Norway's Consumer Council Calls for Right to Repair and Antitrust Enforcement - and Mocks 'Enshittification'

The Norwegian Consumer Council critiques the decline of digital services, highlighting a trend they term "enshittification." They released a report accompanied by a humorous video illustrating the problem of worsening user experiences. The council advocates for empowering consumers to resist this trend. They propose strengthening consumer rights regarding product control, adaptation, repair, and alteration. Interoperability and data portability are also key to their recommendations, alongside decentralized services. Stronger enforcement of competition laws is crucial to prevent Big Tech dominance through acquisitions. They suggest funding alternatives based on open-source code and reducing public sector reliance on large tech companies. Additionally, enforcement of existing consumer and data protection laws is essential. The council joined 58 organizations in urging the Norwegian government to rebalance power. They also sent a letter to the European Commission with 29 other organizations, expressing concerns about deregulation. The council's efforts aim to promote a more consumer-friendly digital landscape.