NDP calls on Apple to justify software slowdown to MPs

The NDP says silicon valley giant Apple Inc. should speak to a Parliamentary committee about an unpopular change to its mobile operating system that slowed down older devices, but holding the tech giant accountable might not be straightforward, according to an expert. “My intent here is to make sure that Apple understands that Canadian consumers take this issue seriously and they get a chance to clear the air,” Brian Masse, MP for Windsor West and vice-chair of the standing committee on industry, science and technology (no relation to the reporter), told The Wire Report over the phone. Masse intends to table a motion for debate by the committee when it reconvenes after the end of January. Characterized as a scandal by the NDP in a press release issued earlier this week, Apple has been criticized after amateur sleuths on the Reddit Inc. forums noticed that their phones’ responsiveness would decline as the phone got older. After more study verified the issue, Apple acknowledged its decision to introduce a software modification which addresses a property of lithium-ion batteries: they decline in power output over time. This decline, combined with heavy CPU use, could result in phones unpredictably turning off before the battery indicated it was depleted, according to Apple’s statement. Slowing down the computer solves this issue, the company said. The slowed-down devices elicited accusations of “planned obsolescence” on Apple’s part, and highlighted a growing tension between the public and large companies. A string of issues have cropped up in consumer products and Masse hopes that the federal government could take a more active role in dealing with them. “Is this a pattern of behavior we're going to have to deal with?” asked Masse, who added that there might be enough evidence to suggest that. He referenced diesel emission cheating in the car industry, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s batteries catching fire in 2016 and Takata Corp.’s recalled airbags, as examples of failures in consumer products. Other House and Senate standing committees have tackled issues surrounding the Equifax personal data breach. Masse said he sees an opportunity for the federal government to take a larger role in consumer protection. “We shouldn't take another pass on consumer rights protection and safety in Canada,” he continued, indicating other countries have been more proactive on tackling the issues facing consumers. During a phone call, Opposition innovation critic Maxime Bernier, another committee vice-chair, expressed interest in learning more about the motion but said he was waiting to speak to his fellow Conservative members of the committee before declaring an opinion on the matter. Chair of the committee, Liberal MP Dan Ruimy, also said in a phone interview that it was very early days in the committee process, and he could not predict the outcome of the debate the motion calls for. Ruimy said he expects the committee to be pretty busy studying the review of the Copyright Act, which it has been directed to do by the House of Commons in December. While he said a more active approach to consumer protections is a great sentiment, Concordia communications professor Fenwick McKelvey pointed out that the government has a lot of ground to make up. “Do I think the government is doing enough to address or understand the suite of technology concerns taking place in Canada? I don't think so,” said McKelvey during a phone call. McKelvey cited the ongoing relationships the federal government has been trying to foster with internet giants like Facebook Inc. and Netflix Inc. Rather than changing the ways that the companies operate outside current regulation, he argued the federal government has acquiesced to international tech companies in the past. But that could be more in acknowledgment of the realities of dealing with these large, international companies, McKelvey admitted. “It is an example of the kind of government crisis perpetuated by, for lack of a better word, global capitalism where you just have these companies that are so nimble and internationally adept that it very hard to hold their feet to the fire,” he said. Although, if Apple does decline to participate, McKelvey thinks today’s shifting consumer attitudes towards tech companies could result in a blowback to the company’s reputation. Because of that, he does see a potential toehold for more proactive consumer protection action on the part of the federal government. Reuters reported Wednesday the American government is also asking questions about Apple’s decision to make this change. The office of Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said that the government was aware of the issue and the NDP’s call for Apple to speak to the house committee. “And as an independent body that sets its agenda, we will let the committee do its work," it said in a statement. “If the NDP is serious about this, what I would hope is that you could start seeing how this isn't just a one-off,” said McKelvey. According to Masse, that could be the case. “This could be the tip of a spear of a larger discussion about consumer rights, privacy, data management,” said Masse. “These are all the questions that need to be asked so that consumers, when they make their purchasing decisions, know what's in store for them.” — With reporting by Bryson Masse at bmasse@thewirereport.ca and editing by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca

NDP calls on Apple to justify software slowdown to MPs

News | 01/12/2018 5:39 pm EST

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