The New York State legislature has passed the US’s first “right to repair” bill. The Fair Repair Act would require all manufacturers who sell “digital electronic products” within state borders to make tools, parts, and instructions for repair available to both consumers and independent shops. It will take effect one year after being passed into law – it’s still awaiting the governor’s signature, although expected to be signed.
Meanwhile, in pending laws, a potential deal in the House and Senate around data privacy. The proposed bill would allow users to opt-out of targeted advertisements and sue Internet companies that improperly sell their data. It’s still a ways to go, but it is notably the most significant breakthrough in federal privacy. There’s a lot in there, including allowing Americans to access their data and request it be deleted or corrected.
Another piece of proposed legislation focuses on medical devices. This would require the Food and Drug Administration to issue cybersecurity guidelines regularly and share information about vulnerable devices on its website.
Why do we care?
I am working backward, an actual set of movements on privacy and security. You can see Congress working on security broadly and defining portions of privacy laws.
Because it may go the way of the right to repair – and become actual law. New York is a significant market, making little sense for manufacturers to distribute only there. One state alone making it law is essentially all required to make it a thing.
Patience pays.