Lab notes: June 2021

Broadband is too expensive — CR and partners are on it

Cory Doctorow on how interoperability can benefit consumers

Colorado inches closer to becoming the third state with a privacy law

  • The Colorado legislature approved an online privacy bill that would provide residents the right to access, delete, and stop the sale of their personal information, with additional protections for sensitive data. CR is encouraged to see legislators step up to extend new privacy rights to its citizens. Maureen Mahoney, senior policy analyst at CR noted, “We commend Colorado legislators for including provisions in the Colorado Privacy Act that will make it easier for residents to take control of their personal information. If the governor approves the bill, we urge the legislature to strengthen it in the future, including by clarifying that consumers can’t be charged for exercising their privacy rights.”

Congress is considering a “right to repair” law based on CR’s model bill

  • For the first time, a member of Congress introduced a bill that would guarantee consumers across the U.S. have the right to get their electronic devices fixed by the repair service they choose — or fix it themselves. The Fair Repair Act is based on model legislation developed by CR and other allies. The bill takes aim at manufacturers that require people to get their devices, like computers and phones, fixed by the manufacturer or a hand-picked servicer, while withholding repair information from others. This bill would help promote competition and consumer savings, while preventing environmental waste.

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