The Bosch eBike Flow App wins the CES Worst in Show award for Enshittification!

@iFixit TBH e-bikes theft is pretty popular and we need a deterrent. Being dependent on Bosch's mercy isn't probably the best, though.

@mihamarkic @iFixit yeah, but most likely they will implement in such way that thieves will know to to bypass it and end user will be left with the burden. IMO unless they make this system open and will allow independent shops to work on we will just end up with more ewaste.

@iFixit Additionally, even when we do not suggest that Bosch might abuse their powers (which they are still likely to do at some point), they can just break repairability of your bike out of pure indifference at some point when they shut down the pairing server infrastructure. When *they* say your bike components are EOL, your whole bike becomes EOL when even used parts cease to be usable for repair.
( @pluralistic of course knows this )

@iFixit wondering how the legislation criminalizing recommendation NOT to buy a Bosch #eBike will be framed.

new learning process -- that the #brands once trusted are not owned/managed by people with the same principles as when the brands became popular -- they were bought into by sociopaths with the intention of exploiting that popularity as resource hence the #enshittification

@iFixit good thing then that the DMCA is not enforcable outside the United Shitholes of north America..

@iFixit "* app for * bike" does not need to be a part of a true sentence.

@thor @iFixit no, but you can be sure Bosch and others will pressure other legislators to adopt something similar. For “safety” and “the economy”, of course. We must remain vigilant.

@iFixit Has anyone asked Bosch what they would do in a situation like the example given?

@iFixit Cory Doctorow is my guide.

@iFixit hiya, I want to share this but the alt text is just the post text and doesn't convey the content of the video. It wouldn't need to be a full transcript but ought to reflect what you'd tell someone if you were summarizing. If you fix this I'll be happy to boost!

@Nicovel0 @iFixit In Europe that might be tough. Europe, unlike the US isn't a corporatocracy.

They will of course try. And it isn't like they haven't tried before. What does surprise me is that Bosch, being a German company - one would have thought they'd ethically stand above such immoralities - but then, BMW wanted a subscription fee for your paid-for car seat heater, so... ‍️ boo knows...

@thor technically, but thanks to free trade agreements it is: https://media.ccc.de/v/39c3-a-post-american-enshittification-resistant-internet

@iFixit No more Bosch

@iFixit as an ebike user I do not agree. The option for this is awesome and long overdue. Bike theft is a real problem and if I have 3 computers on the bike that can be electronically locked, why should I not use this option?

My 9 year old Bosch bike already has a computer in the battery, in the motor and in the display unit. It has buttons, let me lock my property digitally!

@iFixit Very, very disappointing, considering Bosch generally used to be a pretty good company.

@thor @iFixit I don’t know about “ethical” and “company” going so well together. If it doesn’t affect their bottom line or is good PR, sure, they’ll be ethical. But if it does…

@iFixit I choose a Bosch e-bike instead of a VanMoof because the battery, etc were easily replaceable/repairable. So this OSS a disappointing move from Bosch #ebike

@thor Almost all other regions got pressured by the US to pass equivalent laws during trade agreement talks. This effects the EEA as well. Also see https://media.ccc.de/v/39c3-a-post-american-enshittification-resistant-internet @iFixit

@iFixit I think you're missing several points, (a) the battery lock is opt-in and only on the paid subscription, (b) if, as in your example, the battery is stolen and taken to the police, an online database might help return the battery to the owner, (c) is there even an online DB? that design doesn't make sense because the bike would require internet access when the battery is attached, something which cannot be guaranteed.

@iFixit You definitively should use hashtags such as #Bosch or #Flow #FlowApp in order to let people discover that important toot about #ebikes.

Avoid Bosch products!

#enshittification #eBike #CES