FTC finds that smart device makers fail to make clear how long their products will be supported

A new paper from the Federal Trade Commission found that many smart device makers fail to disclose to consumers how long they will provide software updates for their products.

The agency looked at 184 different smart devices, ranging from hearing aids to security cameras, and found that nearly 89% of them don’t provide buyers with information regarding how long the products will receive software updates in order to continue operating properly.

Smart devices are used for all sorts of things, such as controlling the lights in your home or tracking your fitness. If a manufacturer stops providing software updates for their smart devices, the products can lose their “smart” functionality and eventually stop working. This is something that the FTC wants consumers to be aware of when they purchase smart devices. 

“Consumers stand to lose a lot of money if their smart products stop delivering the features they want,” said Samuel Levine, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a press release. “When shopping for smart devices, consumers should ask questions and consider how long their product will last.”

FTC staff found that 161 of the 184 products surveyed did not disclose information about the device’s support duration or end date on the manufacturers’ web pages. And when staff conducted basic internet searches to track down support duration, they didn’t find the information for 124 of the devices. 

The FTC is advising consumers to consider whether a smart device is worth the price before purchasing it, and to see if they can find out how long the manufacturer plans to update the software. If you can’t find this information, the FTC suggests contacting the manufacturer directly. 

“Consider how the product will work if the manufacturer stops updating the software,” the FTC wrote in the press release. “For example, a smart light bulb might still work the old-fashioned way, by flipping the switch, but you won’t be able to control it remotely. But if your smart speaker can’t connect to your music streaming service, it’s not very useful.”

Manufacturers could be violating the FTC Act by failing to provide software update information to consumers if they make claims about how long the device is usable, the FTC says. 

The paper also notes that if manufacturers don’t inform potential customers on how long they will provide software updates for devices sold with written warranties, they could be violating the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, which requires that written warranties for consumer products that cost more than $15 be made available to buyers before a purchase.

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