r/wisconsin • u/TheMysteriousEmu • 16h ago
A Now Open Letter to the Office of David Crowley About Consumer Rights (see comment)
Hello,
I have been interested in your campaign since your big comeback and win in the Democratic primaries. I understand that you are for heavily regulating, but not banning, data centers. In general, I agree with this.
Seeing this stance, I am wondering about your position on other tech regulations, particularly those involving ownership and forced arbitration.
David Crowley, do you...
1) Support forced arbitration clauses? These are clauses in End User Licensing Agreements, Terms and Conditions, and/or other legally binding contracts which strip a customer from their seventh amendment right to trial.
2) Support Section 1204 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act? Which allows the government to sentence someone to up to five years in federal prison for circumventing a digital lock? For example, a generation of Google Nest thermostats was discontinued. Google sent an update that made these thermostats unusable. If someone were to knowingly hack into the thermostat to make it work again, they could receive a five year prison sentence. Is this okay?
3) Support a customer's right to own digital media? If someone purchases a digital movie, should the distributor of that media be able to revoke it at any time? If someone purchases a digital college textbook for a "lifetime" term, should the distributor be able to place a term in the sale that allows them to revoke ownership in five years? Should companies be able to use the words "own", "purchase", or "lifetime" to describe revokable licenses.
4) Do you support static, one time purchase agreements? Should sellers be allowed to change the terms of a sale after a purchase has been made? For example, if one purchases a digital game, should a publisher be allowed to insert a clause that revokes or otherwise changes your rights? Should customers be allowed to decline the changes to their rights without losing access to their paid-for product? Should customers be eligible for a refund if they refuse the terms and lose access to their product?
I look forward to your response to these questions.
Thank you,
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