“A TAGE of resources for the public, the environment and public finances”: a petition is up against the scheduled end of life of Windows 10
On October 14, millions of computers will stop receiving updates. The end of Windows 10 software support by Microsoft could push between 240 and 400 million machines towards an early end of life. Faced with this forced march towards renewal, around twenty associations and companies denounce one “mess“Organized.
Structured around of a named petition “No to the Windows tax“”we find regulars of this kind of action, such as stop for planned obsolescence, but also others, like Emmaüs Connect, the UFC-Que Choisir, Telecoop or the Green IT association.
A costly policy
“”It is a way of alerting the public and putting pressure on Microsoft to provide non -paying updates“Explains Julie Caillard, in charge of study for advocacy at HOP. The bulk of the problem is indeed on the side of the approach adopted by Microsoft in the end of the security updates for Windows 10. In reality, the company will continue to develop safety fixes for its operating system, But you will have to pay a little less than 30 € for an additional year of updates.
“”Lots of people cannot afford to pay for these additional € 26 or use the other solutions offered by Microsoft (Cloud synchronization or Microsoft Rewards point). If they even know about it. Lots of precarious people with an aging or reconditioned machine are not able to buy a computer either“Gets stop in planned obsolescence. Personal computer to the fleets of machines present in companies or communities,”it will cost money to all the layers of the company“Summons.
The goal for this coalition? Force Microsoft to provide free security updates “for all“Until 2030 at least. But the idea is not to stop there. To prevent situations like Cellci from being represented in the future, HOP and the others push for legislative developments which would require 15 years of minimum follow -up and clear information on possible alternatives during the end of life of a software.
Because if software obsolescence is indeed recognized in French law, it is very difficult to prove. “”The law very badly supervises this kind of practice“, Regrets Julie Caillard. Result, no question for the moment to judiciary the case. It is just a question of carrying the case in the eyes of the advertising ethics jury to denounce the incentives put in place by Microsoft to push the repurchase of new computers?”Microsoft boasts of reducing the digital fracture and while asking people to buy a new computer“Pin the consumer defense association.
A “gabelie” for the environment and public finances
Beyond the petition now onlineStop in planned obsolescence does not refrain from using other methods to raise awareness and denounce the actions of Microsoft. “”We would like to use this example, obvious enough, to illustrate a certain form of resource mismatch for people, for environment and for public finances“, Details the association.
This fight against a certain form of software obsolescence hit the other great will of Hop for 2025, tackle marketing obsolescence. “”Everyone is at home behind their computer in the face of a problem that seems unique without realizing the number of people concerned. We believe that software is completely disembodied when it has super concrete repercussions on everyday life“, Philosopher Julie Caillard.
