Norway's consumer protection agency accuses tech companies of deliberately degrading products after purchase to extract more revenue, citing video games, connected devices, and cars as prime examples.
Norway's government-funded consumer protection agency has published a damning 80-page report accusing tech companies across multiple industries of systematically degrading products after purchase through software updates and subscription models.
The Forbrukerrådet, Norway's Consumer Council, published "Breaking Free: Pathways to a Fair Technological Future" on February 27, arguing that manufacturers are exploiting their ability to remotely alter digital products to extract additional revenue from locked-in consumers.
The Three-Stage Enshittification Cycle
The report uses the term "enshittification" to describe a gradual degradation process where companies initially attract users with useful services, then degrade those services to benefit business customers, and finally squeeze both groups to maximize shareholder returns.
"Companies can degrade the functionality of your car or effectively destroy your connected washing machine with a software update," the report states, highlighting how digital products are uniquely vulnerable to this cycle because manufacturers can alter them remotely after purchase.
Connected Devices Under Fire
Smart home devices have become a particular target for criticism. The report notes that many connected products lose features or require subscriptions post-purchase, effectively turning one-time purchases into recurring revenue streams.
Connected vehicles represent another major concern. The report specifically calls out Tesla's decision to switch its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature from a one-time purchase to a subscription-only service as of February 14, 2026. This change affects existing owners who previously paid for the feature outright.
Gaming Industry Practices
Video games face similar scrutiny, with the report describing how freemium games use forced ad breaks and in-game virtual currencies to convert single-purchase titles into recurring revenue streams. This practice has become particularly controversial among gamers who feel they're being nickel-and-dimed after already paying for a product.
Printer Industry Tactics
The printer industry receives special mention for its use of proprietary consumables and service networks. The report notes that the EU Right to Repair Directive, entering into force on July 31, will require manufacturers to reduce parts pairing and allow third-party repairs - a move likely to significantly impact printer manufacturers who have historically tied consumers to expensive proprietary ink cartridges.
Regulatory Pushback
Alongside the report, Forbrukerrådet and 28 co-signers - including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Access Now, and author Cory Doctorow - sent an open letter to EU policymakers on February 27. The letter urges stronger enforcement of the Digital Markets Act and GDPR while pushing back against the European Commission's "Digital Omnibus" package, which critics argue risks diluting existing consumer protections.
The collective is advocating for the EU Digital Fairness Act, included in the Commission's 2026 work program with a proposal expected in Q4 2026. This legislation would target dark patterns, influencer marketing, addictive design, and unfair personalization across digital products and services.
A public consultation that closed in October 2025 drew roughly 3,000 responses in its first two weeks alone, many from gamers pushing for provisions that would prevent publishers from disabling titles consumers have already purchased - a campaign known as "Stop Killing Games."
Industry Response and Consumer Rights
The report's findings highlight a growing tension between manufacturers' desire for recurring revenue and consumers' expectations of product ownership. As more devices become software-dependent, the ability to remotely disable or degrade functionality creates new challenges for consumer rights advocates.
The Forbrukerrådet's report represents one of the most comprehensive examinations of these practices to date, providing ammunition for ongoing debates about digital ownership, right to repair, and the future of consumer protection in an increasingly connected world.
For consumers, the report serves as a warning about the potential for products to lose functionality over time, particularly those that rely heavily on software updates and cloud connectivity. The push for regulatory intervention suggests that without legislative action, these practices may become increasingly common across the tech industry.
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