Microsoft has been quietly lobbying against Right to Repair legislation

Apple has received a lot of stick for opposing the Right to Repair your own property, but of course, the company has always been opposed to letting users tinker with their hardware and software, so it has not exactly been unexpected.

Much more of a surprise is to hear that Microsoft has also been quietly lobbying against Right to Repair legislation, which would prevent Microsoft from penalizing customers when they open up their devices.

Jeff Morris, Democratic member of the House of Representatives claims Microsoft has blocked legislation from being passed despite strong bipartisan support.

In an interview on iFixit’s Repair Radio, Rep. Jeff Morris said that “word on the street” was that Microsoft, “marshalled forces to keep the bill from moving out of the House Rules committee.”

He claimed “there was a tax proposal here … to pay for STEM education,” and that “in exchange for Microsoft support[ing that tax,] having Right to Repair die…” was a condition, as well as another privacy policy Microsoft wanted to advance.

“Microsoft was going around telling our members that they wouldn’t sell Surface Tablets in Washington any longer if we passed the bill,” he said.

As a device OEM Microsoft has an interest in preventing customers from repairing their own devices, complicating their support and potentially reducing the need to buy a new device.

87% of consumers however support Right to Repair and flexing their muscle in such an anti-consumer manner is extremely anti-democratic, especially when Microsoft paints themselves as socially responsible.

Are our readers surprised Microsoft is engaging in anti-consumer behaviour? Let us know below.

Via USPrig.com