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.

Maddie Stone reports for Grist.

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.