Create: mjaysplanet/Flickr

New right-to-repair laws put Big Tech under scrutiny

In three states, consumers can now legally fix their own gadgets, but tech giants have been slow to comply with these new right-to-repair laws.

In short:

Right-to-repair laws in New York, Minnesota, and California require tech companies to provide access to repair manuals and parts, but many are lagging in compliance.
Some companies, like Sony, are slowly releasing repair materials, while others, such as Apple, face criticism for restrictive practices like parts pairing.
Advocates argue these laws are crucial to reducing e-waste and promoting sustainability, though full compliance is still uncertain.

Key quote:

“Even companies that are complying, their customer service people … haven’t gotten the message.”

— Nathan Proctor, co-author of the PIRG report.

Why this matters:

The idea behind these laws is simple but revolutionary—stop tossing out gadgets the moment they malfunction. We're drowning in e-waste, and it's not just unsightly; it's toxic. Read more: Electronic waste from just this year will outweigh the Great Wall of China.

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.