https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/4/24235097/thread-1-4-spec-launch-matter-smart-home-problems
Hanging by a Thread.
The new spec ... allows manufacturers to connect devices directly to the internet.
Enshittification comes for all.
While this sounds like a backward move for the local, smart home standard Matter, Hui emphasizes it is optional for manufacturers. Plus, if a manufacturer does choose to enable it, consumers can turn it off at the network level. “The spec requires border router vendors to give capability to the users to disable this functionality,” he says.
I guess we'll see.
The spec saying border routers must have an option to allow internet access is a weird thing to call Enshittification.
One, it has nothing to do with the actual concept of Enshittification. This isn't an online service that lured you in with cool free features and has slowly degraded the experience to increase profitability. It's a spec for a type of product that is adding more standardized features.
Two, it makes things easier for the consumer so you don't have to do a ton amount research about which features the different Thread 1.4 certified routers you are looking at have.
And three, if you were using the lack of an internet option as a feature for picking a router, you can do the exact same amount of research on border routers to see if the internet access toggle works.
You could also just not give the border router internet access.
Yes, I agree with you. The argument that "we don't want devices to require internet access" is very strange to me for this update of the standard.
This has absolutely no bearing on whether devices will be enshittified and require online cloud accounts/functionality/etc.. This is not affecting the standard of devices saying they require internet access...
This literally changes nothing except creating a standard path and manner of connecting devices to the internet. Do people know what a standard, regulated path for unwanted features means? A standard one-size-fits-all manner for blocking cloud access for all devices!
Ftfy:
This has absolute bearing on whether devices can be enshittified in the same way plaguing too many current home automation devices
This literally changes nothing except creating a standard path and manner to enable cloud dependencies and tracking from unscrupulous venders
For many of us, Matter/Thread was a way to get away improve privacy and get away from Vendor apps and proprietary bullshit. This is a step towards reduced functionality when you don't allow the devices to phone home.
They say you can turn it off now, but will it work out like that in practice?