaWeeb

2025-06-23T00:24:05Z

NinjaWeeb: /* §8 Juristriction (or however the heck you spell it) */

===Terms of Service===
Here is the TOS for purchasing my super-fire mixtape.

=====§1 Definitions=====
I am Mi and he is Yu. And you are you.

=====§2 Ownership=====
When you "purchase" my mixtape (which is pretty fire), you are actually licensing it, you don't own it. Your access can be revoked at any time, for any reason (like if i feel like it). I will send an agent to personally purloin the mixtape from you, to enforce this action. You will own nothing, and be happy.

=====§3 Privacy Policy=====
We will store your personal data unencrypted on our database. Also, because Jimmy keeps forgetting the db access password, I will write it here once and only once. It's password123. We'll probably also sell it to McDonalds, Jeff Bezos and all your favourite dictators. Also, AI (helps gets the investors on board)

If you're mad about that, contact us as instructed in §5

=====§4 Forced Arbitration=====
If you agree to my TOS, you can't sue me. Instead, my buddy John from the diner will moderate and arbitrate any of that trash you have against me.

=====§5 Cancellations=====
If you want to cancel your subscription, you may do so at any time. Just send me a certified letter with a 2 inch stamp, a 4:3 width:length ratio, on gold leaf paper, tagged with antimatter europium security strips, and also a cobalt blue tint because it looks pretty.

Or you can send an email, about how you are so desperate for your money, which we may or may not read within 90 business days (or at all). Actually, probably not, but hey, one can dream.
[[File:Copyright symbol.png|thumb|<nowiki>I'll DMCA anyone who mutters my mixtape in public >:]</nowiki>]]

=====§6 Copyrights=====
Whats mine is mine, and whats yours is also mine.

=====§7 Changes to the TOS=====
This terms of service might change. We'll make it as predictably random so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the higher prices until you head to the hardware store to buy that cobalt blue to send that certified mail.

=====§8 Juristriction (or however the heck you spell it)=====
This TOS is valid in all countries including the United Kingdom of America, Canada, that one country where they make everything, as well as the fake countries like Finland and Australia. It is also valid in Outer Space, the Moon, the planet where Spock lives and the Death Star.

CAMI Research

2025-06-23T00:20:17Z

NinjaWeeb: Created a redirect to cami research

#REDIRECT [[Cami Research]]

Cami Research

2025-06-23T00:19:09Z

NinjaWeeb: citation change

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Cami Research
| Type = Private
| Founded = 1991
| Industry = Cable Testing
| Official Website = https://www.camiresearch.com/
| Logo = Cami logo.jpg
}}CAMI Research Inc. is an American company that develops testing devices for cables and harnesses.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Contact Info {{!}} About Us {{!}} CableEye {{!}} Cable & Harness Testers |url=https://www.camiresearch.com/about_us.html |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=CAMI Research}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Business model===
Their primary market demographics are repair technicians, since their products are used in diagnostics. CAMI Research has a large product line of different testing devices.'''<ref name=":0" />'''

==Incidents==

===Lack of Consumer Support and Legal Threats===
In January 2025, Oregon passed a state [[Right to Repair]] law, banning [[part pairing]], and requiring manufacturers to allow consumers to choose to self-repair devices, or use a third-party service by requiring that repair documentation, tools, and parts be made available.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergmann |first=Emily |date=2025-01-27 |title=A Tough Consumer Electronics Right to Repair Law Goes Live in the US |url=https://h2compliance.com/a-tough-consumer-electronics-right-to-repair-law-goes-live-in-the-us/ |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=H2 Compliance |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oregon Governor signs landmark right to repair bill into law |url=https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/oregon-governor-signs-landmark-right-to-repair-bill-into-law/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=CR Advocacy |language=en}}</ref>

YouTuber and repair technician Steven Rhine buys a secondhand '''CableEye M3U''' from eBay, but due to poor packaging, the switch gets damaged in transit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rhine |first=Steven |date=2024-10-28 |title=Poorly Packed Test Equipment, What Was Broken? Cami Research CableEye M3U Self Test |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhnSSSvfBLQ |url-status=live |website=YouTube}}</ref> He sends an email to CAMI, requesting that they sell a part to him, so he can repair the device. The company representatives refuses Rhine's request, citing concerns about profit.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2025-6-22 |title=Cami Research Blatantly Violates Oregon Right to Repair Law, Oregon DOJ Does Nothing |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K1zi66IE0k |url-status=live |website=YouTube}}</ref>

In response, Rhine filed a complaint with the '''Oregon Department of Justice'''. The Department acknowledged the complaint, but closed the case without any further action, citing that the issue was outside their authority.<ref name=":1" />

CAMI Research responded by threatening legal action against Rhine, accusing him of harassment, despite the communications being professional and polite. Their message asserted that Ryan should go through state legal channels only, and threatened to escalate the situation if he made further contact with them.<ref name=":1" />

==Products==

*Low-voltage testers
*High-voltage testers
*Expansion modules
*CB Boards

==See also==

*[[Better Way Electronics|Better Way Electronics (BWE)]]

==References==
<references />

Cami Research

2025-06-23T00:15:43Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Business model */

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Cami Research
| Type = Private
| Founded = 1991
| Industry = Cable Testing
| Official Website = https://www.camiresearch.com/
| Logo = Cami logo.jpg
}}CAMI Research Inc. is an American company that develops testing devices for cables and harnesses.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Contact Info {{!}} About Us {{!}} CableEye {{!}} Cable & Harness Testers |url=https://www.camiresearch.com/about_us.html |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=CAMI Research}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Business model===
Their primary market demographics are repair technicians, since their products are used in diagnostics. CAMI Research has a large product line of different testing devices.'''<ref name=":0" />'''

==Incidents==

===Lack of Consumer Support and Legal Threats===
In January 2025, Oregon passed a state [[Right to Repair]] law, banning [[part pairing]], and requiring manufacturers to allow consumers to choose to self-repair devices, or use a third-party service by requiring that repair documentation, tools, and parts be made available.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergmann |first=Emily |date=2025-01-27 |title=A Tough Consumer Electronics Right to Repair Law Goes Live in the US |url=https://h2compliance.com/a-tough-consumer-electronics-right-to-repair-law-goes-live-in-the-us/ |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=H2 Compliance |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oregon Governor signs landmark right to repair bill into law |url=https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/oregon-governor-signs-landmark-right-to-repair-bill-into-law/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=CR Advocacy |language=en}}</ref>

YouTuber and repair technician Steven Rhine buys a secondhand '''CableEye M3U''' from eBay, but due to poor packaging, the switch gets damaged in transit.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhnSSSvfBLQ |title=Poorly Packed Test Equipment, What Was Broken? Cami Research CableEye M3U Self Test |date=2024-10-28 |last=Rhine-Labs |access-date=2025-06-23 |via=YouTube}}</ref> He sends an email to CAMI, requesting that they sell a part to him, so he can repair the device. The company representatives refuses Rhine's request, citing concerns about profit.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2025-6-22 |title=Cami Research Blatantly Violates Oregon Right to Repair Law, Oregon DOJ Does Nothing |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K1zi66IE0k |url-status=live |website=YouTube}}</ref>

In response, Rhine filed a complaint with the '''Oregon Department of Justice'''. The Department acknowledged the complaint, but closed the case without any further action, citing that the issue was outside their authority.<ref name=":1" />

CAMI Research responded by threatening legal action against Rhine, accusing him of harassment, despite the communications being professional and polite. Their message asserted that Ryan should go through state legal channels only, and threatened to escalate the situation if he made further contact with them.<ref name=":1" />

==Products==

*Low-voltage testers
*High-voltage testers
*Expansion modules
*CB Boards

==See also==

*[[Better Way Electronics|Better Way Electronics (BWE)]]

==References==
<references />

Better Way Electronics

2025-06-23T00:14:58Z

NinjaWeeb: /* See also */

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type = Private
| Founded = 2018
| Industry = Technology repair
| Official Website = https://betterwayelectronics.com.au/
| Logo = BWE logo.png
}}Better Way Electronics (BWE) is an Australian company founded in 2018 by Louie Tahiri<ref>Citation needed</ref> (formerly known as Luan Muharrem Tahiraj<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-12 |title=ABN History for Louie Tahiri |url=https://abr.business.gov.au/AbnHistory/View?id=63008860471 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250512123652/https://abr.business.gov.au/AbnHistory/View?id=63008860471 |archive-date=2025-05-12 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Australian Business Register}}</ref>), who has formerly been convicted for serious crimes involving hacking, and the extortion of minors through the installation of malware on their computers and private information<ref name=":0" />. It is focused around technology repair, and its tech diagnostic software was widely used by both tech repair shops and consumers doing personal repairs globally, especially for modern [[wikipedia:PlayStation|PlayStation]] devices.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*User freedom: Software distributed by BWE could easily have its support or function revoked due to arbitrarily-enforced terms.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=Apr 25, 2024 |title=This is informative & unfortunate; BwE Bans Legit Customers of repair software with NO REFUND! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_ftVGN-09I |archive-url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We7G1g9X3Tg |archive-date=May 8, 2025 |access-date=May 16, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
*User Privacy: Known to spy on devices of individuals and users of software distributed by BWE. The owner of the company has previously been criminally convicted for offenses involving malicious hacking and exploitation of sensitive user data.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=May 11, 2025 |title=BwE: Enjoy and learn from the master 👊🇺🇲🔥 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFe5LiACN9k&pp=wgIGCgQQAhgB |access-date=May 12, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref>
*Business model: Repairing electronics and selling software that can be used by other repair shops.
*Market control: Controls portions of the tech repair market with software; may be nullified should a bounty<ref name=":0" /> be cashed in.<ref>{{Cite web |last=TheCode3r |date=May 6, 2025 |title=#F*ckBwE Because My Tool Is FREE! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDANyCe3wAA |access-date=May 16, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Use of diagnostic software as spyware===
The software produced by BWE has been shown to perform invasive monitoring of users' PCs,<ref name=":2" /> and cease functioning if it detects any kind of 'undesirable' behavior.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=May 17, 2025 |title=The FINAL nail in BwE's coffin: eyewitnesses speak out. This is him. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfL4p8JvZ4s |access-date=May 17, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> Due to Louie Tahiri's history of cybercrime, as well as his aggressive tendencies during customer support interactions, serious concerns have been raised surrounding the monitoring and access to data have been the subject of scrutiny and concern.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />

===Attempting to cover-up criticism===
On multiple occasions, BWE has been implicated in attempts to remove content critical of its business practices and its owner<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> using Youtube's Privacy Complaint Process<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=May 8, 2025 |title=BwE tried to take down my videos, so I'm taking down his business |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEMR6zKP9l8 |access-date=May 16, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref>. Since its owner's criminal history became a matter of public discussion, BWE has removed its public presence from the internet, including its [https://betterwayelectronics.com.au/ website], [https://x.com/BwE_Dev X account], [https://www.youtube.com/@betterwayelectronics/videos YouTube channel], and [https://github.com/BetterWayElectronics/BetterWayElectronics GitHub page].

==Products==

===Playstation (PS) repair tools===

*PS4 NOR Validator<ref name=":3">https://www.psxhax.com/threads/bwe-ps4-nor-validator-bwe-serialreader-script-by-betterwayelectronics.6139/</ref>
*SerialReader Script<ref name=":3" />
*PS5 NOR Tool<ref name=":1" />

==See also==
[[Cami Research|CAMI Research]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Cami Research

2025-06-23T00:13:55Z

NinjaWeeb: Create a page on Cami research

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Cami Research
| Type = Private
| Founded = 1991
| Industry = Cable Testing
| Official Website = https://www.camiresearch.com/
| Logo = Cami logo.jpg
}}CAMI Research Inc. is an American company that develops testing devices for cables and harnesses.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Contact Info {{!}} About Us {{!}} CableEye {{!}} Cable & Harness Testers |url=https://www.camiresearch.com/about_us.html |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=CAMI Research}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Business model===
Their primary market demographics are repair technicians, since their products are used in diagnostics, maintenance, and repair of electronic equipment. CAMI Research has a large product line of different testing devices.'''<ref name=":0" />'''

==Incidents==

===Lack of Consumer Support and Legal Threats===
In January 2025, Oregon passed a state [[Right to Repair]] law, banning [[part pairing]], and requiring manufacturers to allow consumers to choose to self-repair devices, or use a third-party service by requiring that repair documentation, tools, and parts be made available.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergmann |first=Emily |date=2025-01-27 |title=A Tough Consumer Electronics Right to Repair Law Goes Live in the US |url=https://h2compliance.com/a-tough-consumer-electronics-right-to-repair-law-goes-live-in-the-us/ |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=H2 Compliance |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oregon Governor signs landmark right to repair bill into law |url=https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/oregon-governor-signs-landmark-right-to-repair-bill-into-law/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=CR Advocacy |language=en}}</ref>

YouTuber and repair technician Steven Rhine buys a secondhand '''CableEye M3U''' from eBay, but due to poor packaging, the switch gets damaged in transit.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhnSSSvfBLQ |title=Poorly Packed Test Equipment, What Was Broken? Cami Research CableEye M3U Self Test |date=2024-10-28 |last=Rhine-Labs |access-date=2025-06-23 |via=YouTube}}</ref> He sends an email to CAMI, requesting that they sell a part to him, so he can repair the device. The company representatives refuses Rhine's request, citing concerns about profit.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=2025-6-22 |title=Cami Research Blatantly Violates Oregon Right to Repair Law, Oregon DOJ Does Nothing |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K1zi66IE0k |url-status=live |website=YouTube}}</ref>

In response, Rhine filed a complaint with the '''Oregon Department of Justice'''. The Department acknowledged the complaint, but closed the case without any further action, citing that the issue was outside their authority.<ref name=":1" />

CAMI Research responded by threatening legal action against Rhine, accusing him of harassment, despite the communications being professional and polite. Their message asserted that Ryan should go through state legal channels only, and threatened to escalate the situation if he made further contact with them.<ref name=":1" />

==Products==

*Low-voltage testers
*High-voltage testers
*Expansion modules
*CB Boards

==See also==

*[[Better Way Electronics|Better Way Electronics (BWE)]]

==References==
<references />

File:Cami logo.jpg

2025-06-22T23:44:11Z

NinjaWeeb: Logo for Cami Research

== Summary ==
Logo for Cami Research

User:NinjaWeeb

2025-06-20T00:53:31Z

NinjaWeeb:

=== Terms of Service ===
Here is the TOS for purchasing my super-fire mixtape.

=====§1 Definitions=====
He is Yu, and I am me. And you are you.

=====§2 Ownership=====
When you "purchase" my mixtape (which is pretty fire), you are actually licensing it, you don't own it. Your access can be revoked at any time, for any reason (like if i feel like it). I will send an agent to personally purloin the mixtape from you, to enforce this action. You will own nothing, and be happy.

=====§3 Privacy Policy=====
We will store your personal data unencrypted on our database. Also, because Jimmy keeps forgetting the db access password, I will write it here once and only once. It's password123. We'll probably also sell it to McDonalds, Jeff Bezos and all your favourite dictators. Also, AI (helps gets the investors on board)

If you're mad about that, contact us as instructed in §5

=====§4 Forced Arbitration=====
If you agree to my TOS, you can't sue me. Instead, my buddy John from the diner will moderate and arbitrate any of that trash you have against me.

=====§5 Cancellations=====
If you want to cancel your subscription, you may do so at any time. Just send me a certified letter with a 2 inch stamp, a 4:3 width:length ratio, on gold leaf paper, tagged with antimatter europium security strips, and also a cobalt blue tint because it looks pretty.

Or you can send an email, about how you are so desperate for your money, which we may or may not read within 90 business days (or at all). Actually, probably not, but hey, one can dream.
[[File:Copyright symbol.png|thumb|<nowiki>I'll DMCA anyone who mutters my mixtape in public >:]</nowiki>]]

=====§6 Copyrights=====
Whats mine is mine, and whats yours is also mine.

=====§7 Changes to the TOS=====
This terms of service might change. We'll make it as predictably random so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the higher prices until you head to the hardware store to buy that cobalt blue to send that certified mail.

=====§8 Juristriction (or however the heck you spell it)=====
This TOS is valid in all countries including the American States, Canada, that one country where they make everything, as well as the fake countries like Finland and Australia. It is also valid in Outer Space, the Moon, that planet where Spock lives and the Death Star.

File:Copyright symbol.png

2025-06-20T00:51:13Z

NinjaWeeb: Symbol commonly used in copyright notices.

== Summary ==
Symbol commonly used in copyright notices.

User talk:OlsroFR

2025-06-20T00:49:06Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Welcome to this Wiki */ new section

== Welcome to this Wiki ==

Hey OlsroFR, just wanted to welcome you here. Your contributions on the Nintendo page were helpful.

[[User:NinjaWeeb|NinjaWeeb]] ([[User talk:NinjaWeeb|talk]]) 00:49, 20 June 2025 (UTC)

Enshittification

2025-06-20T00:42:43Z

NinjaWeeb: /* How it works */ Added examples

{{stub}}

'''Enshittification''', also known as '''crapification''' and '''platform decay''' is a pattern in which two-sided online products and services decline in quality over time. Initially, companies create high-quality offerings to attract users, then they degrade those offerings to better serve business customers, and finally degrade their services to users and business customers to maximize profits for shareholders.

The term was first coined by tech blogger Corey Doctorow in November 2022 and has since gained widespread recognition.

==How it works==
<blockquote>''"It is a seemingly inevitable consequence arising from the combination of the ease of changing how a platform allocates value, combined with the nature of a "two-sided market," where a platform sits between buyers and sellers, hold each hostage to the other, raking off an ever-larger share of the value that passes between them."''

-Corey Doctorow, ''Wired,'' 2023</blockquote>Enshittification at it's core is a three-stage process.

=== Stage 1 - Incentivizing Mass Adoption ===
Companies offer their product or service to users with great incentive to try and build an established userbase. It is usually during the early stage of the company is the most focused on providing a positive user-experience and listening to feedback.

For example, [[Uber]] was initially well-recieved for offering competitive prices for transportation, leading to a large userbase adopting the platform.

=== Stage 2 - Catering to Business Clients ===
Once a stable userbase is locked in, companies begin offer access to the userbase to business customers with great incentive. This stage is usually when the user-experience begins to decline as the company is now more focused on catering to partners such as suppliers and advertisers.

For example, in 2023, Reddit removed free access to their API nearing the time of its IPO.<ref name="TheVergeAnnouncement">{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=April 18, 2023 |title=Reddit's upcoming API changes will make AI companies pony up |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/18/23688463/reddit-developer-api-terms-change-monetization-ai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614020642/https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/18/23688463/reddit-developer-api-terms-change-monetization-ai |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |access-date=June 17, 2023 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Then, in 2024, Reddit struck a $60M deal with Google to give access to its user-generated content for AI training data.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tong |first=Anna |last2=Wang |first2=Echo |last3=Coulter |first3=Martin |last4=Tong |first4=Anna |last5=Wang |first5=Echo |date=2024-02-22 |title=Exclusive: Reddit in AI content licensing deal with Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/reddit-ai-content-licensing-deal-with-google-sources-say-2024-02-22/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>

=== Stage 3 - Quality Degradation for Shareholders ===
When both users and business partners are locked in, the company shifts it's surpluses to the shareholders. It no longer has any incentive to grow or maintain quality for either of it's customer bases and relentlessly seeks profit at any rate for the shareholders. Companies at this stage also tend to have such a large market presence that switching barriers naturally (or intentionally) fall into place for those trying to leave for alternatives.

An ongoing example is YouTube's crackdown on users using ad-blockers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTube intensifies crackdown on ad blockers {{!}} AdGuard |url=https://adguard.com/en/blog/youtube-new-banner-adblockers-violate-tos.html |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=AdGuard Blog |language=en}}</ref> While such a crackdown might reduce ad-blocker usage and increase short-term shareholder returns, it degrades the experience for users and reduces the quality of impressions for advertisers. Over 30% of the world's population uses YouTube, with a ~98% market share in online video media.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTube - Market Share, Competitor Insights in Media Players And Streaming Platforms |url=https://www.6sense.com/tech/media-players-and-streaming-platforms/youtube-market-share |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=23 Essential YouTube Statistics You Need to Know in 2025 |url=https://thesocialshepherd.com/blog/youtube-statistics |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=The Social Shepherd |language=en}}</ref>

==Why it is a problem==

===Erosion of user experiences===
It can cause frustration among customers, for example Netflix has started locking down movies behind expensive plans, so customers are frustrated into subscribing to a more expensive plan.

===Adversarial business relationships===
...

===Switching barriers===
...

===Platform death===
...

==Possible solutions==

===End-to-end principal===
...

===Right of exit===
...

===Public backlash===
...

===Alternative platforms===
...

==Examples==
===E-commerce===
In Doctorow's original post, he discussed the practices of Amazon. The online retailer initially drew in users with products sold below cost and free shipping. Once its userbase was well established, more sellers began to sell their products through Amazon. Finally, Amazon began to add fees to increase profits. In 2023, over 45% of the sale price of items went to Amazon in the form of various fees. Amazon also allows sellers the ability to push their listing higher in search results via it's paid Sponsored Products program. Doctorow described advertisement within Amazon as a payola scheme in which sellers bid against one another for search-ranking preference, and said that the first five pages of a search for "cat beds" were half advertisements

eBay is another e-commerce site that followed a similar trajectory, initially offering low fees and a robust buying/selling protection system. Once it's userbase of largely secondhand buyers and sellers was solidified, eBay raised seller fees and began incentivizing large volume sellers - often actual businesses - with lower selling fees should they subscribe to eBay Store. eBay sellers are also no longer able to leave negative feedback for buyers, greatly reducing the ability of sellers to avoid bad actors. Since then, eBay has introduced promoted listings that are effectively analogous to Amazon's paid sponsored listing system. eBay has also encouraged sellers to use AI generated descriptions that often misrepresent the condition of items being sold, along with opting all of it's users into in-house AI training [[Ebay AI opt in by default|by default]] as of it's April 21, 2025 privacy policy revision.

===Media streaming platforms===
The enshittification of Netflix is similarly reflected in other streaming platforms such as YouTube TV and Amazon Prime Video, where prices have increased despite a decline (or at least no perceivable improvement) in overall service quality.

===Search engines===
Google...

===Social media===
Facebook...

Instagram...

Twitter/X...

TikTok...

YouTube...

===Software===
Adobe...

Windows...

===Video Games===
Unity...

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]

User:NinjaWeeb

2025-06-19T00:38:40Z

NinjaWeeb:

Here is the TOS for purchasing my super-fire mixtape.

===== §1 Definitions =====
He is Yu, and I am me. And you are you.

===== §2 Ownership =====
When you "purchase" my mixtape (which is pretty fire), you are actually licensing it, you don't own it. Your access can be revoked at any time, for any reason (like if i feel like it). I will send an agent to personally purloin the mixtape from you, to enforce this action. You will own nothing, and be happy.

===== §3 Privacy Policy =====
We will store your personal data unencrypted on our database. Also, because Jimmy keeps forgetting the db access password, I will write it here once and only once. It's password123. We'll probably also sell it to McDonalds, Jeff Bezos and all your favourite dictators. Also, AI (helps gets the investors on board)

If you're mad about that, contact us as instructed in §5

===== §4 Forced Arbitration =====
If you agree to my TOS, you can't sue me. Instead, my buddy John from the diner will moderate and arbitrate any of that trash you have against me.

===== §5 Cancellations =====
If you want to cancel your subscription, you may do so at any time. Just send me a certified letter with a 2 inch stamp, a 4:3 width:length ratio, on gold leaf paper, tagged with antimatter europium security strips, and also a cobalt blue tint because it looks pretty.

Or you can send an email, about how you are so desperate for your money, which we may or may not read within 90 business days (or at all). Actually, probably not, but hey, one can dream.

===== §6 Copyrights =====
Whats mine is mine, and whats yours is also mine.

===== §7 Changes to the TOS =====
This terms of service might change. We'll make it as predictably random so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the higher prices until you head to the hardware store to buy that cobalt blue to send that certified mail.

===== §8 Juristriction (or however the heck you spell it) =====
This TOS is valid in all countries including the American States, Canada, that one country where they make everything, as well as the fake countries like Finland and Australia. It is also valid in Outer Space, the Moon, that planet where Spock lives and the Death Star.

User:NinjaWeeb

2025-06-19T00:26:46Z

NinjaWeeb:

Here is the TOS for purchasing my super-fire mixtape.

§1 Definitions

He is Yu, and I am me. And you are you.

§2 Ownership

When you "purchase" my mixtape (which is pretty fire), you are actually licensing it, you don't own it. Your access can be revoked at any time, for any reason (like if i feel like it). I will send an agent to personally purloin the mixtape from you, to enforce this action. You will own nothing, and be happy.

§3 Privacy Policy

We will store your personal data unencrypted on our database. Also, because Jimmy keeps forgetting the db access password, I will write it here once and only once. It's password123. We'll probably also sell it to McDonalds, Jeff Bezos and all your favourite dictators.

If you're mad about that, contact us as instructed in §5

§4 Forced Arbitration

If you agree to my TOS, you can't sue me. Instead, my buddy John from the diner will moderate and arbitrate any of that trash you have against me.

§5 Cancellations

If you want to cancel your subscription, you may do so at any time. Just send me a certified letter with a 2 inch stamp, a 4:3 width:length ratio, on gold leaf paper, tagged with antimatter europium security strips, and also a cobalt blue tint because it looks pretty.

Or you can send an email, about how you are so desperate for your money, which we may or may not read within 90 business days (or at all). Actually, probably not, but hey, one can dream.

§6 Copyrights

Whats mine is mine, and whats yours is also mine.

§7 Juristriction (or however the heck you spell it)

This TOS is valid in all countries including the American States, Canada, that one country where they make everything, as well as the fake countries like Finland and Australia. It is also valid in Outer Space, the Moon, that planet where Spock lives and the Death Star.

User:NinjaWeeb

2025-06-19T00:25:55Z

NinjaWeeb:

Here is the TOS for purchasing my super-fire mixtape.

§1 Definitions

He is Yu, and I am me. And you are you.

§2 Ownership

When you "purchase" my mixtape (which is pretty fire), you are actually licensing it, you don't own it. Your access can be revoked at any time, for any reason (like if i feel like it). I will send an agent to personally purloin the mixtape from you, to enforce this action. You will own nothing, and be happy.

§3 Privacy Policy

We will store your personal data unencrypted on our database. Also, because Jimmy keeps forgetting the db access password, I will write it here once and only once. It's password123. We'll probably also sell it to McDonalds, Jeff Bezos and all your favourite dictators.

If you're mad about that, contact us as instructed in §5

§4 Forced Arbitration

If you agree to my TOS, you can't sue me. Instead, my buddy John from the diner will moderate and arbitrate any of that trash you have against me.

§5 Cancellations

If you want to cancel your subscription, you may do so at any time. Just send me a certified letter with a 2 inch stamp, a 4:3 width:length ratio, on gold leaf paper, tagged with antimatter europium security strips, and also a cobalt blue tint because it looks pretty.

Or you can send an email, about you are so desperate for your money, which we may or may not read within 90 business days (or at all). Actually, probably not, but hey, one can dream.

§6 Copyrights

Whats mine is mine, and whats yours is also mine.

§7 Juristriction (or however the heck you spell it)

This TOS is valid in all countries including the American States, Canada, that one country where they make everything, as well as the fake countries like Finland and Australia. It is also valid in Outer Space, the Moon, that planet where Spock lives and the Death Star.

User:NinjaWeeb

2025-06-19T00:24:07Z

NinjaWeeb: Made a joke TOS in my userpage

Here is the TOS for purchasing my super-fire mixtape.

§1 Definitions

He is Yu, and I am me. And you are you.

§2 Ownership

When you "purchase" my mixtape (which is pretty fire), you are actually licensing it, you don't own it. Your access can be revoked at any time, for any reason (like if i feel like it). I will send an agent to personally purloin the mixtape from you, to enforce this action. You will own nothing, and be happy.

§3 Privacy Policy

We will store your personal data unencrypted on our database. Also, because Jimmy keeps forgetting the db access password, I will write it here once and only once. It's password123. We'll probably also sell it to McDonalds, Jeff Bezos and all your favourite dictators.

If you're mad about that, contact us as instructed in §5

§4 Forced Arbitration

If you agree to my TOS, you can't sue me. Instead, my buddy John from the diner will moderate and arbitrate any crap you have against me.

§5 Cancellations

If you want to cancel your subscription, you may do so at any time. Just send me a certified letter with a 2 inch stamp, a 4:3 width:length ratio, on gold leaf paper, tagged with antimatter europium security strips, and also a cobalt blue tint because it looks pretty.

Or you can send an email, about you are so desperate for your money, which we may or may not read within 90 business days (or at all). Actually, probably not, but hey, one can dream.

§6 Copyrights

Whats mine is mine, and whats yours is also mine.

§7 Juristriction (or however the heck you spell it)

This TOS is valid in all countries including the American States, Canada, that one country where they make everything, as well as the fake countries like Finland and Australia. It is also valid in Outer Space, the Moon, that planet where Spock lives and the Death Star.

Nvidia

2025-06-19T00:04:27Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Incidents */ Included section for forced arbitration in Nvidia's TOS

{{Stub}}
{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Nvidia Corporation
| Type =Public
| Founded =1993
| Industry =Semiconductors
| Official Website =https://www.nvidia.com/
| Logo =Nvidia logo.svg
|short_description={{{short_description}}}}}

'''{{Wplink|Nvidia|Nvidia Corporation}}''' is an American technology company that designs and sells [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_processing_unit graphics processing units] (GPUs) for both commercial and enterprise use. It was founded on April 5, 1993, by current CEO (as of 2025) Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem. The company is the largest providers of GPUs for both consumer and enterprise.

==Consumer-impact summary==
Nvidia's perception of consumers waned as the enterprise wing of the company started financially outperforming the consumer wing. This has lead to the prioritization of enterprise products while the consumer products become less appealing. Nvidia on multiple accounts has employed deceptive practices such as to mislead the everyday buyer.{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User freedom
* User privacy
* Business model
* Market control}}

==Incidents==
{{Placeholder box|Add one-paragraph summaries of incidents below in sub-sections, which link to each incident's main article while linking to the main article and including a short summary. It is acceptable to create an incident summary before the main page for an incident has been created. To link to the page use the "Hatnote" or "Main" templates.

If the company has numerous incidents then format them in a table (see [[Amazon]] for an example). }}

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

=== Forced Arbitration ===
In Nvidia's terms of service regarding accessing their website, under "Informal Resolution" users are required to agree to resolve legal disputes with Nvidia by arbitration from Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS).<ref>{{Cite web |title=NVIDIA Legal Notices |url=https://www.nvidia.com/en-gb/about-nvidia/terms-of-service/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=NVIDIA |language=en-gb}}</ref>

===Stagnation of Consumer GPU Offerings (''date'')===
Since assuming it's dominant position at the top of the consumer GPU market, Nvidia has been credibly accused of [[shrinkflation]] across it's entire product lineup.<ref>https://youtu.be/2tJpe3Dk7Ko?si=zP7STlfrJI0lmoAJ</ref>

===12VHPWR Connector Failures (2022 - Present)===
...

===RTX 50-series GPUs Missing ROPs (2025 - Present)===
...

===Threatening Hardware Unboxed (''date'')===
{{Main|link to the main article}}
Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).

===Data scraping without permission for AI training (2024)===
<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Samantha |date=5 Aug 2024 |title=Leaked Documents Show Nvidia Scraping ‘A Human Lifetime’ of Videos Per Day to Train AI |url=https://www.404media.co/nvidia-ai-scraping-foundational-model-cosmos-project/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414032908/https://www.404media.co/nvidia-ai-scraping-foundational-model-cosmos-project/ |archive-date=14 Apr 2025 |access-date=15 Jun 2025 |website=404 Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morales |first=Jowi |date=6 Aug 2024 |title=Nvidia accused of scraping ‘A Human Lifetime’ of videos per day to train AI |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/nvidia-accused-of-scraping-a-human-lifetime-of-videos-per-day-to-train-ai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211081108/https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/nvidia-accused-of-scraping-a-human-lifetime-of-videos-per-day-to-train-ai |archive-date=11 Feb 2025 |access-date=15 Jun 2025 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref>

===GeForce previews (''date'')===

===GeForce Partner Program (up to 2018)===
{{Main|{{wplink|GeForce Partner Program}}}}
The program ended in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teeple |first=John |date=4 May 2018 |title=Pulling the Plug on GPP, Leaning into GeForce |url=https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2018/05/04/gpp/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504191609/https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2018/05/04/gpp/ |archive-date=4 May 2018 |access-date=15 Jun 2025 |website=Nvidia Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Forrest |first=Derek published |date=4 May 2018 |title=Nvidia Ends Notorious GeForce Partner Program |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-ends-geforce-partner-program,37008.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325085921/https://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-ends-geforce-partner-program,37008.html |archive-date=25 Mar 2025 |access-date=15 Jun 2025 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref>

===Threatening Gamers Nexus (''date'')===
...

==Products==
{{Placeholder box|This is a list of the company's product lines '''with articles on this wiki'''.
* [[Example product line one]] (release date): Short summary of the product's incidents.
* [[Example product line two]] (release date):}}

*[[RTX 5070]] (2025-03-05)
*[[RTX 5060]] (2025-05-19)

==See also==
{{Placeholder box|Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Memrise

2025-06-18T19:50:59Z

NinjaWeeb: See also

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Memrise
| Type = Private
| Founded = 2010
| Industry = Education
| Official Website = https://www.memrise.com/
| Logo = Memrise logo.png
}}'''[[wikipedia:Memrise|Memrise]]''' is a British flashcard learning tool founded in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=TigerLaunch 2009 |url=http://www.princetoneclub.com/programs/tigerlaunch/tigerlaunch-2009/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223100136/http://www.princetoneclub.com/programs/tigerlaunch/tigerlaunch-2009/ |archive-date=December 23, 2011 |website=princetoneclub.com}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

====Freedom====
The service allows users to update, or request the deletion of personal data in the user settings.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Memrise |title=Privacy Page |url=https://www.memrise.com/privacy |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.memrise.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Privacy====
In the privacy policy of Memrise, it states that it will retain basic, identifiable data of a user if they request that their data is to be removed from marketing lists.<ref name=":0" />

Some exercises in Memrise require voice input (like pronunciation/accent tests). The service collects and stores user voice data.<ref name=":0" />

They also collect device data including the user's OS, system settings, network information and identifiers unique to its device.<ref name=":0" />

====Business model====
Memrise runs on a freemium model, relying on paid premium memberships for revenue. In 2018, Memrise recieved ~$15.5m in venture capital series B funding from Octopus Ventures, Korelya Capital, Avalon Ventures and Balderton Capital.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-11 |title=AI-powered language learning startup Memrise raises $15.5m in series B funding |url=https://www.cityam.com/ai-powered-language-learning-startup-memrise-raises-155m/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2018 |title=Memrise raises $15.5M as its AI-based language-learning app passes 35M users |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/11/memrise-raises-15-5m-as-its-ai-based-language-learning-app-passes-35m-users/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112205559/https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/11/memrise-raises-15-5m-as-its-ai-based-language-learning-app-passes-35m-users/ |archive-date=2020-01-12 |access-date=2020-01-12 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Market control====
Memrise has ~65M registered users.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Memrise Statistics: Revealing Revenue and User Insights - Cooljugator |url=https://cooljugator.com/blog/memrise-statistics/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Lifetime Subscription===
Users have the ability to pay a one-off sum of money for a lifetime subscription of Memrise Pro. It gives the user access to premium features. However, under Memrise's terms and conditions, such a service lasts 100 years from the day of purchase, or until the service ceases to exist: "Lifetime subscription constitutes 100 years or until the date Memrise ceases to commercially offer the Services".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Memrise |title=Terms |url=https://www.memrise.com/terms |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.memrise.com |language=en}}</ref>

However, on the payment site, it states in the FAQ that any user who buys a lifetime subscription will: "have Pro status forever."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Memrise Language Learning App - Subscription Plans |url=https://app.memrise.com/payment/plans |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=app.memrise.com}}</ref>

===Deprecation of User-Generated Content===
Memrise started as a crowdsourcing platform, allowing users to create and upload their own courses, as well as having courses of their own. However, over time, Memrise began to phase out community support. Around February 2019, Memrise announced plans to move community content to a different website platform;<ref name="Decks announcement">{{Cite web |date=2019-02-19 |title=Important Update: Upcoming changes to Memrise community-created courses |url=https://community.memrise.com/t/important-update-upcoming-changes-to-memrise-community-created-courses/33461 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015929/https://community.memrise.com/t/important-update-upcoming-changes-to-memrise-community-created-courses/33461/15 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |access-date=24 February 2019 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref> and that the new website would not have an app, nor allow for users to access the material offline.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2019-02-21 |title=The Creation of Decks and the Future of Memrise. |url=https://blog.memrise.com/2019/02/21/decksbymemrise/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111211130/https://blog.memrise.com/2019/02/21/decksbymemrise/ |archive-date=2020-11-11 |access-date=2019-02-24 |website=The Memrise Blog |language=en-GB}}</ref>

These plans garnered vocal backlash from users in the community, so on 25 February 2020, Memrise decided to undo the changes in response to the criticism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-12 |title=Important announcement about Decks |url=https://community.memrise.com/t/important-announcement-about-decks/49470 |access-date=2020-05-03 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref> However, Memrise announced again in November 2023, of its plans to "sunset" user-generated courses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 2023 |title=Forum absence, outlook |url=https://community.memrise.com/t/forum-absence-outlook/87919/24 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref> The Memrise forums closed on 8 December 2023, to focus its support from community-created content, claiming that it was "hindering the core Memrise experience".<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2023 |title=Closure of the Memrise Community Forum |url=https://memrise.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/20736101603473-Closure-of-the-Memrise-Community-Forum |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Shannon |date=2024-05-09 |title=Memrise is Doing Away with User-Generated Content… Now What? |url=https://eurolinguiste.com/memrise-is-doing-away-with-user-generated-content-now-what/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Eurolinguiste |language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2024, Memrise again separated community courses to another website, which is inaccessible through the mobile app, preventing users from downloading the courses for offline accessibility. One of the selling points of Memrise Pro is the ability to download courses for offline access.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 February 2024 |title=Changes to the Memrise app |url=https://www.memrise.com/blog/changes-to-the-memrise-app |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref> Such changes were met with concerns, frustrations and criticism by users.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2024 |title=Why this is happening from the Memrise CEO |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/memrise/comments/1axye57/why_this_is_happening_from_the_memrise_ceo/ |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Reddit |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2024 |title=Memrise CEO trying again |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/memrise/comments/1axdcgb/memrise_ceo_trying_again/ |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Reddit |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

==Products==
*Memrise Pro

== See also ==

* [[Duolingo]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Memrise

2025-06-18T19:47:56Z

NinjaWeeb: /* Incidents */ Added info on user-generated content

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Memrise
| Type = Private
| Founded = 2010
| Industry = Education
| Official Website = https://www.memrise.com/
| Logo = Memrise logo.png
}}'''[[wikipedia:Memrise|Memrise]]''' is a British flashcard learning tool founded in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=TigerLaunch 2009 |url=http://www.princetoneclub.com/programs/tigerlaunch/tigerlaunch-2009/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223100136/http://www.princetoneclub.com/programs/tigerlaunch/tigerlaunch-2009/ |archive-date=December 23, 2011 |website=princetoneclub.com}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

====Freedom====
The service allows users to update, or request the deletion of personal data in the user settings.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Memrise |title=Privacy Page |url=https://www.memrise.com/privacy |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.memrise.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Privacy====
In the privacy policy of Memrise, it states that it will retain basic, identifiable data of a user if they request that their data is to be removed from marketing lists.<ref name=":0" />

Some exercises in Memrise require voice input (like pronunciation/accent tests). The service collects and stores user voice data.<ref name=":0" />

They also collect device data including the user's OS, system settings, network information and identifiers unique to its device.<ref name=":0" />

====Business model====
Memrise runs on a freemium model, relying on paid premium memberships for revenue. In 2018, Memrise recieved ~$15.5m in venture capital series B funding from Octopus Ventures, Korelya Capital, Avalon Ventures and Balderton Capital.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-11 |title=AI-powered language learning startup Memrise raises $15.5m in series B funding |url=https://www.cityam.com/ai-powered-language-learning-startup-memrise-raises-155m/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2018 |title=Memrise raises $15.5M as its AI-based language-learning app passes 35M users |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/11/memrise-raises-15-5m-as-its-ai-based-language-learning-app-passes-35m-users/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112205559/https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/11/memrise-raises-15-5m-as-its-ai-based-language-learning-app-passes-35m-users/ |archive-date=2020-01-12 |access-date=2020-01-12 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Market control====
Memrise has ~65M registered users.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Memrise Statistics: Revealing Revenue and User Insights - Cooljugator |url=https://cooljugator.com/blog/memrise-statistics/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Lifetime Subscription===
Users have the ability to pay a one-off sum of money for a lifetime subscription of Memrise Pro. It gives the user access to premium features. However, under Memrise's terms and conditions, such a service lasts 100 years from the day of purchase, or until the service ceases to exist: "Lifetime subscription constitutes 100 years or until the date Memrise ceases to commercially offer the Services".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Memrise |title=Terms |url=https://www.memrise.com/terms |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.memrise.com |language=en}}</ref>

However, on the payment site, it states in the FAQ that any user who buys a lifetime subscription will: "have Pro status forever."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Memrise Language Learning App - Subscription Plans |url=https://app.memrise.com/payment/plans |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=app.memrise.com}}</ref>

=== Deprecation of User-Generated Content ===
Memrise started as a crowdsourcing platform, allowing users to create and upload their own courses, as well as having courses of their own. However, over time, Memrise began to phase out community support. Around February 2019, Memrise announced plans to move community content to a different website platform;<ref name="Decks announcement">{{Cite web |date=2019-02-19 |title=Important Update: Upcoming changes to Memrise community-created courses |url=https://community.memrise.com/t/important-update-upcoming-changes-to-memrise-community-created-courses/33461 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015929/https://community.memrise.com/t/important-update-upcoming-changes-to-memrise-community-created-courses/33461/15 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |access-date=24 February 2019 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref> and that the new website would not have an app, nor allow for users to access the material offline.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2019-02-21 |title=The Creation of Decks and the Future of Memrise. |url=https://blog.memrise.com/2019/02/21/decksbymemrise/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111211130/https://blog.memrise.com/2019/02/21/decksbymemrise/ |archive-date=2020-11-11 |access-date=2019-02-24 |website=The Memrise Blog |language=en-GB}}</ref>

These plans garnered vocal backlash from users in the community, so on 25 February 2020, Memrise decided to undo the changes in response to the criticism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-12 |title=Important announcement about Decks |url=https://community.memrise.com/t/important-announcement-about-decks/49470 |access-date=2020-05-03 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref> However, Memrise announced again in November 2023, of its plans to "sunset" user-generated courses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 2023 |title=Forum absence, outlook |url=https://community.memrise.com/t/forum-absence-outlook/87919/24 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref> The Memrise forums closed on 8 December 2023, to focus its support from community-created content, claiming that it was "hindering the core Memrise experience".<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2023 |title=Closure of the Memrise Community Forum |url=https://memrise.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/20736101603473-Closure-of-the-Memrise-Community-Forum |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Shannon |date=2024-05-09 |title=Memrise is Doing Away with User-Generated Content… Now What? |url=https://eurolinguiste.com/memrise-is-doing-away-with-user-generated-content-now-what/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Eurolinguiste |language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2024, Memrise again separated community courses to another website, which is inaccessible through the mobile app, preventing users from downloading the courses for offline accessibility. One of the selling points of Memrise Pro is the ability to download courses for offline access.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 February 2024 |title=Changes to the Memrise app |url=https://www.memrise.com/blog/changes-to-the-memrise-app |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Memrise |language=en}}</ref> Such changes were met with concerns, frustrations and criticism by users.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2024 |title=Why this is happening from the Memrise CEO |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/memrise/comments/1axye57/why_this_is_happening_from_the_memrise_ceo/ |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Reddit |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2024 |title=Memrise CEO trying again |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/memrise/comments/1axdcgb/memrise_ceo_trying_again/ |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Reddit |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

== Products ==
*Memrise Pro

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]