Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Take Two

2025-12-01T08:38:11Z

Rain: Tried to fix formatting.

{{StubNotice}}

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
| Type = Holding Company
| Founded = 1993
| Industry = Video games
| Official Website = https://www.take2games.com/
| Logo = Take-Two_Interactive_logo.png
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Take-Two_Interactive|Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.]]''' is a New York City based video game holding company founded by Ryan Brant on September 30, 1993. The company owns three major publishing labels, [[Rockstar Games]], Zynga and 2K, which operate internal game development studios.

==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:Take-Two Interactive|Take-Two Interactive category]].

===2K - Faulty game launcher (''September 2022'')===
In September 2022, 2K released "quality of life" updates for the remastered versions of ''BioShock'', ''BioShock 2'', and ''BioShock Infinite'' on Steam, which required account linking and forced launching the games through the 2K launcher. This change rendered the games unplayable for Linux users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolens |first=Joshua |date=7 Sep 2022 |title=2K's 'quality of life' change for BioShock is that Linux users can't play it anymore |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/2ks-quality-of-life-change-for-bioshock-is-that-linux-users-cant-play-it-anymore/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>

===2K - Personal data breaches (''September 2022'')===
In September 2022, 2K experienced a data breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=CJ |date=21 Sep 2022 |title=Rockstar owner Take-Two's hacking woes continue as 2K confirm attack on their support service |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rockstar-owner-take-twos-hacking-woes-continue-as-2k-confirm-attack-on-their-support-service |url-status=live |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}}</ref> The stolen data was put up for sale including names, email addresses, and gamertags.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=11 Oct 2022 |title=2K confirms user data stolen and placed on sale after recent security breach |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2k-confirms-user-data-stolen-and-placed-on-sale-after-recent-security-breach |url-status=live |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}}</ref>

===Shuttered studios===
{{Incomplete section}}
-Private Division shutdown - Main project Kerbal Space Program 2 made abandonware in early access, players not refunded
[[wikipedia:2K_(company)|Wikipedia page ref]](note: use as springboard, find dedicated sources for history of buyouts and shuttering)

===''Spec Ops: The Line'' delisting (''January 2024'')===
On January 29, 2024, 2K removed ''Spec Ops: The Line'' from [[Steam]] without prior notice, due to expiring partnership licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=30 Jan 2024 |title=2K confirms Spec Ops: The Line has been removed from sale because of expiring 'partnership licenses' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/spec-ops-the-lines-sudden-removal-from-steam-baffles-its-director-why-has-this-happened/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> Players who already owned the game can still download and play it.

===Microtransactions (MTX) and lootboxes===
{{Incomplete section}}
Ref should cover all 3 major companies owned by T2, ref covers 2k. Zynga's pioneering of predatory mtx needs to be covered (see cityville and Farmville games.) Rockstar, shark cards in GTAO? No clue how we could shoehorn this one.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Nick |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=NBA 2K Faces Lawsuit Over Controversial Microtransactions, Loot Boxes |url=https://screenrant.com/nba-2k-take-two-microtransactions-lawsuit-sports/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 Dec 2025 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

===Borderlands Series - Terms of Service changes and alleged [[spyware]] (April 2025)===
{{Incomplete section}}
https://medium.com/@DarkRa/why-gamers-are-furious-over-take-two-and-2ks-new-terms-of-service-051e7a6a5594
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMKMhqKzHxs&pp=ygUMdGFrZSB0d28gdG9z

Risk of Rain video game series - EULA update, which is the same as the Borderlands Series. (Risk of Rain was published by Gearbox, which all their games were affected by this EULA update.)

Grand Theft Auto also has the same EULA update from Take Two Interactive as the Borderlands Series and Risk of Rain.

==Take-Two Interactive — Abuses Related to Data Collection and Game Ownership==

===Data Collection Practices===

*'''Always-on tracking''': Take-Two collects gameplay data continuously, even in single-player modes. This includes hardware identifiers, crash logs, user behavior, and telemetry.
*'''Cross-service aggregation''': Data is collected across all Take-Two titles (e.g. ''GTA'', ''Red Dead'', ''NBA 2K''), websites, customer support interactions, and third-party services. This enables behavioral profiling without user transparency.
*'''Cookies and marketing surveillance''': Persistent cookies and tracking pixels are used for analytics and targeted advertising. User data may be shared with external partners, with no meaningful opt-out mechanism.
*'''Mandatory acceptance''': Users must accept all data collection terms to access the games or services. Refusal may lead to denied access or reduced functionality.

===No Ownership Over Games or Content===

*'''License, not purchase''': All Take-Two products, including physical and digital copies, are legally considered ''revocable licenses'', not owned goods. The company retains all property rights.
*'''Game access can be revoked''': Take-Two’s Terms of Service allow them to ''terminate the license'' at any time, for any reason. Once terminated, users ''lose access'' to the game—even if they paid full price.
*'''No refunds or compensation''': Upon license termination or account ban, Take-Two has no obligation to offer a refund or reinstate access. Games, accounts, and virtual items can disappear permanently.
*'''Virtual goods not guaranteed''': In-game currency, cosmetics, or stats (e.g. ''GTA Shark Cards'', ''NBA VC'') can be removed, altered, or rendered inaccessible at any time. Ownership claims are explicitly denied.

===Sample Terms Extract===
<blockquote>"You agree that your rights to access and use the Services are limited by this Agreement and that your license is revocable, non-exclusive, and non-transferable. Take-Two may suspend, terminate, or modify your access at its sole discretion…"</blockquote>

===Summary===
Take-Two uses its Terms of Service to maintain '''total control''' over user data, gameplay behavior, and access rights. Despite charging full retail prices, the company:

*Treats all products as ''temporary, licensed experiences''.
*Reserves the right to '''revoke access without refund'''.
*Enforces '''extensive data collection''' with no opt-out.
*Allows '''removal of games from users’ libraries''', even post-purchase.

These practices undermine consumer rights by '''removing ownership''', eroding '''user privacy''', and ensuring '''legal asymmetry''' in disputes.

Last Update: June 2025

==Categories of Information Collected==
The type of information we collect depends on how you use the Services. Generally, we collect the following information:

*'''Identifiers / Contact Information''': Name, user name, gamertag, postal and email address, phone number, unique IDs, mobile device ID, platform ID, gaming service ID, advertising ID (IDFA, Android ID) and IP address
*'''Protected Characteristics''': Age and gender
*'''Commercial Information''': Purchase and usage history and preferences, including gameplay information
*'''Billing Information''': Payment information (credit / debit card information) and shipping address
*'''Internet / Electronic Activity''': Web / app browsing and gameplay information related to the Services; information about your online interaction(s) with the Services or our advertising; and details about the games and platforms you use and other information related to installed applications
*'''Device and Usage Data''': Device type, software and hardware details, language settings, browser type and version, operating system, and information about how users use and interact with the Services (e.g., content viewed, pages visited, clicks, scrolls)
*'''Profile Inferences''': Inferences made from your information and web activity to help create a personalized profile so we can identify goods and services that may be of interest
*'''Audio / Visual Information''': Account photos, images, and avatars, audio information via chat features and functionality, and gameplay recordings and video footage (such as when you participate in playtesting)
*'''Sensitive Information''': Precise location information (if you allow the Services to collect your location), account credentials (user name and password), and contents of communications via chat features and functionality.

What makes them different from a virus?
Here's a comparison between the '''data collected by a RAT (Remote Access Trojan), a Trojan''', and what is described in the '''privacy policy''':
{| class="wikitable"
!'''Data Type'''
!'''Keylogger'''
!'''Spyware'''
!'''RAT'''
!'''Info-Stealer'''
!'''Trojan'''
!'''Adware (Tracking)'''
!'''Network Sniffer'''
!'''Rootkit'''
!'''Browser Hijacker'''
!'''Privacy Policy'''
|-
|'''Identifiers / Contact Info'''
|❌
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅ (via packet capture)
|✅ (indirectly)
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Protected Characteristics'''
|❌
|⚠️ (inferred)
|❌
|❌
|❌
|✅ (from browsing)
|❌
|❌
|✅ (e.g., age from browsing)
|✅
|-
|'''Commercial Info (Purchases)'''
|✅ (if typed)
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Billing Info'''
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|❌
|✅
|✅
|❌
|✅
|-
|'''Internet / Electronic Activity'''
|❌
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Device & Usage Data'''
|❌
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|⚠️ (indirect)
|✅
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Profile Inferences'''
|❌
|
{| class="wikitable"
|⚠️ (inference)
|}
|✅
|❌
|✅ (less common)
|✅
|❌
|❌
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Audio / Visual Info'''
|❌
|✅ (screenshots)
|✅ (cam/mic access)
|❌
|Possibly
|❌
|❌
|✅ (via control)
|❌
|✅
|-
|'''Sensitive Info (Location, Credentials)'''
|✅ (typed)
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|Possibly
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅ (with consent)
|}
https://www.take2games.com/legal/en-US/#10-availability
https://www.take2games.com/privacy/en-US/

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Take-Two Interactive]]

Anthem

2025-11-29T09:25:34Z

Rain: Added Wikipedia link and fixed typos.

{{StubNotice}}{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = Anthem
| Release Year =2019
| Product Type =Action, role-playing Video Game
| In Production =Yes
| Official Website =https://www.ea.com/games/anthem
| Logo =Anthem logo.png
}}'''''{{Wplink|Anthem (video game)|Anthem}}''''' is an always-online multiplayer action role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by [[Electronic Arts]] (EA). The game was released on February 22, 2019 on the PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One. On July 3, 2025, EA announced that Anthem's servers will be shut down on January 12, 2026.<ref name=":022">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-03 |title=Anthem Game Update |url=https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/news/anthem-game-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704091220/https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/news/anthem-game-update |archive-date=2025-07-04 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=EA}}</ref> As the title is exclusively online-only, the closure of the servers renders the game unplayable, even offline.<ref name=":022" />

==Consumer impact summary==
EA shutting down the game servers has led to consumers who've spent money and time on the game to no longer have access to the product they rightfully paid for, even for offline use. As a result of said actions, many consumers feel disdain towards the brand, their current and future offerings or the industry as a whole.

==Anthem Server Shutdown==

===Server shutdowns (''2025.07.03'')===
{{Main|Anthem Server Shutdown}}
On July 3, 2025, EA announced that the Anthem servers would be sunset on January 12, 2026. Since the game was designed to require connection to the Anthem servers, the game would become unplayable following the shutdown of the servers. According to the terms of service that all consumers must agree to in order to play the game, this action by EA to revoke the purchase from the consumer is legal and permissible so long as 30 days notice was provided.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ELECTRONIC ARTS USER AGREEMENT |url=https://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBTERMS/US/en/PC/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tos.ea.com}}</ref>

==Further reading==
* [https://consumerrights.wiki/Ubisoft#The_Crew_shutdown The Crew shutdown]
* [[Stop Killing Games]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts]]

Mazda DMCA takedown of open source Home Assistant app

2025-10-07T08:16:26Z

Rain: Removed redundant category.

{{ToneWarning}}

Mazda brand cars allow remote access to certain functions of the vehicle via servers owned by the company. To access these functions, Mazda provides an official app for the smartphone. After an open source project emerged that integrated support for Mazda vehicles into the Home Assistant suite, Mazda issued a false [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act|DMCA]] takedown notice causing the project to be abandoned. A year after the incident Mazda then introduced a subscription model into their app that costs $10/month locking the previously free features behind a paywall.

==Background==
Many vehicles sold by Mazda allow for remote access to various functions of the car. These include features such as starting the engine remotely, rolling the windows up or down, or checking the fuel level. To control the car remotely, Mazda offers an official app<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyMazda App on the Google PlayStore |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.interrait.mymazda&hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=MyMazda - Google Play}}</ref> for your phone that connects to a server which then transmits the data to the car.

Programmer Brandon Rothweiler released an open source tool<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Source Integration on Github |url=https://github.com/bdr99/pymazda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717224306/https://github.com/bdr99/pymazda |archive-date=2022-07-17 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Github - Open source my MyMazda integration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mazda Connected Services on the Home Assistant website |url=https://community.home-assistant.io/t/mazda-connected-service/354221 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Home Assistant - Mazda Connected Service}}</ref> that integrates the Mazda connectivity features into the open source home management software "Home Assistant", which is an open platform that allows users to access their products via these individually created integrations. The program functions in essentially the same way as Mazda's official app, connecting to Mazda's servers that control your car remotely.

==Malicious DMCA takedown notice and subsequent subscription fee==
On October 10th 2023 Mazda issued a DMCA takedown notice<ref>{{Cite web |title=Takedown Notice by Mazda |url=https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2023/10/2023-10-10-mazda.md |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012182527/https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2023/10/2023-10-10-mazda.md |archive-date=2023-10-12 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Github}}</ref> to github claiming the integration that adds connectivity with Mazda vehicles infringes on their intellectual properly rights by stealing code from their official app and wanted it, along with forks of the project, removed from the website. The developer did not want to challenge the claims and took down the repository within a few days to avoid potential legal repercussions. With the repository and all its forks gone, the integration was also removed from the Home Assistant app.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Removal of Mazda Connected Services on Home Assistant |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2023/10/13/removal-of-mazda-connected-services-integration/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Home Assistant}}</ref>

The reason the DMCA takedown notice is malicious is that code from Mazda's official app is not required to develop a tool that works in a similar way. The API of the server is freely accessible and figuring out how to interact with it can be done completely without infringing on anyone's copyright.

===Mazda's response===

There was never a response from Mazda, but the intention and proposed solution was for people to use their official app instead.

===Official MyMazda app===
The official app can be used for free for a limited trial extending either 1 or 3 years depending on when the car was purchased<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyMazda Free Trials |url=https://mazda.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/192/~/is-there-a-subscription-fee-for-mazda-connected-services%3F |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Mazda FAQ}}</ref>, however, after the trial period ends a subscription fee of $10/month<ref>{{Cite web |title=10 dollars a month |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1egs0ik/connected_services_no_longer_free/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Reddit}}</ref> must be paid in order to retain the MyMazda connectivity features. The price was not made known to buyers in advance<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mazda USA hasn't announced how much it will cost |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/12s3sy9/comment/jgww4c2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Reddit}}</ref>, only that the service would eventually cost money in the future. The durations of the free trials were staged to expire around the same time, starting around late 2024. The shutdown of the free open source alternative just a year prior paints this in a bigger picture of anti consumer practices: First, the only free alternative is shut down via a dubious cease and desist letter, then the official product starts requiring a subscription fee to be paid.

==Consumer response==

People were unhappy about the takedown of the open source repository as many felt the unofficial app worked better, and was easier to use than Mazda's own MyMazda service. Additionally, some have stated that they would not have purchased a Mazda vehicle had they known the open source project would be struck by a DMCA claim<ref>{{Cite web |title=Would not have purchased a Mazda had I know this was coming. |url=https://community.home-assistant.io/t/mazda-connected-service/354221/102 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Home Assistant}}</ref>, forcing the use of the official app which many feel is not worth the price.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reddit Discussion on Subscription fee for MyMazda app |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1hvntgn/is_anyone_paying_for_the_mazda_connected_service/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:MyMazda]]
[[Category:Mazda]]
[[Category:Subscription-based services]]

Category:Volvo

2025-09-25T08:30:00Z

Rain: Created new category.

[[Category:Car manufacturers]]

Category:UniTranslate

2025-09-19T08:37:38Z

Rain: Removed redundant link.

[[Category:Service companies]]

Proton

2025-09-18T08:48:41Z

Rain: Added Wikipedia link.

{{Incomplete}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2014
|Industry=Technology, Telecommunications, Computer hardware
|Logo=Proton-logomark-purple-noborder.png
|Type=Private
|Website=https://proton.me
|Description=Proton is a privacy-focused tech company. Their main services include Proton Mail, Proton VPN and Proton Pass.
}}

'''{{Wplink|Proton AG|Proton}}''', officially known as '''Proton AG''', is a Swiss company known for its commitment to privacy and security in the digital realm. Founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN and MIT, Proton is best recognized for its flagship product, [[Protonmail|ProtonMail]], which offers end-to-end encrypted email services. The company operates under the principles of transparency and user privacy, ensuring that user data is protected from unauthorized access. Proton AG has expanded its offerings to include various services that cater to individuals and organizations seeking secure communication solutions.

==Consumer-impact summary==
====Business model====
In addition to Proton Mail, Proton provides a range of services designed to enhance online privacy and security. These include:

*Proton VPN: A virtual private network service that encrypts internet traffic and hides users' IP addresses.

*Proton Drive: A secure cloud storage solution that allows users to store and share files with end-to-end encryption.
*Proton Calendar: A privacy-focused calendar application that ensures users' events and schedules remain confidential.
*Proton Pass: A password manager that securely stores and manages passwords and sensitive information.

Through these services, Proton AG aims to empower users with tools that prioritize their privacy and security in an increasingly digital world.

==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]].
===Proton starts moving their infrastructure out of Switzerland===
Proton AG is relocating most of its infrastructure out of Switzerland in response to proposed changes in Swiss surveillance laws that threaten user privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Eamonn |date=23 July 2025 |title=Introducing Lumo, the AI where every conversation is confidential |url=https://proton.me/blog/lumo-ai#:~:text=Building%2520EuroStack%2520for%2520the%2520future |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=proton.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Naprys |first=Ernestas |date=19 May 2025 |title=Proton threatens to leave Switzerland amid proposed law changes |url=https://cybernews.com/security/proton-considers-relocation-from-switzerland/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=cybernews.com}}</ref> The amendments would require companies, including VPNs and messaging services, to identify users and retain their data, which contradicts Proton's commitment to providing secure and private services. To maintain its privacy standards, Proton plans to move its infrastructure to countries like Germany and Norway, where it can operate without the risk of mass surveillance.

CEO Andy Yen has emphasized that if these laws are enacted, Proton would be less confidential than competitors like Google, making it unsustainable for their business model. This strategic move reflects Proton's dedication to ensuring that its services remain secure and aligned with its foundational principles of user privacy in an evolving regulatory environment.

==See also==
[[Protonmail|Proton Mail]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

Seagate

2025-09-05T08:16:41Z

Rain: Fixed formatting.

{{StubNotice}}
{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type =Public
| Founded =1978 (Shugart Technology)
| Industry =Data Storage
| Official Website =https://www.seagate.com/
| Logo =Seagate logo.svg
}}
'''{{Wplink|Seagate Technology}}''' is a data storage company from the US that specializes in high-quality hard drives, solid state drives, and other such long-term storage solutions.

==Consumer-impact summary==
Seagate and [[Western Digital]] own a majority of the market share in the hard drive industry.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-25 |title=Hard Drives (Global Market) |url=https://tadviser.com/index.php/Article:Hard_Drives_(Global_Market) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/WhsaC |archive-date=2025-07-13 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=TAdviser}}</ref>

Seagate uses a hybrid business model that consists of selling directly to consumers through their website, on online marketplaces such as [[Amazon]], [[NewEgg]], and [[Alibaba]], as well as directly to commercial businesses.

==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]].
===Misrepresenting sales of old hard drives as new===
{{Main|Misrepresented sales of used Seagate hard drives as new}}
Reports from consumers, as well as investigations by ''Heise Online'', describe an issue where used and refurbished [[Seagate]] hard drives are being sold as new. Many buyers reported receiving drives with extensive prior usage, despite being marketed and priced as brand-new products. The issue appears to stem from deceptive practices by certain sellers, rather than Seagate itself, though questions remain regarding how these drives re-entered the supply chain.

==Products==
*[[Seagate Exos X16 (16TB)]] - ST16000NM000J, ST16000NM001G (2018): Old drive that is being listed as new.
*[[Seagate Exos X14 (14TB)]] – ST14000NM001G, ST14000NM005G (2018): Old drive that is being listed as new.
*[[Seagate Exos X12 (12TB)]] – ST12000NM0127, ST12000NM0558 (2018): Old drive that is being listed as new.

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

==References==
{{reflist}}



[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

File:Applefree.jpg

2025-09-03T08:36:48Z

Rain: Removed no-break spaces.

==Summary==
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>

Take Two

2025-09-01T08:58:23Z

Rain: Added incident.

{{StubNotice}}

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
| Type = Holding Company
| Founded = 1993
| Industry = Video games
| Official Website = https://www.take2games.com/
| Logo = Take-Two_Interactive_logo.png
}}

'''[[wikipedia:Take-Two_Interactive|Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.]]''' is a New York City based video game holding company founded by Ryan Brant on September 30, 1993. The company owns three major publishing labels, [[Rockstar Games]], Zynga and 2K, which operate internal game development studios.
==Relevant incidents==

Incidents not mentioned here can be found on the [[:Category:Take-Two Interactive|Take-Two Interactive]] category page.

2K Games - exclusivity contracts (stub)

Much like with EA, 2K has also purchased exclusivity contracts with sports [https://www.operationsports.com/the-nba-and-2k-have-agreed-to-a-huge-new-license-deal-what-does-it-mean/ leagues], thus also restricting options for consumers. (Maybe mention pga or wwe?)

2k - personal data breaches (stub)

[https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rockstar-owner-take-twos-hacking-woes-continue-as-2k-confirm-attack-on-their-support-service ref a] [https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2k-confirms-user-data-stolen-and-placed-on-sale-after-recent-security-breach ref b]

2k - faulty game launcher (stub)

[https://www.pcgamer.com/2ks-quality-of-life-change-for-bioshock-is-that-linux-users-cant-play-it-anymore/ Ref]

2k - shuttered studios (stub)

-Private Division shutdown - Main project Kerbal Space Program 2 made abandonware in early access, players not refunded

[[wikipedia:2K_(company)|Wikipedia page ref]](note: use as springboard, find dedicated sources for history of buyouts and shuttering)

General - Microtransactions (MTX) and lootboxes (stub)

[https://screenrant.com/nba-2k-take-two-microtransactions-lawsuit-sports/ Ref] | should cover all 3 major companies owned by T2, ref covers 2k. Zynga's pioneering of predatory mtx needs to be covered (see cityville and Farmville games.) Rockstar, shark cards in GTAO? No clue how we could shoehorn this one.

Borderlands Series - Terms of Service changes and alleged [[spyware]] 2025-Apr
https://medium.com/@DarkRa/why-gamers-are-furious-over-take-two-and-2ks-new-terms-of-service-051e7a6a5594
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMKMhqKzHxs&pp=ygUMdGFrZSB0d28gdG9z

Risk of Rain video game series - EULA update, which is the same as the Borderlands Series. (Risk of Rain was published by Gearbox, which all their games were affected by this EULA update.)

Grand Theft Auto also has the same EULA update from Take Two Interactive as the Borderlands Series and Risk of Rain.

On January 29, 2024, 2K removed ''Spec Ops: The Line'' from [[Steam]] without prior notice, due to expiring partnership licenses.<ref>https://www.pcgamer.com/spec-ops-the-lines-sudden-removal-from-steam-baffles-its-director-why-has-this-happened/</ref> Players who already owned the game can still download and play it.

==References==
<references />

=Take-Two Interactive Software Privacy Policy Update=

==Take-Two Interactive — Abuses Related to Data Collection and Game Ownership==

===Data Collection Practices===

*'''Always-on tracking''': Take-Two collects gameplay data continuously, even in single-player modes. This includes hardware identifiers, crash logs, user behavior, and telemetry.
*'''Cross-service aggregation''': Data is collected across all Take-Two titles (e.g. ''GTA'', ''Red Dead'', ''NBA 2K''), websites, customer support interactions, and third-party services. This enables behavioral profiling without user transparency.
*'''Cookies and marketing surveillance''': Persistent cookies and tracking pixels are used for analytics and targeted advertising. User data may be shared with external partners, with no meaningful opt-out mechanism.
*'''Mandatory acceptance''': Users must accept all data collection terms to access the games or services. Refusal may lead to denied access or reduced functionality.

===No Ownership Over Games or Content===

*'''License, not purchase''': All Take-Two products, including physical and digital copies, are legally considered ''revocable licenses'', not owned goods. The company retains all property rights.
*'''Game access can be revoked''': Take-Two’s Terms of Service allow them to ''terminate the license'' at any time, for any reason. Once terminated, users ''lose access'' to the game—even if they paid full price.
*'''No refunds or compensation''': Upon license termination or account ban, Take-Two has no obligation to offer a refund or reinstate access. Games, accounts, and virtual items can disappear permanently.
*'''Virtual goods not guaranteed''': In-game currency, cosmetics, or stats (e.g. ''GTA Shark Cards'', ''NBA VC'') can be removed, altered, or rendered inaccessible at any time. Ownership claims are explicitly denied.

===Sample Terms Extract===
<blockquote>"You agree that your rights to access and use the Services are limited by this Agreement and that your license is revocable, non-exclusive, and non-transferable. Take-Two may suspend, terminate, or modify your access at its sole discretion…"</blockquote>

===Summary===
Take-Two uses its Terms of Service to maintain '''total control''' over user data, gameplay behavior, and access rights. Despite charging full retail prices, the company:

*Treats all products as ''temporary, licensed experiences''.
*Reserves the right to '''revoke access without refund'''.
*Enforces '''extensive data collection''' with no opt-out.
*Allows '''removal of games from users’ libraries''', even post-purchase.

These practices undermine consumer rights by '''removing ownership''', eroding '''user privacy''', and ensuring '''legal asymmetry''' in disputes.

Last Update: June 2025

==Categories of Information Collected==
The type of information we collect depends on how you use the Services. Generally, we collect the following information:

*'''Identifiers / Contact Information''': Name, user name, gamertag, postal and email address, phone number, unique IDs, mobile device ID, platform ID, gaming service ID, advertising ID (IDFA, Android ID) and IP address
*'''Protected Characteristics''': Age and gender
*'''Commercial Information''': Purchase and usage history and preferences, including gameplay information
*'''Billing Information''': Payment information (credit / debit card information) and shipping address
*'''Internet / Electronic Activity''': Web / app browsing and gameplay information related to the Services; information about your online interaction(s) with the Services or our advertising; and details about the games and platforms you use and other information related to installed applications
*'''Device and Usage Data''': Device type, software and hardware details, language settings, browser type and version, operating system, and information about how users use and interact with the Services (e.g., content viewed, pages visited, clicks, scrolls)
*'''Profile Inferences''': Inferences made from your information and web activity to help create a personalized profile so we can identify goods and services that may be of interest
*'''Audio / Visual Information''': Account photos, images, and avatars, audio information via chat features and functionality, and gameplay recordings and video footage (such as when you participate in playtesting)
*'''Sensitive Information''': Precise location information (if you allow the Services to collect your location), account credentials (user name and password), and contents of communications via chat features and functionality.

What makes them different from a virus?
Here's a comparison between the '''data collected by a RAT (Remote Access Trojan), a Trojan''', and what is described in the '''privacy policy''':
{| class="wikitable"
!'''Data Type'''
!'''Keylogger'''
!'''Spyware'''
!'''RAT'''
!'''Info-Stealer'''
!'''Trojan'''
!'''Adware (Tracking)'''
!'''Network Sniffer'''
!'''Rootkit'''
!'''Browser Hijacker'''
!'''Privacy Policy'''
|-
|'''Identifiers / Contact Info'''
|❌
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅ (via packet capture)
|✅ (indirectly)
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Protected Characteristics'''
|❌
|⚠️ (inferred)
|❌
|❌
|❌
|✅ (from browsing)
|❌
|❌
|✅ (e.g., age from browsing)
|✅
|-
|'''Commercial Info (Purchases)'''
|✅ (if typed)
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Billing Info'''
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|❌
|✅
|✅
|❌
|✅
|-
|'''Internet / Electronic Activity'''
|❌
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Device & Usage Data'''
|❌
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|⚠️ (indirect)
|✅
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Profile Inferences'''
|❌
|
{| class="wikitable"
|⚠️ (inference)
|}
|✅
|❌
|✅ (less common)
|✅
|❌
|❌
|✅
|✅
|-
|'''Audio / Visual Info'''
|❌
|✅ (screenshots)
|✅ (cam/mic access)
|❌
|Possibly
|❌
|❌
|✅ (via control)
|❌
|✅
|-
|'''Sensitive Info (Location, Credentials)'''
|✅ (typed)
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅
|Possibly
|✅
|✅
|✅
|✅ (with consent)
|}
Sources:

https://www.take2games.com/legal/en-US/#10-availability

https://www.take2games.com/privacy/en-US/
[[Category:Take-Two Interactive]]

Internet Archive

2025-08-19T08:14:28Z

Rain: Fixed spelling.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Netflix, Inc.
| Type = Private
| Founded = 1996
| Industry = Digital Library
| Official Website = https://archive.org/
| Logo = Internet Archive.png
}}
The '''{{Wplink|Internet Archive}}''' is an American non-profit digital library founded in 1996 to provide free "universal access to all knowledge" and preserve digital history.

{{StubNotice}}

==Consumer-impact summary==
[TBA]

==Incidents==

===Login-only items for legally dubious content (2016-present)===
On January 13, 2016, Hank Bromley (hank_b) of the Internet Archive created a collection of uploads considered legally dubious and only viewable with an account.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download & Streaming : Log In Required : Internet Archive |url=https://archive.org/details/loggedin?tab=about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/rSKdG |archive-date=2025-08-16 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

These uploads cannot be viewed by logged-out users and cannot be downloaded by anyone except the admins, making any of these pieces of content inaccessible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Internet Archive Forums: Log In Required, after logging in. |url=https://archive.org/post/1092552/log-in-required-after-logging-in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/fFVg6 |archive-date=2025-08-16 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

===Archived Website Censorship===
The Internet Archive retroactively removes or hides material covered by robots.txt restrictions.{{Citation needed}}

===Data Breaches (2012-2024)===
On May 19, 2017, The Archive's Development Manager Katie Barrett made a blog post detailing that anyone who had created their account before 2012 had to change their password as the site had been breached with user's public information and lightly encrypted passwords being leaked.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barrett |first=Katie |date=2017-05-19 |title=Re: User account breach {{!}} Internet Archive Blogs |url=https://blog.archive.org/2017/05/19/re-user-account-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250520030556/https://blog.archive.org/2017/05/19/re-user-account-breach/ |archive-date=2025-05-20 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

On October 9, 2024, users on the Internet Archive got pop-ups that the website had been hacked with notifications appearing from the perpetrators at around 9PM CST,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=Dark Web Informer on X |url=https://x.com/DarkWebInformer/status/1844123206413943274 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/ADnLW |archive-date=2024-10-12 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=[[Twitter]]}}</ref> and an hour later Troy Hunt of HaveIBeenPwned confirmed the breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2024-10-09 |title=Troy Hunt on X: "Hi folks, yes, I'm aware of this. I've been in communication with the Internet Archive over the last few days re the data breach, didn't know the site was defaced until people started flagging it with me just now. More soon." / X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1844136762727448644 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/R8bRB |archive-date=2024-08-10 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=[[Twitter]]}}</ref>

Around 31 million users were affected with their user IDs, Emails, encrypted passwords and usernames being leaked.<ref>{{Cite news |last=LeClair |first=Dave |date=2024-10-11 |title=31 million users impacted by Internet Archive data breach — what we know |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/online-security/31-million-users-impacted-by-internet-archive-data-breach-what-we-know |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109231711/https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/online-security/31-million-users-impacted-by-internet-archive-data-breach-what-we-know |archive-date=2024-11-09 |access-date=2025-08-16 |work=Tom's Guide}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

Spore (game)

2025-08-13T08:18:34Z

Rain: Fixed capitalization.

{{StubNotice}}{{ProductCargo|Company=EA|ReleaseYear=2008|Category=Video Games|InProduction=No|Website=https://www.spore.com/|Logo=Spore_Game_Cover.jpg}}
[[wikipedia:Spore_(2008_video_game)|'''Spore''']] is a life simulation real-time strategy god game developed by Maxis and published by [[Electronic Arts]] in 2008 for [[Microsoft]] [[wikipedia:Microsoft_Windows|Windows]] and [[wikipedia:MacOS|Mac OS X]].

==Digital Rights Management==
Spore released on PC with an always-online [[SecuROM|'''SecuROM DRM''']],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Masnick |first=Mike |date=8 May 2008 |title=EA To Use Controversial Internet-Required DRM On New Games |url=https://www.techdirt.com/2008/05/08/ea-to-use-controversial-internet-required-drm-on-new-games/ |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |work=techdirt}}</ref> requiring people to have an internet connection at all times despite Spore being a largely single-player experience.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Heater |first=Brian |date=5 Sep 2009 |title=Spore |url=https://uk.pcmag.com/pc-games/6700/spore |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |work=PCMag}}</ref> While this modified DRM was implemented to prevent piracy, it had the opposite effect as hundreds of thousands flocked to peer to peer torrenting sites like BitTorrent to illegally download the game. Spore is 2008's most pirated game with a recorded 500,000+ downloads on BitTorrent, though this number is estimated to have risen to be in the millions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van der Sar |first=Ernesto |date=13 Sep 2008 |title=Spore: Most Pirated Game Ever Thanks to DRM |url=https://torrentfreak.com/spore-most-pirated-game-ever-thanks-to-drm-080913/ |access-date=12 Aug 2008 |website=torrentfreak.com}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
Three days after EA apologized for Spore's DRM Controversy and increased the game's installation activation restrictions from 3 computers to 5,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schonfeld |first=Erick |date=14 Sep 2008 |title=Spore And The Great DRM Backlash |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/09/14/spore-and-the-great-drm-backlash/ |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |work=TechCrunch}}</ref> a lawsuit would be brought against the company for quietly installing the SecuROM DRM onto the computers of anyone who had installed Spore without their explicit knowledge and without an easy removal process.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milian |first=Mark |date=25 Sep 2008 |title=Spore SecuROM copy protection system draws lawsuit |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/technology-blog/story/2008-09-25/spore-securom-copy-protection-system-draws-lawsuit |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

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

Telecom Egypt

2025-08-05T08:26:32Z

Rain: Fixed formatting.

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1854
|Industry=Telecommunications
|Logo=We-seeklogo.png
|Type=Public (State-owned majority)
|Website=https://www.te.eg/
}}
'''Telecom Egypt (WE)''' is the primary landline and a major internet and mobile service provider in Egypt. While publicly traded on the Egyptian Exchange, the company remains 80% owned by the Egyptian government through the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Operating under the commercial brand "WE" since 2017, the company offers fixed-line, mobile, and internet services, while controlling key national infrastructure.<ref name="investor">{{cite web|title=Telecom Egypt - Investor Relations|url=https://ir.te.eg|access-date=2025-07-24}}</ref>

==Consumer Impact Summary==
Telecom Egypt has been subject to criticism from users and independent watchdogs over a range of issues:
*'''User freedom:''' Customers report SIM card registration problems, service downtimes without notice, and inconsistent access to account termination or switching providers.
*'''User privacy:''' Egypt's telecommunications infrastructure has faced scrutiny for being vulnerable to state surveillance. Being government-owned, Telecom Egypt has not publicly addressed these concerns.
*'''Business model:''' As a former landline monopoly, Telecom Egypt benefits from unfair infrastructural advantages when compared to other ISPs and mobile carriers that must lease infrastructure.
*'''Market control:''' Through WE, Telecom Egypt maintains dominant access to backbone fiber networks, creating potential anti-competitive bottlenecks for rivals.

==Incidents==

===Nationwide outage (''2023'')===
On July 4, 2023, thousands of users across Egypt reported widespread internet outages from WE. Downdetector and local reports confirmed the incident, but Telecom Egypt offered no official explanation until days later, citing "maintenance" after public outcry.<ref name="outage">{{cite web|title=Internet outage affects thousands of WE users in Egypt|url=https://enterprise.press/stories/2023/07/05/we-internet-outage-causes-uproar|access-date=2025-07-24}}</ref>

===SIM swap and porting restrictions===
A growing number of users have reported difficulty transferring their numbers away from WE to other carriers. While mobile portability is legally required in Egypt, some users claim Telecom Egypt staff delay or reject requests without justification.<ref name="sim-port">{{cite web|title=Telecom Egypt accused of hindering mobile number portability|url=https://www.menabytes.com/telecom-egypt-mnp-issues|access-date=2025-07-24}}</ref>

===Privacy concerns===
Digital rights groups like Access Now and EIPR have criticized Egypt's telecom ecosystem for enabling mass surveillance. While not directly confirmed, Telecom Egypt has been named in reports regarding deep packet inspection tools deployed on state internet infrastructure.<ref name="privacy">{{cite web|title=Egyptian ISPs deploying censorship and surveillance tech|url=https://www.accessnow.org/egypt-isp-surveillance/|access-date=2025-07-24}}</ref>

==Products==

*'''WE Internet''' – ADSL and fiber internet packages with bandwidth limits and FUP (fair usage policy) restrictions.
*'''WE Mobile''' – Mobile telecom services under Egypt’s fourth mobile license. Offers voice, data, and 4G.
*'''Fixed-Line Services''' – Legacy landline infrastructure; still the largest provider in Egypt.
*'''Data Hosting & Infrastructure''' – Owns data centers and undersea cable landing points (e.g., SE-ME-WE 5).

==See also==
*[[Vodafone Egypt]]
*[[Etisalat Misr]]
*[[Orange Egypt]]
*[[Internet in Egypt]]
*[[Censorship in Egypt]]

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

Mazda

2025-07-30T08:09:57Z

Rain: Added Wikipedia link and line breaks.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type =Public
| Founded =1920
| Industry =Automotive
| Official Website =https://www.mazda.com/
| Logo =QuestionMark.svg
}}
'''{{Wplink|Mazda|Mazda Motor Corporation}}''' (マツダ株式会社, ''Matsuda Kabushiki gaisha'') is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan.

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User freedom
* User privacy
* Business model
* Market control}}

==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]].

===Mazda DMCA takedown of Home Assistant Integration (October 2023)===
{{Main|Mazda DMCA takedown of Open Source Home Assistant App}}
On October 10th 2023 Mazda issued a DMCA takedown notice to Github claiming the Home Assistant integration that adds connectivity with Mazda vehicles infringes on their intellectual properly rights by stealing code from their official app and wanted it, along with forks of the project, removed from the website. The developer did not want to challenge the claims and took down the repository within a few days to avoid potential legal repercussions. With the repository and all its forks gone, the integration was also removed from the Home Assistant app.

===Mazda remote-start subscription (2019)===
{{Main|Mazda remote-start subscription}}
In 2019, Mazda introduced Mazda Connected Services, a feature enabling remote start and other functionalities through the MyMazda smartphone app. Customers, however, were only offered a three-year complimentary trial, after which continued access required a $10 monthly subscription. As these trials began expiring in 2023, affected users received notifications encouraging subscription enrollment.

==Products==
Mazda produces numerous vehicles. Specific models include:

*''None yet''

==See also==

*[[Allstate and Arity's alleged unauthorized driver data collection through mobile apps]]
*[[Texas Sues Allstate Over Illegally Collecting Driver Data; you might want to uninstall gasbuddy....|Texas Sues Allstate Over Illegally Collecting Driver Data; you might want to uninstall Gasbuddy....]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Cloudflare

2025-07-28T08:21:35Z

Rain: Fixed Wikipedia link.

{{Incomplete}}

{{InfoboxCompany
|Name=Cloudflare, Inc|Type=Public|Founded=2009|Industry=Web Services|Official Website=https://www.cloudflare.com/|Logo=Cloudflare Logo.svg}}
'''{{Wplink|Cloudflare|Cloudflare, Inc.}}''' is an American company that offers a wide range of web services. Due to its widespread adoption, Cloudflare's services play a critical role in the modern web infrastructure.

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User Freedom
* User Privacy
* Business Model
* Market Control}}

==Anti-consumer practices==

===Password scanning of website visitors===
From September to November 2024 Cloudflare was scanning the passwords users entered on websites without obtaining the users' consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Radwan |first=Radwa |last2=Zejnilovic |first2=Sabina |date=17 Mar 2025 |title=Password reuse is rampant: nearly half of observed user logins are compromised |url=https://blog.cloudflare.com/password-reuse-rampant-half-user-logins-compromised/ |url-status=live |access-date=10 Apr 2025 |website=Cloudflare Blog}}</ref>

=== Upselling behaviours ===
{{Main|Cloudflare forces consumers onto higher tiers with threats of shutdowns}}
The company has taken part in concerning upselling behaviours for its hosting services. For example Cloudflare advertises "low-cost domain names with no extra fees", however you can't change nameservers of your domain without paid business plan. <ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Jul 2024 |title=Cloudflare locks you into their NS if you use them as registrar. I can't believe I didn't notice this before. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/1ebzxq4/cloudflare_locks_you_into_their_ns_if_you_use/ |url-status=live |access-date=17 Apr 2025 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

===Forced ID theft and face recognition===
A full day after the sale of domain names, Cloudflare sends the customer a demand to present an ID card and their face in an automated video call with the third party Stripe within 24 hours to be analyzed by a face recognition system, threatening to cancel the sale unless the customer fulfills this requirement that the customer was not informed about before the sale, thereby making the domain names available for squatters to grab. The customer can lose their domain names either by simply not checking their email for 24 hours, which is likely as the sale has already completed and the customer has no reason to check their email again, or by the customer not agreeing to the procedure, which the customer should not, as ID cards are not made for use online. The customer's bank already has a procedure for verifying online purchases by popping up the bank app that has already been verified by visiting the bank in person, showing an ID card to a real person and signing a paper by hand. Stripe could have done like everyone else and delegate the procedure to the bank instead of inventing their own.

Cloudflare claims that any images used for verification will be deleted afterwards. This is an unverifiable claim. If Stripe for any reason does not delete the images, Stripe would surely not allow employees to disclose that this has happened. Deleting the images also makes the process ineffective, as anyone could present a fake ID card good enough to look real in the low quality of a web camera and then have the evidence deleted.

In the case documented, the second response from “Trust & Safety” is an unhelpful repetition of the first response, coming near the end of the 24 hour window, ignoring any details added by the customer in response to the first one. It asks the customer to confirm that the customer prefers not to proceed with the verification so that steps can be taken, but time is already running out, and the account was suspended before “Trust & Safety” could respond. A month later, “Trust & Safety” has still not responded. The notice that the account was suspended states that the suspension does not impact, disable, or remove current services, contradicting the initial demand. In reality, the domain names belonging to the account were cancelled, and available for strangers to register with other registrars.

<gallery>
Image:Cloudflare_email_1.png
Image:Cloudflare_email_2.png
Image:Cloudflare_email_3.png
Image:Cloudflare_email_4.png
</gallery>

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

Category:Anthem

2025-07-25T08:19:55Z

Rain: Created new page and added category.

[[Category:Video games]]

Wemo

2025-07-24T08:10:58Z

Rain: Removed line break.

{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 2011
| Industry = Home automation
| Logo = Wemo.png
| ParentCompany = Belkin
| Type = Subsidiary
| Website = https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/
| Description =
}}
[[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'')===
{{Main|Belkin Wemo Discontinuation of service}}
[[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]]

Imgur

2025-07-23T08:42:29Z

Rain: Added Wikipedia link and incident dates.

{{StubNotice}}

{{CompanyCargo
| Description = Imgur is a media company and image sharing platform - originally founded by Alan Schaaf, it is now bought and owned by MediaLab AI, Inc.
| Founded = 2009
| Industry = Media Hosting
| Logo = Imgur.svg
| ParentCompany = MediaLab AI, Inc.
| Type = Private
| Website = https://imgur.com/
}}
'''{{Wplink|Imgur}}''' is both a media company and image sharing platform turned [[social media platform]] founded by Alan Schaaf in 2009. The platform was initially intended to act as a format for users on [[Reddit]] to share images. It has been owned by [[MediaLab AI, Inc.]] since its acquisition 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Celebrating Imgur's Next Chapter |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/celebrating-imgurs-next-chapter-We6yCM2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/rPEUq |archive-date=2025-07-12 |access-date=2025-07-12 |website=imgur}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
- User Freedom: Users can upload content to the platform, however it cannot be used as a content delivery network (CDN) as per their TOS,<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=Imgur TOS |url=https://imgur.com/tos |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230113071334/https://imgur.com/tos |archive-date=Jan 13, 2023 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=Imgur.com}}</ref> despite its initial purpose being as such.

- User Privacy: Advertisements do come with trackers

- Business Model: Gain revenue via advertisements seen by consumers

- Market Control: Limited competition

==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]].

===Binding arbitration (Nov 28, 2022)===
Shortly after [[MediaLab]] acquired Imgur, they updated their TOS<ref name=":02" /> to include a [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] notice:<blockquote>These Terms contain a binding arbitration provision and class action waiver terms. Unless you opt out or there is a suit in small claims court, you and we agree to submit disputes to a neutral arbitrator and not to sue in court in front of a judge or jury.</blockquote>

===Advertising overload===
<blockquote>Further Reading: [[Advertising overload]]</blockquote>
[[File:Ad_Overload_Imgur.png|thumb|An example of how frequent advertisements are for users on Imgur. Via: https://imgur.com/gallery/too-many-ads-9vzuP7x]]
While initially introduced as a method for keeping the platform up amid increasing server costs since the 2010s,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Imgur staff |date=Apr 4, 2016 |title=About Ads on Imgur |url=https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912072231/https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |archive-date=Sep 12, 2016 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Imgur blog}}</ref> for nearly a decade, users have been complaining about a large amount of advertisements on both the website and especially the mobile app.<ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs</ref><ref name=":1">https://imgur.com/gallery/i-keep-getting-pop-ups-whole-browsing-on-phone-9kBpBWP</ref><ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO</ref>

Their negligence to also moderate advertisements has also led to ads of dubious quality to also be seen on both the website and mobile app.<ref>{{Cite news |last=arandompenguin |date=Jul 3, 2016 |title=Imgur and Ads: A Controversy |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/imgur-ads-controversy-8Mk43 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305205210/https://imgur.com/gallery/imgur-ads-controversy-8Mk43 |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 4, 2025 |work=Imgur}}</ref> Additionally malicious advertisers historically took advantage of unmitigated JavaScript vulnerabilities to cause their advertisements to immediately redirect a user's browser to their website,<ref name=":1" /> with one user reporting being redirected to a phishing website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BaldBandit |first= |date=Jul 2, 2016 |title=This is not acceptable. |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/this-is-not-acceptable-dMytYzc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305202630/https://imgur.com/gallery/this-is-not-acceptable-dMytYzc |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |website=imgur}}</ref>

===Removal of anonymous images (2023)===
In April 2023, Imgur notified users they will start removing explicit pornographic images and ones uploaded anonymously on May 15.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=Hosting site Imgur will remove explicit and anonymous content next month |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/04/hosting-site-imgur-will-remove-explicit-and-anonymous-content-next-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420171637/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/04/hosting-site-imgur-will-remove-explicit-and-anonymous-content-next-month/ |archive-date=Apr 20, 2023 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref> The reason stated was due to these being "old, unused, and inactive content", though artistic nudity was not affected by these changes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moon |first=Mariella |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=Imgur to ban explicit images and delete uploads not tied to an account |url=https://www.engadget.com/imgur-to-ban-explicit-images-and-delete-uploads-not-tied-to-an-account-122537118.html?guccounter=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225023935/https://www.engadget.com/imgur-to-ban-explicit-images-and-delete-uploads-not-tied-to-an-account-122537118.html |archive-date=Dec 25, 2024 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=engadget}}</ref> Some users on [[Reddit]] mentioned this move as "a full [[Tumblr]]", with others calling Imgur "completely dead" after this change is implemented.<ref>{{Cite news |last=u/RamonaLittle |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=Imgur has announced that they will be "removing old, unused, and inactive content that is not tied to a user account from our platform." This means that a *huge* number of images linked from reddit will become dead links. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/TheoryOfReddit/comments/12tinfp/imgur_has_announced_that_they_will_be_removing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427010856/https://old.reddit.com/r/TheoryOfReddit/comments/12tinfp/imgur_has_announced_that_they_will_be_removing/ |archive-date=Apr 27, 2023 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Reddit}}</ref>

===Child data usage (2025)===
On March 3, 2025, it was reported Imgur, along with [[Reddit]] and [[TikTok]] were being investigated by the [[British Information Commissioner’s Office]] (ICO).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Landi |first=Martyn |date=Mar 3, 2025 |title=TikTok and others investigated over use of children’s data |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41585470.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305214845/https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41585470.html |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Irish Examiner |ref=Landi-2025-article-1}}</ref> [[Reddit]] and Imgur allegedly tailored the experience for children 13-17 through estimating or verifying a child’s age.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Landi |first=Martyn |date=Mar 3, 2025 |title=TikTok, Reddit and Imgur investigated over the use of children's data |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tiktok-reddit-imgur-investigated-over-092202216.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305215130/https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=2_cc-session_f472bd30-fd21-4964-be45-27dbac0d4610 |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Machester Evening News via Yahoo |ref=Landi-2025-article-2}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[MediaLab AI, Inc.]]
*[[Reddit]]
*[[Social media platform]]

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

Turkcell Superonline

2025-07-22T08:01:30Z

Rain: Removed category.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type = Subsidiary
| Founded = 2004
| Industry = Telecommunications
| Official Website = https://superonline.net
| Logo = Superonline.png
}}

[https://superonline.net Turkcell Superonline] is a [https://www.turkcell.com.tr/ Turkcell] subsidiary that provides various telecommunications services, primarily fibre internet, over its own infrastructure.<ref>[https://www.superonline.net/wholesale/overview/company-brief Turkcell Superonline Company Brief]</ref> Superonline is offering fibre broadband in 28 cities.<ref>[https://www.edgeir.com/turkcell-boosts-streaming-experience-in-turkey-with-qwilts-edge-cloud-and-cisco-infrastructure-20240222 Turkcell Boosts Streaming Experience with Qwilt's Edge Cloud]</ref> Superonline has been recognized as the "Fastest Growing ICT Company for the last 3 years" according to ICT500/Turkey listings.<ref>[https://cloudscene.com/service-provider/turkcell-superonline Turkcell Superonline - Cloudscene Profile]</ref>

As of Q1 2019, Turkcell has 41.6% of all mobile phone users in Turkey.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkcell Turkcell - Wikipedia]</ref> In October 2020, TVF Bilgi Teknolojileri Iletisim Hizmetleri Yatirim Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. a subsidiary of Turkey Wealth Fund, the wealth fund of the Republic of Turkey, acquired control of 26.2% of Turkcell.<ref>[https://www.tvf.com.tr/en/contact/disclosures/2020/turkiye-wealth-fund-agrees-to-acquire-control-of-turkcell Türkiye Wealth Fund Agrees to Acquire Control of Turkcell]</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==

User freedom faces substantial restrictions as Turkey implements comprehensive internet censorship policies that affect all ISPs including Superonline, with the government's [https://www.btk.gov.tr Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK)] collecting user data hourly including location data, browsing history, and messaging communications.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> According to Freedom House's comprehensive assessment, Turkey's internet status remains classified as "Not Free" with extensive government control over digital communications and widespread social media blocking affecting service providers like Superonline.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey |title=Turkey Overview |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=31 March 2025 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>
[[File:BTK.png|thumb|221x221px|Logo of the BTK]]
User privacy concerns are exacerbated by Superonline's extensive data collection practices, processing personally identifiable information, contact data, subscription details, network traffic, location data, payment information, and usage patterns, operating within Turkey's restrictive legal framework that has been documented by Freedom House as increasingly authoritarian.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-world/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom in the World 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=4 November 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> Regarding market control, Superonline operates as the largest alternative ISP with approximately 15% of the broadband market share in 2021, positioning itself as the leading challenger to dominant player Türk Telekom which holds 65.3% market share.<ref>[https://www.btk.gov.tr/uploads/pages/pazar-verileri/ceyrek-raporu-2021-4-ceyrek-22-03-21-kurum-disi.pdf BTK Market Share Statistics 2021 Q4]</ref>

==Incidents==

===Blue Coat Incident (2013)===
[[File:Blue Coat Systems.png|thumb|322x322px|Logo of Blue Coat Systems]]
There are allegations and discussions that Superonline uses Blue Coat products for censorship. Products manufactured by Blue Coat Systems are known as "dual-use" technologies that can be used to defend corporate networks, as well as by governments to censor the internet and monitor public internet traffic. These devices can see some encrypted traffic, block websites or record website traffic.<ref>[https://citizenlab.ca/2013/01/planet-blue-coat-mapping-global-censorship-and-surveillance-tools/ Planet Blue Coat: Mapping Global Censorship and Surveillance Tools]</ref>

In 2011, a hacktivist group called Telecomix claimed that Syria was using Blue Coat Systems products to censor the internet and these allegations were investigated by the US government. Citizen Lab's research has also provided evidence of Blue Coat devices being used for censorship and surveillance in countries like Turkey and Syria.<ref>[https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/10/blue-coat-acknowledges-syrian-government-use-its-products Blue Coat: Concern for Criminal Penalties, Not Human Rights]</ref>
[[File:Revolution of Bluecoat.png|thumb|519x519px|Picture Showing Symantec's Logo Over the Years]]
Blue Coat is acquired by Symantec. In 2017, Symantec acquired LifeLock, and renamed itself to NortonLifeLock in 2019. On July 20, 2021, Norton LifeLock released Norton Crypto, which would've mined Ethereum in the background in exchange for periodic payments. This drew criticism from users, as this was installed automatically, and many users reported having diffuculty uninstalling the program. In August 2021, NortonLifelock agreed to merge with the company Avast. After completing its merger with Avast in September 2022, the company adopted the name Gen Digital. In 2025 its portfolio includes Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG and CCleaner.

===Fair Usage Terms Incident (2012-2019)===

Turkcell Superonline started to implement the so-called "Fair Usage Terms" in February 2012. Accordingly, in the data plans called "UNLIMITED", users were assigned a data download quota of 50GB in a one-month period. Users who exceed this quota will have their connection speed reduced to 1 Mbps. There was also a 10GB quota for uploading data. Even if a user does not exceed the 50GB data download quota, if they exceed the 10GB data sending quota, their connection speed was reduced to 10% of the data plans bandwidth. This practice of Superonline has received a huge reaction from users. However, Consumer Problems Arbitration Committees found Superonline's practice to be illegal and ruled in favor of the complaining consumers. This practice was terminated by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority on December 31, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikipedia - Turkcell Superonline |url=https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkcell_Superonline#Adil_Kullan%C4%B1m_Ko%C5%9Fullar%C4%B1}}</ref> Superonline also has an ongoing practice of reducing the connection speed to 1 Mbps and charging a re-activation fee for users who are late in paying their invoices.<ref>[https://seekingthesweetnessofiman.wordpress.com/2021/04/02/cancelling-your-turkcell-superonline-subscription/ Cancelling Your Turkcell Superonline Subscription]</ref>

===Injecting ads into websites (2017)===
[[File:TurkcellAds.png|thumb|369x369px|Picture Showing Superonline Ads which is injected into the website by ISP itself]]
Superonline has been criticized for injecting various advertisements into its customers' web connections while they browse the internet, thereby forcing them to watch the advertisements. Requests for clarification to the company went unanswered. This incident was described as the first evidence of traffic monitoring and manipulation through deep packet inspection in Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gözütok|first1=Ahmet|title=Turkcell Superonline kullanıcılarını reklam izlemeye mi zorluyor?|url=https://www.donanimhaber.com/operatorler--kurumsal-haberler/haberleri/Turkcell-Superonline-kullanicilarini-reklam-izlemeye-mi-zorluyor.htm|website=donanimhaber.com|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619141204/https://www.donanimhaber.com/operatorler--kurumsal-haberler/haberleri/Turkcell-Superonline-kullanicilarini-reklam-izlemeye-mi-zorluyor.htm|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Yagiz|title=İddia: Superonline kullanıcılarına izinsiz reklam gösteriyor.|url=https://medium.com/@anonrig/i%CC%87ddia-superonline-kullan%C4%B1c%C4%B1lar%C4%B1na-izinsiz-reklam-g%C3%B6steriyor-ba555360424|website=medium.com|date=25 September 2016|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619141143/https://medium.com/@anonrig/i%CC%87ddia-superonline-kullan%C4%B1c%C4%B1lar%C4%B1na-izinsiz-reklam-g%C3%B6steriyor-ba555360424|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref> This problem has since been fixed and the development of HTTPS technology has made it very difficult for this to happen again.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xZPAw1uCdLqDz8F_Vz57DRvCNJTcCnPgtG7P-yeloUc/edit?usp=sharing Web Hacking Incident Database]</ref>

===Applying Censorship during Earthquake Incident (2023)===

On February 6, 2023, the company was criticized for internet outages at critical moments during the massive earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. Immediately after the earthquake disaster, the collapse of the internet infrastructure, which was critical for search and rescue operations and coordination, left both citizens and government agencies in a difficult situation. In the aftermath, Superonline was severely criticized for its lack of infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness.

The incident occurred within the context of Turkey's three-month state of emergency enacted in 11 provinces following the February 2023 earthquakes, which allowed the government to limit or suspend basic freedoms including telecommunications access.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> There has also been controversy over the company's compliance with social media bans in Turkey during the earthquake, implemented under emergency powers that allowed authorities to take measures to prevent the circulation of information deemed false.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> The biggest criticism has been the restriction of communication opportunities for people trapped under the remains of the earthquake and putting lives at risk. Internet freedom advocates have criticized Superonline's quick implementation of these bans, especially when access restrictions are imposed on social media platforms which helped find the trapped people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2024 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2024 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=2024 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===PPPoE/WAN Password Restrictions===
[[File:HG255S Turkcell.png|thumb|Picture of HG255S modem provided by Turkcell Superonline]]
Turkcell Superonline does not disclose the PPPoE/WAN username and password of its users. This restricts the freedom of users to use their own modems instead of the modems rented to them by Superonline. Although some users try to obtain this password through various methods, it is reported to be very difficult or impossible to obtain, especially for some modem models (e.g. HG255s). It is stated by users that even if the PPPoE username and password are known, the internet service provider (ISP) must register the MAC address of the new modem in its system, otherwise the modem cannot be used. This can be bypassed by cloning rented modems MAC addresses.<ref>[https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wan/isp-configurations OpenWrt Wiki - ISP Configurations]</ref>

===Disabling Root Accounts and Firmware Restrictions===
[[File:RouterUINoOptions.png|thumb|Superonline Removes the Backup and Update Options from the Modem Interface]]
Turkcell Superonline's decision to restrict or completely disable access to the root account on the modems it rents to its users has sparked controversy among users. Superonline does not allow the use of third party modems. The firmware of the modems provided by Superonline is often customized and restricted, preventing users from gaining root access via web interface, telnet or ssh. One of the main reasons for this is that modem firmware updates and management are centralized by Superonline. It is argued that this centralized management may become more difficult if users have root access. While some users have stated that they need root access to configure their modem's settings in more detail, to install alternative firmware (like OpenWRT or Asus Merlin Firmware), or to enable/disable certain features, they have encountered this restriction by Superonline. In particular, some modem models are reported to disable features such as backups and manual updates via files in order to make it more difficult to obtain the root password. Some modem models have also been reported to disable the ability to change the main DNS server.<ref>[https://wf.lavatech.top/ave/router-misadventures Router Misadventures: Dumping Superonline's ISP Fiber Router]</ref>

===Censorship Using Deep Packet Inspection===
[[File:Superonline Mascot.png|thumb|Superonline's Mascot Showing a Modem With Turkcell Logo on it]]
Superonline is one of the most active utilizers of deep packet inspection (DPI) technology among internet service providers in Turkey, operating within a regulatory environment that Freedom House describes as systematically restricting online freedoms.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> With this technology, Superonline applies content-based censorship by analyzing users' internet traffic in detail, implementing policies that align with Turkey's broader approach to internet control documented by Freedom House as part of the country's "Not Free" internet status.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey |title=Turkey Overview |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=31 March 2025 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>

Unlike traditional packet inspection, DPI technology also scans the content of data packets and provides the ability to detect and block VPN protocols. According to user reports, Superonline has one of the most strictly censored internet service in Turkey, and in the past has taken measures strict enough to completely block VPN protocols such as WireGuard. It also blocks or throttles popular VPN services and their websites such as Cloudflare Warp (connection itself), ProtonVPN (throttles the website), Surfshark (throttles the website, up-to-date info required for connection), Psiphon (connection itself), NordVPN (throttles the website, up-to-date info required for connection) and constantly tightens its DPI-based scanning systems.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
__FORCETOC__
__INDEX__
__NEWSECTIONLINK__

BMW

2025-07-21T08:52:29Z

Rain: Fixed formatting.

{{StubNotice}}

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
| Type = Public
| Founded = 27 October 1913
| Industry = Automobiles
| Official Website = https://www.bmw.com
| Logo = BMW.svg.png
}}

'''[[Wikipedia:BMW|Bayerische Motoren Werke AG]]''' (usually abbreviated '''BMW''', sometimes anglicized as '''Bavarian Motor Works''') is a German car company.

==Consumer impact summary==
BMW has come under fire for requiring subscription charges to access hardware features already built into its vehicles. This requires consumers to pay extra to enable features they possess in a technical capacity.

==Incidents==
===BMW's high beam assistant (2019)===
{{Main|BMW's high beam assistant(HBA)}}
Since 2019, BMW includes the hardware for its auto-dimming headlights in its vehicles, but requires customers to pay a subscription fee, or an exorbitant one-time fee, to activate the function.

===BMW's heated seat subscription (2022)===
{{Main|BMW's heated seat subscription}}
Since 2022, BMW includes the hardware for its heated seats in its vehicles, but requires customer to pay a subscription fee to activate the function. Heated steering wheels, dash cams, and remote start functions are also a subscription.

===BMW feature lockout scandal (2023)===
{{Main|BMW feature lockout scandal}}
Since 2023, BMW includes the hardware for its M adaptive suspension in many vehicles, while requiring customers to pay extra to activate the software that enables the feature.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:BMW]]

Electronic Arts

2025-07-17T08:13:15Z

Rain: Fixed templates.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Electronic Arts
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Video Games
| Official Website = https://ea.com/
| Logo = Electronic Arts.png
}}[[wikipedia:Electronic_Arts|'''Electronic Arts''']] ('''EA''') is a former video-game developer and now publisher founded in 1982 by Trip Hawkins. It is well known for its simulator titles under the ''Sim'' series (''The Sims,'' ''SimCity,'' ''MySims,'' etc.), titles published under its EA Sports division (''Madden,'' ''FIFA,'' etc.), and its ''Battlefield'' series.

EA has received criticism for its reliance on microtransactions, its focus on [[downloadable content]] (DLC), and other business practices that both consumers and the media perceive as excessively unfavorable predatory and anti-consumer.

==Consumer impact summary==

* User freedom: limited; removed capability to play games on 32-bit systems via Origin, extensive abuse of DRM ([[SecuROM]], [[Denuvo]]), monopolization of game genres, orphaned content/game licenses, and more.
* User privacy: questionable; uses kernel-level anti-cheat in many games,<ref>{{Cite web |last=SEgopher |date=Sep 15, 2022 |title=The insanity of EA's anti-cheat system by a Kernel Dev |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/xf1cwr/the_insanity_of_eas_anticheat_system_by_a_kernel/ |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> DRM abuse, considerations for advertisements in games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=May 10, 2024 |title=EA is prototyping in-game ads even as we speak |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/10/24153809/ea-in-game-ads-redux |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>
* Business model: Game sales, [[microtransactions]], DLC, [[Non-fungible tokens|NFTs]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=Nov 3, 2021 |title=EA calls NFT and blockchain games 'the future of our industry' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-calls-nft-and-blockchain-games-the-future-of-our-industry/ |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref>
* Market competition: Extensive; [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]]/[[Xbox]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Valve]]

Though EA did something right by [[EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles|open-sourcing older Command & Conquer games]] in 2025, the company continues to have a history of putting profits ahead of player experience continues to dismantle consumer trust.

==Incidents==

===Origin shutdown===
On April 17, 2025, EA shut down the Origin client,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Will |title=EA is ditching Origin, which means you could lose access to your games |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-sims-4/ea-origin-shut-down |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=PCGamesN}}</ref> which was the final option for 32-bit hardware to run EA-published titles. While most consumers have already switched to using 64-bit hardware, the [[end-of-life]] of 32-bit support means that vintage enthusiasts, tech historians, and users who previously did not need to upgrade their 32-bit hardware are unable to either install or run the libraries that they paid for.

===Lootboxes===
{{Hatnote|See also: [[EA lootbox controversies]], [[Microtransactions]]}}

Multiple games published by EA in recent years have garnered significant controversy over what is essentially legal gambling. This is most commonly seen in EA sports titles and their "''Ultimate Team''" modes, which has players using in-game currency that can be purchased with real-world money to buy card packs, in order to potentially get high-value player cards. This monetization method, considered by many to be "predatory", most notably introduced controversy within the modern release of ''Star Wars Battlefront 2'', wherein the most powerful character in-game, Darth Vader, could only be obtained through this lootbox system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dingman |first=Hayden |date=10 Oct 2017 |title=How loot boxes are turning full-priced PC games into pay-to-win games of chance |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/407482/loot-boxes-ruining-gaming.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=PCWorld}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Purchese |first=Robert |date=10 Oct 2017 |title=Star Wars Battlefront 2 has a loot crate problem |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/star-wars-battlefront-2-has-a-loot-crate-problem |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Robert Purchese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=13 Oct 2017 |title=Thinking outside the loot box |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/thinking-outside-the-loot-box |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Games Industry}}</ref> It was not until several weeks after the backlash that EA would tone down these lootboxes by changing loot pools.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Machkovech |first=Sam |date=1 Nov 2017 |title=Star Wars: Battlefront II changes its loot box plans… but is it enough? |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/star-wars-battlefront-ii-changes-its-loot-box-plans-but-is-it-enough/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=James |date=13 Oct 2017 |title=After beta controversy, DICE has better clarified the 'loot crate' and progression systems in Star Wars Battlefront 2 |url=https://www.vg247.com/after-beta-controversy-dice-has-better-clarified-the-loot-crate-system-in-the-final-version-of-star-wars-battlefront-2 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=VG247}}</ref> Lootboxes remained within the title until ''[[Disney]]'' directly instructed EA to stop because of gambling concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Needleman |first=Sarah E. |last2=Fritz |first2=Ben |date=17 Nov 2017 |title=Electronic Arts Pulls Microtransactions From ‘Star Wars Battlefront II’ After Fan Backlash |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/electronic-arts-pulls-microtransactions-from-star-wars-battlefront-ii-after-fan-backlash-1510936871 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> 

===DRM===
EA holds the record for most pirated game with the title ''[[Spore]],'' which was directly because of EA's use of ''[[SecuROM]]'', and was one of the earlier known titles to introduce always-online [[digital rights management]] (DRM).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Modern Vintage Gamer |date=25 Nov 2019 |title=SecuROM - The PC CD-ROM DRM that broke games {{!}} MVG |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8ltfyqD3lM |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Some releases of ''Mass Effect'' also used ''[[SecuROM]]'', and would instill excessive limits, such as a three-install limit that both could not be refunded by uninstalling and could only be increased through customer-service calls, and a recurring-validation system that required that the game have its activation code run every 10 days.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=8 May 2008 |title=Mass Effect, Spore To Use Recurring Validation |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/Mass-Effect-Spore-To-Use-Recurring-Validation/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=The Escapist}}</ref> While its use of SecuROM died off in the mid-2010s, the company merely switched to DRM that has been far worse for consumers, [[Denuvo]]. One significant EA title that has used this DRM is ''Star Wars: Jedi Survivor.'' 

===''Spore''===
{{Hatnote|Further reading: ''[[Spore (game)]]''}}

''Spore'' retains a historical 1.7+ million pirated copies,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Molina |first=Andres |date=21 Jun 2024 |title=How many times was Spore pirated? |url=https://www.ncesc.com/gaming-pedia/how-many-times-was-spore-pirated/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=ncesc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Van der Sar |first=Ernesto |date=13 Sep 2008 |title=Spore: Most Pirated Game Ever Thanks to DRM |url=https://torrentfreak.com/spore-most-pirated-game-ever-thanks-to-drm-080913/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=TorrentFreak}}</ref> directly related to EA's use of [[SecuROM]].<ref name=":0" /> In more recent years, ''Spore'''s server access was locked down to EA accounts,<ref name=":1">[https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=582350678 How to Connect to Spore Servers (Steam/GOG/EA App)]</ref> mostly thanks to a free [[Steam]] key exploit. This has led to various problems for legitimate consumers who merely wanted to play the iconic game and its sibling ''Darkspore,'' since according to guides,<ref name=":1" /> users could only have a singular install of the game on any device, were required to have an EA account using an alphanumeric password, and needed a CD key to redeem on the user's EA account.<ref>[https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002333209-Spore-How-to-get-access-to-online-features?product=gog Spore - How to get access to online features]</ref> This has brought concern among the community, leading to community-developed tools to circumvent these server problems.<ref>[https://sporecommunity.com/ Spore Community Hub]</ref>

===License exclusivity===
With various [[Intellectual property|intellectual properties]], from ''Star Wars''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dolen |first=Rob |date=15 Jan 2021 |title=EA No Longer Has Exclusive Rights to Star Wars, But Is It Too Late? |url=https://gamerant.com/ea-no-longer-star-wars-exclusive-publisher-lucasfilm-games-ubisoft-bethesda/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Rant}}</ref> to the NFL, EA has forced its way into holding what is essentially an artificial monopoly over large genres and major IP of the industry. Its exclusive licenses with various football organizations, such as the AFL and NFL, has resulted in an antitrust lawsuit against it.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110510050257/http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0611_nfl_ea_wm.pdf</ref> This lawsuit ended in a $600K settlement, but did not resolve the primary problems caused by EA's exclusive deals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuchera |first=Ben |date=13 Jun 2008 |title=Lawsuit flags EA for illegal procedure on football monopoly |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/06/lawsuit-flags-ea-for-illegal-procedure-on-football-monopoly/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kravets |first=David |date=28 Jun 2016 |title=EA punts, gives $600k to former football star in Madden NFL rights flap |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/ea-punts-gives-600k-to-former-football-star-in-madden-nfl-rights-flap/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> NCAA players brought additional lawsuits against EA, alleging that it was not authorized to use their likeness in its games. These suits were also settled out of court.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eder |first=Steve |date=26 Sep 2016 |title=E.A. Sports Settles Lawsuit With College Athletes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/sports/ncaafootball/ea-sports-wont-make-college-video-game-in-2014.html?_r=0 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/dennis-dodd/23859858/ea-sports-settles-likeness-suits-thousands-of-current-former-players-eligible-for-money</ref>

===Buyouts and closures===
In order for EA to hold its high position, it has been known to buy out its competition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stebbins |first=Samuel |last2=Comen |first2=Evan |last3=Sauter |first3=Michael B. |last4=Stockdale |first4=Charles |date=1 Feb 2018 |title=Bad reputation: America’s Top 20 most-hated companies |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2018/02/01/bad-reputation-americas-top-20-most-hated-companies/1058718001/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230013406/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2018/02/01/bad-reputation-americas-top-20-most-hated-companies/1058718001/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2019 |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Usa Today}}</ref> Often, this has led to the detriment of the companies they buy out,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hsu |first=Tiffany |date=4 Apr 2012 |title=Electronic Arts: ‘Worst company in America’? Consumerist says yes |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-apr-04-la-fi-mo-electronic-arts-worst-company-consumerist-20120404-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> and by extension, the media which they release. A historical example, Westwood Studios, which pioneered the RTS genre with the ''Command & Conquer'' series, was shut down about five years after its purchase by EA, and its notable franchise was left abandoned years later, with entries either delisted or broken after GameSpy-based DRM were broken circa 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maiberg |first=Emanuel |date=8 Apr 2014 |title=Reddit compiles terrifying list of games affected by GameSpy shutdown |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/reddit-compiles-terrifying-list-of-games-affected-by-gamespy-shutdown/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=PCGamer}}</ref> While its habit of buying and closing studios has thinned since 2008, it similarly closed Visceral Games, the developer of ''Dead Space,'' in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fingas |first=Jon |date=18 Oct 2017 |title=EA shuts down the studio behind 'Dead Space' |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017-10-17-ea-shuts-down-visceral-games.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=endgadget}}</ref>

===Switching to in-house kernel-level anti-cheat after purchase===
{{Main|EA moves to in-house kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase}}

EA has implemented a change to the anti-cheat of several games after release including: EA SPORTS WRC, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, Battlefield 2042, Battlefield V, and Battlefield 1. This change breaks the ability to play the game, even after purchase, on older [[Windows]] versions and alternative operating systems to Windows including Linux and SteamOS. EA refuses to give you a refund for these games.

==Positive incidents==

===Release of Command & Conquer source code (2025)===
{{Main|EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles}}
In February 2025, EA worked with C&C community members to open source four Command & Conquer games under the GPL license, in a move widely celebrated by the gaming community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Feb 2025 |title=EA Open Sources Command and Conquer: Red Alert, along with other games |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43197131 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=HackerNews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudra |first=Sourav |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Unbelievable! EA Open Sources 4 Command & Conquer Games |url=https://news.itsfoss.com/ea-open-source-cc-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=It's FOSS News}}</ref> Despite this good measure, the only content available to consumers via these repositories is exclusively the code, and the only way to compile the source code continues to require ownership of a copy of Command & Conquer, meaning once users cannot purchase any Command & Conquer game, this source code repository is effectively useless.

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

Internet Archive

2025-07-16T08:29:05Z

Rain: Added introduction.

Apple App Store

2025-07-14T08:39:32Z

Rain: Removed line breaks.

[[File:App Store (iOS).svg|thumb|150px]]

'''[[Apple]]''' uses a range of technical measures to protect their App Store ecosystem and reduce consumer choice. These measures obscure the company's business intentions, creating roadblocks for app developers and users, while typically citing security reasons for their existence. This actively hurts the ability for lawmakers to advocate for the rights of consumers and businesses in Apple's ecosystem, and prevents apps from being as useful as their customers expect.

A never-ending demand for a cut of every sale of a digital product, ranging from game currency, to supporting content creators,<ref name="patreon">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Patreon: adding Apple’s 30 percent tax is the price of staying in the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business,<ref name="facebook">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Katie |last2=Nellis |first2=Stephen |date=28 Aug 2020 |title=Exclusive: Facebook says Apple rejected its attempt to tell users about App Store fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-apple-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-says-apple-rejected-its-attempt-to-tell-users-about-app-store-fees-idUSKBN25O042/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> hurts the ability for app developers to innovate. These developers, working hard and pulling countless hours to build a quality app, always need to take Apple's (and [[Google]]'s) demands into account - specifically, a fee of between 15% and 30% of all revenue collected via the app. This is revenue that can be reinvested into the app, but instead must be earmarked for the platforms they are '''required''' to use to reach their customers.

Because this is a clear problem, several governments, including South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=South Korea approves rules on app store law targeting Apple, Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Japan forces Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payments |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Register]]}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Competition and Markets Authority |date=4 Mar 2021 |title=Investigation into Apple AppStore |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[gov.uk]]}}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2021 |title=Dominance of Apple and Google's app stores impacting competition and consumers |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/dominance-of-apple-and-googles-app-stores-impacting-competition-and-consumers |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ACCC]]}}</ref> as well as the US and a handful of states,<ref>[[wikipedia:Open App Markets Act|Open App Markets Act]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=S.5364 - App Store Accountability Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364/text/is |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[congress.gov]]}}</ref><ref name="doj">{{Cite web |last=Balsamo |first=Mike |last2=Liedtke |first2=Mike |last3=Whitehurst |first3=Lindsay |last4=Bajak |first4=Frank |date=21 Mar 2024 |title=Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[APNews]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Feb 2021 |title=It’s time to free ourselves from ‘Big Tech’ monopoly |url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/02/19/its-time-to-free-ourselves-from-big-tech-monopoly/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Arizona Capitol Times]]}}</ref> have opened investigations into anti-competitive practices, or considered or already passed legislation to force "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers.

This being a major threat to Apple's revenue stream (interestingly, one they claim to be unsure is profitable<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=Schiller doesn’t know whether the App Store is profitable; there are no minutes of meetings |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9to5Mac]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9t05Mac]]}}</ref>), they have responded with practices such as geoblocking certain operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Apple Wiki]]}}</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using careful wording with commonly-understood terms to describe unreasonably difficult-to-use systems.

==Background info==
Important terms you'll run into in this article:

*'''[[wikipedia:Sandbox (computer security)|Sandbox]]''': Reduces exposure of the user's device/data to security risks, by reducing what an app is allowed to do.
*'''[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Entitlements Entitlements]''': Apple's method of "poking holes" in the sandbox, to give the app more permissions. Some are available to developers, while many are only available to Apple.
*'''[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]''': The European Union's fairly sweeping recent regulations against forcing companies they classify as "gatekeepers" to play nice, giving smaller businesses access to software/hardware features they've historically reserved for their own use.

==In-app purchases==
Apple has been collecting users' credit card numbers since launching the iTunes Store in 2004. The launch of the App Store in 2008, followed by the introduction of in-app purchases (IAPs) in 2009, gave iPhone app developers the opportunity to sell app features to users. The IAP system is provided as a developer framework named [https://developer.apple.com/storekit/ StoreKit]. Apps and their in-app purchases are managed through a dashboard named [https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/ App Store Connect]. App sales have eclipsed iTunes Store sales, and are now a primary focus of Apple's Media Services division.

Apple requires any purchase of a digital good or service in an app to use their in-app purchase system. This may seem reasonable because the customer may inevitably call Apple support, demanding a refund for an app they have issues with. Apple would rather give that refund and leave the customer with a positive support experience, than to provide a messy process involving contacting a third-party, whose customer service is likely nowhere near the same experience.

App Store purchase fees are between 15% and 30%. In September 2016, Apple expanded subscriptions to be available to any type of app, also introducing a 15% discount incentive when the user has already subscribed for a year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goode |first=Lauren |date=2 Sep 2016 |title=Apple’s new subscription offerings are now available to App Store developers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12774758/apple-developers-app-store-new-subscription-rules |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> In November 2020, Apple introduced a reduced 15% fee for app developers with revenue below $1 million per year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centers |first=Josh |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Apple Drops App Store Commission to 15% for Small Developers |url=https://tidbits.com/2020/11/18/apple-drops-app-store-commission-to-15-for-small-developers/ |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[TidBITS]]}}</ref> For developers above this threshold, and for cases excluded from this program such as for games, the fee is 30%. In the 2008 announcement of the App Store, Apple considered this a reasonable, industry-standard fee. However, the way we use apps has significantly evolved since 2009 - the world has shifted to heavily depend upon on mobile apps, which have also evolved into more complex and sustainable business models than a simple one-time purchase.

[[wikipedia:Stripe, Inc.|Stripe]], a popular platform used for payments on the web, uses a base fee of 2.9% plus a fixed $0.30 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pricing |url=https://stripe.com/it/pricing |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Stripe]]}}</ref> With add-on services, before considering volume discounts, a Stripe transaction may rather have a cost of 6.4% + $1.10.<ref>Calculated from base fee (2.9% + $0.30) + international card (1.5%) + adaptive pricing (2%) + international payment methods ($0.80), as of January 2025</ref> Stripe has been used by businesses ranging from small online stores, to [[OpenAI]] for ChatGPT Plus. Competing payments services have similar or identical fees to Stripe. '''The in-app purchase system does not provide sufficient value to justify considerably higher fees than alternative payment platforms.'''

The App Store system poorly handles secondary marketplaces of digital services that exist within the primary App Store marketplace, such as Patreon. Apple, however, still requires companies in the business of selling digital services to use this inadequate system. This requires the app to account for Apple's fee, which is significant enough to often warrant increasing prices, and to follow rules even if they do not make sense for the nature of service they are providing. Apple has frequently been found in disputes with such apps. This injects extra complication at no benefit to the marketplace, the creator, or the customer - only to Apple, who has little to no involvement after delivering the initial app download to the user's phone. The significant fee also often drives app developers to consider building their app around an advertising model instead, creating privacy concerns.

Additionally, the 15% small businesses fee discount is judged based on the app's overall turnover, and is not based on individual creators in the app's marketplace. An app that turns over $1 million per year by providing services to creators that individually make less than $1 million per year does not have the opportunity to use the discount.

Apple, often together with Google, use lobbying efforts in the United States and other countries in an attempt to minimize the issues. "ACT | The App Association", pitched as an association of independent small business app developers, is at least 50% funded by Apple, and does not list its claimed 2,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2021 |title=Not a class ACT: the so-called App Association is simply an Apple Association and does NOT represent app developers' interests in fair distribution terms |url=http://www.fosspatents.com/2021/10/not-class-act-so-called-app-association.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Sep 2022 |title=Vast majority of ACT {{!}} The App Association's funding comes from Apple, former employees tell Bloomberg: astroturfing against app developers' interests |url=http://www.fosspatents.com/2022/09/vast-majority-of-act-app-associations.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref> In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice along with 16 state attorneys-general filed a lawsuit against Apple, including an accusation that the company "extracts more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others".<ref name="doj" /> The future of this lawsuit is unclear as of April 2025.

Despite criticism of Apple forcing their fee into transactions with small businesses and creators on [[#Patreon|Patreon]], [[#Facebook online events|Facebook]], and similar platforms, on 23 January 2025, Apple announced the Advanced Commerce API. It "support[s] developers' evolving business models - such as exceptionally large content catalogs, creator experiences, and subscriptions with optional add-ons".<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Jan 2025 |title=Introducing the Advanced Commerce API |url=https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxy958ya |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref> While positioned as a way for such businesses to save development time and avoid ongoing costs by building on top of Apple's mature payments platform, its use is in fact necessary for these businesses to work within the App Store guidelines, as seen in cases outlined below. The feature requires submitting a description of the app's business model to Apple for approval. This continues a trend of requiring Apple's consent to conduct business in a place users have been trained to expect it.

Given Apple's strong incentives, and a ticking clock as legal pressure builds, it is not hard to find stories from app developers regarding poor experiences with Apple's app review process.

:''This list is extremely incomplete. Please add examples if you know of any.''

===Epic Games===
{{hatnote|See also: [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Apple|Epic Games v. Apple]] and [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Google|Epic Games v. Google]]}}

[[Epic Games, Inc.]] is a video game developer and publisher, known for games such as [[Fortnite]] and [[Unreal Tournament]], the [[Unreal Engine]], and the [[Epic Games Store]].

In 2018, Epic Games launched Fortnite on the iOS and Android platforms. The company made the unusual decision to not release the app on the [[Google Play Store]] - rather, it was made available as a standalone [[wikipedia:apk (file format)|Android app package]] file (.apk), which must be installed by following a series of manual steps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=3 Aug 2018 |title=Fortnite for Android will ditch Google Play Store for Epic’s website |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/3/17645982/epic-games-fortnite-android-version-bypass-google-play-store |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The app was also released on the [[Samsung]] [[Samsung Galaxy Store|Galaxy Store]]. Google offered a $147 million deal for Epic Games to release Fortnite on the Play Store, which the company declined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=9 Nov 2023 |title=Google offered Epic $147 million to launch Fortnite on the Play Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23953262/google-epic-fortnite-play-store-investment-antitrust-trial |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 22 April 2020, Fortnite was finally released on the Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=22 April 2020 |title=Fortnite available on the Google Play Store for the first time |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/21/21229930/fortnite-available-on-google-play-android-mobile-devices |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Polygon]]}}</ref> In a statement, the company explained:

<blockquote>
After 18 months of operating Fortnite on Android outside of the Google Play Store, we've come to a basic realization: Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage, through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer and carrier agreements and dealings, Google public relations characterizing third party software sources as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to outright block software obtained outside the Google Play store.
</blockquote>

On 13 August 2020, Epic Games launched a campaign against both Apple and Google's app store business practices. The company released app updates on both platforms, introducing a method for purchasing V-Bucks in-game currency at a 20% discount by directly transacting with Epic Games, against the developer rules of both platforms. The platforms responded by removing the game from their storefronts. Epic Games then filed civil antitrust lawsuits against both companies in the Northern District of California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Epic Games is suing Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/21367963/epic-fortnite-legal-complaint-apple-ios-app-store-removal-injunctive-relief |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The campaign, branded "Free Fortnite", was later extended with lawsuits and complaints in Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Epic Games extends its fight against Apple to Australia |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref>, the European Union,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Feb 2021 |title=Epic Game Files EU Antitrust Complaint Against Apple |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-eu-antitrust-complaint-against-apple |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref> and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Epic Games files complaint to support CMA Apple investigation |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-complaint-to-support-cma-apple-investigation |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref>

On 11 September 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers decided on the case. While the lawsuit against Apple failed on 9 of 10 counts, Rogers ruled against Apple's use of "anti-steering" - their strategies of preventing the user from being "steered" to a third-party storefront for payment processing, placing a permanent injunction on this behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandon |first=Russell |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22662320/epic-apple-ruling-injunction-judge-court-app-store |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Despite the case mostly failing, the discovery process provided significant insight into Apple's decisions around App Store policies, including decisions made in major app review disputes, and in one case, executive Phil Schiller arguing to reduce the fee from 30%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gurman |first=Mark |date=4 May 2021 |title=Apple’s Schiller Floated Cutting App Store Fees a Decade Ago |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/apple-s-schiller-floated-cutting-app-store-fees-a-decade-ago |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

Epic Games and Apple both appealed the decision. 35 state attorneys-general, the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), [[Microsoft]], among others filed amicus briefs in support of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=29 Jan 2022 |title=Epic largely lost to Apple, but 35 states are now backing its fight in a higher court |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/28/22907106/epic-games-v-apple-amicus-briefs-states-eff-microsoft-appeal |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 11 December 2023, the jury in the case against Google decided on all 11 counts in favor of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Greg |last2=Scarcella |first2=Mike |date=13 Dec 2023 |title=Epic Games wins antitrust case against Google over Play app store |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-epic-games-face-off-app-antitrust-trial-nears-end-2023-12-11/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

On 1 May 2025, Rogers found that Apple willfully chose to not comply with the 2021 injunction, commenting "that it thought this court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=1 May 2025 |title=A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/659246/apple-epic-app-store-judge-ruling-control |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

===Facebook online events===
In August 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook introduced the ability for small businesses to accept an entrance fee for events. Previously, Facebook would only act as a way to RSVP for the event - the organizer must use a third-party event ticketing system to collect fees. The company pledged to not collect any fee on event sales "until 2023".<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Paid Online Events for Small Business Recovery |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/paid-online-events/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Meta]]}}</ref>

Apple disagreed, requiring the feature to use the in-app purchases system. This introduced Apple's 30% fee. As this increases the price the user pays, with no benefit to the small business the user intended to support, the fee was displayed as a line item in checkout. Apple did not accept this disclosure of the fee, referring to it as "irrelevant".<ref name="facebook" /> Facebook was allowed to compromise on displaying the fee, but ''without'' indicating that it is specifically an App Store fee.

===HEY===
HEY.com is a paid webmail provider launched in June 2020 by long-time software company [[wikipedia:37signals|37signals]], specializing in inbox organization tools.

After successfully launching the initial version of the app on the App Store, the company announced that an update was rejected due to a complaint about the business model. The app did not intend to support in-app purchases - instead, the user is expected to already have an account with the service. Apple did not like this arrangement, and demanded the company build an in-app subscription option. The company argued that they are being held to a different set of rules than apps such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]], whose app does not provide any way to purchase a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=17 Jun 2020 |title=Hey.com exec says Apple is acting like ‘gangsters,’ rejecting App Store updates and demanding cut of sales |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/16/21293419/hey-apple-rejection-ios-app-store-dhh-gangsters-antitrust |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> After a suggestion from Apple executive Phil Schiller in the media, HEY introduced a 14 day free trial mode, which was approved.<ref>https://www.hey.com/apple/path/</ref><ref>https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/</ref>

===Patreon===
In August 2024, [[Patreon]] announced a change in arrangement with Apple for its App Store app. From November 2024, subscriptions started from the iOS app would be required to use the in-app purchase system, bypassing Patreon's own long-standing payments practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Apple’s requirements are about to hit creators and fans on Patreon. Here’s what you need to know. |url=https://news.patreon.com/articles/understanding-apple-requirements-for-patreon |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Patreon]]}}</ref><ref name="patreon" /> This change does not affect the Android app.

By forcing Patreon out of the payments pipeline, certain payment models are no longer available to users of Patreon's iOS app. Creators who rely on the "per-creation" payment model, as opposed to the standard "per-month", can no longer be subscribed to from the app. The app is also not able to support the "first-of-the-month" model, where payments from all subscribers are collected on the first day of the month, rather than every 30 days since each member's day of subscription. The price must also be rounded to a price tier supported by Apple.

Patreon provides creators with the choice to increase their prices by 30% in the iOS app, or to keep the same prices but forfeit 30% to Apple. Creators frequently remind potential supporters to not use the Patreon iOS app, adding extra inconvenience to those wanting to support the work of small creators.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - fee on top.png|"Maintain earnings and cover Apple's fee by increasing prices in iOS app" (Recommended)
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - absorb fee.png|"Keep prices in the iOS app the same and cover Apple's fee yourself"
</gallery>

A similar case occurred with the app Fanhouse in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@jasminericegirl |date=9 Jun 2021 |title=#fuckapple, a thread I cofounded @fanhouseapp 8 months ago to empower creators to monetize their content. We pay creators 90% of earnings. Now, Apple is threatening to remove Fanhouse from the app store unless we give them 30% of creator earnings. This is theft and exploitation. |url=https://x.com/jasminericegirl/status/1402691047940100100 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

===Twitter===
In August 2021, [[Twitter]] introduced a feature named Super Follows (now Subscriptions), in which a user can pay a subscription fee to access more of a creator's content. For each user who enables Subscriptions, Twitter must submit a new in-app purchase SKU to the App Store, which will become available with the next update to the app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wongmjane |date=2 Sep 2021 |title=Each Super Follow is an In-App Purchase on the App Store, but because there are too many IAPs for the Twitter app, the App Store only shows 10 instead of the full list |url=https://x.com/wongmjane/status/1433372120080261120 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> This, of course, is subject to the 30% fee. At the time of writing in January 2025, viewing the App Store listing reveals Elon Musk's $4.00 subscription as the fourth most popular IAP item.

==Notarization==
Since 2015, Apple expects all Mac apps to be "notarized". This is a preliminary, automated malware check, which upon passing, provides a notary certificate that gets "stapled" to the app. Apple's explanation:

<blockquote>
Notarization of macOS software is not App Review. The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans your software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results to you quickly. If there are no issues, the notary service generates a ticket for you to staple to your software; the notary service also publishes that ticket online where Gatekeeper can find it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notarizing macOS software before distribution |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Whether this is actually a better approach than used by Windows antivirus, where they find out about new malware samples only when they end up on a user's computer, is a separate topic.

To comply with the DMA's regulations on app marketplaces, Apple created a new channel of releasing apps outside of the iOS App Store. Apps go through a notarization process. But the process is definitely ''not'' notarization. The name is intentionally being abused, by contrast to notarization on macOS, to make you believe it is something other than the existing App Review system. Despite the pain some developers and users have with it, notarization on macOS has always been considered a net positive. It made sense to take advantage of its reputation for the entirely different "notarization" on iOS.

See for yourself - view the [https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ App Review Guidelines] and tick "Show Notarization Review Guidelines Only". While most rules are knocked out by this, a good number of them are still in place. These apps are still reviewed and tested by the App Review team, must have a full product listing in App Store Connect, and can be outright rejected - all in the same way as an App Store app.

By contrast, all that is required for notarization on macOS is for your app to not be malware. You submit it to an automated system that approves it within minutes. '''You don't need to convince Apple your app is worthy of existing on their platform.'''

The point of macOS notarization is that Apple has a record of all binaries that are intended for wide distribution on macOS, and can review them both in advance and on a regular basis for known malware/common malware patterns. Say a malware app manages to initially get through, when Apple finds out, they can go back in the notary records and find every sample of that malware to analyze and block. This is purely a technical process, managed by skilled security researchers, while iOS app review and "notarization" is a business process, managed by workers who have been given a checklist of violations to look for.

Apple is retaining complete control over what's allowed to run on iOS. On macOS, you can choose to run apps that have not been notarized (even though the process to bypass the warning is intentionally difficult). On iOS, you never get even that option. What Apple created is the App Store but with more steps. It still goes on the App Store, just hidden so it can only be installed by the third-party store it's tied to.

*Mysk: "iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store and if the app is not available there, this happens."<ref>{{Cite web |last=@mysk_co |date=28 Jun 2024 |title=iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store and if the app is not available there, this happens: |url=https://x.com/mysk_co/status/1806638308455256242 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

==JIT==
Safari is allowed to [[wikipedia:Just-in-time compilation|just-in-time]] compile code worldwide. The super short version of what that means: it can run JavaScript code ''really fast''. All browsers, and other runtimes like Microsoft .NET, Java, Lua use this. Ok, fine, it's the system web browser, it's very carefully written to be secure, and it's important to the platform to be doing well in performance benchmarks and all that.

Apple's [https://apps.apple.com/app/swift-playgrounds/id908519492 Playgrounds] app on iPad is also allowed to JIT. It bundles Apple's [[wikipedia:Swift (programming language)|Swift]] compiler, and shares backend code with the version of Playgrounds found in [[wikipedia:Xcode|Xcode]].

Competing apps like Pythonista (a Python IDE), emulators like Delta and UTM, and terminal environments like iSH, are not allowed to JIT. As such, they need to rely on inferior performance, potentially from an entirely separate implementation of their compiler/interpreter that may be less proven, because the JIT-less implementation doesn't need to exist on any other platform.

Likely the most clear example is UTM SE. UTM is a port of the [[wikipedia:QEMU|QEMU]] emulator to iOS, allowing you to run desktop OSes (Linux, Windows 98, XP, classic Mac OS, etc). iPhone hardware is very capable these days and it runs impressively well, ''if'' you use a hack to enable JIT (which Apple has now patched). "SE" stands for "slow edition" - yes, really. If you compare the true version of UTM to the App Store UTM SE app, you ''will'' feel the loss in performance. It's impressive UTM even got to be on the App Store at all, and the DMA is to thank for it. But Apple is still holding the line on allowing JIT to apps that require that performance.

While UTM SE releasing at all might seem like a pathway to getting Firefox and Chrome "slow editions" on the App Store, browser engines other than the built-in Apple WebKit/JavaScriptCore are still outlawed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App Review Guidelines |url=https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#2.5.6 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref> In the EU, Apple has blessed web browser JavaScript engines with the option to use JIT. The app must be approved for an entitlement, and then must work within APIs provided by Apple for it. As of January 2025, no browsers have been released using this. We were all anticipating proper competition around web browsers on iOS, but almost a year later, we have nothing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

==Sandbox==
You might not like app sandboxing, but it's a powerful security feature used on all modern platforms. The reality is very few apps need more than a few basic permissions. [[wikipedia:Flatpak|Flatpak]] on Linux also sandboxes apps, and it seems to work great! Still, it's completely fair that there should be processes for doing things beyond what the sandbox allows. You see some of this with permission prompts - does a flashlight app ''really'' need access to your contacts? (Apple has been burned by apps abusing user data before the current permission system was built out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bohn |first=Dleter |date=15 Feb 2012 |title=iOS apps and the address book: who has your data, and how they’re getting it |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/14/2798008/ios-apps-and-the-address-book-what-you-need-to-know |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>)

It can go further than this. As we established in previous sections, an app can be given more access to features of the system using entitlements. These come in a few flavors:

*'''Completely safe''': Entitlements any developer can opt into, with little to no risk.
*'''Approval required''': Entitlements that might be more of a security risk to allow, e.g. giving considerably wider access to the system, or that Apple simply doesn't want to hand out to just ''anyone'' for competitive reasons. The developer must submit a request to Apple with evidence of why they need the entitlement.
*'''Private''': Entitlements that are never allowed for any app developer to use. Many of these are reasonably fenced off because they handle user data that is very risky, or bypasses permission prompts, etc, but can just as well also be guarding features Apple wants to keep to itself.

There have been [https://gizmodo.com/researchers-uber-s-ios-app-had-secret-permissions-that-1819177235 exceptions] where Apple quietly gave a company access to private entitlements anyway, raising eyebrows.

On iOS, you also can't be ''more'' secure than the default sandbox. That might seem crazy if you're not a developer, but it's pretty important for security in a variety of situations. On macOS, there are several entitlements you must declare to decide whether you're allowed to access certain types of user data at all. Android used this design from the very start - you can't even do fundamental things like access the internet without declaring it in your manifest. It makes it very explicit what the app's intentions are.

iOS has one sandbox used by all App Store apps. System apps, and App Store apps developed by Apple, are allowed to expand or reduce their sandbox permissions as needed. Third-party apps do not get the right to expand or reduce their sandbox permissions at all. This is clearly less secure. To take the example of Playgrounds again, while it's allowed to run your code from a separate process executing in an ultra locked down sandbox with very few permissions, competing apps such as Pythonista must run your code in the same sandbox and address space as the main app process. The Python interpreter crashing would therefore crash the entire app, possibly losing work. In the worst case, a vulnerability in third-party code could give access to all data stored by/accessible to the app. For example, it would be a nightmare if you can tap the wrong link in Safari and have a hacker easily steal your cookies from other websites. If that third-party code could run in its own limited sandbox, the risk is significantly reduced.

The only known workaround is to execute the code via JavaScript, as Apple's JavaScriptCore engine runs in a heavily sandboxed process. This requires you to port the code to JS, which may be a lot of work, or just not viable. You wouldn't want to run the Python interpreter inside JavaScript - the performance would be terrible!

==In-app browsers==
Safari's in-app browser, that is the minimal version you get when tapping a link from social media, uses an entirely separate data store for each app. The in-app browser isn't aware of cookies in the "full" Safari app, or any other app, and doesn't support Safari extensions. Apple claimed this was to protect malicious apps from stealing or setting cookies in Safari without your knowledge, which is a fair argument, but it's hard to not notice that it makes web browsing inconvenient, encouraging users to install native apps, where they can make transactions through Apple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@whitehatguy |date=12 Jun 2017 |title=Impact of iOS 11 no longer providing shared cookies between Safari, Safari View Controller instances |url=https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref>

This also means your browsing in the in-app browser is just forgotten - there's no history menu, and it doesn't get logged to the history in the full Safari app either. Good luck recalling that article you read a few weeks ago.

==See also==
*[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility Eligibility]
*Posts written by an author of this article:
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html The iOS 17.4 app marketplace flow is a disaster]
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html How I tricked iOS into giving me EU DMA features]
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Features controlled by iOS 17.4's eligibility system]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Apple App Store]]

Volkswagen protection of car diagnosis

2025-07-14T08:23:35Z

Rain: Fixed typo and line break.

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title=Volkswagen AG - Schutz der Fahrzeugdiagnose (SFD) ("Protection of car diagnosis")
| Release Year=2024
| Product Type=Inbuilt diagnosis filter for cars
| In Production=Yes
| Official Website=https://privacy.volkswagen.com/download/get-document-content/57b3edcf-a670-4cfc-87b5-f6afd70f3bb2
| Logo=QuestionMark.svg
}}

SFD(2) - Schutz der Fahrzeugdiagnose roughly translates to Protection of car diagnosis and is a system from [[Volkswagen]] AG designed to protect software-controlled vehicle functions from unauthorized access and manipulation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Volkswagen AG |date=1 Jul 2021 |title=Schutz der Fahrzeugdiagnose - Nutzungsbedingungen |url=https://privacy.volkswagen.com/download/get-document-content/57b3edcf-a670-4cfc-87b5-f6afd70f3bb2 |url-status=live |access-date=30 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304060729/https://privacy.volkswagen.com/download/get-document-content/57b3edcf-a670-4cfc-87b5-f6afd70f3bb2 |archive-date=4 Mar 2024 |language=de}}</ref>

Access to the cars control units is secured in such a way that only users with a valid, personal account in the SFD backend of Volkswagen AG or in the system of the respective diagnostic system provider are authorized. In addition, all accesses to SFD-protected control units are individually logged via the SFD backend of Volkswagen AG to ensure traceability at a later stage.<ref name=":0" />

==Origin of SFD==
SFD(2) stems from UNECE regulations (Addendum 154 – UN Regulation No. 155, Addendum 155 – UN Regulation No. 156) which were adopted by the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations on June 24, 2020.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=Sekurit Service |date=31 May 2025 |title=Erweiterter CYBER-SECURITY-SCHUTZ (SFD2/UNECE) bei VAG-Fahrzeugen ab Modelljahr 2024 |url=https://www.sekurit-service.com/medias/Technical-Bulletin-New-CSM-Funktion-at-VAG-vehicles-DE.pdf?context=bWFzdGVyfGltYWdlc3wxNjYyMTZ8YXBwbGljYXRpb24vcGRmfGFETmlMMmhsT0M4NU5UYzBORFkwTmpFNE5USTJMMVJsWTJodWFXTmhiQ0JDZFd4c1pYUnBiaUJPWlhjZ1ExTk5JRVoxYm10MGFXOXVJR0YwSUZaQlJ5QjJaV2hwWTJ4bGMxOUVSUzV3WkdZfDAyNmI1YjU0YjYyYzdjODA3ZTg3MTkzMDFjMDBjZjZhNTcyYjhmNjcwY2U2NmVlMTYyMGI3MzY2ZThlMTQ2MDg&attachment=true |url-status=live |access-date=30 May 2025 |language=de}}</ref>

Since July 2022, these rules have applied to all newly registered model series of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses. Starting July 1, 2024, the regulations will apply to all newly manufactured vehicles, regardless of whether they are new or existing models.<ref name=":1" />

If SFD(2) is enabled, any unauthorized attempt to access one of the car’s engine control units will result in an timeout error message.<ref name=":1" />

==Consumer impact summary==
===User freedom===
*'''Restricted access:''' Only authorized users can access or modify key vehicle systems; independent mechanics and owners will be locked out from any kind of repair which requires interacting with the cars ECU.
*'''Dealer dependence:''' Owners are forced to rely on Volkswagen dealerships (or VW authorized repair centers) for repairs and updates, leading to higher costs and less flexibility.
*'''Aftermarket barriers:''' DIY and independent repairs or upgrades are blocked, even for simple tasks.
*'''Privacy concerns:''' All access is logged, raising data privacy issues.
*'''Ownership issues:''' SFD limits what owners can do with their cars, challenging the [[right to repair]].

===Business model===
SFD(2) protection can be bypassed by purchasing an unlock token which only can be used in the dealer specific software. A single token is available for $50 USD. Each activation token is uniquely assigned to a specific control unit and is valid for a single use only.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author=VAGupdate |date=31 May 2025 |title=SFD Token |url=https://vagupdate.com/sfd-token |access-date=31 May 2025}}</ref>

During Guided Fault Finding procedures, SFD-protected control units are automatically re-locked at the conclusion of the diagnostic session. If this does not occur, the system will automatically re-lock the control unit 90 minutes after activation.<ref name=":2" />

==Affected car models from Volkswagen AG==
The following is a list of Volkswagen AG car models known to be affected by the restrictions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PCI-Diagnose-Technik GmbH & Co. KG |date=31 May 2025 |title=SFD2 / UNECE - Erweiterter SFD Schutz |url=https://forum.vcdspro.de/index.php?/wiki/misc/allgemeine-informationen/sfd2-unece-erweiterter-sfd-schutz-r68/#was-ist-sfd-2 |access-date=31 May 2025 |language=de}}</ref>

===Audi===
*Audi A1 (GB) from approx. production date March 2024
*Audi A3 (8Y) from model year 2025
*Audi A4 (8W) from model year 2024
*Audi A4 Avant (F4) from model year 2024
*Audi A5 (F5) from model year 2024
*Audi A6 (4A) from model year 2024
*Audi A6 Avant (F2) from model year 2024
*Audi A7 (4K) from model year 2024
*Audi A8 (4N) from model year 2024
*Audi Q2 (GA) from approx. production date March 2024
*Audi Q3 (F3) from approx. production date March 2024
*Audi Q4 (F4) from approx. production date November 2024
*Audi Q5 (FY) from model year 2024
*Audi Q7 (4M) from approx. production start August 2023
*Audi Q8 (4M) from approx. production start August 2023
*Audi Q8 e-tron (GE) from model year 2024
*Audi e-tron GT (FW) from model year 2024
*Audi e-tron GT (F8) from model year 2024

===Volkswagen===
*VW Arteon (3H) from model year 2024
*VW Crafter (SY) from model year 2025
*VW Caddy (SB) from model year 2025
*VW Golf 8 (CD), (CG) from approx. production start April 2024
*VW Passat (B9) from model year 2024
*VW Polo (AE1) from approx. production start March 2024
*VW T-Cross (D31)
*VW Touran (5T) from approx. production start March 2024
*VW T-Roc (D11, AC8) from approx. production start March 2024
*VW Taigo (CS) from approx. production start March 2024
*VW Tiguan ALLSPACE (BJ2) from approx. production start February 2024
*VW Tiguan (CT) from model year 2024
*VW Touareg RC
*VW Touareg (CR) from model year 2024
*VW T7 (ST) from model year 2025
*VW ID3 (E12) from model year 2025
*VW ID4 (E21) from approx. production start January 2024
*VW ID5 (E39) from approx. production start January 2024
*VW ID.7 (ED) from model year 2024
*VW ID Buzz (EB) from model year 2025

===Seat / Cupra===
*Seat Arona (KJ7) from approx. production start February 2024
*Seat Ateca (KBP, KHP) with PR-No.: NI7
*Seat Born (K11) from model year 2025
*Seat Formentor (KM7) from model year 2025
*Seat Ibiza (KJ1) from approx. production start February 2024
*Seat Leon (KL) from model year 2025
*Seat Leon (KU) from model year 2025

===Skoda===
*Skoda Enyaq (5A) with PR-No.: NI1 or NI9
*Skoda Fabia (PJ) from model year 2024
*Skoda Fabia (6P) from model year 2024
*Skoda Kamiq (NW) from model year 2024
*Skoda Kamiq (NW4) from approx. production start January 2024
*Skoda Scala (NW1) from approx. production date January 2024
*Skoda Karoq (NU) from approx. production date March 2024
*Skoda Octavia (NX) with PR-No.: GP1

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Volkswagen]]

User:Rain

2025-07-11T08:32:45Z

Rain: Updated.

I don't use Discord.

Ubisoft

2025-07-09T08:51:28Z

Rain: Fixed link.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Ubisoft
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1986
| Industry = Video Games
| Official Website = https://ubisoft.com/
| Logo = Ubisoft.png
}}

'''[[Wikipedia:Ubisoft|Ubisoft Entertainment SA]]''' is a multinational video-game company, known for developing and publishing popular franchises such as ''Assassin's Creed'', ''Far Cry'', and ''Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six''. The company has positioned itself as a leader in the video game industry, referring to some of its releases as "AAAA" games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Olivia |date=10 Sep 2020 |title=Ubisoft Insists On Calling Beyond Good And Evil 2, Skull & Bones ‘AAAA’ Games |url=https://screenrant.com/ubisoft-beyond-good-evil-skull-bones-aaaa-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

==Relevant incidents==

===''The Crew'' shutdown===
One of the most significant consumer protection issues surrounding Ubisoft in recent years relates to the 2014 game ''The Crew''. In late 2023, Ubisoft announced the shutdown of the online services for ''The Crew'', making the game unplayable entirely, even the single-player content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=14 Dec 2023 |title=The Crew Delisted From All Digital Storefronts, Servers Shut Down Early 2024 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-crew-delisted-from-all-digital-storefronts-servers-shut-down-early-2024 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> The decision to decommission the game's servers was controversial, as Ubisoft retroactively altered the terms of sale. Players who had purchased the game, which was initially marketed with certain single-player functionality, found that they could no longer access said single-player features after the servers were shut down.

The decommissioning of ''The Crew'' also sparked a wider debate on the viability of "games-as-a-service" models, which Ubisoft has heavily invested in.<ref>[https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ Stop Killing Games]</ref> These models often require ongoing internet connectivity to function and rely on servers run by the company. At any time, the company can decide to shut down the servers and the games will no longer be playable, as seen with ''The Crew''.

Weeks after the shutdown of The Crew, Ubisoft also revoked the licenses for players off the Ubisoft Connect PC app, so the game was no longer downloadable.

===''Star Wars Outlaws'' forced update===
''Star Wars Outlaws'' was released in August 2024, with two editions that allowed players to have early access to the game for $110 and $130, respectively, approximately twice the cost of the game on release day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Chris |date=6 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws: Here’s What Comes in Each Edition |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-outlaws-release-date-special-editions |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> Ubisoft then pushed an update just before the full release that caused players on PlayStation 5 who had paid extra for the game as early access to have their save file deleted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Kyle |date=28 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Players Forced to Delete Saved Data on PS5 |url=https://gamerant.com/star-wars-outlaws-bug-delete-save-data-ps5/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Rant}}</ref> Although the update was intended to fix a game-breaking bug, upon full release many bugs remained.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gherzo |first=Alex |date=27 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Still Looks Buggy the Week of Its Release |url=https://www.geeksandgamers.com/star-wars-outlaws-still-looks-buggy-the-week-of-its-release/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Geeks and Gamers}}</ref> This behavior also highlights an ongoing pattern in which Ubisoft releases an incomplete game, expects players to buy the game and act as the testers, and then patches the game later.

===Inclusion of lawsuit-waiving clauses in game-giveaway license===
In December of 2014, Ubisoft was giving away free licenses for a game, but with a catch: the terms<ref>{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=23 Dec 2014 |title=Assassin's Creed Unity Free Game Offer Waives Lawsuits |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassin-s-creed-unity-free-game-offer-waives-laws/1100-6424381/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Gamespot}}</ref> for the clickwrap agreement in obtaining the game for free contained a clause stating that the user could not sue Ubisoft in relation to ''Assassin's Creed Unity'' or its season pass:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Futter |first=Mike |date=18 Dec 2014 |title=Your Assassin’s Creed Unity Season Pass Free Game Comes With A Legal Catch |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Informer}}</ref><blockquote>''You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.''</blockquote>

===Comments by executives===
Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, has repeatedly stated that "[[Games as a service|games as a service]]" is the future of the gaming industry,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreier |first=Jason |date=30 May 2017 |title=Top Video Game Companies Won't Stop Talking About 'Games As A Service' |url=https://kotaku.com/top-video-game-companies-wont-stop-talking-about-games-1795663927 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku}}</ref> and Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, said that players should get used to not owning their games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=16 Jan 2024 |title=Ubisoft Exec Says Gamers Need to Get 'Comfortable' Not Owning Their Games for Subscriptions to Take Off |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-exec-says-gamers-need-to-get-comfortable-not-owning-their-games-for-subscriptions-to-take-off |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> These comments have been met with criticism, particularly when juxtaposed with decisions like the shutdown of ''The Crew'' and the introduction of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into Ubisoft’s business model.

On January 15, 2024, Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, was interviewed by [http://www.gamesindustry.biz gamesindustry.biz]. During this interview, Tremblay made the following comment on ownership:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=15 Jan 2024 |title=The new Ubisoft+ and getting gamers comfortable with not owning their games |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-new-ubisoft-and-getting-gamers-comfortable-with-not-owning-their-games |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Games Industry}}</ref><blockquote>"One of the things we saw is that gamers are used to, a little bit like DVD, having and owning their games. That's the consumer shift that needs to happen. They got comfortable not owning their CD collection or DVD collection. That's a transformation that's been a bit slower to happen [in games]. As gamers grow comfortable in that aspect… you don't lose your progress. If you resume your game at another time, your progress file is still there. That's not been deleted. You don't lose what you've built in the game or your engagement with the game. So it's about feeling comfortable with not owning your game."</blockquote>

===California class action lawsuit===
Polygon reported on November 11, 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=11 Nov 2024 |title=Ubisoft sued for shutting down The Crew |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/476979/ubisoft-the-crew-shut-down-lawsuit-class-action |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> about two owners of the crew filing a class action lawsuit against Ubisoft on November 04, 2024 alleging violations of unfair competition, false advertising, fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of implied warranty, according to California Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Apr 2024 |title=Crew Lawsuit Via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/790913960/Crew-Lawsuit-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref><blockquote>"Imagine you buy a pinball machine, and years later, you enter your den to go play it, only to discover that all the paddles are missing, the pinball and bumpers are gone, and the monitor that proudly displayed your unassailable high score is removed."</blockquote>Ubisoft responded to this lawsuit with a motion to dismiss on February 05, 20205, also reported by Polygon,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=9 Apr 2025 |title=Ubisoft holds firm in The Crew lawsuit: You don’t own your video games |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/555469/ubisoft-holds-firm-in-the-crew-lawsuit-you-dont-own-your-video-games |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> arguing that plaintiffs don’t have a case reiterating that fact that you don't own the video game you bought:<blockquote>"The [essence] of the plaintiffs’ complaint is that Ubisoft allegedly misled purchasers of its video game The Crew into believing they were purchasing unfettered ownership rights in the game, rather than a limited license to access the game. But the reality is that consumers received the benefit of their bargain and were explicitly notified, at the time of purchase, that they were purchasing a license."<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2025 |title=The Crew lawsuit, Ubisoft response -- via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/848030901/The-Crew-lawsuit-Ubisoft-response-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref></blockquote>On March 18, 2025 plaintiffs ammended the complain with pictures of the physical copy arguing that the in-box Activation Code for The Crew had an expiration date of 2099. Additionally, the game’s in-game currency could be considered a form of gift certificate. In California, a gift certificate is not allowed to expire.

===GDPR Complaint===
On April 24 2025, noyb (a European non-profit organisation for digital rights) filed a [[GDPR]] complaint to the Austrian data protection authority (DSB) against Ubisoft for forcing its customers to connect to the internet every time a single player game is launched, thereby collecting data on gaming behaviour. This collection of data is alleged to be an infringement of Article 6(1) of the GDPR.

Noyb's official statement:<ref name="gdpr-complaint">Like to play alone? Ubisoft is still watching you! (2025, April 28). noyb.eu. https://noyb.eu/en/play-alone-ubisoft-still-watching-you</ref>
<blockquote>Complaint filed in Austria. noyb has therefore filed a GDPR complaint with the Austrian data protection authority (DSB). We request the DSB to declare that Ubisoft infringed Article 6(1) GDPR with its processing of personal data without a valid legal basis. In addition, we request that Ubisoft deletes all personal information by the complainant that has been processed without a valid legal basis – and that the company ceases further unlawful processing. Last but not least, we suggest that the data protection authority impose an administrative fine. Based on Ubisoft’s turnover of more than € 2 billion, the data protection authority could issue a fine of up to € 92 million.(“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025)</blockquote>

According to noyb there is no valid and legal reason to collect such data "Under Article 6(1) GDPR, there seems to be no valid legal basis to randomly collect such user data" (“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025).<ref name="gdpr-complaint" />

===Switch to subscription model for the game Rocksmith===
{{Main|Rocksmith}}
Rocksmith is a Ubisoft video game that got delisted from every storefront to switch to Rocksmith+, a subscription based game.

===Demand to destroy games in your possession===
Tech4Gamers recently reported on July 5, 2025<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rehman |first=Obaid Ur |date=2025-07-05 |title="Ubisoft Wants Gamers To Destroy All Copies of A Game Once It Goes Offline" |url=https://tech4gamers.com/ubisoft-eula-destroy-all-copies-game-goes-offline/ |url-status=live |work=Tech4Gamers}}</ref> the Ubisoft EULA has been updated, which states that upon "termination of Your UBISOFT Account" or "UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product" the owner of a game must not only uninstall the product, but you must also "destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession". As gameGPU states; "even physical media"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Games |first=Maximum |date=2025-07-05 |title=Ubisoft requires all copies of the game to be destroyed upon EULA termination |url=https://en.gamegpu.com/game/Ubisoft-requires-all-copies-of-games-to-be-deleted-upon-EULA-termination |url-status=live |work=GameGPU}}</ref>.

UBISOFT EULA<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ubisoft EULA |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250706174816/https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |archive-date=2025-07-06 |website=Ubisoft}}</ref>:<blockquote>8. TERMINATION.

The EULA is effective from the earlier of the date You purchase, download or use the Product, until terminated according to its terms. You and UBISOFT (or its licensors) may terminate this EULA, at any time, for any reason. Termination by UBISOFT will be effective upon (a) notice to You or (b) termination of Your UBISOFT Account (if any) or (c) at the time of UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product. This EULA will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this EULA. Upon termination for any reason, You must immediately uninstall the Product and destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession.</blockquote>

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

Volkswagen protection of car diagnosis

2025-07-03T08:40:54Z

Rain: Fixed category.

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = Volkswagen AG - Schutz der Fahrzeugdiagnose (SFD) ("Protection of car diagnosis")
| Release Year =2024
| Product Type =Inbuilt diagnosis filter for cars
| In Production =Yes
| Official Website =https://privacy.volkswagen.com/download/get-document-content/57b3edcf-a670-4cfc-87b5-f6afd70f3bb2
| Logo =QuestionMark.svg
}}SFD(2) - Schutz der Fahrzeugdiagnose roughly translates to Protection of car diagnosis and is a system from Volkswagen AG designed to protect software-controlled vehicle functions from unauthorized access and manipulation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Volkswagen AG |date=2021-07-01 |title=Schutz der Fahrzeugdiagnose - Nutzungsbedingugen |url=https://privacy.volkswagen.com/download/get-document-content/57b3edcf-a670-4cfc-87b5-f6afd70f3bb2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304060729/https://privacy.volkswagen.com/download/get-document-content/57b3edcf-a670-4cfc-87b5-f6afd70f3bb2 |access-date=2025-05-30}}</ref>

Access to the cars control units is secured in such a way that only users with a valid, personal account in the SFD backend of Volkswagen AG or in the system of the respective diagnostic system provider are authorized. In addition, all accesses to SFD-protected control units are individually logged via the SFD backend of Volkswagen AG to ensure traceability at a later stage.<ref name=":0" />

==Origin of SFD==
SFD(2) stems from UNECE regulations (Addendum 154 – UN Regulation No. 155, Addendum 155 – UN Regulation No. 156) which were adopted by the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations on June 24, 2020.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sekurit |first=Service |date=2025-05-31 |title=Erweiterter CYBER-SECURITY-SCHUTZ (SFD2/UNECE) bei VAG-
Fahrzeugen ab Modelljahr 2024 |url=https://www.sekurit-service.com/medias/Technical-Bulletin-New-CSM-Funktion-at-VAG-vehicles-DE.pdf?context=bWFzdGVyfGltYWdlc3wxNjYyMTZ8YXBwbGljYXRpb24vcGRmfGFETmlMMmhsT0M4NU5UYzBORFkwTmpFNE5USTJMMVJsWTJodWFXTmhiQ0JDZFd4c1pYUnBiaUJPWlhjZ1ExTk5JRVoxYm10MGFXOXVJR0YwSUZaQlJ5QjJaV2hwWTJ4bGMxOUVSUzV3WkdZfDAyNmI1YjU0YjYyYzdjODA3ZTg3MTkzMDFjMDBjZjZhNTcyYjhmNjcwY2U2NmVlMTYyMGI3MzY2ZThlMTQ2MDg&attachment=true |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-30}}</ref>

Since July 2022, these rules have applied to all newly registered model series of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses. Starting July 1, 2024, the regulations will apply to all newly manufactured vehicles, regardless of whether they are new or existing models.<ref name=":1" />

If SFD(2) is enabled, any unauthorized attempt to access one of the car’s engine control units will result in an timeout error message.<ref name=":1" />
----

==Consumer impact summary==

===User Freedom (Why is SFD(2) a problem?)===

*'''Restricted Access:''' Only authorized users can access or modify key vehicle systems; independent mechanics and owners will be locked out from any kind of repair which requires interacting with the cars ECU.
*'''Dealer Dependence:''' Owners are forced to rely on Volkswagen dealerships (or VW authorized repair centers) for repairs and updates, leading to higher costs and less flexibility.
*'''Aftermarket Barriers:''' DIY and independent repairs or upgrades are blocked, even for simple tasks.
*'''Privacy Concerns:''' All access is logged, raising data privacy issues.
*'''Ownership Issues:''' SFD limits what owners can do with their cars, challenging the right to repair.

===Business Model===
SFD(2) protection can be bypassed by purchasing an unlock token which only can be used in the dealer specific software. A single token is available for $50 USD. Each activation token is uniquely assigned to a specific control unit and is valid for a single use only.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=VAGupdate |date=2025-05-31 |title=SFD Token |url=https://vagupdate.com/sfd-token |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref>

During Guided Fault Finding procedures, SFD-protected control units are automatically re-locked at the conclusion of the diagnostic session. If this does not occur, the system will automatically re-lock the control unit 90 minutes after activation.<ref name=":2" />

===Currently affected car models from Volkswagen AG<ref>{{Cite web |last=PCI-Diagnose-Technik GmbH & Co. KG |date=2025-05-31 |title=SFD2 / UNECE - Erweiterter SFD Schutz |url=https://forum.vcdspro.de/index.php?/wiki/misc/allgemeine-informationen/sfd2-unece-erweiterter-sfd-schutz-r68/#was-ist-sfd-2 |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref>===
----

==Audi==

*Audi A1 (GB) from approx. production date March 2024
*Audi A3 (8Y) from model year 2025
*Audi A4 (8W) from model year 2024
*Audi A4 Avant (F4) from model year 2024
*Audi A5 (F5) from model year 2024
*Audi A6 (4A) from model year 2024
*Audi A6 Avant (F2) from model year 2024
*Audi A7 (4K) from model year 2024
*Audi A8 (4N) from model year 2024
*Audi Q2 (GA) from approx. production date March 2024
*Audi Q3 (F3) from approx. production date March 2024
*Audi Q4 (F4) from approx. production date November 2024
*Audi Q5 (FY) from model year 2024
*Audi Q7 (4M) from approx. production start August 2023
*Audi Q8 (4M) from approx. production start August 2023
*Audi Q8 e-tron (GE) from model year 2024
*Audi e-tron GT (FW) from model year 2024
*Audi e-tron GT (F8) from model year 2024

==Volkswagen==

*VW Arteon (3H) from model year 2024
*VW Crafter (SY) from model year 2025
*VW Caddy (SB) from model year 2025
*VW Golf 8 (CD), (CG) from approx. production start April 2024
*VW Passat (B9) from model year 2024
*VW Polo (AE1) from approx. production start March 2024
*VW T-Cross (D31)
*VW Touran (5T) from approx. production start March 2024
*VW T-Roc (D11, AC8) from approx. production start March 2024
*VW Taigo (CS) from approx. production start March 2024
*VW Tiguan ALLSPACE (BJ2) from approx. production start February 2024
*VW Tiguan (CT) from model year 2024
*VW Touareg RC
*VW Touareg (CR) from model year 2024
*VW T7 (ST) from model year 2025
*VW ID3 (E12) from model year 2025
*VW ID4 (E21) from approx. production start January 2024
*VW ID5 (E39) from approx. production start January 2024
*VW ID.7 (ED) from model year 2024
*VW ID Buzz (EB) from model year 2025

==Seat / Cupra==

*Seat Arona (KJ7) from approx. production start February 2024
*Seat Ateca (KBP, KHP) with PR-No.: NI7
*Seat Born (K11) from model year 2025
*Seat Formentor (KM7) from model year 2025
*Seat Ibiza (KJ1) from approx. production start February 2024
*Seat Leon (KL) from model year 2025
*Seat Leon (KU) from model year 2025

==Skoda==

*Skoda Enyaq (5A) with PR-No.: NI1 or NI9
*Skoda Fabia (PJ) from model year 2024
*Skoda Fabia (6P) from model year 2024
*Skoda Kamiq (NW) from model year 2024
*Skoda Kamiq (NW4) from approx. production start January 2024
*Skoda Scala (NW1) from approx. production date January 2024
*Skoda Karoq (NU) from approx. production date March 2024
*Skoda Octavia (NX) with PR-No.: GP1

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
{{Placeholder box|Replace the placeholder text in the sections below with the incidents that affect this product and a short summary. Also replace the link so it point to the right product line or company article.}}
===Example incident one (''date'')===
{{Main|link to the main article}}
Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

Incidents affecting all of the product line/company's products can be found in the product line/company article: [[Product line title]]/[[Company article title]]

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Volkswagen]]

Walmart

2025-07-02T08:34:01Z

Rain: Rewrote sentence.

{{StubNotice}}

{{InfoboxCompany
|Name=Walmart Inc.|Type=Public|Founded=1962|Industry=Retail|Official Website=https://www.walmart.com/|Logo=Walmart logo (2025; Alt).svg}}
[[wikipedia:Walmart|'''Walmart Inc.''']] is an American company known for its chain of retail stores and ubiquitous presence across many states and even countries.

==Incidents==

===Weighted groceries settlement===
In 2022 a class action lawsuit was filed against Walmart in Florida mainly alledging that Walmart falsely inflated product weight, mislabeled weight of bagged produce and overcharged for sold-by-weight clearance products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amended class action complaint V. Kukorinis (and similarly situated) v. Wallmart Inc. |url=https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.walmartweightedgroceriessettlement.com/docs/Amended+Class+Action+Complaint.pdf |access-date=15 Mar 2025}} </ref> While Walmart denies any wrongdoing they agreed to pay $45 million to settle the case in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Kelly |date=8 Apr 2024 |title=How Walmart shoppers can qualify for cash from $45 million settlement |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/walmart-shoppers-qualify-cash-45-million-settlement/story?id=108987190 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ABC News}}</ref>

===One-click sign up to paid service===
When using the Walmart app on an iPhone or iPad, a large popup covering about 90% of the screen appears. It has a very large one-click signup button for Walmart+ with only a small 'x' in the corner to close the popup and return to the main app.
[[File:Popup.png|thumb]]

==See Also==
*[[Click-to-cancel]]
*[[The death of click to cancel & what we can do about it: CAT disapproves]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2lFIc1nDcA YouTube video about click to cancel]

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

Android

2025-06-30T08:05:44Z

Rain: Fixed formatting and spelling.

{{StubNotice}}
{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = Android
| Release Year = 2003
| Product Type = Software
| In Production = Yes
| Official Website = https://android.com/
| Logo = Android Logo.png
}}

[[wikipedia:Android_(operating_system)|'''Android''']] is an operating system developed and released by '''[[Google]]''' since 2005. It is based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software, designed primarily for touchscreen-based mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, but is also used in smart TVs, cameras, in-car infotainment systems, etc.{{Citation needed}}

==Consumer impact summary==
Google, as the developer of Android, has faced scrutiny over privacy concerns, short software support lifespans, patent disputes, and anti-competitive behaviors.{{Citation needed}}

Google encourages the use of their [https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/overview Play Integrity API], a mechanism for Android applications to detect whether they are running on a non-OEM version of Android. This is employed mostly to prevent users from running Android versions with anti-consumer features removed, i.e. ads and unconsented data collection. For example, the Android YouTube app which leverages the API to detect whether it has been patched to remove ads, in which case it will refuse to play back videos.

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

===Data collection===
{{Main|Android Data Collection}}
Android mobile devices, even when minimally configured, collect and share with Google extensive user data with little options for opting-out, raising privacy concerns.

===Android System Safety Core silent install===
{{Main|Android System SafetyCore}}
On January 22, 2025, Google quietly rolled out Android System SafetyCore to all Android devices. The installation of the program neither informed consumers that it was installed, nor did it request consumers to install it onto their devices.

===OEM Locked Bootloaders===
{{Main|Motorola}}
In North America, many Android devices like phones or tablets will not allow consumers to unlock and do what they want to modify the software. Therefore, it has been incredibly difficult and nearly impossible to root and install custom ROMs on the device unless an exploit has been found.

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

Forced app download

2025-06-27T08:56:52Z

Rain: Fixed link and punctuation.

{{incomplete}}
'''Forced app download''' is a practice by businesses and government entities, where users are forced to download an app to their phones to perform basic tasks that could have otherwise been done on a standard web browser<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tian |first=Deyu |last2=Ma |first2=Yun |last3=Balasubramanian |first3=Aruna |last4=Liu |first4=Yunxin |last5=Gang |first5=Huang |last6=Liu |first6=Xuanzhe |date=17 Mar 2021 |title=Characterizing Embedded Web Browsing in Mobile Apps |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9380491 |journal=IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing |volume=21 |issue=11 |pages=3912 - 3925 |via=IEEE Xplore}}</ref> (e.g., adding a credit card for payments) or in real life (e.g., ordering a coffee).

Forced app download is becoming increasingly popular in many countries pushing digitization. A prime example is Singapore whose government is all-in on digital everything, where it is impossible for anyone to have a bank account without using the bank's app, and everyone must have a device that runs stock iOS or Android in order to download various government and business apps from their respective official app stores. Devices must also be running stock operating systems, since most government and business apps conduct intrusive checks and require extensive technical knowledge to run if a device is jailbroken or rooted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Oct 2023 |title=App compatibility with GrapheneOS |url=https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/8330-app-compatibility-with-grapheneos |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=grapheneos.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fix Play Integrity (and SafetyNet) verdicts. |url=https://github.com/chiteroman/PlayIntegrityFix |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=GitHub}}</ref>

Most companies<ref>{{Cite web |last=Naprys |first=Ernestas |date=27 Mar 2024 |title=Facebook may have exploited user devices to spy on competitors, documents show |url=https://cybernews.com/news/facebook-spying-snapchat-youtube-amazon-installing-kits/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=cybernews}}</ref> (and likely most governments)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lunduke |first=Bryan |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=The Pokemon Go Spying Conspiracy Theory? Yeah. It's Verified. |url=https://lunduke.substack.com/p/the-pokemon-go-spying-conspiracy |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=The Lunduke Journal of Technology}}</ref> find forcing app downloads more favorable for a multitude of reasons, such as:

#'''Identification and tracking of users''' - not just on an account level and payments, but through deep device identifiers, location, and network connection.{{Citation needed}}
#'''Push of the cashless agenda''' - digital-only payments typically go hand-in-hand with app-only experiences.
#'''Increased digital integration''' - endless possibilities of integrating and sharing data with payment processors,{{Citation needed}} ad providers,{{Citation needed}} and more.
#'''Increased centralization and dependency on big companies''' - putting more power in the hands of big tech (Apple and Google) with mandatory official app store downloads and big payments (Visa and MasterCard){{Citation needed}} with forced digital payments.

==Characteristics ==
Forced app download involves:

#'''Forcing download and use of app to interact with a business''' - Basic tasks like ordering,{{Citation needed}} making payments, changing settings.{{Citation needed}}
#'''Deliberately crippling or removing functionality from the web experience''' - Prevent users from having an alternative interface to perform basic tasks.{{Citation needed}}
#'''Forcing users to always be on the latest version of an app''' - "For your security" (as they usually claim), most of these apps will constantly check for the latest version and self-disable if they are older than x-version.{{Citation needed}} (varies by company)
#'''Mandatory use of account''' - For most of these apps to work, you must have an account for features to work.{{Citation needed}} For example, making an order with Luckin Coffee mandates installing the app and creating an account tied to a personal phone number;{{Citation needed}} guests are disallowed from making orders incognito.{{Citation needed}}

==Key implications==

===User tracking and intrusion of privacy===
The hallmarks of forced app download are mandatory account creation and usage, and digital payments. This allows tracking of the user not just by the company behind the app, but the payment provider and any other associated third-party partners.

===Mandatory use of "approved devices" and big-tech operating systems===
Most apps are only available for download on official from official app stores, meaning consumers must use a device running stock iOS or Android, or else jump through hoops to run them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Run Android apps on Arch Linux |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Android#Run_Android_apps_on_Arch_Linux |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=archlinux.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How do I get an apk file from an Android device? |url=https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4032960/how-do-i-get-an-apk-file-from-an-android-device/18003462#18003462 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Stack Overflow}}</ref>

Devices must also be running stock operating systems since most government and business apps conduct intrusive checks<ref>{{Cite web |title=Configure API responses (optional) |url=https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup#default |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Android Developers}}</ref> and will not run if a device is jailbroken or rooted.

Some companies such as big banks in Singapore have also started incorporating checks for "unverified apps" in their app. This means their app will scan your phone and check for sideloaded apps (anywhere that is not the official app store. For example, an app downloaded directly from APK Mirror or an unofficial app repository like F-Droid) as part of "anti-scam security measures that include restricting customers from accessing the banks’ digital services on their mobile phones if apps from unverified app stores – also known as sideloaded apps – are detected."<ref>{{Cite web |last=See Kit |first=Tang |date=26 Sep 2023 |title=DBS, UOB become latest banks to restrict access if unverified apps are found on customers' phones |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dbs-uob-anti-scam-sideloaded-app-malware-measure-latest-bank-restrict-app-access-3796806 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Channel News Asia}}</ref>

===Surge pricing===
{{Main|Surge Pricing}}
So far, the implementation of surge pricing in the context of businesses that use forced app download has not yet been seen. However, trust that the enterprising individuals and ecommerce platform providers (especially "modern headless ecommerce" companies<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cicman |first=Joe |last2=Pfeiffer |first2=Emily |date=3 May 2022 |title=Doing, Selling, And Being Headless Commerce |url=https://www.forrester.com/blogs/doing-selling-and-being-headless-commerce/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Forrester}}</ref>) looking to maximize clean out of consumers' wallets will quickly develop and deploy surge pricing once businesses with forced app download gain sufficient footing both in their respective industries and in general market penetration.

Since ordering and payments are entirely digital, it is very possible to see surge pricing (similar to what we've seen from ride hailing companies like Uber, Lyft and Grab) implemented across other industries.

For example, a restaurant that is popular enough could implement surge pricing to charge more during peak hours, like weekday lunch time to hit the downtime office crowd that is lacking in time and places to eat, or Friday night when many people are looking to go out.

===Third-party integration===
Just like how some car insurance providers in the US are adjusting their rates based on "smart" reporting from cars, it is also very possible for other intrusive and oppressive pair ups to happen. For example:

*Restaurants, cafes and bars with forced app download sharing data with health insurance companies, who increase your premium if they see a lifestyle/pattern of ordering unhealthy dishes or overly large portions, or frequenting that bubble tea shop too often.
*Government tax agency charging you "excess carbon footprint" taxes because you often order a lot of clothes beyond the number that the "Average" person of your profile wears, based on what your favorite fast fashion retailer with forced app download is sharing with them.
[[File:Digital turbine logo .png|alt=digital turbine logo |thumb|digital turbine logo ]]
[[File:No unverified apps.png|thumb|Singapore banks will "restrict access if unverified apps AKA sideloaded apps are found on customers' phones" (News story from Sep 2023)]]

==Examples==
'''Mobile Carriers and App marketplaces'''

Companies like [[digital turbine|Digital Turbine]] auction<ref>{{Cite web |title=DT Fairbid |url=https://www.digitalturbine.com/dt-fairbid |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2023 |website=Digital Turbine}}</ref> off placement in carriers automatic download lists and recommended app's placement in first and third party app stores.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Turn Subscribers Into Fans |url=https://www.digitalturbine.com/telecom |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Digital Turbine}}</ref>

Digital turbine sells forced app downloads from app developers like: [[zynga]], miniclip games, [[King Digital Entertainment|'''King''' Digital Entertainment]] and [[Uber EULA precludes jury trial|Uber]], placement in forced download lists to carries like: [[Verizon]], [[AT&T]], [[Cricket wireless]], us cellular, tracfone and T-mobile.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A New Horizon for Apps is Emerging |url=https://www.digitalturbine.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Digital Turbine}}</ref>

===Banking and finance===
All banks in Singapore (Citi, DBS, UOB, OCBC, Standard Chartered, CIMB) mandate use of their apps for consumers to perform any online banking activities, including logging in via their web browser.
[[File:Forced app download.png|thumb|Luckin Coffee, a China-origin Starbucks competitor, forces you to download their app to order and pay for coffee. You cannot order coffee at the cashier in their store, let alone pay. You must use the app to interact with this business and digital payments to pay.]]
[[File:Forced app download - Citibank Singapore.png|thumb|Citibank Singapore has deliberately disabled many basic functions such as rewards redemption on its website since 2024, forcing users to download and use their mobile app as an "alternative".]]
The apps generate notifications that require users to approve/deny actions like logging in via a web browser, initiating a payment, adding a payee, etc via the app itself. Some banks previously offered sending an OTP via SMS (text) as an alternative to app-based approval but this has since been discontinued for "security reasons".

==='''Insurance'''===
Auto insurance companies like [[Progressive]], require non policy holders effected by automotive incidents their policyholders claim to submit photos and video evidence of damages exclusively through their mobile app.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Auto insurance claims |url=https://www.progressive.com/claims/auto-process/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=[[Progressive]]}}</ref> Affected non policy holders can't complete the entire claim process through their website even though you can start the process online from any device and web browser.<ref name=":0" />

===Utilities and public services===
SP Group is Singapore's primary and default electricity provider, as well as the country's only provider for gas and water for consumers. In 2022, SP Group removed the ability to manage payments from their website, forcing users to download and use their mobile app to pay bills/manage recurring payments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pay SP utility bills with SP app |url=https://www.spdigital.sg/spapp/bill-payment |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=SPdigital}}</ref>

As they are the country's only provider for gas and water, everyone in Singapore MUST download their app at some point.

===Home appliances and hardware===
Speaker and sound hardware company [[Sonos]] has been a big practitioner of forced app download since at least 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Make Sonos work without internet |url=https://en.community.sonos.com/advanced-setups-229000/make-sonos-work-without-internet-6795315 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=[[Sonos]]}}</ref> Sonos makes it extremely difficult and annoying, if not impossible for their customers to use their purchased hardware without an app and/or internet connection.

Even though it is possible to use Sonos speakers without an app, initial setup has required the download and use of Sonos' app since at least May 2022.

"Yes you can (use the Sonos Roam speaker without an app). However, you will need to set it up for the first time using the app." (May 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can I Use a Roam Without the App? |url=https://en.community.sonos.com/portable-speakers-229130/can-i-use-a-roam-without-the-app-6869207 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=[[Sonos]]}}</ref>

In addition, not all Sonos products support use without an app (April 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Andrew |date=22 Apr 2023 |title=How To Use Sonos Without The App: A Complete Guide |url=https://soundscapehq.com/how-to-use-sonos-without-app/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Sound Scape HQ}}</ref> and even if they do, sans-app usability is only limited to one speaker.

"You can use speakers without an app, but it only applies to a single speaker. If you want to play audio across multiple speakers, you will have to use the app and there is no other workaround to this." (Dec 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bearson |first=Rune |date=14 December 2021 |title=Can You Use Sonos Speakers Without the App? |url=https://earrockers.com/can-you-use-sonos-speakers-without-the-app/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Ear Rockers}}</ref>

==='''Hobbyist tools'''===
3D Printer manufacturer [[Bambu Lab]] forces users to bind their machines to an account via the use of an app called Bambu Handy and also forces the user to connect the machine to the internet whether they want to use LAN only mode or not. The fallout of this is that if you reset a machine and the servers are shut down the machine is a brick. [https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/x1/manual/setup-for-first-print]

===Retail and ecommerce===
Ecommerce giant [[Shopee]] which has a stronghold in online retail in South East Asia and Latin America has integrated a soft forced app download to their customer experience.

While it is still possible to browse, shop and checkout on a web browser, coupons usable on the web experience (regardless if mobile or desktop device) are limited to "Shipping Discount" coupons only. All other shopping coupons "Discount & Cashback" are only usable with Shopee's apps on iOS and Android.

When a customer attempts to check out on a web browser, Shopee shows that Discount & Cashback coupons are not usable because "Current device does not meet voucher T&C". On closer inspection of the terms and conditions of those coupons, Shopee specifies "Device: iOS, Android". What they are referring to is you must download and use their mobile apps for those operating systems in order to use most of their coupons. As pictured, the coupons are still not available on iOS and Android devices if the customer is using their web browser. They MUST download the Shopee app.
[[File:Shopee restricts coupon usage to app only.png|thumb|'''LEFT:''' Shopee limits customers to using "Shipping Discount" coupons only if checking out on a web browser (desktop and mobile). '''MIDDLE:''' All other shopping coupons "Discount & Cashback" are only usable with Shopee's apps on iOS and Android.

'''RIGHT:''' Closer inspection of the terms and conditions where Shopee specifies a device requirement for using many of their coupons.

When Shopee specifies "Device: iOS, Android", they mean customers must download and use their mobile apps for those operating systems in order to use most of their coupons. Using a web browser on iOS and Android does not count and coupons in question remain disabled in this scenario.]]
[[File:Shopee coupon still unusable on mobile web.jpg|thumb|Using a web browser on iOS and Android does not count and coupons with the device requirement remain disabled. What Shopee means by "Device: iOS, Android" in their coupons' terms and conditions is that customers MUST download and use the Shopee app for those coupons to be usable.]]

===Food and beverage===
An increasing number of 'digital-native' food businesses that are app-only are making their way onto the market. For example, Luckin Coffee, a Starbucks competitor from China, with stores in Singapore and planned expansion into Malaysia and the US in 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 Oct 2024 |title=China’s Luckin Coffee reportedly planning US launch in 2025 |url=https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/Latest/News/2024/October/China-s-Luckin-Coffee-reportedly-planning-US-launc |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=World Coffee Portal}}</ref> only allows ordering of beverages and payments via its app. The way it works is you download the app, register an account, log in, order a coffee and pay for it, then pick it up at a Luckin Coffee location. "With Luckin, you do not order coffee over the counter like in regular Western coffee shops. Instead, you do everything online. I ordered my drinks here without even needing to talk to the Barista!"<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 Jan 2024 |title=I Taste Tested 3 Signature Luckin Coffee Drinks, Photos (Creamy Dreamy, Big Cheesy, Coconut Latte) |url=https://www.clearlycoffee.com/review-signature-luckin-coffee-drinks-photos-creamy-dreamy-big-cheesy-coconut-latte/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Clearly Coffee}}</ref>

With a food-and-beverage business that is fully committed to forced app downloads like Luckin Coffee, there is no way to order nor pay at the physical store. You must download and use the app to interact with the business.

Forced app download represents the next stage of evolution from QR code based ordering. The key differences are:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Characteristic
!Forced app download
!QR-code based
|-
|Interface
|App downloaded from official app store
|Page opened in your choice of web browser
|-
|Ordering
|Order MUST be placed via app
|QR is pushed but usually possible to order offline (in real life)
|-
|Login
|You MUST create an account and log in to place an order
|Not required, often no registration is possible
|-
|Payments
|Cashless digital payment only
Payment MUST be made via app
|Depending on website, sometimes order online, pay offline
Depending on business, cash payments are usually possible
|}

==References==
[[Category:Anti-Consumer_Practices]]
[[Category:Common terms]]
<references />

IFTTT

2025-06-23T08:25:17Z

Rain: Replaced with template.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = IFTTT
| Type = Private
| Founded = 2010
| Industry = Web automation
| Official Website = ifttt.com
| Logo = IFTTT logo.svg
}}
[[wikipedia:IFTTT|'''IFTTT''']] is a simple automation tool and company founded by Linden Tibbets, Jesse Tane, and Alexander Tibbets in December 2010.
==Consumer impact summary==
Initially revenue for IFTTT came platform partnes who wanted their products included to the service.<ref>https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/ifttt-opens-partner-platform-introduces-160000560.html</ref> however in 2020 the company transitioned to a subscription model limiting the custom applets of non-paying users.<ref>https://www.gearbrain.com/ifttt-pro-subscription-service-explained-2647566439.html</ref> As time went on non-paying users progressively lost features, paying users having to spend more on premium, and valuable features for both types of consumers being gutted.{{citation needed}}
==Incidents==
===Discontinued Legacy plan===
{{Main|IFTTT discontinued Legacy plan}}
In 2023, IFTTT announced changes to its subscription model. Legacy Pro plans were phased out, and users were migrated to a new "Pro+" plan. This change meant higher subscription costs, even for those who had subscribed under the ''"lifetime"'' pricing guarantee.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:IFTTT]]

Nintendo

2025-06-23T08:12:07Z

Rain: Fixed link.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Nintendo
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1889
| Industry = Electronics, Entertainment Software
| Official Website = https://nintendo.com/
| Logo = Nintendo.png
}}

Founded in 1889, '''[[Wikipedia:Nintendo|Nintendo Co., Ltd.]]''' is a multi-billion-dollar video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan with multiple subdivisions outside of Japan. They manufacture video game consoles and handhelds, the most recent of which being the [[Nintendo Switch|Switch 2]]. Some of their best-known systems include the Wii, [[Nintendo Switch|Switch "1"]], GameCube, and Game Boy. They are also well-known for various popular video game franchises, such as ''Super Mario'', ''The Legend of Zelda'', ''Pokémon'', and ''Metroid''.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*'''User freedom:''' Extensive history against hardware and software modification; recently has pushed to brick consoles if homebrew is detected.
*'''User privacy:''' Historically has ignored individual consumers; recently may be spying on Nintendo Switch hardware to detect modifications.
*'''Business model:''' Hardware sales, software sales, more recently subscriptions such as [[Nintendo Switch Online]].
*'''Market competition:''' Limited home console competition from [[Sony]] and [[Xbox]]; questionable portable console competition.

==Controversial Practices==
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:Nintendo|Nintendo category]].

===History against console emulation===
United States Copyright Law, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 117 effectively states that making a copy of a computer program that you still own the original copy of (e.g., a video game, like Super Smash Bros. Melee) is legal if copying it is necessary in order to use the program with a machine (e.g., the Dolphin emulator) and that it isn't used in any other way, or to archive the program<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=Chapter 1: Subject Matter and Scope of Copyright, Section 117 |url=https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=U.S. Copyright Office}}</ref>. Emulation is also legal in this context, as proven by ''Sony v. Connectix''<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2025 |title=Sony Computer Entertainment v. Connectix Corp. |url=https://casetext.com/case/sony-computer-entertainment-v-connectix-corp-2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331104619/https://casetext.com/case/sony-computer-entertainment-v-connectix-corp-2 |archive-date=31 Mar 2025 |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=CaseText}}</ref> and ''Sony v. Bleem''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Apr 2023 |title=Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. v. Bleem, LLC |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Sony_Computer_Entertainment_America,_Inc._v._Bleem,_LLC |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=Wikisource}}</ref>. Despite this precedent, however, Nintendo is well-known for their extensive history of combating emulation of their games and hardware.

====Examples:====

*In 1999, Nintendo sued Nintendo 64 emulator UltraHLE.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Hemos |date=12 Feb 1999 |title=Nintendo Confirms It Will Sue UltraHLE Creators 96 |url=https://games.slashdot.org/story/99/02/12/0943207/nintendo-confirms-it-will-sue-ultrahle-creators |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=games.slashdot.org}} </ref>
*On November 19th, 2020, The Big House, a Super Smash Brothers Melee and Ultimate tournament, announced that Nintendo had sent them a cease and desist because of their use of a Super Smash Bros. Melee modification that required the use of a GameCube and Wii emulator known as Dolphin.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=20 Nov 2020 |title=Nintendo shuts down Super Smash Bros. tournament for using mods to play online |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/20/21579392/nintendo-big-house-super-smash-bros-melee-tournament-slippi-cease-desist |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=@TheBigHouseSSB |date=19 Nov 2020 |title=The Big House on X (Twitter) |url=https://twitter.com/TheBigHouseSSB/status/1329521081577857036 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127080201/https://twitter.com/TheBigHouseSSB/status/1329521081577857036 |archive-date=27 Nov 2020 |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=X (Twitter)}}</ref> This led them to have to cancel the tournament. ''Full section: [https://consumerrights.wiki/Nintendo#The_Big_House_Online_Tournament_(2020) The Big House Online Tournament (2020)]''
*In 2024, Nintendo took down [[Nintendo Switch]] emulator Yuzu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Joseph |date=11 Apr 2024 |title=Ninten-don’t: Breaking Down the Yuzu Emulator Lawsuit |url=https://www.romanolaw.com/ninten-dont-breaking-down-the-yuzu-emulator-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.romanolaw.com}} </ref>
*Nintendo has also pressured for restrictions to access emulators, such as Dolphin's non-inclusion as a core for the [[Steam]] version of RetroArch.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Jul 2023 |title=What Happened to Dolphin on Steam? |url=https://it.dolphin-emu.org/blog/2023/07/20/what-happened-to-dolphin-on-steam/?cr=it |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=it.dolphin-emu.org}}</ref>

===History against hardware modification===
<blockquote>''Further Reading: [[Game Genie lawsuit]], [[Le Hoang Minh lawsuit]], [[Team Xecuter and Gary Bowser lawsuit]], [[ModdedHardware lawsuit]], [[Nintendo's May 2025 Policy Updates]]'' 

''See also: [https://consumerrights.wiki/Nintendo#Controversial_agreements_and_policies Controversial agreements and policies]''</blockquote>Nintendo is known to frequently get into legal altercations with the creators of hardware modifications.

====Examples:====

*Nintendo has sued the creators of cheat code devices, such as the Game Genie<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Eric E. |date=31 Dec 2007 |title=Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc. in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 964 F. 2d 965 (9th Cir. 1992) |url=https://www.museumofintellectualproperty.org/features/game_genie.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.museumofintellectualproperty.org}}</ref> and 10NES circumvention<ref>{{Cite web |date=1992 |title=Atari Games Corp. v. Nintendo of Am. Inc |url=https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/summaries/atari-nintendo-fedcir1992.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.copyright.gov}}</ref> which allowed users to enter cheat codes into their games and bypass the security lockout chip to prevent [[piracy]].

*On November 18th, 2020, Nintendo of America sued Le Hoang Minh for selling RCM Loaders (plug in USB devices allowing unsigned/homebrew software to run on a Nintendo Switch), accusing him of selling piracy devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Nintendo sues more hack sellers, ‘a worsening international problem’ |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/18/21574488/nintendo-rcm-loader-jailbreak-lawsuit-switch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126071118/https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/18/21574488/nintendo-rcm-loader-jailbreak-lawsuit-switch |archive-date=26 Nov 2020 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref>
*On April 16th, 2021, Nintendo of America sued Gary Bowser, head of video game modchip development and sales group Team Xecuter for over $150,000, accusing him of selling piracy devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=17 Apr 2021 |title=Nintendo suing Bowser over Switch hacks |url=https://www.polygon.com/22388720/nintendo-bowser-lawsuit-team-xecuter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417151420/https://www.polygon.com/22388720/nintendo-bowser-lawsuit-team-xecuter |archive-date=17 Apr 2021 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref>
*On June 28th, 2024, Nintendo sued modded game seller ModdedHardware for selling [[Nintendo Switch]] flashcarts, modded [[Nintendo Switch]] consoles, and a mail-in console modding service with the argument being raised that a modded system is capable of running pirated software alongside allegations of ModdedHardware pre-installing pirated games, despite citing no evidence in the legal document.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van der Sar |first=Ernesto |date=1 Jul 2024 |title=Nintendo Sues ‘Modded Hardware’ and r/SwitchPirates Moderator ‘Archbox’ |url=https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-sues-modded-hardware-and-r-switchpirates-moderator-archbox-240701/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710091021/https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-sues-modded-hardware-and-r-switchpirates-moderator-archbox-240701/ |archive-date=10 Jul 2024 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=TorrentFreak}}</ref>

*In May 2025, Nintendo updated their privacy policy<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Nintendo |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/privacy_policy/US?lang=en-US |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Nintendo Accounts}}</ref> to reserve the company the right to remotely disable consoles owned by consumers if it detects modified hardware or software attempting to run on the system.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo reserves the right to brick your console following "unauthorised use", in bid to prevent piracy |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref>

===De-listing/destruction of access to games===
<blockquote>''Further Reading: [[Storefront shutdown#Wii U/3DS eShops (2012–2023)]], [[Storefront shutdown#Wii Shop Channel (2006–2019)]]'' </blockquote>In late January of 2019, Nintendo shut down their first digital storefront, the Wii Shop Channel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=Wii Shop Channel Discontinuation |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27560/~/wii-shop-channel-discontinuation |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Customer Support}}</ref> Subsequently, on March 27, 2023, they shut down the [[Wii U]] and [[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]] eShops.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Apr 2023 |title=Notice of End of Purchases in Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DUpdate April 2023 |url=https://www.nintendo.com/au/support/articles/wii-u-and-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Support}}</ref> These shutdowns have caused hundreds of games to become impossible to legally obtain new copies of and for some, additionally play which include Splatoon 1, Super Mario Maker, Pokémon Picross, and more.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 Mar 2023 |title=These are the 1,000 digital-only 3DS and Wii U games disappearing next week |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/analysis-digital-only-wii-u-3ds-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.videogameschronicle.com}}</ref> As of now, over 1,000 digitally exclusive games can only be obtained through piracy, and a subset requires additional modification to run.

In early 2025, [[Nintendo Switch Online]] (NSO) delisted a game for the first time, Super Soccer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@GVG |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=First Game Removed from Nintendo Switch Online |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSz-wKls0Wk |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Glagowski |first=Peter |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Nintendo of Japan announces title will be removed from NSO library, first time since launch |url=https://nintendowire.com/news/2025/02/28/nintendo-of-japan-announces-title-will-be-removed-from-nso-library-first-time-since-launch/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Wire}}</ref> With the previously mentioned events of delisting of products a consumer owns for their consoles, such as a physical game on disc or a previously downloaded digital title, consumers still had the ability to play these games, and in some instances, even reinstall them. However, with [[Nintendo Switch Online|NSO]] acting as a [[streaming service]] for games it provides to consumers, when a title is delisted, consumers completely and totally lose access to the game, unless the company who requested the title to be delisted were to re-list the game on the service. This event has caused rightful concern among consumers, because this may set a dangerous precedent for access to retro games in the future.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flores Jr. |first=Johnny |date=1 Mar 2025 |title=Nintendo Is Delisting A Game From The Switch Online Library For The First Time |url=https://www.thegamer.com/nintendo-delisting-snes-game-from-switch-online-library/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=The Gamer}}</ref>

===Nintendo authorized repair===
<blockquote>Further Reading: [[Nintendo authorized repair]]</blockquote>A man sent in their Nintendo Switch to Nintendo for repair of a broken charging port and was given an estimate of £132 (161.51 USD) to replace the entire motherboard, which would result in data loss and noted screen damage. This was despite the only damage to the console being to the charging port and a screen protector, and not the screen itself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=31 Jul 2021 |title=Why Nintendo authorized repair sucks: the incentives are at odds with a good repair experience |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxKJn35DK8k |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> 
===Joy-Con and Joystick related Hardware Failures===

[[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] are the included controllers (retailing for $80) for the Nintendo Switch, and they are prone to failure via "stick drift" within a few months of purchase. According to the 2022 study by the British consumer protection group '''Which?''<nowiki/>', 40% of [[Nintendo Switch]] owners experienced [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Con]] drift.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Andrew |date=14 Jun 2022 |title=Two in five UK Nintendo Switch Classic consoles blighted by Joy-Con drift |url=https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/two-in-five-uk-nintendo-switch-classic-consoles-blighted-by-joy-con-drift-aVaRY2j5RoO8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626212228/https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/two-in-five-uk-nintendo-switch-classic-consoles-blighted-by-joy-con-drift-aVaRY2j5RoO8 |archive-date=26 Jun 2022 |access-date=1 Jun 2025 |website=Which?}}</ref> This defect is also found in other official Nintendo controllers, like the Pro Controller (Pro-Cons), and the Switch Lite, a version of the Nintendo Switch that has its Joy-Cons built into the handheld system. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa apologized for the "inconvenience" and subsequently launched Nintendo's "free repair program."

The way the "free repair program" works is that the user will send the defective [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] to Nintendo for "repair," which, in most cases, involves replacing the defective [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] with new ones. The problem arises in cases involving limited edition [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]], where you have to sign off on consenting to the possibility of your limited edition or "non-standard colored" [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] being replaced with a standard color [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Con]] if they are sent to Nintendo for "repair." This leaves consumers with these limited edition [[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Cons]] without a guaranteed way to get their products repaired if they use Nintendo's official repair service.

===The Big House Online Tournament (2020)===
On November 19th, 2020, The Big House, a Super Smash Brothers Melee and Ultimate tournament, announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that they had received a cease and desist from Nintendo of America, and would be forced to cancel the tournament.<ref name=":5" /> Nintendo had told The Big House that they were not allowed to host their online tournament because of their use of a game modification. The modification was Slippi, which runs through a GameCube and Wii emulator called Dolphin to enable online functionality for Super Smash Bros. Melee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About - What is Slippi? |url=https://slippi.gg/about |url-status=live |access-date=31 May 2025 |website=Slippi.gg}}</ref>

Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, The Big House tournament was going to be run online primarily for attendees' safety. Melee is a video game from 2001 that does not have built-in online functionality, so it would have been impossible to run an online tournament for it without the use of modifications. A Nintendo of America spokesperson claimed that the cease and desist was issued to "protect [Nintendo's] intellectual property and brands". The spokesperson also stated that allowing the tournament to run would "condone or allow piracy of [Nintendo's] intellectual property". In other words, the spokesperson claimed that using Slippi would have required the use of pirated copies of Melee<ref name=":4" />, despite the fact that professional Melee players typically play legitimate copies of the game on official hardware to practice and compete.

===Nintendo V. Pocketpair===
Nintendo is suing Pocketpair, the developers of the extremely popular video game Palworld,<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Palworld_EN |date=19 Sep 2024 |title=Palworld_EN on X |url=https://x.com/Palworld_EN/status/1836692701355688146 |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=X}}</ref> for patent infringement, despite filing the patent after Palworld was already released to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2024 |title=US Patent Application for STORAGE MEDIUM STORING GAME PROGRAM, GAME SYSTEM, GAME APPARATUS, AND GAME PROCESSING METHOD Patent Application (Application #20240278129) |url=https://patents.justia.com/patent/20240278129 |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=patents.justia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@PirateSoftware |date=17 Oct 2024 |title=Palworld Lawsuit |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4ZZx4wiofw |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=Nintendo Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks More |url=https://gamerant.com/nintendo-anti-palworld-patents-uspto-infringement-lawsuit-implications/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=GameRant}}</ref> Should Nintendo win this case, users who purchased licenses for Palworld may be revoked.

===Nintendo Creators Program===
{{Main|Nintendo Creators Program}}
In 2013, Nintendo placed advertisements on let's play videos where their games were played, taking 100% of all revenue made by said adverts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |date=15 May 2013 |title=Nintendo Forcing Ads On Some YouTube "Let's Play" Videos |url=https://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-507092383 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607222601/https://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-507092383 |archive-date=7 Jun 2013 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku}}</ref> In 2015, Nintendo started a YouTube partnership program, which required the removal of all non-Nintendo related videos on the channel, creators being given 60% of revenue per video or 70% of the channel's gross revenue. The program only allowed games on a internal Nintendo-made whitelist which infamously lacked multiple large/popular releases of the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=29 Jan 2015 |title=Nintendo to share up to 70 percent of ad revenue with game YouTubers |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/nintendo-to-share-up-to-70-percent-of-ad-revenue-with-game-youtubers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208085014/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/nintendo-to-share-up-to-70-percent-of-ad-revenue-with-game-youtubers/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2015 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> In 2017, Nintendo announced that live streaming wasn't allowed for creators in their Creator Program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=2 Oct 2017 |title=Nintendo no longer welcoming YouTube livestreams of its games |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/nintendo-cuts-off-ad-program-for-youtube-livestreamers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004040443/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/nintendo-cuts-off-ad-program-for-youtube-livestreamers/ |archive-date=4 Oct 2017 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> It ended in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=29 Nov 2018 |title=Nintendo ends controversial YouTube revenue-sharing program |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/11/nintendo-loosens-content-restrictions-ends-revenue-splitting-for-video-makers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130073206/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/11/nintendo-loosens-content-restrictions-ends-revenue-splitting-for-video-makers/ |archive-date=30 Nov 2018 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref>, with Nintendo stating they “encourage you to create videos that include your creative input and commentary” and that “Videos and images that contain mere copies of Nintendo Game Content without creative input or commentary are not permitted.”<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2 Sep 2024 |title=Nintendo Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/networkservice_guideline/en/index.html?n |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322224418/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/networkservice_guideline/en/index.html?n |archive-date=22 Mar 2025 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Nintendo}}</ref>

===Controversial agreements and policies===
{{Main|Nintendo's May 2025 Policy Updates}}
On May 8th, 2025, Nintendo changed their privacy policy<ref name="PrivacyPolicyMain">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/privacy_policy/US?lang=en-US |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo Accounts}}</ref><ref name="PrivacyPolicySummaryChanges">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy - What's Changed? |url=https://www.nintendo.com/us/privacy-policy/whats-changed/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo}}</ref> and Nintendo Account User Agreement,<ref name="EULAMain2">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Account User Agreement |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/eula/US?lang=en-US |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo Accounts}}</ref> with features inside both which have the potential to negatively impact consumers. Highlights such as Section 6 (Adherence to content guidelines), Section 13 (reservation to render hardware/software inaccessible), and section 16 (forced arbitration) are key features that come to the risk of right to ownership of hardware and software that consumers may have paid for.

Considerable backlash occurred especially over section 13, as both consumers<ref name="RunNGameYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Run N Game Entertainment |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Is Nintendo breaking the law? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOiD-lvaok |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="FashoKangYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Fasho |first=Kang |date=May 11, 2025 |title=The Switch 2 will RUIN Gaming [Full Controversy Explained] (Angry Rant) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8Pv97mt8U |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="NintenDeenYouTube">{{Cite web |last=NintenDeen |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Console Bans |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1H6cKTNxKM |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> and outlets<ref name="EurogamerBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo reserves the right to brick your console following "unauthorised use", in bid to prevent piracy |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref><ref name="GameFileEffectiveDate">{{Cite news |last=Totilo |first=Stephen |date=May 8, 2025 |title=Nintendo warns it may brick Switch systems whose users “bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with” their games and services |url=https://www.gamefile.news/p/nintendo-emulation-hacking-brick-warning-terms-of-service |access-date=May 15, 2025 |work=Game File}}</ref> believe this means Nintendo reserved the right to effectively "brick" consoles such as the [[Nintendo Switch]] or its successor.<ref name=":1" /> This also may concern repair shops, as they may be required to instead purchase proprietary repair software from Nintendo to run diagnostics for the console, or otherwise risk bricking the console running personal/community-developed software.

===Deliberately locking Switch 2 consoles behind an online-only patch===
Users have reported Switch 2 consoles being in stock in some stores,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Ollie |date=May 26, 2025 |title=US Retailers Are Reportedly Starting To Receive Switch 2 Stock |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/05/us-retailers-are-reportedly-starting-to-receive-switch-2-stock |access-date=May 28, 2025 |work=Nintendo Life}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Alleexxi |date=May 27, 2025 |title=The Nintendo Switch 2 is already in end users' hands. {{!}} Switch Locked behind Day 1 Patch |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1kwv8go/the_nintendo_switch_2_is_already_in_end_users/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527185423/https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1kwv8go/the_nintendo_switch_2_is_already_in_end_users/ |archive-date=May 27, 2025 |access-date=May 28, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> however for these users who did get their hands on the console early among a multitude of reasons, these consoles are locked behind a patch that requires an internet connection to Nintendo servers to use the consoles.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Kent |first=Bobby |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Nintendo Switch 2 Gets Out Early, But It’s Locked Behind A Day 1 Patch |url=https://gameluster.com/nintendo-switch-2-gets-out-early-but-its-locked-behind-a-day-1-patch/ |access-date=May 28, 2025 |website=Game Luster}}</ref> While this is a measure used to deter piracy ahead of the system's launch,<ref name=":3" /> this does mean that users will be required to connect to the internet to have any viable console functionality post-launch.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Drake |first=John |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Early Leak of Nintendo Switch 2 Get Locked Out By Day 1 Patch |url=https://gurugamer.com/pc-console/early-leak-of-nintendo-switch-2-get-locked-out-by-day-1-patch-24742 |access-date=May 28, 2025 |work=Guru Gamer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hagues |first=Alana |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Switch 2 Units Are Allegedly Out In The Wild, But You Might Need An Update For Switch 1 Games |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/05/switch-2-units-are-allegedly-out-in-the-wild-but-you-might-need-an-update-for-switch-1-games |access-date=May 28, 2025 |work=Nintendo Life}}</ref>

Despite these measures, a sizeable portion of the Switch 1 library, and especially AAA titles, will not be available to play post-launch for an undetermined period of time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FritangaPlays |date=May 28, 2025 |title=Over 100 Switch 2 Games That Will Not Work At Launch! OFFICIAL UPDATE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=930oJHZd4Y0 |access-date=May 28, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

===Console bans stripping vital features===
{{Main|Nintendo Switch bans}}
There have been reports from users that the usage of the MIG Switch cartridge on the [[Nintendo Switch|''Nintendo Switch 2'']] will cause the device from being banned from all online services provided to the console,<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Faulkner |first=Cameron |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Nintendo will take your Switch 2 offline forever if you use a Mig flash cartridge |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/688483/nintendo-switch-2-ban-error-code-mig-flash-cartridge-online |journal=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ratchet Mods |date=Jun 20, 2025 |title=Nintendo BRICKS MIG Flash user's Switch 2 - The Difference between banning a Switch and BRICKING it |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn4969P2RIA |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> regardless of the usage of the cartridge for legitimately dumped software, homebrew, or otherwise. Compared to previous console generations, the online bans on the the [[Nintendo Switch|''Nintendo Switch 2'']] will cause a soft-brick, as vital features such as the ''eShop'' or factory resetting the device are permanently disabled. <ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game “backups” |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |access-date=Jun 19, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>

The disabling of the ''eShop'' in particular means the console cannot download games or updates, and in particular disables the functionality of [[Switch Game Key-Card|game-key cards]], which require access to the ''eShop'' to be capable of downloading the game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=Jun 5, 2025 |title=Buying Physical? Watch Out For the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/nintendo-switch-2-game-cards-vs-game-key-cards-vs-downloads-whats-the-difference |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |work=PC Mag}}</ref>
==Products==

===Console Hardware===

*[[Nintendo 3DS|3DS/2DS]]
*[[Nintendo Wii U|Wii U]]
*[[Nintendo Switch]]/Switch 2

===Console peripherals/add-ons===

*[[Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons|Joy-Con]]
*[[Switch Pro Controller]]
*[[Switch Game Key-Card]]

===Software===

*[[Nintendo Switch Online]]

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

Crash Team Racing

2025-06-19T08:01:23Z

Rain: Fixed link, spacing and punctuation.

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Release Year = 2019
| Product Type = Videogame
| In Production = No
| Official Website = https://www.crashbandicoot.com/ca/en/crashteamracing
| Logo = Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled.png
}}

'''[[Wikipedia:Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled|Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled]]''' is a 2019 kart racing video game developed by Beenox and published by [[Activision]], released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is a remake of ''Crash Team Racing'' (1999) with updated graphics, new playable characters, and various adjustments to the original's gameplay. ''Nitro-Fueled'' was generally received positively, but it received criticism from consumers for its post-release addition of microtransactions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gravelle |first=Cody |date=11 Jun 2019 |title=Crash Team Racing Is ... Good, But It Also DOESN'T Have Microtransactions |url=https://screenrant.com/crash-team-racing-microtransactions-gameplay-presentation-e3-2019/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114013309/https://screenrant.com/crash-team-racing-microtransactions-gameplay-presentation-e3-2019/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=ScreenRant}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hovermale |first=Christopher |date=5 Aug 2019 |title=Activision’s post-launch microtransactions are the peak of anti-consumer practices |url=https://www.destructoid.com/activisions-post-launch-microtransactions-are-the-peak-of-anti-consumer-practices/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214152818/https://www.destructoid.com/activisions-post-launch-microtransactions-are-the-peak-of-anti-consumer-practices/ |archive-date=14 Feb 2025 |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Destructoid}}</ref>

==Consumer Impact Summary==

===User Freedom===
*The product requires users to accept a binding arbitration clause before being allowed to play the game, even offline.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Sep 2024 |title=Terms of Use |url=https://www.activision.com/ca/en/legal/terms-of-use |url-status=live |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Activision}}</ref>
*The product also requires connection to a proprietary server for some features to function. The Grand Prix, Wumpa Coins, Nitro Points, online multiplayer, and access to the Pit Stop are among these features.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=30 Jul 2019 |title=Get Ready to Go Prehistoric! The Back N. Time Grand Prix is coming to Crash™ Team Racing Nitro-Fueled on August 2nd! |url=https://blog.activision.com/crash-bandicoot/2019-07/Get-Ready-to-Go-Prehistoric-The-Back-N-Time-Grand-Prix-is-coming-to-Crash-Team-Racing-Nitro-Fueled-on-August-2nd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417092259/https://blog.activision.com/crash-bandicoot/2019-07/Get-Ready-to-Go-Prehistoric-The-Back-N-Time-Grand-Prix-is-coming-to-Crash-Team-Racing-Nitro-Fueled-on-August-2nd |archive-date=17 Apr 2025 |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Activision Blog}}</ref>

===Business Model===
*The game released on June 21st, 2019 without microtransactions. However, on July 30th of the same year, Activision announced that an update on August 2nd would add microtransactions.<ref name=":2" /> This update enabled players to purchase Wumpa Coins, the in-game currency, using real currency. The game's digital storefront only sells cosmetic items, meaning that none of the items players can purchase provide a gameplay advantage. In addition, players can earn Wumpa Coins without purchasing them with real currency.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Jan 2020 |title=How Microtransactions in CTR Nitro-Fueled Work |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/crash-team-racing-nitro-fueled/How_Microtransactions_in_CTR_Nitro-Fueled_Work |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313235941/https://www.ign.com/wikis/crash-team-racing-nitro-fueled/How_Microtransactions_in_CTR_Nitro-Fueled_Work |archive-date=13 Mar 2025 |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> However, consumers were still<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> displeased with the addition of microtransactions because a member of the development team had stated in an interview at E3 2019 that the entire game would "avoid microtransactions".<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
*[[Microtransactions]]
*[[Forced arbitration|Binding Arbitration]]
*[[Online Requirements]]

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

Category:Articles with verification concerns or other deficiencies

2025-06-18T08:29:47Z

Rain: Fixed spacing.

This is a list of articles that have been marked to be incomplete in some way. These have been marked with an incomplete notice.

[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Category:Articles requiring expansion

2025-06-18T08:27:50Z

Rain: Fixed spacing.

Articles marked as needing expansion to be included in the wiki. These have been marked with a stub notice.

[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Category:Minecraft

2025-06-17T08:11:40Z

Rain: Removed redundant links and added category.

[[Category:Video games]]

Minecraft account migration

2025-06-17T08:07:28Z

Rain: Added category.

{{StubNotice}}

== Introduction ==
[[wikipedia:Minecraft|'''''Minecraft''''']] is a sandbox video game developed by Swedish developer '''Mojang Studios''' (also known as '''Mojang AB''' or simply '''Mojang'''). The original PC version of the game was created by Markus "Notch" Persson using the Java programming language, and it is known as "Minecraft Java Edition". The first public alpha version of Java Edition came out on May 17th, 2009, then fully released on November 18th, 2011. On September 15th, 2014, Mojang was acquired by '''[[Microsoft]]'''.<ref name=":1" />

Throughout Java Edition's development, players could exclsuively access their purchased copy of the game through the use of a Mojang account.<ref name=":2" /> However, on October 21st, 2020, Mojang announced that Minecraft Java Edition players must migrate their Mojang accounts to Microsoft accounts.<ref name=":03">[https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/java-edition-moving-house "Java Edition is moving house"] - minecraft.net - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> Consumers who did not migrate their accounts by December 18th, 2023 lost their access to the game and had to re-purchase Minecraft Java Edition under a Microsoft account with a new username at full retail price if they wanted to play.<ref name=":3" />

==General==
At the time of Mojang's acquisition by Microsoft, the PC version of Minecraft was known as "Minecraft Java Edition". Before the acquisition and at least through the end of 2019, customers who wanted to purchase Minecraft Java Edition would do so by creating a Mojang account and buying the game under that account's name.<ref name=":1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20191219131419/https://my.minecraft.net/en-us/login/ "Archived Minecraft Website from December 19, 2019 showing Mojang Accounts were the exclusive method of signing in"] - archive.org - non-functional as of 2025-01-29, please someone else test this archive</ref> Minecraft Java Edition owners would then play the game by signing into the game's launcher with their Mojang Account.

Mojang announced on October 21, 2020 that Minecraft Java Edition players would need to migrate their Mojang account to a Microsoft account.<ref name=":0">[https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/java-edition-moving-house "Java Edition is moving house"] - minecraft.net - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> Those who migrated their Mojang accounts to Microsoft accounts would maintain access to their username, cosmetics, player worlds, and earn an exclusive cosmetic cape.<ref name=":0" />

Mojang's staff wrote wrote the following about the account migration: <blockquote>"Now just to be clear, migrating from Mojang to Microsoft accounts is ''mandatory''. If you don’t make the move, in several months you won’t be able to log in anymore – which means you won’t be able to play either."<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Account migration started in waves or "batches" sometime in early 2021.<ref name=":0" /> Initially, account migration was voluntary, and users with Mojang accounts could play Minecraft Java Edition without needing to migrate their accounts. On February 2, 2022, Mojang announced that on March 10, 2022 the voluntary migration period would end and that Mojang account users would be unable to play Minecraft Java Edition without migrating their account. On May 8, 2023, Mojang announced that Mojang account owners would have until September 19, 2023 to migrate to a Microsoft account or permanently lose the capacity to migrate their account. Following this September 19, 2023 deadline, Mojang gave Mojang account owners who missed the deadline a three month grace period through December 18, 2023 to migrate their account.<ref name=":2">[https://web.archive.org/web/20231210202436/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/19615552270221 "Post-Migration Process FAQ"] - help.minecraft.net - archived 2023-12-10</ref> Mojang account owners who exercised their option under this three-month grace period would not have access to the cosmetics associated with their Mojang account or the certainty that they would enjoy the username associated with their Mojang account under their Microsoft account. After December 18, 2023, Mojang account owners who had purchased Minecraft Java Edition from Mojang would need to purchase Minecraft under a Microsoft account in order to play the game.

On a page titled "I Missed My Chance to Migrate. What Happens to My Account?" on the official Minecraft Help Center, Mojang explains: <blockquote>"To continue playing Minecraft, you will have to buy Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition using a Microsoft account.<ref name=":3">[https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/19633473939981-I-Missed-My-Chance-to-Migrate-What-Happens-to-My-Account "I Missed My Chance to Migrate. What Happens to My Account?"] - help.minecraft.net - accessed 2025-02-01</ref> </blockquote>Even during the migration period, it was not made easy to contact the people behind Minecraft about this. Support was not replying to questions about the migration process and issues with it.

Users who could not figure out how to migrate their accounts that they bought in the pre-release era had to re-purchase Minecraft with a different username for a post-release price (Alpha costing 9.95€, Beta costing 14.95€, and the full release being 29.99€).

In https://web.archive.org/web/20210813083726/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/2175441966/minecraft-beta-december-20-2010 Notch promised in his blog that all purchasers of the Alpha version of the game would get all purchases of the game for free, even saying ''"a promise is a promise"'', as he removed it from purchases made after the release of Beta.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]

Bumpgate

2025-06-16T08:05:21Z

Rain: Fixed line break that caused error.

[[File:Underfilled Die.png|alt=The image shows a diagram of a computer processor. On the bottom, there is a green rectangle labeled "substrate". On top of the substrate, there is a black rectangle labeled "chip", which refers to the die. Between the die and the substrate, there are small silver bumps equally spaced apart, encased within a white "filling". The bumps are the solder bumps connecting the die to the substrate, and the white filling is the underfill- meant to strengthen the solder bumps.|thumb|A diagram of a computer processor. When the underfill becomes too soft at any point in the processor's normal operating temperatures, the solder bumps under the die ("chip") can crack, disconnecting the die from the substrate. This leads to the processor failing, and in turn, leads to a critical system failure for the device it's in.]]
'''Bumpgate''', also known as '''Nvidiagate''', was a scandal where [[Nvidia]] and ATI Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) were prone to high failure rates due to a design flaw that led to cracked solder bumps under the die.<ref name=":0" /> Despite the "Nvidiagate" name, this defect not only affected many Nvidia GPUs made from approximately 2006 to 2010, but it also affected ATI GPUs from 2006 to 2008. Among retro console enthusiasts, the defect is best known to have been the likely culprit behind the high failure rate of Nvidia GPUs in [[Sony]]'s early PlayStation 3 models<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=RIP Felix |first= |date=23 Dec 2022 |title=A PS3 Story: The Yellow Light of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za7WTNwAX0c |url-status=live |access-date=2 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> and ATI GPUs in [[Microsoft]]'s early Xbox 360 models.<ref name=":3" /> Individuals interested in other retro computers may know of the defect from certain models of Dell and HP laptops manufactured as early as 2005 and as late as 2010, as well as certain Apple Macbook Pros made from May 2007 to September 2008.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=Affected Models |url=http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001080616/http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |archive-date=1 Oct 2010 |access-date=7 Jun 2025 |website=The NVIDIA GPU Litigation}}</ref>

==Background==

===Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Faults===
From approximately 2005-2010, GPU manufacturers Nvidia and ATI developed some GPUs that had a serious design flaw. This flaw led to failures in many of their GPUs during that time period, and Nvidia even saw a class action lawsuit from it. In order to understand what truly happened during this controversy, though, it's important to understand what exactly led to the faults.

These manufacturers had engineered GPUs that electrically connected the silicon chip (die) to the substrate (the "green square part") using high-lead solder bumps. High-lead solder bumps were chosen in order to fit the power delivery specifications that these GPUs needed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Rob |date=29 Sep 2008 |title=NVIDIA at a Disadvantage Due to their Choice of Solder? |url=https://techgage.com/news/nvidia_at_a_disadvantage_due_to_their_choice_of_solder/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 Jun 2025 |website=Techgage}}</ref> To give these solder bumps more strength (especially when operating at high temperatures), it's standard to use an epoxy with silica filler known as underfill. Underfill needs to fit certain specifications, depending on how hot the processor it's used on is expected to get. If it's too hard, the underfill will crack the die. If it's too soft, the bumps will crack because the underfill isn't supportive enough. It also needs to still fit within the right specifications at both high and low temperatures.

In 2006, IBM and Amkor published a study that explained that use of a low Tg underfill was not acceptable with high-lead solder bumps, and high Tg would be necessary to avoid defects.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ray |first=S. |last2=Kiyono |first2=S. |last3=Waite |first3=K. |last4=Nicholls |first4=L. |date=2006 |title=Qualification of low-K 90nm Technology Die with Pb-free Bumps on a Build-up Laminate Package (PBGA) with Pb-free Assembly Processes |journal=56th Electronic Components and Technology Conference |pages=139-144 |via=IEEE}}</ref> Therefore, because Nvidia and ATI chose to use high-lead solder bumps, they needed a high Tg underfill. However, this study was not out at the time that GPUs from 2005 were made, and the companies ended up using low Tg underfill in these processors.

This low Tg underfill would become too soft at high, but normal operating temperatures for these GPUs. When the processor went through normal thermal changes, the solder bumps would soften under heat and harden as they cooled.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Demerjian |first=Charlie |date=1 Sep 2008 |title=Why Nvidia's chips are defective |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520152257/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |archive-date=20 May 2009 |access-date=1 Jun 2025 |website=The Inquirer}}</ref> This would happen over and over again until they cracked under the thermal stress. When enough solder bumps cracked, it would cause a failure in the unit, hence the term "Bumpgate".

==Companies involved and responses==
Bumpgate was a worldwide issue for any consumer that purchased these defective graphics processors. However, it's not fully clear who was the most responsible for the incident. Building a GPU is a specialized process that requires it to go through multiple partner companies before ultimately ending up with the company that sells the unit (i.e., Microsoft, Sony, Nvidia, etc.). With this in mind, it is still important to note the response of each of the companies that were the public faces involved in this incident.

====Microsoft's Response - The "Red Ring of Death"====
[[File:GPU early.jpg|alt=An image of a 90 nanometer graphics processing unit from a Microsoft Xbox 360. The die is in the center of the green square, and the eDRAM is located to the left of it. The die has dark greenish low Tg underfill under it, indicating that it is defective.|thumb|200x200px|A ''defective'' 90nm "Xenos" GPU from an '''early''' Xbox 360 (Xenon revision). Note the large die in the center of the chip, and the dark greenish underfill. The color of the underfill is one way to tell if the chip has the low Tg underfill.]]<blockquote>''"The breakthrough came when we understood that the connections that were being broken were not located on the motherboard, but they were actually located inside the components."''

- Leo Del Castillo, member of Xbox's hardware engineering group; ''Power On: The Story of Xbox (2021)''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Xbox |date=13 Dec 2021 |title=Power On: The Story of Xbox {{!}} Chapter 5: The Red Ring of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2d6IMBS8oY |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/power-on-the-story-of-xbox/The+Story+of+the+Xbox+-+Chapter+5/Power+On+-+The+Story+of+Xbox+-+Chapter+5+-+The+Red+Ring+of+Death.mp4 |archive-date=13 Dec 2021 |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref></blockquote>In November 2005, Microsoft released the Xbox 360 with the ATI Xenos GPU. According to leaked internal Microsoft documents from the time, 1.2 million 360s shipped out to consumers by November 30th, 2005. 3% of customers had some type of issue with their system. Out of that 3%, 19% had three flashing red rings, and 24% had freezing problems.<ref name=":2" /> 

Therefore, 43% of consumers shortly after launch had these familiar symptoms to retro console enthusiasts: the "Red Ring of Death"- which is what consumers around the world called the Xbox 360's Bumpgate-related fault. However, "three flashing red rings" on the Xbox 360 simply means "core digital error"- in other words, a general hardware failure. It takes multiple power-on cycles to cause a failure in the solder bumps, so it is unlikely that these systems were failing specifically because of the Bumpgate defect. 56% of systems worked on the first try, and after component reworks, that number improved to 71%. Only 200,000 consoles went to what Microsoft termed "the bonepile", a collection of broken consoles that still did not work after a component rework. However, it is also worth noting that some owners discovered that some afflicted Xbox 360s will work again after a "reflow"- which is effectively redoing all of the components on the motherboard at once. In addition, Microsoft wasn't aware that the "Red Ring of Death" was a specific widespread problem yet, so they would not have been taking major note of consoles with a GPU problem. At the height of the Bumpgate-related defect, approximately 600,000 to 1,000,000 Xbox 360s were suffering from the "Red Ring of Death".
[[File:GPU late.jpg|alt=An image of a 65 nanometer graphics processing unit from a Microsoft Xbox 360. The die is in the center of the green square, and the eDRAM is located to the left of it. The die has a light, whitish underfill- indicating that it is not one of the defective units.|thumb|204x204px|A ''non-defective'' 65nm "Xenos" GPU from a later revision of Xbox 360 (Jasper V2 on "Kronos 1" package). Note the smaller die and the light, whitish underfill.]]
For several months, Microsoft had consumers pay to repair their consoles. However, in 2007, they chose to extend the warranty for Xbox 360 consoles displaying an E74 error (an on-screen error also associated with "Red Ring of Death") from one year from date of purchase, to three years from date of purchase. This allowed most consumers who had consoles with the issue to get their consoles refurbished. In addition, they refunded any consumers who had paid to have their afflicted systems repaired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Peter |date=2007 |title=Open Letter From Peter Moore |url=http://xbox.com/en-ca/support/petermooreletter.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023004948/http://xbox.com/en-ca/support/petermooreletter.htm |archive-date=23 Oct 2007 |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=Xbox}}</ref>

Microsoft primarily seemed to have done this to protect the Xbox brand. The Xbox 360 was only their second console, and the original Xbox hadn't done as well as they'd hoped it would. Microsoft confirmed this in Chapter 5 of their 2021 documentary, ''Power On: The Story of Xbox''.<ref name=":3" />

By mid-2008, the cause of the issue was confirmed to be "within the components"- the low Tg underfill. ATI and Microsoft completely fixed the issue in Xbox 360s made after this point. Generally, it is recommended by retro console enthusiasts to purchase consoles manufactured after May 2008 (or marked "Q2 2008") and avoid consoles manufactured before this point, but the Tonasket (AKA "Jasper Kronos" or "Jasper V2") motherboard revision is generally considered to be the most reliable of the original "phat" model Xbox 360 consoles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nadaman |last2=et al. |date=8 Jun 2025 |title=Xbox 360 - Buying Guide |url=https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox_360:Buying_Guide |url-status=live |access-date=14 Jun 2025 |website=ConsoleMods Wiki}}</ref>

====Sony's Response - The "Yellow Light of Death"====
<blockquote>''"We entirely refute the suggestion that PS3 consoles have an inherent defect or other design issue which is akin to any warranty issue experienced by another console manufacturer. [...] We think it is highly unfair to suggest that from an installed base of 2.5 million that the numbers you mention somehow are evidence of a 'manufacturing defect'..."''

- Ray Maguire, managing director and senior vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in 2009; in a letter responding to a BBC Watchdog segment covering the "Yellow Light of Death".<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=BBC |date=18 Sep 2009 |title=Sony rebuts BBC PlayStation claim |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8263063.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219154020/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8263063.stm |archive-date=19 Feb 2025 |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=BBC NEWS}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Matt |date=17 Sep 2009 |title=Sony tackles BBC over 'PS3 failure' report |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-tackles-bbc-over-ps3-failure-report |url-status=live |access-date=10 Jun 2025 |website=Gamesindustry.biz}}</ref></blockquote>In November 2006, Sony released the PlayStation 3. Like the Xbox 360, the early models of PlayStation 3 had what consumers believe to be Bumpgate-related issues with its Nvidia-based RSX GPU. Many consumers who had bought launch models- what are now commonly known as "PlayStation 2 backwards compatible" models- found that their systems were malfunctioning. PlayStation 3 systems that were exhibiting the issue may freeze suddenly during gameplay and shut off, but all users who dealt with the defect had a common experience: when attempting to turn their PlayStation 3 on, the LED power indicator would turn green for a moment, then the system would beep three times, very briefly flash to a yellow light, then it would continuously blink red without booting the system. This was coined by consumers as the "Yellow Light of Death".

BBC Watchdog aired a segment in 2009 covering the "Yellow Light of Death".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=HelpForPS3 (Reuploader) |last2=BBC |date=17 Dec 2009 |title=Sony PS3 Yellow Light of Death - BBC |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_ef8bDQktI |url-status=live |access-date=3 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> The hosts stated that when viewers called Sony because their console was malfunctioning, Sony told them that it could have been for a variety of reasons, and they couldn't determine exactly what the problem was without disassembling the console having the issue. While all of this is true- the LED indicators do simply indicate a general hardware failure that requires troubleshooting by connecting to the System Controller (Syscon) and checking for error codes- it is worth noting that by August 2008, Sony was building consoles with the 65nm RSX<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=R. |date=26 Jun 2008 |title=PS3 graphics chip going 65nm this Fall |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-06-26-ps3-graphics-chip-going-65nm-this-fall.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924101930/https://www.engadget.com/2008-06-26-ps3-graphics-chip-going-65nm-this-fall.html |archive-date=24 Sep 2021 |access-date=3 Jun 2025 |website=Engadget}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NVIDIA Playstation 3 GPU 65nm Specs |url=https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/playstation-3-gpu-65nm.c1682 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Jun 2025 |website=TechPowerUp GPU Database}}</ref>, which has been confirmed by enthusiasts to not suffer from the theoretically Bumpgate-related fault.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=RIP Felix |date=15 Jan 2024 |title=A 360 Story - The RED Ring of Death & the 7th Generation Console War |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qKtS_uxdcU |url-status=live |access-date=2 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name=":14" />

Sony never issued a recall or extended warranty for these systems; all consumers had to pay out of their own pocket if they wanted their consoles repaired, unless the system failed during the standard one-year warranty period. However, that was rare; the PS3's fan table accommodated better for the temperature changes than the Xbox 360 did, so it took longer for the defect to break the console. Depending on how frequently the console was used, some consumers could have had their console for a few years before it displayed symptoms. However, for a console that was advertised to still be relevant "ten years [from release]", a few years was not an acceptable lifespan. 

According to one of the individuals interviewed in BBC's Watchdog segment, if the system was outside of its one year warranty period, they would have to pay £128 (~$173) to get the system fixed, and they would only provide customers with a three-month post-repair warranty. If it failed again after that point, they would have to pay out of pocket again. Keeping in mind that the fault was very likely caused by a GPU defect, this possibility was very likely unless Sony's repair technicians replaced the defective 90nm GPU with a non-defective one, which they were able to do for some consoles.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last=Icferrum |date=2 Feb 2020 |title=Frankenstein PHAT PS3: CECHA with 40nm RSX |url=https://www.psx-place.com/threads/frankenstein-phat-ps3-cecha-with-40nm-rsx.28069/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 Jun 2025 |website=PSX-Place}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mystic |date=9 Apr 2025 |title=Sony's PS3 Upgrade They Never Told You About: Official 40nm RSX Frankenstein Console From Sony |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2abnrOADoCc |url-status=live |access-date=14 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> In addition, the console would also be reset during the repair, meaning that the owner would lose all data that was not backed up prior to the failure, such as game saves.<ref name=":1" />

Instead of admitting that there was a defect and issuing an extended warranty to consumers (like Microsoft did) Sony simply quietly fixed the defect around the same time that Microsoft did for the Xbox 360, so PS3 "slim" revisions and newer were not affected. Specifically, it was only 90nm GPUs that appeared to have low Tg underfill- and hence, the defect. As of 2025, Sony has still never made a statement confirming that "Yellow Light of Death", their theoretically Bumpgate-related issue, was a widespread problem in early PlayStation 3 models. The only reason that consumers know that the RSX was likely afflicted by Bumpgate is thanks to console repair and modding enthusiasts- who had to do extensive research to find out the true cause of the problem. It was clear from the timeline of what systems have been observed to be reliable or unreliable revisions,<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last=Derf |last2=Nadaman |last3=et al. |date=14 Jun 2025 |title=PlayStation 3 - Buying Guide |url=https://consolemods.org/wiki/PS3:Buying_Guide#PlayStation_3_%22Fat/Phat%22_(2006-2009) |url-status=live |access-date=14 Jun 2025 |website=ConsoleMods Wiki}}</ref> as well as tests performed by console repair and modding enthusiasts,<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=RIP Felix |date=9 Jun 2025 |title=A PS3 Story 2: Defending BumpGate Theory |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpjtRjGPLhI |url-status=live |access-date=10 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> that this was a Bumpgate-related defect.

====Dell's and HP (HP-Compaq)'s Responses - BIOS Updates and Free Repairs====
There were a variety of Dell and HP-Compaq notebook laptops that were affected by the Bumpgate defect, as evidenced by the Nvidia class action lawsuit.<ref name=":16" /> Upon being informed of the defect by Nvidia in 2008, both companies distributed BIOS updates for affected systems with Nvidia GPUs that according to The Inquirer, "[ran] the fan all the time".<ref name=":5" /> The purpose of this was to attempt to prevent the problem from occurring so that consumers wouldn't have to get their systems repaired. However, both companies also provided free repairs for systems already exhibiting symptoms of a failing GPU, such as no video output to the monitor or the computer failing to boot. It's implied in an SEC report that Nvidia filed in 2008 that the companies were compensated for providing this service.<ref name=":10" />

Both Dell and HP-Compaq also offered varying limited warranties after impacted devices were repaired. HP-Compaq offered a limited warranty for 24 months (two years) after the start of customers' original limited warranty or 90 days (approximately three months) after the affected notebook was repaired- whichever was later.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=HP |date=2008 |title=HP Pavilion dv2000/dv6000/dv9000 and Compaq Presario v3000/v6000 Series Notebook PCs - HP Limited Warranty Service Enhancement |url=http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c01087277 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710172852/http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c01087277 |archive-date=10 Jul 2008 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=HP Customer Care}}</ref> Dell extended limited warranties for systems with these issues for 12 months (one year) from the original purchase date, with a maximum of up to 60 months (five years). In addition, they even offered this to customers whose original warranties already expired- making the new warranty valid from the date the original warranty expired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BlueScreenDeath |first= |last2=Menchaca |first2=Lionel |date=23 Sep 2008 |title=Dell Warranty Extension Due to Nvidia Defect |url=https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/locked-topics-laptops-general/dell-warranty-extension-due-to-nvidia-defect/647e9a01f4ccf8a8de2c999e |url-status=live |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=Dell Community}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=David |date=19 Aug 2008 |title=Dell extends warranties after GPU fault |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/dell-extends-warranties-after-gpu-fault/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=ZDNet}}</ref>

====Apple's Response - Macbook Pro, May 2007 - September 2008====
In May 2007, Apple released a version of the aluminum Macbook Pro that used the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT GPU, and manufactured the computers with this GPU until September 2008. They stopped manufacturing them with this GPU because they discovered it was one of the models affected by Bumpgate. Unlike the issues with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 where the system wouldn't even boot, consumers ran into distorted video or no video output on their devices. Nvidia had assured Apple that the graphics processors were not defective, so Apple initially ignored reports expressing that possibility.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Foresman |first=Chris |date=10 Oct 2008 |title=Apple: NVIDIA chips to blame for MacBook Pro video problems |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/10/apple-nvidia-chips-to-blame-for-macbook-pro-video-problems/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Buchanan |first=Matt |date=10 Oct 2008 |title=Apple Confirms Failing Nvidia Graphics Cards in MacBook Pros, Offers Free Repairs and Refunds |url=https://gizmodo.com/apple-confirms-failing-nvidia-graphics-cards-in-macbook-5061605 |url-status=live |access-date=7 Jun 2025 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref> However, after doing their own investigation, Apple had found that the processors were indeed defective. Because of this, Apple offered extended repair coverage adding up to four years from the date of original purchase, and refunded customers who already paid to repair systems affected by this defect.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Apple Support |date=18 Nov 2014 |title=MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues |url=http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203254 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202230527/http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203254 |archive-date=2 Dec 2014 |access-date=7 Jun 2025 |website=Apple}}</ref>

====Nvidia's Response - Inquirer Accusations and SEC Report====
[[File:Nvidia G80, G84 and G86 size comparison.jpg|alt=Three GPU dies are lined up in a row, from largest to smallest, left to right: the Nvidia G80, then the G84, then the G86. The internals of the dies are visible.|thumb|Image of the Nvidia G80, G84, and G86's dies (left-to-right). The G84 and the G86 GPUs are known to have been impacted by the Bumpgate defect.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Demerjian |first=Charlie |date=9 Jul 2008 |title=All Nvidia G84 and G86s are bad |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/09/nvidia-g84-g86-bad |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710121746/http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/09/nvidia-g84-g86-bad |archive-date=10 Jul 2008 |access-date=7 Jun 2025 |website=The Inquirer}}</ref>]]
''See also: Lawsuit(s)''<blockquote>''[As of July 2, 2008, all] newly manufactured products and all products currently shipping in volume have a different and more robust material set. [...] We intend to fully support our customers in their repair and replacement of these impacted MCP and GPU products that fail.''

- Marvin Burkett, Nvidia Chief Financial Officer, Form 8-K report to SEC.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Burkett |first=Marvin |last2=United States Securities and Exchange Commission |date=2 Jul 2008 |title=Form 8-K |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045810/000119312508145974/d8k.htm |url-status=live |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=SEC}}</ref></blockquote>Nvidia processors were not the only ones affected by the Bumpgate defect (i.e., the Xbox 360's ATI Xenos GPU), but they seem to have been the most heavily impacted. There were a wide variety of Nvidia graphics processors across multiple architectures that had this defect, but according to the class action lawsuit settlement,<ref name=":16" /> the earliest confirmed system with the defect appears to have been manufactured in December 2005, and the latest systems were manufactured in late February 2010.

The defects were being noticed broadly amongst consumers around July 2008, particularly when ''The Inquirer'' published reports that drew attention to the problems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buchanan |first=Matt |date=3 Jul 2008 |title=Lots of Nvidia Laptop Graphics Cards Are Overheating, Dying |url=https://gizmodo.com/lots-of-nvidia-laptop-graphics-cards-are-overheating-d-5021713 |url-status=live |access-date=7 Jun 2025 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Charlie Demerjian, writer for ''The Inquirer'', firmly presented claims and evidence that every G84 and G86 GPU was defective- including desktop GPUs- even accusing Nvidia of attempting to cover up the problems.

On July 2nd, 2008- a few days before Demerjian's article was published- Nvidia filed a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).<ref name=":10" /> The report explained that the corporation would pay a $150-200 million one-time charge to cover customer warranties, repairs, returns, replacements, and other notable expenses caused by poor packaging material in some of their media and communications processors (MCPs) and GPUs exclusively used in laptops. This report also confirmed that all of their newly manufactured products from that point forward would have a more suitable material set.

As Joel Hruska from Ars Technica explained, if Nvidia ''was'' trying to cover up the defect- as Demerjian claimed- with this report to the SEC, they not only attempted to avoid responsibility and accused their suppliers of causing the problem, they also committed financial fraud by intentionally lowballing their expected financial losses. This is a major accusation that could have had severe consequences for Nvidia.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Hruska |first=Joel |date=16 Jul 2008 |title=NVIDIA denies rumors of faulty chips, mass GPU failures |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/07/nvidia-denies-rumors-of-mass-gpu-failures/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> However, it is difficult to verify if Nvidia was lying or simply not fully aware of the scale of Bumpgate. Nvidia's public acknowledgement of the defect in the SEC report is consistent with when Sony switched the PlayStation 3 to the non-defective 65nm RSX (based on an Nvidia chipset),<ref name=":6" /> and it also seems to be consistent with when Dell<ref name=":8" /> and HP<ref name=":7" /> discovered the problem. The only company it does not appear consistent with is Apple, who discovered the defect in their Macbook Pro systems after their own investigation in September 2008.<ref name=":9" /> Even so, it is possible that Nvidia did not know that the GeForce 8600M GT GPUs in the 2007-2008 Macbook Pro were impacted yet when Apple asked them about it, because the situation was still developing.

Regardless of if Nvidia was truthful in their report or not, they denied the claims that individuals like Demerjian were making- that all of their GPUs were defective and failing en masse.<ref name=":11" /> However, by 2010, consumers' trust in Nvidia had eroded to the point that a class action lawsuit was filed because of the defect.

==Nvidia Class-Action Lawsuit (2010)==
In 2008, individuals and companies began filing lawsuits against Nvidia. A total of nine cases were filed that were found to be related, and by 2010, these became a class-action lawsuit.

===Claims===
Class members claimed that Nvidia had manufactured defective GPUs and knowingly failed to compensate them.

Main claims of the suit.

===Rebuttal===
Nvidia denied all allegations of wrongdoing and tried to defend their actions. 

The response of Nvidia or counterclaims.

===Outcome - Settlement and Class Member Appeal===
Nvidia opted for a settlement<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=Frequently Asked Questions - What can I get from the settlement? |url=http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/faq.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001080625/http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/faq.html |archive-date=1 Sep 2010 |access-date=13 Jun 2025 |website=The NVIDIA GPU Litigation}}</ref>- though, asserted that the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing. Consumers who participated as settlement class members were presented with three options to be compensated, with all benefits paid for by Nvidia:

#A replacement GPU inside their affected notebook;
#A replacement HP notebook computer with one "similar in kind and value" to the one they owned;
#Reimbursement of either the whole cost of repairing the notebook due to a previous GPU failure or a portion of that amount (dependent on how many people submitted valid claims for reimbursement).

The majority of people got their notebooks repaired, but some HP laptops could not be repaired, so they had to be replaced. Many of the systems eligible for the settlement were high-end laptops, originally valued around $1,000 USD. Unfortunately, they were given a budget Compaq Presario CQ56 that was not equivalent in specifications or original value, because it costed approximately how much the three-year-old, defective laptops they replaced were valued at by the time the settlement was reached. Outraged, some of those Class Members contacted Ted Frank from the Center for Class Action Fairness, who promptly filed a complaint with the court to appeal. However, US District Chief Judge James Ware ruled in Nvidia's favor, because the Compaq Presario CQ56 "[came] with an advanced operating system, new warranty and other programs".<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=DeCarlo |first=Matthew |date=3 May 2011 |title=Customers get shafted in Nvidia class action suit |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/43614-customers-get-shafted-in-nvidia-class-action-suit.html |url-status=live |access-date=13 Jun 2025 |website=TechSpot}}</ref>

==Consumer response==
[Summary and key issues of prevailing sentiment from the consumers and commentators that can be documented via articles, emails to support, reviews and forum posts. General Consumer Response (frustration at/satisfaction with Microsoft, Sony, etc.)]

===Xbox 360/Microsoft Consumer response===
At first, consumers were angry at Microsoft. During the months that the company would not acknowledge the widespread "Red Ring of Death", many consumers felt as if they'd been tricked and made a bad investment when they purchased an Xbox 360. However, when Microsoft extended the warranty on Xbox 360s experiencing an E74 error to three years after purchase, consumer sentiment improved. After Microsoft's explanation and confirmation of the exact issue that caused the "Red Ring of Death" in ''Power On: The Story of Xbox,''<ref name=":3" /> many consumers who remembered dealing with this issue felt further validated, restoring some trust in Microsoft and the Xbox brand. The release of this information also helped enthusiasts learn more about how to fix the issue not only in early Xbox 360s, but even in Sony's early PlayStation 3 systems- as this helped to elucidate the true cause of the early PS3s' problems.

===PlayStation 3/Sony Consumer Response===
Consumers who experienced the "Yellow Light of Death" were upset with Sony for their poor response. Some, such as PS3 modding and repair enthusiast "RIP Felix", described Sony's response as "gaslighting"<ref name=":2" />- saying that Sony had manipulated consumers into thinking that there was no widespread defect. The six-page letter from Ray Maguire to the BBC following their Watchdog segment takes a tone that supports Felix's claim<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":13" />; By 2009, Sony had stopped producing PS3s with the defective 90nm RSX- which left many consumers suspicious that Sony was trying to cover up the problem to avoid taking responsibility for it.

In 2006, when the PlayStation 3 was new, the console costed $599 USD for the 60GB model ($499 USD for the 20GB model).<ref name=":3" /> This was a major price to pay for a game console; the Nintendo Wii launched at $249.99 USD in November 2006,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanders |first=Kathleen |last2=Casamassina |first2=Matt |date=14 Sep 2006 |title=US Wii Price, Launch Date Revealed |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/14/us-wii-price-launch-date-revealed |url-status=live |access-date=10 Jun 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> and the Xbox 360 launched in late November 2005 at $399 USD ($299 USD for the Core System version).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Surette |first=Tim |date=17 Aug 2005 |title=Xbox 360 pricing revealed: $299 and $399 models due at launch |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/xbox-360-pricing-revealed-299-and-399-models-due-at-launch-6131245 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605013951/http://www.gamespot.com/news/xbox-360-pricing-revealed-299-and-399-models-due-at-launch-6131245 |archive-date=5 Jun 2013 |access-date=10 Jun 2025 |website=GameSpot}}</ref> Because of the extremely high price compared to competitors, consumers felt that they were making a major investment in a high quality system that would be well-supported if there was a defect. Instead, Sony refused to acknowledge the "Yellow Light of Death", denied how widespread it was in their only official rebuttal, and made consumers pay for an issue that was never their fault. Some consumers who dealt with the "Yellow Light of Death" paid Sony to repair their systems, but others decided to simply consider it a loss. For consumers whose systems failed after the "Slim" models came out, some of them chose to re-purchase the cheaper, allegedly more reliable Slim models. At the time, it was assumed that these models were not prone to "Yellow Light of Death" (they have since been confirmed completely non-defective), but there was still some uncertainty among the community at the time. However, others gave up on Sony entirely, switching to other platforms- particularly, the Xbox 360.

As a result of the poor response from Sony, consumers largely took things into their own hands. When the PS3 was still supported, informed consumers were sure to warn prospective buyers that the "backwards compatible" and "phat" models of PS3 were prone to the "Yellow Light of Death", that Sony wouldn't fix it for free, and even if they were willing to send it in for repairs, the system would be reset. In the United Kingdom, there was the BBC Watchdog segment that- while misguided on the cause of the problem- did inform consumers across the UK about the issues, so they knew to avoid these early PS3s and choose a newer Slim model if they wanted a PS3.

As of 2025, nearly every consumer knows about the reliability issues of the early, "backwards compatible" PlayStation 3s. Despite this, though, these systems are quite popular among retro console repair and modding enthusiasts particularly for their ability to play not only original PlayStation games, but also PlayStation 2 games. The earliest two revisions, CECHAxx and CECHBxx, even have real PlayStation 2 processors built-in.<ref name=":18" /> This is especially enticing to consumers who own a PlayStation 5, which is capable of playing PlayStation 4 games, so a person could play any PlayStation game across any generation on legitimate hardware with only two consoles. Of course, the reliability issues of these early PS3s is a major downside, so the community has been looking for ways to permanently repair these systems for nearly two decades. In recent years, a breakthrough was made with the discovery of officially repaired early PS3s by transplanting a non-defective 65nm or 45nm RSX into the consoles,<ref name=":17" /> and the subsequent development of the "Frankenstein Mod" that is effectively the same procedure made possible for enthusiasts.

===Nvidia Consumer Response===
Many consumers were uncomfortable with purchasing Nvidia's products for several years, because they saw Nvidia as untrustworthy after their perceived response to the Bumpgate scandal. A GPU is one of the most expensive components in a computer, and it's an investment expected to last for approximately as long as the component remains technologically relevant. Therefore, consumers had some right to be cautious when hearing about defective Nvidia GPUs- especially before the defect was publicly acknowledged.

If a product does not last because of a defect, then the company should respect their customer's investment by honoring the warranty- or by recalling the product if the defect is found to be common, as with Bumpgate. Nvidia's SEC report<ref name=":10" /> shows that they appeared to have this intention, and the company informing Dell<ref name=":8" /> and HP<ref name=":7" /> of the defect also seem to demonstrate this. In addition, based on the fact that Bumpgate affected some non-Nvidia processors (such as the Xbox 360's ''ATI'' graphics processor<ref name=":3" />), Nvidia was likely not fully responsible for the underfill defect. In fact, they alleged in the SEC report that it was their packaging company that caused the problem. However, this did not quell consumers' anger at Nvidia, and a class action lawsuit was filed. Unfortunately, the results of that lawsuit and subsequent settlement left consumers still angry and frustrated at the company- especially those who received insufficient compensation, like those who ended up with a budget laptop to replace their high-end laptop.<ref name=":15" /> This only fueled consumer distrust for Nvidia. Although the defect may not have fully been Nvidia's fault, their failure to properly compensate some Class Members when they agreed to settle was unacceptable.

===Misdiagnosis/Poor Repair of Faults===

There was a lot of speculation among affected consumers as to why so many GPUs were failing, and theories tended to vary between communities for devices. For example, consumers who purchased an Xbox 360 from this era<ref>{{Cite web |last=Enever |first=Liam |date=1 Oct 2017 |title=Why has my got the red ring of death (sic) |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/430460/Why+has+my+got+the+red+ring+of+death |url-status=live |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=iFixIt Answers Forum}}</ref> and even some independent repair technicians<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Apr 2014 |title=Xbox 360 Red Ring of Death: Why Lead-Free Solder or Solder Failure Are the Problem |url=https://electronicfix.com.au/console-repairs/what-does-the-rrod-mean/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=The Electronic Fix}}</ref> assumed that the issue was caused by Microsoft using lead-free solder balls- used to connect the Xenos GPU to the motherboard- in order to meet new-at-the-time RoHS standards in the European Union. Many blamed it on the more brittle nature of non-leaded solder balls compared to traditional leaded ones. Others thought it was related to the solder balls' melting point, and that the console getting too hot and literally "desoldering" the GPU. These misconceptions largely faded into obscurity when Microsoft released the Jasper and Falcon revisions of the Xbox 360, and announced their extended warranty on their defective consoles. They were dispelled entirely with the release of Chapter 5 of ''Power On: The Story of Xbox''<ref name=":3" />, where hardware engineers for Xbox during this era explained the problem.

With the PlayStation 3, much of the same speculation happened as with the Xbox 360. However, because the defect was never acknowledged as such by Sony, it was far less clear to consumers what exactly was causing the fault in consumers' machines. Long after the PS3 was no longer supported by Sony, this led many retro console and repair enthusiasts to make poorly informed choices in how to attempt to repair their devices. By 2018, many owners were also convinced for some time that the fault wasn't even related to their RSX GPU, but rather, the NEC-Tokin capacitors surrounding it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Naked_Snake1995 |date=15 Jul 2019 |title=(Research/Experimental) - NEC/TOKIN Capacitors Replacement - YLOD |url=https://www.psx-place.com/threads/research-experimental-nec-tokin-capacitors-replacement-ylod.25260/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=PSX-Place}}</ref> The reason for the misconception was because Toshiba laptops from the same era had their NEC-Tokins fail prematurely due to a design flaw specific to those laptops. Some general hardware failures can be caused by the PS3's NEC-Tokin capacitors failing (primarily due to age), but Sony had designed the motherboard correctly when placing the NEC-Tokins- so they would not fail prematurely. It was not until 2022-2025 that this misconception was largely corrected amongst the community, and the true defect was identified as likely to be Bumpgate-related.<ref name=":4" />

With the help of Xbox 360 repair and modding enthusiast Josh Davidson (Octal450 on the ConsoleMods Wiki), YouTube user "RIP Felix" performed various experiments to confirm his theory that the PS3's 90nm RSX was affected by Bumpgate. They tested the solder bumps under the 90nm RSX's die to confirm the use of high-lead solder bumps, and also performed a variety of tests on the underfill, comparing it to similar defective and non-defective GPUs from the same era- such as the Xbox 360's GPUs and Nvidia's GPUs. The tests included simply shining an ultraviolet light on the underfill to see the similarities in color and luminescence, poking the underfill of each of the GPUs with a soldering iron at various temperatures to compare the reactions, and even using a UV visual spectrophotometer to visualize the difference between compositions in various underfills. The results strongly support Felix's theory that the PS3's 90nm RSX's defects were due to Bumpgate; each test showed that the 90nm RSX was remarkably similar to known defective GPUs, but distinct from non-defective ones.<ref name=":14" />

A common bad practice between both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 was to reflow the entire motherboard. Even alleged professional repair technicians did this, as shown in BBC's Watchdog segment for the "Yellow Light of Death".<ref name=":1" /> However, because this fault was caused by a defect in the GPU, this would only fix the problem ''temporarily'', if at all. In addition, a motherboard is not designed to go through this process more than once (specifically, at the time of manufacture), so this would damage the motherboard over time until it would be impossible to fix the system again.

The only way to permanently fix systems with a Bumpgate-affected GPU is to replace the defective GPU with one that doesn't have the defect. How possible that is, however, depends much on a person's skills, tools, and how easy or difficult it is for regular consumers to repair and modify the system. For example, the PS3 has a modification called "Frankenstein", which makes it possible to replace a defective 90nm RSX GPU with a non-defective 65nm or 40nm GPU from one of the newer PS3s. This modification was inspired by an "official" fix that Sony performed on some faulty PS3s. However, for a person to perform this repair, they would need a BGA rework station (and the skills to use it properly) and a softmodded PS3. A similar modification is also possible for early Xbox 360s, but it requires the same tools and modding experience as the PS3 does. Due to the specialized nature of such modifications, most people will still recommend for consumers to find someone skilled enough to do the modification for them, buy a system that is already modified, or to simply avoid purchasing consoles impacted by Bumpgate.

==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.}}

Google

2025-06-11T08:39:56Z

Rain: Fixed date error warning. There's also a maintenance warning I don't understand.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Google
| Type = Subsidiary
| Founded = 1998
| Industry = Technology
| Official Website = https://google.com/
| Logo = Google.webp
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Google|Google LLC]]''', founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is one of the most influential technology companies in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Largest tech companies by market cap |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/tech/largest-tech-companies-by-market-cap/ |url-status=live |website=companiesmarketcap.com}}</ref> Originally developed as a search engine to organize and index the growing amount of information on the internet, Google has since expanded into a wide range of services and products, becoming a central player in digital advertising, software, hardware, and cloud computing.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Google Products |url=https://about.google/products/ |access-date=10 Mar 2025}}</ref>

Google's search engine remains its most well-known service, but the company has significantly diversified its offerings. Key products include the [[Android]] operating system, the [[Google Chrome]] web browser, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Drive Google Drive] for cloud storage, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps Google Maps], [[YouTube]], and [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Google Play]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helpful products, built with you in mind |url=https://about.google/intl/ALL_us/products/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>{{Citation needed}} Additionally, the company provides digital advertising services through Google Ads, generating the majority of its revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Feb 2025 |title=Alphabet Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Results |url=https://abc.xyz/assets/a3/91/6d1950c148fa84c7d699abe05284/2024q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> In recent years, Google has also developed hardware products such as the Pixel smartphone and Nest smart home devices.

Google has faced ongoing scrutiny related to data privacy, competition, and its dominant position in the market, such concerns have stretched as far back as 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Adam |date=5 Mar 2012 |title=Will We Ever Get Strong Internet Privacy Rules? |url=https://ideas.time.com/2012/03/05/will-we-ever-get-strong-internet-privacy-rules/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Time}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 Sep 2023 |title=REPORT: Google at 25: From “Don’t Be Evil” To ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |url=https://techoversight.org/2023/09/06/google-at-25/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Tech Oversight Project}}</ref> The company has been the subject of various legal and regulatory challenges, particularly concerning antitrust issues, the use of personal data, and its impact on consumer choice.{{Citation needed}} The US government is currently engaged in an antitrust lawsuit against Google, with a decision expected early 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Nov 2024 |title=Closing Arguments, November 25: Once, Twice, Three Times a Monopolist |url=https://www.usvgoogleads.com/trial-updates/closing-arguments-november-25-once-twice-three-times-a-monopolist |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=US v Google}}</ref>

In December 2024, "Google announced to organisations that use its advertising products, that from 16 February 2025, it will no longer prohibit them from employing [[wikipedia:Fingerprint_(computing)|fingerprinting]] techniques."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Almond |first=Stephen |date=19 Dec 2024 |title=Our response to Google’s policy change on fingerprinting |url=https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/12/our-response-to-google-s-policy-change-on-fingerprinting/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ico.}}</ref>

==Anti-consumer incidents==

===Service shutdowns===

====Google Play Music shutdown====
[[wikipedia:Google_Play_Music|Google Play Music]] was a service that allowed users to purchase music, listen via streaming, and download to the local device; alternatively users could pay for a subscription to listen to all music available through streaming. It was publicly launched on the 16th November 2011 and later shutdown in December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=Google Play Music, Music Play Store & Music Manager are going away – everything you need to know |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/62843644/google-play-music-music-play-store-music-manager-are-going-away-%E2%80%93-everything-you-need-to-know?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=28 Oct 2020 |title=RIP Google Play Music, 2011 – 2020 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/10/rip-google-play-music-2011-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> Google Play Music further allowed users to upload their own songs to listen on all their devices, with a limit of up to 50,000 files.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=11 Jan 2017 |title=How to Upload Your Music Library to Google Play Music |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/288231/how-to-upload-your-music-library-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=How-To-Geek}}</ref> Users were able to purchase songs individually or buy whole albums that they could then download and listen to, or stream through the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Jan 2020 |title=How To Buy Music From Google Play (Now YouTube Music) |url=https://www.technobezz.com/buy-music-google-play |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Technobezz}}</ref>

In October 2020, Google announced that they would be shutting down Google Play Music, with it being fully shut down by December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=3 Dec 2020 |title=Google fully shuts down Play Music around the world |url=https://9to5google.com/2020/12/03/google-play-music-dead/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=9To5Google}}</ref> This went ahead with a warning to their users to begin migrating to [[wikipedia:YouTube_Music|YouTube Music]], and that they would be losing access to their purchased songs. Google recommended users should download their purchased songs before the service would shut down.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=YouTube Music will replace Google Play Music by end of 2020 |url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-music-will-replace-google-play-music-end-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=YouTube Official Blog}}</ref>

After the shut down, users lost access to the music they paid for, with no way to download them. Google justified this by transferring all playlists and purchase history to YouTube Music, and only refunding songs that were not directly available,<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Oct 2023 |title=What happened to my songs on Google Music? |url=https://darwinsdata.com/what-happened-to-my-songs-on-google-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Darwin's Data}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chaney |first=Sarah |date=5 Feb 2022 |title=What Happened to Google Play Music? |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/what-happened-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=MUO}}</ref> with no guarantee that the songs will remain available through the new service. Users found that their purchased songs were no longer able to stream at 320kbps on YouTube Music compared to Google Play Music unless they paid for the monthly subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cutlack |first=Gary |date=23 Dec 2012 |title=Google Music UK: everything you need to know |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/software/google-music-uk-everything-you-need-to-know-1120176 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=TechRadar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=L. Hald |first=Nicole |date=24 Mar 2025 |title=How Is YouTube Music Sound Quality in 2025? Is It Any Good? |url=https://www.noteburner.com/youtube-music-tips/youtube-music-audio-quality.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=NoteBurner}}</ref> If a user failed to initiate the transfer of their music library or locally download their songs by 24th February 2021, then they lost all access and all data associated with Google Play Music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sodhi |first=Tanishka |date=8 Feb 2021 |title=Google Play Music Data Will Be Deleted on February 24: Here’s How to Transfer to YouTube Music |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/how-to/news/google-play-music-data-deleted-february-24-youtube-how-to-transfer-files-playlists-billing-information-2365609 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Gadgets 360}}</ref> YouTube Music does not provide the option to download songs as MP3s, with local downloads requiring an internet connection every 30 days to stay up.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download music and podcasts to listen to offline |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/6313535?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>

====Google Stadia shutdown====
In January 2023, Google announced the shutdown of its cloud gaming service, Stadia, which was launched in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RIP Google Stadia: the latest news on the discontinued cloud gaming service |url=https://www.theverge.com/23380140/google-stadia-ending-shutdown-latest-news-gaming-tech |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Stadia required users to purchase games individually, unlike other gaming platforms that offer subscription-based access. Upon the service's closure, Google promised to refund consumers for their purchases, including both games and hardware. The refunds for games and software were issued automatically, and if the refund failed to transfer, then you would've needed to contact your bank.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravenscraft |first=Erin |date=10 Nov 2022 |title=Stadia Is Dying. Here’s What’s in Your Refund and How to Get It |url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-your-google-stadia-refund/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Wired}}</ref>

Stadia users were effectively renting access to games, as the platform did not allow for traditional ownership or offline play. With the service discontinued, consumers were left without access to the content they had purchased. Stadia users who had bought controllers and other peripherals for the service were also impacted by the shutdown. While Google offered refunds to customers, many Stadia consumers were left with equipment that no longer performs the advertised functions and limited recourse for repurposing or reselling their devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashworth |first=Mack |date=5 Oct 2022 |title=Stadia Shut Down: How To Use Your Hardware Now Google’s Shutting It Down |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/852697-stadia-shut-down-how-to-use-controller-chromecast-without-app |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Game Revolution}}</ref>

Google Stadia controllers were limited to Wi-Fi connectivity, however upon shut down they started offering an update to allow them to connect through Bluetooth, the update service website was scheduled to shut down on the 31st December 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devine |first=Richard |date=17 Jan 2023 |title=Bluetooth support for Google Stadia Controller arrives — Here's how to enable it and play PC games |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/bluetooth-support-for-google-stadia-controller-arrives-heres-how-to-enable-it-and-play-pc-games |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Windows Central}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===Google device repair program restrictions===
{{Main|Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair}}
Google's Service & Repair Program terms explicitly state that any device containing non-Google-authorized parts "will not be returned" to the customer.

===Target API level requirements for Google Play apps===
Google's policy of requiring apps for Android to target recent API levels to appear in the Play Store<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Aug 2024 |title=Policy Center |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11926878?hl=en |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Play Console Help}}</ref> creates a continuous cycle of maintenance and redevelopment that can be especially burdensome for smaller developers, indie creators, and consumers.

The requirement for apps to target newer APIs each year serves some legitimate security and feature purposes. However, it also effectively functions as a form of forced obsolescence. Even perfectly functional apps that don't need technical updates must be regularly reworked just to remain visible on the Play Store.

This creates several issues:

*Development resources must be allocated to updating apps rather than creating new features
*Smaller teams and individual developers are placed at a disadvantage attempting to keep up with the constant update cycle
*Legacy apps that are no longer actively maintained disappear, even if they're still useful
*The cost of maintaining apps increases, potentially making some projects financially nonviable
*Losing access to previously purchased apps when upgrading devices
*Users being unable to reinstall older apps that worked perfectly well for their needs
*Facing unexpected costs to replace functionality they've already paid for
*Dealing with the frustration of discovering favorite apps have disappeared

While Google argues this approach improves the Android ecosystem's security and functionality, it does place a significant burden on developers and can lead to the premature "death" of otherwise functional applications.

This creates a troubling disconnect in digital ownership. Consumers reasonably expect that when they purchase an app, they should maintain access to it across their devices over time. Instead, they discover their digital purchases can effectively vanish due to policy decisions beyond their control.

===Ban on third-party tech support ads===
Google prohibits tech support ads on their platform if they are not authorised by the manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graff |first=David |date=31 Aug 2018 |title=Restricting ads in third-party tech support services |url=https://blog.google/products/ads/restricting-ads-third-party-tech-support-services/ |website=Google}}</ref>

==Anti-consumer legal cases==

===Rodriguez v. Google LLC (5/21/21 - Present)===
Google's Web & App Activity setting had the ability to be paused. Reportedly, despite this setting being paused by consumers, Google would continue to collect consumer data regardless of consent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rodriguez v. Google LLC |url=https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/FAQ#faq1 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> This case is currently ongoing and has yet to receive a judgment.<ref>[https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/Documents Important Documents]</ref>

==See also==

===Products and Services===

[[List of Google products]]
===Controversies===

*[[Advertising overload]]
*[[Google follows Samsung, asserts the right to steal your phone during a repair]]
*[[Google Pixel Watches do not come with repair options]]
*[[HD Movie Purchases Google Movies/YouTube reduced to 480p on the web]]

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

Category:Genshin Impact

2025-06-09T08:34:12Z

Rain: Created new page and added category.

[[Category:Video games]]

Post-purchase EULA modification

2025-06-06T08:21:31Z

Rain: Fixed link.

Post-purchase [[end-user license agreement]] (EULA) modification, colloquially referred to as the ‘[[EULA roofie]]’, is an increasingly common practice whereby the terms that govern a customer’s use of a product are modified after the customer’s purchase of the product. Such changes are frequently impossible for a customer to reject without either losing access to the product they paid for or losing substantial functionality. In some cases, no ‘reject’ option is given, other than to power off the product and never use it again, such as in the case of the Roku smart TV{{Citation needed}}.

Such a modification can work in the consumer’s favor (such as in the case of [[Valve]] [[Valve Removes Arbitration Requirement From Steam Subscriber Agreement|changing the terms]] of the [[Steam]] subscriber agreement to remove [[forced arbitration]]), or simply serve to clarify or correct specific terms in a way which both is reasonable and does not adversely affect the consumer.

A problem exists, however, when such a change is made in order to reduce the rights, or increase the obligations, of the consumer.

====The ‘EULA roofie’====
The use of the colloquial term ‘[[EULA roofie]]’ stems from comparisons between the practice of post-purchase EULA modification, and the practice of spiking a drink – where consent is sought and given for the consumption of the drink, but not for the consumption of whatever it has been spiked with.

==Responses to, and defences used for, post-purchase EULA modification==
Many arguments intended to defend post-purchase EULA modification cite the legitimate reasons for such an action, as described above. They argue that it would not be practical to maintain a long-running service without being able to occasionally change or clarify their terms. Others will attempt to defend their actions by deflecting from the issue, such as in [this] case, where Repairshopr defended their decision to alter their EULA to allow them to collect user interaction logs for AI training by simply pretending that they would never do such a thing, and acting as if there were no substantial changes to their EULA which would allow them to collect and process data in that way (of course, this was done without explicitly stating that no such change had occurred).

A common argument against the importance of this issue is that any user still needs to accept the changes{{Citation needed}} in order to be bound by the new EULA, and that the previous EULA may have included language stating that the company may alter the terms of the EULA after purchase. This argument, however, fails to account for the situation the user will typically find themselves in. In most cases, users are given a simple ‘tickbox’, without proper summarisation of the changes contained in the EULA update. If the user does not accept this change, they will be unable to use the product which they purchased. As is common knowledge, 99% of users in such a situation will simply accept the EULA changes in order to regain access to their product, as they have neither the inclination nor the mental bandwidth necessary to read through a lengthy contract every time such an update is issued.

In extreme cases, companies may take a ''lack'' of action as consent, as was the case in this incident [link to that sock company thing], where non-response to an email was considered by the company to be appropriate consent for a change to the EULA.

Particularly insidious examples of this practice include [[Adobe]]’s EULA changes, which [[Adobe's AI policy|required users to accept]] the use of their art and media for the training of AI, or face the loss of access to Adobe products. It was felt by a number of prominent creative professionals that this amounted to a substantial changing of the ‘deal’ they were offered at the time of purchase, effectively amounting to the theft of their creative efforts. Many creative professionals are deeply entrenched in the Adobe ecosystem, and would suffer substantial financial harm if they were to stop using Adobe products, as the time taken to learn alternative tools would directly correlate to lost work and payment. Combined with Adobe’s practice of charging a premium for the privilege of early subscription cancellation, users who did not want their art used for AI training were unethically forced into choosing between their livelihood and their integrity.

Because of the nature of the agreements, legal professionals[who?] have argued that many cases of such contract changes are unenforceable, when the users have not been properly informed of contractual changes, and those changes are beyond what would be expected in a typical contract of this type{{Citation needed}}. The reality for the average user, however, is that they cannot realistically challenge such a change, because of the costs involved with litigation, and instead must accept the poisoned choice they are offered: suck it up and deal with the new terms, or lose access to a product they paid for.

==Legislative action==
Situations involving post-purchase EULA modification have been taken to court on a number of occasions, including...

Legislative proposals to counteract this trend include...

[[Category:Anti-Consumer_Practices]]
[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Rights Stripping]]

Category:Helldivers 2

2025-06-05T08:48:00Z

Rain: Added category.

[[Category:Video games]]

Mozilla

2025-06-04T08:54:14Z

Rain: Fixed Wikipedia links.

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=This page needs some work to match the format of our [[Consumer Action Taskforce:Sample/Company| sample company page]]. Mainly in the consumer impact summary section and minor things like the see also section and dating the incidents.}}

{{InfoboxCompany
|Name=Mozilla|Type=Private|Founded=1998|Industry=Open Source Software, Advertising|Official Website=https://www.mozilla.org/|Logo=Mozilla Logo 2024.svg.png}}
'''[[Wikipedia:Mozilla|Mozilla]]''' is a [[Wikipedia:Free software|free software]] community which develops, publishes and supports open-source software. The community is supported institutionally by the [[Wikipedia:Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] [[Wikipedia:Mozilla Foundation|Mozilla Foundation]] and its tax-paying subsidiary, the [[Wikipedia:Mozilla Corporation|Mozilla Corporation]].

==Consumer-impact summary==
===Mozilla Manifesto===
Mozilla has published the community Manifesto, with 10 key principles:<ref>https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/manifesto/details/</ref><blockquote>
#The internet is an integral part of modern life—a key component in education, communication, collaboration, business, entertainment and society as a whole.
#The internet is a global public resource that must remain open and accessible.
#The internet must enrich the lives of individual human beings.
#Individuals’ security and privacy on the internet are fundamental and must not be treated as optional.
#Individuals must have the ability to shape the internet and their own experiences on the internet.
#The effectiveness of the internet as a public resource depends upon interoperability (protocols, data formats, content), innovation and decentralized participation worldwide.
#Free and open source software promotes the development of the internet as a public resource.
#Transparent community-based processes promote participation, accountability and trust.
#Commercial involvement in the development of the internet brings many benefits; a balance between commercial profit and public benefit is critical.
#Magnifying the public benefit aspects of the internet is an important goal, worthy of time, attention and commitment.
</blockquote>

==Critiques of excessive executive pay==

Mozilla has been losing market share consistently for 15 years.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers#/media/File:BrowserUsageShare.png</ref> Despite Mozilla’s continuous decline, executive compensation at both the Mozilla non-profit and Mozilla for-profit are disproportionately high.

===Industry examples===

{| class="wikitable"
|+Executive Compensation vs. Revenue Comparison
!Year!!Company!!Executive!!Compensation!!Total Revenue!! % of Revenue!!Source
|-
|2018||Google||Sundar Pichai||$1,881,066||$136,819,000,000||0.0014%||<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Sec.gov_Archives_edgar_data_1652044_000130817918000222_lgoog2018-def14a.htm.pdf Alphabet Inc. 2018 Proxy Statement]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:20180204_alphabet_10K.pdf Alphabet Inc. 2018 10-K Filing]</ref>
|-
|2023||Google||Sundar Pichai||$8,802,824||$307,394,000,000||0.0029%||<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Google_def-14a_2023.pdf Alphabet Inc. 2023 Proxy Statement]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Goog-10-k-2023.pdf Alphabet Inc. 2023 10-K Filing]</ref>
|-
|2018||Mozilla (Foundation + Corporation)||Mitchell Baker||$2,458,350||$450,860,000||0.55%||<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Mozilla-2018-form-990.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2018 Form 990]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Mozilla-fdn-2018-short-form-final-0926.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2018 Financial Statement]</ref>
|-
|2023||Mozilla (Foundation + Corporation)||Mitchell Baker||$6,223,660||$653,012,000||0.95%||<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:B200-mozilla-foundation-form-990-public-disclosure-ty23.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Form 990]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Mozilla-fdn-2023-fs-final-1209.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Financial Statement]</ref>
|-
|2023||Mozilla Foundation (Non-Profit only)||Mark Surman||$661,886||$64,660,933||1.02%||<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:B200-mozilla-foundation-form-990-public-disclosure-ty23.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Form 990]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Mozilla-fdn-2023-fs-final-1209.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Financial Statement]</ref>
|}

Google far surpasses Mozilla in both revenue and market share, yet Google pays its executives a much lower percentage of overall revenue. In 2018, for instance, Google CEO Sundar Pichai earned $1.88 million, which was only 0.0014% of Google’s $136.8 billion in revenue.<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Sec.gov_Archives_edgar_data_1652044_000130817918000222_lgoog2018-def14a.htm.pdf Alphabet Inc. 2018 Proxy Statement]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:20180204_alphabet_10K.pdf Alphabet Inc. 2018 10-K Filing]</ref> By 2023, his compensation had increased to $8.8 million, yet it still amounted to just 0.0029% of Google’s staggering $307.4 billion in revenue.<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Google_def-14a_2023.pdf Alphabet Inc. 2023 Proxy Statement]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Goog-10-k-2023.pdf Alphabet Inc. 2023 10-K Filing]</ref>

In stark contrast, Mozilla’s leadership has consistently taken home a much larger percentage of the organization's revenue, despite its financial struggles and crushing defeat in browser market share. In 2018, Mitchell Baker received $2.46 million, amounting to 0.55% of Mozilla’s total combined revenue of $450.9 million.<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Mozilla-2018-form-990.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2018 Form 990]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Mozilla-fdn-2018-short-form-final-0926.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2018 Financial Statement]</ref> By 2023, as Mozilla’s total combined revenue increased to $653 million, executive compensation stayed disproportionately high: Baker received $6.22 million (0.95% of total revenue).<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:B200-mozilla-foundation-form-990-public-disclosure-ty23.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Form 990]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Mozilla-fdn-2023-fs-final-1209.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Financial Statement]</ref> Meanwhile, Mark Surman, who only works for the Mozilla Foundation (non-profit), earned $661,886, which accounted for 1.02% of the Foundation’s $64.7 million in revenue.<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:B200-mozilla-foundation-form-990-public-disclosure-ty23.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Form 990]</ref><ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:Mozilla-fdn-2023-fs-final-1209.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Financial Statement]</ref>

The disparity between Mozilla’s executive pay and its financial performance is shocking. Google, a company with far more market success, compensates its CEO at a fraction of its revenue, while Mozilla, a failing browser in terms of market share, provides a much higher percentage of its limited revenue to executive salaries of individuals that contribute no code.

===Investment Income===

Mozilla Foundation's revenue comes from investments more so than donations. In 2023, Mozilla reported $37,574,982 in investment income, accounting for over 58% of the non-profit’s total revenue for the year.<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:501c3_2023_990_Mozilla_Foundation_-_Full_Filing_-_Nonprofit_Explorer_-_ProPublica.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Form 990]</ref>

The investment income comes from three primary sources:
*Publicly traded securities and other investments: Mozilla maintains a portfolio of investments that generate annual returns.
*Program-related investments and royalties: The Foundation earned $18,639,553 in royalties from licensing its intellectual property to support open-source projects.<ref>[https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/File:501c3_2023_990_Mozilla_Foundation_-_Full_Filing_-_Nonprofit_Explorer_-_ProPublica.pdf Mozilla Foundation 2023 Form 990]</ref>
*Dividends and interest: Mozilla also earns investment income from dividend-paying stocks and interest-bearing assets.

Mozilla's reliance on investment income rather than direct contributions has raised questions about how responsive Mozilla Foundation is to the viability and market share of Mozilla software and its mission, given its ability to survive & continue paying high executive compensation regardless of whether work towards the core mission is being performed in a competent fashion.
==Incidents==

===Removing the "We don't sell your data" promise===
In February 2025, Mozilla started to delete references to their "We don't sell your data" promise from the source code, as first reported by [https://www.haiku-os.org/ Haiku operating system] developer ''waddlesplash'' on the forum thread for their Firefox/Iceweasel port.<ref>https://discuss.haiku-os.org/t/iceweasel-telemetry-acceptible-for-firefox-trademarks/16106/51</ref><ref>https://github.com/mozilla/bedrock/commit/d459addab846d8144b61939b7f4310eb80c5470e</ref>

They also switched the wording from "The best privacy" to "Always protected".

===Introducing TOS for Firefox (2025)===
{{Main|Mozilla introduces TOS to Firefox}}
{{Important| This situation is ongoing so the full impact to consumers has yet to be determined}}In February 2025 Mozilla introduced [[terms of use]] (TOS) for the Firefox browser for the first time as well as an updated [[privacy policy]]. The new privacy policy has caused concern among the browser's user revolving around the way the section that describes the rights Mozilla has over their data is phrased.
===Privacy-preserving attribution===
'''Privacy-preserving attribution (PPA)''' is an experimental feature introduced in Firefox version 128, designed to help advertising sites measure the performance of their ads while maintaining user privacy. It is marketed as an alternative method for performing attribution without relying on online tracking of users' browsing activity, which is incompatible with privacy. The functionality is explained on the Mozilla support page as follows:<ref name=":0">https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/privacy-preserving-attribution#w_how-can-i-disable-ppa</ref><blockquote>
#Websites that show you ads can ask Firefox to remember these ads. When this happens, Firefox stores an “impression” which contains a little bit of information about the ad, including a destination website.
#If you visit the destination website and do something that the website considers to be important enough to count (a “conversion”), that website can ask Firefox to generate a report. The destination website specifies what ads it is interested in.
#Firefox creates a report based on what the website asks, but does not give the result to the website. Instead, Firefox encrypts the report and anonymously submits it using the Distributed Aggregation Protocol (DAP) to an “aggregation service”.
#Your results are combined with many similar reports by the aggregation service. The destination website periodically receives a summary of the reports. The summary includes noise that provides differential privacy.
</blockquote>Browsing activity information is not sent to anyone, not even Mozilla. Users with PPA enabled, however, must rely solely on the company to honor principle number 4 in its Manifesto.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>PPA does not involve sending information about your browsing activities to anyone. This includes Mozilla and our DAP partner (ISRG). Advertisers only receive aggregate information that answers basic questions about the effectiveness of their advertising.</blockquote>This feature does not allow users to make an informed decision and choose whether to opt in or not, as it is enabled by default and requires that the user actively opt out.<ref>https://cybernews.com/privacy/firefox-data-collection-feature-sparks-backlash/</ref> This goes against principle number 8 of the Manifesto.

===Anonym acquisition===
In June 2024, Mozilla became an advertiser by acquiring [https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/mozilla-anonym-raising-the-bar-for-privacy-preserving-digital-advertising/ Anonym], which went against its mission of being a proponent of privacy.

===Mr Robot promotional web extension===
In December 2017 Mozilla, in collaboration with the Mr Robot team, created and included by default a web extension in [https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/Firefox Firefox] called Looking Glass.<ref name=":1">Mozilla addressing the Looking glass incident

[https://blog.mozilla.org/en/products/firefox/retrospective-looking-glass/ https://blog.mozilla.org/en/products/firefox/retrospective-looking-gla]

[https://blog.mozilla.org/en/products/firefox/retrospective-looking-glass/ ss/]</ref> While the extension was disabled by default, many users were confused and worried to discover a unknown extension installed in their browser with a cryptic description "MY REALITY IS JUST DIFFERENT THAN YOURS".<ref>Firefox's users worried about the looking glass extension https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/7jh9rv/what_is_looking_glass/</ref> This description was later expanded to include references to Mozilla's collaboration.<ref>Locking glass extension description changed https://github.com/mozilla/addon-wr/commit/21ff53d2d5baab591d29b4ea5847d74cb6901b2c</ref>

When activated, the extension executes code on all websites visited by the user, searching for all words matching a list. Every match is then wrapped in HTML span tags,<ref>looking glass extension injecting HTML https://github.com/mozilla/addon-wr/blob/da464ac8f1c3b089405ca96fc68b999d2b624ef4/addon/webextension/content-script.js#L27</ref> and tooltips are injected to be displayed when the user hovers over these matches. CSS code is injected to make the words appear upside down and the tooltips work.<ref>Looking glass extension injecting CSS https://github.com/mozilla/addon-wr/blob/da464ac8f1c3b089405ca96fc68b999d2b624ef4/addon/webextension/background.js#L78</ref> Also three specific websites did have their headers changed to have a value "x-1057" injected.

While the extension could in rare occasion break some website with the HTML and CSS injection, it did not do anything malicious or dangerous. The extension was not collecting any personal information at all, but Mozilla admitted it had made a mistake in its response addressing the issue.<ref name=":1" />

<blockquote>'''A SHIELD study must be designed to answer a specific question.'''

We evaluated Looking Glass based on whether or not it upheld user privacy. Since it did not collect any data, we felt that it was safe. In retrospect, not capturing data was a strong indicator that this was not a good SHIELD study candidate, so we’re making sure we’re going to specifically evaluate future studies based on this criteria to ensure that we don’t repeat our mistake.</blockquote>

==Alternatives==
There are other browsers using the same browser engine as Firefox, but with the telemetry and data gathering removed and privacy-friendly preferences set by default. For desktop operating systems, these include [https://librewolf.net/ LibreWolf] and [https://icecatbrowser.org/index.html GNU Ice Cat]. On Android, [https://f-droid.org/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] is available through the F-Droid store.

Completely free alternative browsers are currently under active development, some of which show promise to become viable, truly independent, open-source browser engines in the foreseeable future. These include the [https://ladybird.org/ Ladybird] browser initiated by SerenityOS creator Andreas Kling.

As for Thunderbird, some open-source soft forks such as [https://www.betterbird.eu/ BetterBird] are available.

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

Star Citizen

2025-05-29T08:46:13Z

Rain: Added Wikipedia link.

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = Star Citizen
| Release Year = 2012-present
| Product Type = Digital Game Content
| In Production = Yes
| Developer = Cloud Imperium Games
| Official Website = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/
|Logo=Star citizen logo.png}}

'''[[Wikipedia:Star Citizen|Star Citizen]]''', a crowdfunded space simulation game, has sold numerous digital products and features since 2012 that remain undelivered as of 2024. Key items include ships costing hundreds of dollars, a modding platform, and private server capabilities, pets, and much more, all of which continue to be marketed and sold despite no implementation timeline.

==Background==
Star Citizen began as a Kickstarter campaign in 2012 by Chris Roberts, creator of Wing Commander. The project promised a combination of space combat, trading, and exploration alongside a single-player campaign called Squadron 42. The campaign raised $2.1 million initially, with total crowdfunding exceeding $600 million by 2024 through continuous sales of digital ships and game packages.

==Undelivered Product Sales==
Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) has maintained a practice of selling digital products years before implementation under the guise of calling it a 'concept', with several items or 'pledges' remaining undelivered after a decade:

===Ships and Vehicles===
*Idris-M: Originally sold in 2012 for $1,000, military variant, undelivered.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Idris</ref>
*Idris-P: Civilian variant sold since 2012 for $1,250, price increased to $1,500, remains undelivered.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Idris</ref>
*Banu Merchantman|Merchantman: First sold in 2013 for $250 (original concept sale), currently priced at $600.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Merchantman</ref>
*Orion: First sold in 2014 for $325 (original concept sale), industrial mining vessel remains undelivered, current price $575.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Orion</ref>
*Genesis Starliner: Sold in 2015 for $400 (original concept sale), passenger transport remains undelivered.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Genesis_Starliner</ref>
*Endeavor: Made available in 2015 for $350 (original concept sale), limited availability since with price increases.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Endeavor</ref>
*Hull D: Sold since 2015 for $350 (original concept sale), price increased in subsequent sales.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Hull_D</ref>
*Hull E: Offered in 2015 for $550 (original concept sale), increased to $950 in later sales.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Hull_E</ref>
*Crucible: Sold in 2015 for $350 (original concept sale), repair ship remains undelivered.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Crucible</ref>
*Pioneer: Marketed in 2017 for $850 (original concept sale), base-building vessel remains in concept phase<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Pioneer</ref>
*Drake Kraken: First sold in 2018 for $1,400 (original concept sale), capital ship with privateer variant sold for $2,000, remains undelivered.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Kraken</ref>
*Railen: First sold in 2021 for $200 (original concept sale), remains undelivered.<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Railen</ref>

Note: All listed vessels have been sold multiple times since their original concept sales, often at increased prices. Many remain in concept phase or early development despite years passing since initial sales.

==Consumer Protection Concerns==
The practice of selling digital products years before implementation has raised significant consumer protection concerns. Despite marketing these items as 'pledges' or 'concepts', CIG continues to charge real money for digital goods with no firm delivery timeline or guarantee of implementation. The company's terms of service have been modified multiple times since 2012, changing the conditions under which refunds are offered and altering customer rights regarding purchased content. Many backers who attempted to obtain refunds for undelivered products have reported difficulties, with CIG often citing their evolving terms of service as justification for denial. The lack of concrete development schedules for sold items, combined with regular price increases for unreleased content, has led to criticism from consumer advocacy groups and gaming industry observers. Additionally, the practice of artificial scarcity through "limited-time sales" of digital products that don't yet exist has been questioned as potentially misleading marketing.
[[File:ASA Response .png|thumb|A response letter from the Advertising Standards Authority affirming that Cloud Imperium Games likely had breached the Advertising Rules. ]]
In 2021, following a consumer complaint to the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) by a member of the /r/starcitizen_refunds community<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/starcitizen_refunds/comments/pfgchs/uk_advertising_standards_agency_rule_concept_ship/</ref>, Cloud Imperium Games was required to modify their concept ship marketing emails after the ASA determined they violated Advertising Rules in the UK. The issue centered on emails promoting concept ships without clear disclosure that the advertised vessels did not yet exist in-game. In response, CIG added a standardized disclaimer to their marketing emails stating that concept ships are "being offered here as a limited vehicle concept pledge". The disclaimer also notes that purchasers receive a temporary "loaner vehicle" until their bought ship becomes available.

==Development Status Contradictions==
A notable point of controversy surrounds CIG's inconsistent messaging regarding Star Citizen's development status. When players report persistent bugs, server issues, or gameplay problems, CIG and community moderators frequently emphasize the game's "alpha" status as justification for these issues, suggesting the project is still in early development. However, when faced with questions about delayed delivery of promised features or criticism of continuous sales practices, the company often presents Star Citizen as a delivered, playable product that is simply receiving ongoing development. This contradiction has been particularly evident in legal contexts, where CIG has defended against refund requests by asserting that the base game has been "delivered" to backers, while simultaneously using the alpha designation to deflect criticism about long-standing technical issues and missing core gameplay features promised in the original crowdfunding campaign. The dual narrative has led to growing skepticism within the gaming community about the project's actual development status and CIG's transparency regarding project completion criteria.

==Development Communication Issues==
Squadron 42's "Answer the Call 2017" marketing campaign ended in failure when CIG did not deliver the promised single-player campaign, despite extensive marketing featuring a star-studded cast including Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, and Gillian Anderson<ref>https://starcitizen.tools/Squadron_42</ref>. Following community backlash over the missed release, CIG announced plans for a new project roadmap in late 2017. However, this evolved into what became known as the "Roadmap to the Roadmap," with a release view being finally available in March of 2018. When finally delivered, the new roadmap consistently showed missed deadlines and delayed features. Rather than address these delays, CIG ultimately discontinued much of the roadmap's progress tracker in February 2022, dismissively labeling concerned backers as "roadmap watchers" <ref>https://robertsspaceindustries.com/spectrum/community/SC/forum/3/thread/roadmap-roundup-february-2nd-2022</ref> and claiming that showing development progress "puts too much attention on features that had a high probability of shifting around" and was "a distraction both internally at CIG and within the community". This marked a significant departure from their previous promises of transparency and was met with substantial community backlash, particularly from backers who had used the roadmap to track progress on features they had purchased years earlier.

==Consumer Response==
[[File:-r-Starcitizen Corruption.png|thumb|CIG Employee Zac Preece asking in a private discord server for a post to be removed from the /r/starcitizen reddit. This post by the account of the reddit moderator Ian (MrRiceGuy) didn't violate the rules yet proceeded to remove said post anyway. ]]
The prolonged development timeline and sales practices have led to organized consumer response movements, notably the /r/starcitizen_refunds subreddit community with over 18,000 members.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/starcitizen_refunds/</ref>. This subreddit serves as a platform for dissatisfied backers seeking refunds, documenting development delays, and tracking changes to terms of service that affect consumer rights. Discussion of these issues on official channels is heavily restricted, with CIG's Spectrum forum rules explicitly prohibiting posts deemed to spread "fear, uncertainty, and doubt" (FUD)<ref>https://support.robertsspaceindustries.com/hc/en-us/articles/115013196427-Spectrum-and-Website-Rules-and-Moderation-Responsibilities</ref> and the discussion of support tickets / moderation decisions.

While unofficial communities like the /r/starcitizen subreddit and Discord server exist, these spaces are heavily moderated to prevent discussion of negative sentiment due to strong ties between their moderators and Cloud Imperium Games employees.

As a result, /r/starcitizen_refunds has become the primary platform for maintaining records of unfulfilled promises and providing guidance for others seeking refunds.

==Ingame Moderation Inconsistencies==
[[File:Example of Exessive Griefing .png|thumb|An example of a user being banned for the term 'Excessive Griefing' and being directed to review the terms of service and rules of conduct for a term that doesn't exist. ]]
The moderation practices of Cloud Imperium have drawn criticism for inconsistent and opaque enforcement. Users can receiving bans for "excessive griefing" despite this term having no defined parameters in either the Terms of Service<ref>https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/tos</ref> or Rules of Conduct<ref>https://support.robertsspaceindustries.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409491235351-Rules-of-Conduct</ref> documentation. Users receive these bans without stated reasons, requiring them to file support tickets to learn of their alleged infractions. This lack of transparency and disconnect between written policies and enforcement has created significant uncertainty about what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Star Citizen's Persistent Universe or PU for short is an open sandbox that allows players to engage in PVP activities such as Piracy and Bounty Hunting yet activity participating in these activities could lead a player to being banned for 'excessively' engaging in this activity under the guise of it being 'harassment' to do so.

=== The HuskyPie Incident ===
On April 21, 2025, Cloud Imperium Games banned player HuskyPie for 17 days after German content creator Karolinger falsely accused him of stream sniping. The incident occurred in Pyro, a lawless system explicitly for PvP combat. HuskyPie was completing a mercenary mission when he encountered and killed Karolinger twice at Bueno Ravine. Despite having no evidence beyond the streamer's accusations, CIG suspended HuskyPie's account. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0eipkl66-8 As documented in an episode of the "Griefers Pub" podcast], HuskyPie was forced to appeal by providing his own game logs proving he was already at the location on mission objectives and had never watched Karolinger's stream. CIG eventually overturned the ban but offered no apology or explanation. This case directly demonstrates preferential treatment for content creators and shows how regular players can be banned for engaging in permitted gameplay while content creators receive special protection from legitimate game mechanics.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Star Citizen]]

Lieferando

2025-05-27T08:23:52Z

Rain: AGB is a German term.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Lieferando
| Founded = 2009
| Industry = Food Delivery
| Official Website = https://www.lieferando.de
|Type=Subsidiary|Logo=Lieferando.png}}

'''Lieferando''' is a German online food ordering and delivery service, started in 2009 and later incorporated into [[wikipedia:Just_Eat_Takeaway|Just Eat Takeaway]]. It is among the largest delivery platforms in Germany.

Lieferando offers thousands of restaurants to consumers, who place food orders via Lieferando's website or mobile app. While popular for its convenience, the platform has attracted criticism for certain practices that impact consumers, including hidden fees, “shadow websites,” as well as concerns about the working conditions of delivery people.

==Consumer-protection profile==

===Shadow websites and possible consumer confusion===
Investigations by media outlets, including Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), revealed that Lieferando creates “shadow websites” closely mimicking the look and name of partner restaurants’ official websites.<ref>Rebecca Ciesielski, Sammy Khamis und Johannes Lenz (Feburary 25, 2021). [https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/br-recherche/lieferando-websites-101.html "Lieferandos Geschäft mit 'Schattenwebseiten'"] (in German). ''Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)''. </ref> This may confuse consumers in several ways:
*'''Misleading search results''': When people search for a specific restaurant online, the Lieferando “shadow” site often appears at the top of search results due to paid ads and ranking strategies. This can lead customers to believe they are ordering directly from the restaurant.
*'''Hidden commissions''': Even if the restaurant itself handles the food delivery, a commission (often around 13%) is charged on orders placed through Lieferando. When Lieferando also delivers the food, this commission can rise to 30%. Critics argue this setup may indirectly inflate menu prices and fees for consumers.
*'''Less direct restaurant support''': Many customers order online to support local restaurants, but unknowingly funnel sales through Lieferando. Consumers wishing to maximize the restaurant’s revenue may not realize they are on a Lieferando-created webpage.

===Pricing and extra fees===
While Lieferando is free for consumers to use, restaurants pay substantial commissions per order. Observers note that:
*'''Higher menu prices''': Restaurants sometimes increase their listed menu prices on Lieferando to offset commissions. As a result, consumers ordering the same meal through the platform might pay more than if they had ordered directly.
*'''Delivery and service fees''': Depending on restaurant agreements and optional platform features (e.g., contactless or expedited delivery), consumers may face additional charges at checkout.
*'''Promotions and deals''': Some restaurants do not extend special offers or loyalty rewards on Lieferando orders, meaning consumers may miss out on deals found only on the restaurant’s direct channels.

===The effect of courier working conditions on service===
Although it may seem unrelated at first, labor conditions can affect the consumer experience:
*'''Delivery reliability''': Critics say harsh working conditions – particularly in bad weather or under stressful scheduling –can lead to rushed deliveries, occasional delays, or inconsistent quality of service.
*'''Real-time tracking and performance monitoring''': Lieferando tracks couriers’ locations and delivery times to ensure prompt service. While this might benefit customers who want quick updates, data-protection experts raise concerns about continuous oversight and whether it places undue pressure on riders.<ref>Reichert, Philipp (August 1, 2023). [https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/report-mainz/lieferando-bonussystem-lohn-100.html "Bestell-Boom auf dem Rücken der Beschäftigten?"] (in German). ''SWR''.</ref>

===Customer support and transparency===
*'''Order misroutes''': If shadow websites cause an order to go through Lieferando instead of directly to the restaurant, consumers might experience confusion if issues arise, such as incomplete or delayed deliveries.
*'''Unclear ownership of sites''': The practice of creating lookalike webpages can make it difficult for customers to figure out who is responsible when problems occur, particularly if the official restaurant site and the Lieferando clone are nearly identical.
*'''Potential conflict of interest''': By heavily promoting these shadow websites and paying for top search results, Lieferando can overshadow a restaurant’s own official site, reducing transparency for consumers who genuinely wish to buy directly.
*'''Point programm got removed without notice of users''': Lieferando shadow removed its point porogramm at 2024-12-16 (user source<ref>https://www.mydealz.de/diskussion/lieferando-stellt-zum-16122024-das-punkteprogramm-ein-2464445</ref>) for all users which made all users lose all their points. These could be worth a lot of money if they ordered a lot. They did not send an E-Mail and there is not even an official post regarding this issue. Even worse is the help-page of lieferando is still mentioning the points programm as of 2025-02-16<ref>https://www.lieferando.de/kundenservice/thema/punkte-programm</ref> even if it does not exist anymore. Nowhere in their their T&Cs<ref>https://www.lieferando.de/terms-and-conditions</ref> it is mentioned that this can be done silently. These points can have a lot of value.

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

Guardzilla

2025-05-23T08:25:27Z

Rain: Fixed spacing.

{{Incomplete}}

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Guardzilla
| Type = Private
| Founded = 2014<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20141217054015/http://guardzilla.com/</ref>
| Industry = Home survallience
| Official Website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20200512165022/https://www.guardzilla.com/ https://www.guardzilla.com/]
| Logo = Guardzilla.png
}}
'''Guardzilla''' was a small home security company that specialized in cloud-connected security cameras before abruptly shutting down in 2020.<ref name="CS">https://www.consumerreports.org/home-security-cameras/guardzilla-shuts-down-leaving-security-camera-customers-stranded/</ref> The company offered a range of DIY security cameras, including models with a live 360° view, designed for indoor and outdoor use, with certain models featuring motion detectors and infrared sensors that would alert the user on the mobile app if they paid for a subscription service.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20200512165022/https://www.guardzilla.com/professional-security-monitoring/</ref>

==Controversies==

===Security vulnerabilities===
In 2018, security researchers discovered a critical vulnerability in Guardzilla's security cameras. The cameras contained hardcoded keys that could be easily extracted due to being protected by a weak, outdated encryption algorithm. This vulnerability allowed anyone with access to the keys to log in and gain full access to the company's cloud storage, which included customer-uploaded data and video footage. Despite numerous attempts by customers and researchers to reach out to Guardzilla about these issues, the company did not acknowledge any of the concerns raised.<ref>https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/27/guardzilla-security-camera-flaws/</ref>

===Server shutdown===
The functionality of Guardzilla's cameras relied on an active connection to a cloud-based server, which has since been shut down. The shutdown of the servers rendered the cameras inoperable, leaving customers with devices they purchased but can no longer use.<ref name="CS" /><ref>https://www.securitysales.com/news/shutdown-guardzilla-diy-security/</ref>

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

Rockstar Games

2025-05-21T08:38:47Z

Rain: Clarified segment and tagged citation needed.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type =Subsidiary
| Founded =1998
| Industry =Video games
| Official Website =https://www.rockstargames.com/
| Logo =Rockstar Games Logo.svg
}}'''[[wikipedia:Rockstar_Games|Rockstar Games, Inc]].''' is an American video-game publisher based in New York City. It is known for action-adventure game franchises such as ''Grand Theft Auto'' and ''Red Dead Redemption.''

==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]].

===Rockstar - GTA The Definitive Trilogy===
{{Incomplete section}}

===Rockstar - GTA 4 content removal===
Licensing for some songs in ''GTA 4'' have run out, and updates to the game have been removing content after purchase.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/360001005308/Music-Updates-in-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV-The-Lost-and-Damned-and-The-Ballad-of-Gay-Tony|title=Music Updates in Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony|date=2018-04-18|work=Rockstar Games Support|access-date=2025-04-02|archive-url=https://archive.ph/MHBy0|archive-date=2025-04-02|url-status=live}}</ref> A list of removed songs can be found here<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gtaforums.com/topic/908139-iv-song-removal-due-to-licenses-expiring/|title=IV Song Removal Due to Licenses expiring.|date=2018-04-18|author=edups|work=GTAForums|access-date=2025-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321070236/https://gtaforums.com/topic/908139-iv-song-removal-due-to-licenses-expiring/|archive-date=2025-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref> and here.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/|title=The update for GTA 4 removes songs from the ingame radio stations. Here is the list of songs removed|author=u/TransAmConnor|work=Reddit|date=2018-04-26|access-date=2025-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429055804/https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/|archive-date=2018-04-29|url-status=live}}</ref> Players who purchased a physical disk copy can enjoy the full soundtrack but cannot update without losing content.

===Rockstar - GTA 5 move to kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase===
{{Main|GTA 5 moves to kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase}}
On September 17, 2024 (11 years after release), Rockstar implemented a controversial update that included a more invasive and dangerous kernel-mode anti-cheat made by BattlEye. This update retroactively restricted GTA Online usage to the Windows operating system, despite previously being fully functional on other operating systems like Linux and SteamOS. Despite the BattleEye anti-cheat being Linux compatible with minimal effort, Rockstar still chose to not support the operating system, hence leaving buyers without the product they paid for.

Due to the BattleEye anti-cheat being a requirement to run GTA V, if a customer decides not to install it they won't be able to sign in to the Rockstar Launcher even if they wish to play singleplayer. There are workarounds for this, such as using offline mode on Steam, but the game requires you to activate its license by logging in to Rockstar Launcher atleast once when you install it and about every week you will need to reactivate this license to continue playing the singleplayer mode.

===Rockstar prevents borrowing games on Steam===
While many publishers permit Steam Family Sharing, a feature that allows users to share their game libraries with other accounts, Rockstar does not allow it.{{Citation needed}}

===Rockstar forces arbitration agreement after the sale===
As of March 28, 2025, Rockstar Games Launcher is now forcing customers to accept the current terms and conditions which were updated February 28th, 2025. This includes an arbitration agreement that may only be opted out of using a letter delivered via official mail courier services. <ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Rockstar Legal |url=https://www.rockstargames.com/legal}}</ref> This affects owners of any games through the Rockstar Games Launcher as well as Steam users who own games that require it's use and completely blocks them from using the products they paid for until they agree.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Ford

2025-05-15T08:06:16Z

Rain: Fixed spacing.

{{StubNotice}}
{{ToneWarning}}

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Ford
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1903
| Industry = Automotive
| Official Website = https://ford.com/
| Logo = Ford.png
}}
----
'''[[Wikipedia:Ford Motor Company|Ford Motor Company]]''', commonly known as '''Ford''', is an American multinational automobile-manufactoring company. Founded by Henry Ford in 1903, who made the first patent Ford automobile (the quadricycle) in 1896, the company is now known for anti-consumer practices, such as marked-up parts sharing that probably started in the late 1990's.

==Consumer protection summary==

====Privacy====

*Collects an enormous amount of sensitive personal information from many sources, including data from the vehicle, data from the connected app, and data from purchasing the vehicle.<ref name=":0">https://www.ford.com/help/privacy/#USprivacynotice Ford US Privacy Notice</ref>
*Data collected includes purchase history, financial information, coarse and precise location, contact information, identifiers (like VIN, account ID), user content (like voice recordings when you use smart features), search and browsing history for advertising, usage data, sensitive information (under "Inferences"), diagnostics, and more.<ref name=":0" />
*Aggregates data from external sources as well, including things you post to social media.<ref name=":0" />
*Unfriendly design of the privacy policy prevents searching for terms quickly.<ref>https://www.ford.com/help/privacy/ Ford Privacy Policy</ref>
*There is a lack of clarity in how long data is retained.<ref name=":0" />
*CCPA Metrics from 2023 show that there were 96 requests for data to be deleted, and 7 of these requests were denied.<ref>https://www.ford.com/help/privacy/#caPrivacy Ford California Notice At Collection And Privacy Disclosures</ref>

==Anti-consumer practices==

===Frequently recalled vehicles===
Ford has been known for being the maker of America's most recalled vehicles, setting the record for most recalls issued in 2021, 2022, and 2023.<ref>https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/NHTSA-Recalls-by-Manufacturer/38mw-dp8u/</ref> Ford has filed dangerous patents  and has issued a software update that ended up bricking a vehicle.<ref>https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/automatic-software-update-bricked-my-truck.96624/</ref>

===Forced advertising===
Ford has also obtained patents for systems like one that [[Ford ad patent|serves ads]] based on the driver's conversations,<ref>https://therecord.media/ford-patent-application-in-vehicle-listening-advertising</ref> and [[Ford Repossession Patent|another patent]] for a system to annoy the owner of, restrict access to and then repossess or destroy vehicles where the owner "has defected" on finance payments.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/03/ford-files-patent-for-system-that-could-remotely-repossess-a-car/</ref>

===Bad engineering===
Ford's design and manufacturing practices ensure that the average consumer will end up with costly and potentially irreparable damage to critical engine components usually just out of the warranty period.{{Citation needed}} Various models and engine designs use a rubber belt rather than a metal chain to transmit power to the engine's oil pump. This belt which is submerged in the crankcase engine oil can prematurely degrade and cause a sudden loss of oil pressure.<ref>https://garagewire.co.uk/news/bbc-watchdog-ford-ecoboost-wet-belt-problem/</ref> Ford has also knowingly released a flawed transmission in the Fiesta and Focus models where the transmission can fail in a variety of ways; loss of forward power from a stop, loss of power when in top gear at constant speed, sudden unintended acceleration, and loss of power when the transmission is shifting between gears.<ref>https://www.freep.com/in-depth/money/cars/ford/2019/07/11/ford-focus-fiesta-transmission-defect/1671198001/</ref>

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

Category:Counter-Strike 2

2025-05-13T08:33:01Z

Rain: Added categories.

[[Category:Valve Corporation]]
[[Category:Video games]]

GTA 5 moves to kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase

2025-05-09T08:51:22Z

Rain: Fixed punctuation.

'''Grand Theft Auto V''' was released in 2013. On September 17, 2024 (11 years after release), [[Rockstar Games]] implemented a controversial update that included a more invasive and dangerous kernel-mode anti-cheat by BattlEye.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Sep 2024 |title=GTAV Title Update 1.69 Notes |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/271590/view/6356356787200715684?l=english |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Steam]]}}</ref>

==Background==
This update retroactively restricted online usage on the [[Windows]] OS, despite being fully functional on alternative operating systems like [[Linux]] and [[SteamOS]]. Despite Rockstar's claim that ''GTA 5 Online'' is not supported by [[Steam Deck]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Sep 2024 |title=Grand Theft Auto Online BattlEye FAQ |url=https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/33490543992467/Grand-Theft-Auto-Online-BattlEye-FAQ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Rockstar Games]]}}</ref> ''GTA 5 Online'' did work prior to this breaking change. Furthermore, BattlEye is compatible with Linux,<ref>{{Cite web |last=@TheBattlEye |date=24 Sep 2021 |title=BattlEye has provided native Linux and Mac support for a long time and we can announce that we will also support the upcoming Steam Deck (Proton). This will be done on an opt-in basis with game developers choosing whether they want to allow it or not. |url=https://x.com/TheBattlEye/status/1441477816311291906 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> and compatibility can be enabled by an email to the BattlEye developers,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=6 Nov 2021 |title=Supporting Linux / Proton and the Steam Deck with BattlEye is just an email away |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/11/supporting-linux-proton-and-the-steam-deck-with-battleye-is-just-an-email-away/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=GamingOnLinux}}</ref> yet Rockstar deliberately chooses not to take these minimal steps to enable support.

==Distributor and Consumer responses==

===Valve's response===

In response, [[Valve]] has issued refunds for some Steam Deck and Linux users<ref>{{Cite web |last=van der Merwe |first=Julian |date=19 Sep 2024 |title=Steam grants GTA V refunds after anti-cheat strands Steam Deck gamers in compatibility purgatory |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/Steam-grants-GTA-V-refunds-after-anti-cheat-strands-Steam-Deck-gamers-in-compatibility-purgatory.891105.0.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=NotebookCheck}}</ref> based on some criteria, such as hours played on Linux / Steam Deck.

Additionally, anti-cheat systems can be incredibly invasive with the ability to scan user's files and processes, including hardware identifiers, according to the [[privacy policy]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://www.battleye.com/privacy-policy/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=BattlEye}}</ref><blockquote>
*IP address
*Game identifiers (e.g., in-game name, account ID)
*Hardware device information and identifiers (e.g., serial numbers)
*Information about the running operating system
*Information about files and memory related to the game or operating system
*Information about running processes, drivers, and other executable code
*File names included in other information listed here, which might also contain your operating-system user name
</blockquote>Because of the inherent privacy and security risks associated with kernel-mode anti-cheat, players and developers are demanding more transparency in the usage of kernel-mode software included in games. In response, Valve added a new transparency requirement for developers and publishers to disclose the use of more invasive kernel-mode anti-cheat solutions:<ref>https://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamworks/announcements/detail/4547038620960934857</ref><blockquote>We've heard from more and more developers recently that they're looking for the right way to share anti-cheat information about their game with players. At the same time, players have been requesting more transparency around the anti-cheat services used in games, as well as the existence of any additional software that will be installed within the game.</blockquote><blockquote>Going forward, when you submit a new game to Steam, '''if your game installs a client side, kernel mode anti-cheat, you will need to fill out this new field'''. We will be going through old games and contacting partners with games that fall into this category. If your game contains a client or server based anti-cheat that is not kernel based, submitting the field is optional but we generally think that any game that makes use of anti-cheat technology would benefit from letting players know.</blockquote><blockquote>'''Specifying Kernel-level Integration''' - Select this to let players know that your anti-cheat integration installs or modifies files at the OS kernel level for any modes of your game. This is automatically selected or disabled for the relevant common anti-cheat services in the drop-down menu.</blockquote>Kernel mode anti-cheat solutions carry inherently more risks to the player, as the anti-cheat installs drivers with elevated permissions and sometimes contains vulnerabilities<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soliven |first=Ryan |last2=Kimura |first2=Hitomi |date=24 Aug 2022 |title=Ransomware Actor Abuses Genshin Impact Anti-Cheat Driver to Kill Antivirus |url=https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/22/h/ransomware-actor-abuses-genshin-impact-anti-cheat-driver-to-kill-antivirus.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=TrendMicro}}</ref> that can leave the user machine and data at risk, far beyond the risks when the software is isolated to user-mode permissions. Even Rockstar's own instructions suggest adding an exception to anti-virus, only increasing risk to players.<blockquote>While BattlEye is compatible with most antivirus software, you may run into issues if your antivirus does not recognize BattlEye. To avoid any potential problems, make sure to add BattlEye to your antivirus’ exception list.</blockquote>

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Grand Theft Auto V]]
[[Category:BattlEye]]

Canonical

2025-05-07T08:19:24Z

Rain: Fixed grammar.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Canonical Ltd.
| Type = Private company limited by shares
| Founded = 2004
| Industry = Computer Software
| Official Website = https://www.canonical.com/
| Logo = Canonical logo 2023.svg
}}

[[wikipedia:Canonical_(company)|'''Canonical''']] is a software company best known for creating Ubuntu. It is largely funded by South African billionaire Mark Shuttleworth.

==Upstreaming==

Alongside Red Hat and Google, Canonical makes up a substantial portion of upstream security patches in the Linux ecosystem. They maintain AppArmor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=AppArmor |url=https://apparmor.net/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[AppArmor]]}}</ref> a Linux security system that proactively manages threats, Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The app store for Linux |url=https://snapcraft.io/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Snapcraft]]}}</ref> a Linux appstore with sandbox support, and Livepatch,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Livepatch |url=https://docs.kernel.org/livepatch/livepatch.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Livepatch]]}}</ref> a system to patch the Linux kernel without needing to reboot.

==Tracking==

Canonical is collecting user telemetry from Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snap Store metrics |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/snap-store-metrics |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Snapcraft]]}}</ref> which is shipped by default in Ubuntu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installing snap on Ubuntu |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-ubuntu |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Snapcraft]]}}</ref>

Previously, Canonical sent local file search queries to their own servers, which were used to recommend ads on Amazon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stallman |first=Richard |date=12 Jul 2012 |title=Ubuntu Spyware: What to do? |url=https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Free Software Foundation]]}}</ref> In 2014, this feature was removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=29 Oct 2014 |title=Ubuntu’s Unity 8 desktop will remove the Amazon search ‘spyware’ |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/436097/ubuntus-unity-8-desktop-removes-the-amazon-search-spyware.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[PCWorld]]}}</ref>

In 2018, telemetry tracking for hardware components, software configuration, and crashes has been added in an opt-out model.<ref>https://superuser.com/questions/1311588/how-to-opt-out-usage-data-collection-in-ubuntu-18-04-bionic</ref>

==References==
<references />