European consumer and online rights groups issue an open letter, urging EU institutions to curb big tech’s practice of degrading digital services at the users’ detriment.
A coalition of online rights advocates has united to express concerns over IT companies making digital experiences more challenging for users. Predominantly European, with some US representation, these groups have formally addressed policymakers across the EU/EEA, UK, and US.
This movement was galvanized by Forbrukerrådet, the Norwegian Consumer Council, which highlighted the “enshittification” of software. This concept, describing the gradual degradation of online platforms, was notably coined by author Cory Doctorow, a signatory of the aforementioned letter.
Their letter articulates grievances regarding “the escalating power consolidation and scarcity of alternatives within digital markets, the drive for deregulation, and the critical necessity to uphold digital legislation to safeguard our fundamental rights and foster fair competition and innovation.”
The campaigners advocate for a renewed equilibrium between software providers and their users. Their demands include addressing reliance on Big Tech through enhanced competition, better enforcement of current laws to combat restrictive practices, and the implementation of robust Digital Fairness Act.
This caution also extends to any business contemplating making its own proprietary systems less user-friendly once their customer base is established and dependent.
Although there’s no direct proof of enterprise software firms intentionally degrading their offerings, numerous clients have expressed dissatisfaction with the move towards subscription-exclusive services for features once outright purchased, alongside the pervasive integration of unrequested AI functionalities throughout applications.
To vividly portray this phenomenon, Forbrukerrådet has released a video. It demonstrates how “enshittification” manifests, resulting in continuous system upgrade requirements, widespread advertising, and the necessity of purchasing subscriptions for features that were once part of a product’s initial purchase.
