Enshittification

This episode of 99% Invisible delves into the phenomenon of "inshittification," a term coined by author and activist Cory Doctorow, which describes the process by which digital platforms and smart devices degrade over time, becoming worse for consumers while benefiting businesses. The discussion begins with producer Chris Berube aiming to increase host Roman Mars's anger level by exploring everyday frustrations with smart devices. Mars immediately relates to this, citing his own smart thermostat as a source of annoyance, wishing for a simpler, analog alternative. The conversation then shifts to the agricultural sector, specifically the digitization of tractors. Farmer Jared Wilson, a seventh-generation farmer, explains how modern tractors, like many other machines, are now run by complex computer operating systems. While this digitization has brought benefits, such as auto-steer, which significantly reduces the physical strain of long hours in the field, it also introduces significant problems. When a tractor malfunctions due to a software issue, such as a sensor failure, the system can "derate" the machine, drastically reducing its horsepower and rendering it unusable for farming. This derating can occur even for minor issues, and the error codes provided by the tractor's software are often unhelpful, requiring a technician to diagnose the problem. The logistical challenges and costs associated with these repairs are substantial for farmers. Waiting for a technician can cause critical delays during the growing season, leading to significant financial losses. Wilson recounts a situation where a faulty sensor caused a derating, and despite the dealership replacing the part, it didn't resolve the issue. The inability to quickly fix essential equipment during crucial periods, like the soybean harvest, can result in lost revenue as crops fall to the ground. The Public Interest Research Group estimated that in 2023, repair delays cost farmers approximately $3 billion. This financial burden, coupled with unpredictable weather and tariffs, adds immense pressure to the farming industry. Wilson notes that the cost of these repair delays has eroded any potential cost savings from the technology itself, effectively transferring wealth back to manufacturers. Mars, increasingly angered by these revelations, draws parallels to the experiences of consumers with other smart devices like cars, cell phones, and printers, where software often makes repairs difficult or impossible without returning to the manufacturer. This leads to the core concept of inshittification, as explained by Doctorow. He describes it as a three-stage process: platforms start by being good to users and locking them in, then they make things worse for users to benefit business customers. Using Facebook groups as an example, Doctorow illustrates how communities built around niche interests are initially facilitated by the platform. However, once users are locked in through network effects, the platform's priorities shift. They might start selling user data, filling the platform with intrusive ads, and generally degrading the user experience to extract more value for shareholders and executives, ultimately turning the platform into something "shitty." Doctorow argues that this inshittification is not confined to the digital realm but extends to physical, tangible devices. The digitization of everyday objects means that "everything's just becoming a computer in a fancy case." The average American household now has around 21 connected devices, a number that surprises Mars. This proliferation of smart devices makes it easier for manufacturers to lock consumers in. Returning to tractors, Doctorow highlights how farmers, historically, have been able to fix their own equipment. In the 1990s, tractors were largely mechanical, and repairs were straightforward, often involving local dealerships and independent mechanics. However, with the advent of complex software, this has changed. Farmers like Wilson now often need specialized technicians and proprietary diagnostic tools to fix their tractors. John Deere, for instance, has made it expensive for independent repair shops to access the necessary tools, which can cost thousands of dollars. This forces farmers to rely on John Deere for repairs, paying the company's inflated prices. A key mechanism of this lock-in is "parts pairing," where new parts must be compatible with the manufacturer's software. This directly impacts interoperability, the ability of different components or systems to work together. While cheaper, generic parts might be available, John Deere's software can prevent them from functioning, forcing farmers to purchase parts directly from the manufacturer. This issue extends beyond tractors to other devices like printers, where manufacturers restrict the use of third-party ink, and even to iPhones, where Apple discourages third-party repairs and actively prevents the harvesting of parts from trade-in devices. Apple's former CEO, Tim Cook, even stated that customers repairing phones instead of buying new ones was a significant risk. Mars's anger escalates to a nine on the scale, expressing a strong desire to revert to simpler, analog devices. Berube then offers some good news: people are actively fighting back against inshittification through various means. One approach is the "dodgy, questionable, outside of the law" method, which involves hacking into device software. Cory Doctorow points to the prevalence of black market or gray market efforts, such as jailbreaking iPhones to enable third-party applications. Farmers like Wilson have also seen independent repair providers using "cracked" software from laptops sourced from China. However, this method carries risks, including potential illegality under laws like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which criminalizes tampering with digital locks. This law, originally intended to combat piracy, is now applied to everyday devices, carrying penalties of significant fines and prison sentences. Jared Wilson himself refrains from using such methods due to the risks and the lack of support if something goes wrong. A more law-abiding path is the "right to repair" movement. This movement advocates for legislation that gives consumers more ownership over their products and the ability to fix them. Gay Gordon-Byrne, head of the Repair Association, emphasizes that if people truly own something, they should be able to repair it, calling the dependence on manufacturers for repairs an "artificial problem." The movement has gained traction globally, with significant progress in Europe, where the EU has mandated right-to-repair laws for household appliances and smartphones by summer 2026. In the United States, several states have passed right-to-repair laws. Colorado has enacted a law for farmers, Oregon for electronics and powered wheelchairs, and many other states have passed similar legislation for phones and laptops, even in states generally considered business-friendly. A bipartisan national bill for car repairs is also under consideration in the House of Representatives. This momentum reflects a growing public sentiment that people are tired of being unable to fix their own belongings. In response to this push, some companies have begun to proactively offer repair tools. John Deere, for example, has developed software to help farmers decode error messages and troubleshoot tractor issues, and has introduced the ability for farmers to override derating in some cases. Apple has also expanded access to repair tools and supports third-party replacement parts, with exceptions for security concerns. However, caveats remain. Jared Wilson still has concerns about the data collected by John Deere's repair software and has been involved in a class-action lawsuit against the company regarding its repair tool monopoly. Furthermore, the passage of national laws like the car repair bill is not guaranteed, as powerful industry lobbies push back, citing concerns about intellectual property violation. Many right-to-repair laws also do not outlaw parts pairing, thus failing to address the issue of interoperability. Doctorow suggests thinking beyond current laws, proposing more radical approaches. He advocates for countries outside the US, like Canada and Mexico, to break digital locks and allow third-party manufacturers to produce generic replacement parts and the necessary software to bypass manufacturer checks. This could create a global market for affordable, interoperable parts, potentially disrupting the current system of manufacturer lock-in. The episode concludes with Berube emphasizing the urgency of addressing inshittification to prevent further degradation of products and significant costs for consumers. He reiterates the benefit of allowing people like Jared to fix their tractors, highlighting the economic and environmental advantages of competition and repairability. Mars acknowledges the infuriating yet entertaining nature of the topic, comparing it to "good punk rock." A post-episode update reveals that John Deere agreed to a $99 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit concerning right-to-repair issues, with farmer Jared Wilson being part of that lawsuit. John Deere also provided information about their consumer repair software, stating that approximately 60% of their parts have third-party replacements available. Apple reiterated its support for third-party parts, except for security-related issues, and noted its expanded repair tool access and recycling programs. The episode's production team and their roles are then listed, along with a recommendation for Cory Doctorow's book "InShittification."