Though Apple is working on expanding its independent repair provider program to many new countries, the tech giant is still protesting against ‘right to repair’ laws that are currently being debated in several states in the U.S. As per a recent report, the Cupertino tech giant is amongst the companies which are represented by a trade group lobbying against a Right to Repair Bill in Nevada.
The bill presented in Nevada is also being contemplated across several other states in the United States to implement as a law. The support for the ‘Rights to Repair’ bill is based on the fact that work and school from home increasing due to the coronavirus pandemic, individuals have had to rely on electronics like tablets and laptops more than ever. With such heavy usage, these devices sometimes require repairs.
Apple lobbying against Right to Repair Bill in Nevada over concerns of third-parties accessing user data
The Nevada bill aims to remove the requirement for users to only go to authorized dealers for repairs by allowing them to take services of smaller independent repair shops. The Cupertino tech giant has previously received criticism for the tight control it keeps over device repairs. The Associated Press writes,
Trade groups representing big tech companies clashed with independent repair shop owners in Monday committee hearing in the Nevada Legislature over a proposal to require hardware manufacturers give repair shops the means to fix devices like computers, phones, tablets and printers.
The ‘Right to Repair’ bill in Nevada would apply to electronics worth less than $5,000 in wholesale. An assembly woman in favor of the bill said that the bill if made law, it would project jobs and let people get their electronics repaired locally. However, a trade group by the name of TechNet which represents Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Honeywell, and other technology manufacturers has vigorously opposed the bill over concerns of data theft.
Cameron Demetre, the organization’s regional executive director, said manufacturers worried about “unvetted third parties” having access to the personal information stored in consumer electronics. He said the bill had “the potential for troubling unintended consequences, including serious adverse security, privacy and safety risks.”
Apple recently expanded its Independent Repair Provider program to more than 200 countries, covering every location where its products are sold. The repair program will be free for repair providers to join, whoever, they will have to pass an Apple certification, which will also be free of charge.
Once qualified, repair providers will be able to purchase genuine Apple parts and tools at the same price as Apple Authorized Service Provider Program members, and also gain free access to training material, repair manuals, and diagnostics tools.
The significant expansion of the company’s repair program will make it easier for millions of consumers to get their devices repaired from an authorized shop. However, we do not know if the expansion will have an impact on the state legislature.
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