The European Parliament has overwhelmingly supported enhanced right-to-repair rules, aiming to reduce waste and provide more repair options for consumers. The proposed legislation allows consumers to choose repair over replacement, even after the warranty expires. Sellers will be required to prioritize repair during the warranty period if it is cost-effective, and the legislation also proposes extending the legal guarantee for one year after repair. The rules aim to reduce costs and improve access to spare parts, repair information, and tools. Digital platforms will be set up to help consumers find local repair shops, and financial incentives may be offered through national repair funds. The European Council is expected to adopt its negotiating position soon.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has launched a pilot program offering “cutting-edge cybersecurity shared services” to critical infrastructure organizations, starting with entities in the healthcare, water, and K-12 education sectors. The program aims to provide additional assistance to effectively address cybersecurity risks and reduce the frequency and impact of damaging cyber events. CISA plans to stress-test its delivery mechanism and expand the program beyond the initial sectors, hosting roundtables and information sessions to understand the needs of each industry. Interested organizations can reach out to regional CISA Offices for more information.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has approved a new process to streamline investigations of cases using artificial intelligence (AI) to break the law. The agency’s focus on AI-related issues aims to address concerns about potential fraud and deception. The FTC can now issue demands for documents related to AI investigations more easily. Additionally, the agency has launched a competition to find effective ways to protect consumers from fraud and harm associated with voice cloning.
Why do we care?
Right to repair continues to spread, and the EU continues to lead on regulation. That said, the US isn’t sitting still anymore, and we can see investments in cyber security and AI. On the latter, regulators have learned from past mistakes and are starting earlier.