this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2026
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[–] hector@lemmy.today 11 points 2 days ago (2 children)

They haven't stopped at printers, they have everything now constructed to spy. Even a lot of things that have no legitimate purpose being connected to the internet. Soon we will not be able to find the non "smart" devices. We can't take batteries out of electronics that can spy on us anymore. It's a federal felony now to alter the programming on an electronic you bought as well.

[–] Abundance114@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (2 children)

It's a federal felony now to alter the programming on an electronic you bought as well.

I can't find any evidence for this; it would also be a nearly unenforceable law if it was actually a thing. What's going to happen, the device calls home and says help help I've been reprogrammed!

Now altering the programming only for re-saling might have some legal issues.

[–] hector@lemmy.today 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Idk if there are newer laws, I think there is, but a 1998 law makes it illegal to break a digital lock, very broadly defined, to protect cd's but applied to all electronics.

But the law was mentioned by an author interviewed on democracy now this fall.

[–] Abundance114@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

Idk if there are newer laws, I think there is, but a 1998 law makes it illegal to break a digital lock, very broadly defined, to protect cd's but applied to all electronics.

Sounds like one of those laws that's never applied by itself, but instead is always sprinkled in on top of another more well defined and detectable crime. In the case or CDs it would have been against piracy groups who not only cracked CDs, but also distributed.

Without the distribution, that law would have never seen enforcement.

We could also argue that cracking software protections isn't reprogramming, it's a precursor to do so and isnt always necessary to reprogram a device. Someone could absolutely pop the computer out of a Samsung smart refrigerator and replace it with a Arduino and reprogram the device, which for personal use is legally bulletproof.

[–] hector@lemmy.today 1 points 16 hours ago

Idk some states carved out exceptions to it with right to repair laws.

[–] WoodScientist@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] Abundance114@lemmy.world 0 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Read some Right to Repair U.S. law. There's absolutely nothing illegal about reprogramming any device for personal use.

[–] WoodScientist@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Tell that to every farmer in the US. Do you seriously not know about the DMCA?

[–] Abundance114@lemmy.world 1 points 17 hours ago

Tell that to every farmer in the US

Every farmer in the U.S. has the right to repair and reprogram their vehicles. They do not however have the right to force John Deer to provide access to their proprietary software.

Not being able to reprogram something, and it being a literal crime, are absolutely different things.

[–] Natanox@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 day ago

People who can't imagine that should try buying a non-smart TV. It's fucking impossible, unless 24-32 inch are enough for you (PC monitor size).