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0 pointsegsmi5y ago0 comments

I actually do support the right to repair. I even donated at the link you provided. But, as a hardware designer myself, the devil is in the details for something like this and people need to be really careful.

https://repair.org/policy

"Unlocking: Legalize unlocking, adapting, and modifying any part of the machine, including software."

The backdoor tools the FBI is asking for could easily fall into that category.

I'm not saying don't do it. I'm saying, be very careful what you ask for.

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8 comments · 3 top-level

harry85y ago· 3 in thread

nonono.

This is not the right place for that restriction at all. You should have the right to install backdoor tools on a technical level. If you install backdoor tools on equipment without permission from the owner or a properly executed warrant that is the crime and what must be prevented.

Don't conflate restraining the FBI with being allowed to treat the device you paid for and own exactly as a device you paid for and own and is entirely your property.

ponker5y ago

The FBI can commit crimes with impunity, that much has been made clear. So given that, the best thing you can do to your hardware is make sure that even criminals can't get in, which also restrains some of the rights of the original owner.

stephenr5y ago

Right because everyone knows that rootkits and other malware are just a hypothetical issue - no one ever deploys them against unsuspecting victims because that would be against the law.

munk-a5y ago

Illegal actions - especially by the government - must be punished. Otherwise our laws are just a polite suggestion. I agree that it's problematic to conflate Right-to-repair with technical issues that are supposed to be solved by the legal system.

soulofmischief5y ago· 2 in thread

Are you referring to the secure enclave?

egsmiOP5y ago

That’s a part of the machine therefore it would technically be included by the statement given on the right to repair policy page.

Obviously that page is meant to be a high level statement, it’s not law. But hopefully you can see my point.

soulofmischief5y ago

The secure enclave might end up being where the trap door goes. :(

Polylactic_acid5y ago

The trivial solution to this is you have to unlock the bootloader/etc via a command/option which is only available on an unlocked device.

This is how google phones work. You can flash whatever you want when the bootloader is unlocked but it is locked by default and can only be unlocked while the phone is unlocked.

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