Legislature must reject digital fair repair act

The pandemic showed how important electronic devices are to our daily lives. Yet there’s new legislation in Albany that could impact their safety and create potential security issues for all New Yorkers.

Assembly bill 7006A mandates that repair shops without proper training or certification be treated the same as manufacturers’ authorized repair networks. If this bill passes, manufacturers would be required to supply unvetted, untrained shops with proprietary information about thousands of devices like smartphones, computers and appliances.

When leaving a device at a repair shop, a person expects a reasonable level of security for their personal data. This bill goes in the opposite direction, requiring manufacturers to disclose diagnostic tools and proprietary software to third parties that can then access all the information on a

device. In an era of sophisticated cyberattacks and unprecedented data leaks, the government should not be making it easier for criminals to access personal data.

There’s also a real safety risk. Enabling untrained third parties to open devices and replace lithium-ion batteries without training can be dangerous.

Similar repair bills have been rejected by every state legislature where they have been introduced. Lawmakers have recognized these bills would eliminate manufacturers’ current safe, secure and reliable repair options that their constituents rely upon.

New York residents deserve repairs that are done right. Legislators must reject this bill and keep consumers’ devices safe and secure.

Dustin Brighton

Washington, D.C. Director, Repair Done

Right Coalition