03/12/2026, 15:57

Dear petitioners,

As I wrote earlier, I have been approached by a German TV station. It is SWR, specifically the editorial team of Marktcheck, the consumer magazine. I am planning to participate in their report, but they are still looking for more people who want to have their say in the TV report. I am forwarding Michaela Krause's appeal here:

> Dear petitioners,
>
> My name is Michaela Krause. As an editor at Südwestrundfunk SWR, I am currently working on a film for the ARD consumer magazines (SWR Marktcheck, NDR Markt, WDR Markt, hr mexx, etc.) on the topic of “smart/software-related/digital obsolescence.”
>
> In this film, I want to show that smart devices that run on manufacturers' cloud services or rely on software/security updates can lead to technically flawless devices becoming useless from one day to the next, or only performing basic functions, due to the discontinuation of cloud services or software/security updates.
> This means that in order for a device to work, I am dependent on the manufacturer's digital/virtual services. Although I purchase the device, I do not purchase its smart functions/functionality.
> And this ultimately leads to more electronic waste.
>
> I would also like to show what consumers can look out for when buying new devices in order to avoid so-called software-induced obsolescence, and what options are available for maintaining the functionality of older devices even without cloud-based control/support from the manufacturer.
>
> Together with scientists, I am also investigating the question of where political action is needed.
>
> That is why I am asking whether you can imagine participating in this film. As someone affected by the cloud shutdown of the Neato robot vacuum cleaner, would you be willing to talk on camera about how you feel about it, how long you have had the robot vacuum cleaner, what you think about the cloud shutdown, what costs a new robot vacuum cleaner might entail, etc.?
>
> Alexander Schöcke, the initiator of this petition, has already agreed to participate in my film as someone affected by this issue.
>
> Your support could take the following form:
> Either I visit you at home and you tell me about the problem.
> We hold a (large) video conference with several affected individuals who talk about how they feel about the situation, and my camera team films it.
>
> Feel free to contact me—also if you have any questions.
>
> Michaela Krause
> Redakteurin | Autorin
>
> SÜDWESTRUNDFUNK | Wirtschaft und Umwelt
> Marktcheck / ARD Verbraucher
> Neckarstraße 230 | 70190 Stuttgart
>
> 0711-929 14253
> 0151-16331498
> michaela.krause@swr.de

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