Ivan is a Big Tech and India specialist. He also covers security, platforms, AI, security, and apps for TNW. It's a lot of stuff. He loves to say "Bleh!" Ivan is a journalist covering Big Tech, India and policy. He also covers security and platforms. It's a lot of stuff. He loves to say "Bleh."
Smartphone manufacturers usually provide two to three years worth of software updates and a few years worth of security patches for flagship models. Good luck if you have a budget phone.
Germany is trying to change this norm in order to make ownership more enjoyable for consumers. Legislators are pushing for a regulation that requires manufacturers to provide seven years worth of security updates.
Heise reports that the government of Germany has proposed this norm along with extended support for repair.
Authorities have stated that parts for devices in need of repair should be easily available and reasonably priced. Germany's proposals go well beyond the five-year update that the European Union seeks.
DigitalEurope, a tech advocacy organization that includes members such as Apple and Samsung, advocates for a limit of three years for security updates to devices. This norm is already followed by most manufacturers, and Samsung has committed to providing its devices with four years' worth of security updates.
Phone makers will want to provide shorter support as more devices launch in different regions. They could do this to avoid spending more money on a task that is not helping them make more.
Although the EU's five-year update policy is expected to be in place by 2023, we will have to wait to see if phones manufacturers can lower that limit. We hope other countries will follow Germany's lead.
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