Imagine that the screen of your phone or laptop shatters as you’re reading this. The first thought that might enter your head is that you need to purchase an entirely new device. This is one of the many unfortunate truths about today’s technology: the equivalent of a dead car battery resulting in the whole vehicle being sent to the scrapyard. Even if you look for a replacement part, the new part is often difficult to install or costs an exorbitant price through official part sellers. An even larger problem is that some products are impossible to open up without destroying them. It is a completely nonsensical and anti-consumer practice — yet extremely profitable for the company that sells the devices on which we’re so reliant.
But things don’t have to be this way.
The right to repair is the idea that owners of devices and equipment should have the legal right to repair, deconstruct or even modify the products they have purchased. It is one of the most important initiatives in the current era of corporate monopolies. As laptops, phones and tablets are increasingly required in all facets of life to connect to the ever-growing internet, consumer control over what companies can sell should increase as well. People are pretty used to this concept when it comes to older cars and appliances, but most modern technology (especially anything with a computer chip inside) is rarely repairable by the device’s user — and not for lack of trying.
The most important parts of the right to repair movement are at the level of device construction. In order for the consumer to have a chance to fix their own things, devices need to be constructed and designed in a way that allows repairs to be made easily. In addition, changes to the ways parts are produced are necessary. The device’s users and any independent repair shops should be able to access the original spare parts, as well as the tools that are necessary, at reasonable prices. Most importantly, in this world of digital rights laws, repairs should not be hindered by any software issues or intentional programming (also known as planned obsolescence).
In addition to helping the consumer regain control over the device they purchase, right to repair legislation has the byproduct of helping the environment. Right to repair laws are designed to break manufacturers’ monopoly on the electronic parts and repair markets, allowing consumers to hold on to their old products longer. This allows them to not throw away their used products and be forced to buy new ones on a regular basis. These new manufacturing guidelines would reduce environmental impact by reducing electronic waste and slow down the production of new devices.
This issue also stretches further than just phones and computers. The issue of the right to repair has been a concern of farmers for years, as tractors and other farm equipment have become more reliant on technology and electronic connections to perform precision work. When a piece of equipment breaks down, it can cause huge disruptions to farm operations, which is why it is so important to have access to the tools and information on how to fix the problem. In addition to that issue, repairs often require exclusive software to fix, which is not available to the farmers. When anything breaks down, the nearest dealer may be hundreds of miles away, leading to long downtimes and expensive repairs.
No matter what discouraging messages may come down the pipeline from those who benefit from high repair prices, recent laws have proven that the consumer’s voice is more important than the company’s. In 2022, the European Union Parliament passed a law forcing manufacturers to use USB Type-C charging ports in all new devices. Apple completely and unanimously pivoted to the new rule, demonstrating on a large scale that companies will follow these laws if they preserve their consumer base and profits. In 2012, Massachusetts passed the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act, which forced carmakers to allow independent mechanics to access the secret diagnostic tools in cars. This means that when a check engine light comes on, the law makes it possible to take the vehicle to just about any mechanic to figure out what’s wrong.
To share a personal example, I own a 3D printer, and a couple of years ago, one of the internal cooling fans broke, which is a key piece of equipment in a machine that gets over 200 degrees Celsius (392 Fahrenheit) regularly. This also caused some damage to a circuit board in the machine. Fortunately, I was able to purchase repair parts at a low price, and even better, replace the damaged parts myself. While I surely didn’t do everything correctly in my repair, the fact that I — a high school student — could fix it in the first place was a refreshing and reaffirming experience.
On the other hand, the screen of my phone broke last fall, and I had no choice but to wait until I could see a specialist, who told me that only the display screen was broken and the rest of the phone was perfectly intact. I was told that a costly repair was possible, but Apple devices only work with the parts they are built with, meaning I would have lost most of the phone’s functionality.
Ultimately, we are much more than just consumers of new tech products. We are consumers who expect what we buy to work — and more importantly, to last. With companies caring more about their profits than the quality of the products they provide, the power is in our hands to vote with our wallets and support right to repair legislation.