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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has flagged a major concern in the smart device market, revealing that nearly 89% of manufacturers fail to clearly state how long their products will receive software updates.
In a report made public on Tuesday, the FTC surveyed 184 devices, including hearing aids, door locks to security cameras, and found most manufacturers didn’t provide information about software support durations on their websites. This gap in transparency leaves consumers unsure about the long-term reliability of their purchases.
The consumer protection watchdog further investigated online to determine the support duration and end dates for the devices surveyed.
They found that two-thirds of these devices still lacked clear details, highlighting the difficulty buyers face in obtaining this information.
Lack of Update Support Leaves Smart Devices Vulnerable
The report warned that without ongoing updates, smart devices can become vulnerable to security threats, lose functionality, or even cease to work entirely. While some devices may retain limited functionality, others could become obsolete.
The FTC advises consumers to dig deeper before buying smart devices as well as reach out to manufacturers directly if software support details aren’t readily available.
The agency also hints that manufacturers withholding this information might be violating the FTC Act and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which mandate specific disclosures for products sold with warranties.
While the recent wave of “right to repair” laws in several states, including California, and most recently, Colorado may encourage longer lifespans for tech hardware, it’s yet to extend to all Internet of Things devices.
