Apple opposes Oregon’s right-to-repair bill; defends parts pairing

Oregon is mulling State Senate Bill 1596, a piece of right-to-repair legislation. Apple agrees with much of the bill, but has a major issue with the proposed legislation’s “parts paring” policy.
Brian Hetaer for TechCrunch:
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“Apple agrees with the vast majority of Senate Bill 1596,” John Perry, Apple senior manager, Secure System Design, said in a testimony to state lawmakers this week. “I have met with Senator [Janeen] Sollman several times, and appreciate her willingness to engage in an open dialogue. Senate Bill 1596 is a step forward in making sure that the people of Oregon, myself included, can get their devices repaired easily and cost effectively.”
Apple’s major sticking point with the proposed legislation centers around a policy known as “parts paring.” [Apple] has staunchly defended the practice, insisting that the use of third-party parts could present a security issue for users.
“It is our belief that the bill’s current language around parts pairing will undermine the security, safety, and privacy of Oregonians by forcing device manufacturers to allow the use of parts of unknown origin in consumer devices,” said Perry. “It’s important to understand why Apple and other smartphone manufacturers use parts pairing. It’s not to make repair more difficult. It is, in fact, to make access to repair easier while also making sure your device — and the data stored on it — remain secure. Parts pairing also helps ensure your device’s optimal performance and the safe operation of critical components like the battery, after a repair.”
“Under SB 1596’s current parts pairing wording, Apple could be required to allow third-party biometric sensors to work in our devices without any form of authentication, which could lead to unauthorized access to an individual’s personal data,” the Apple employee noted.

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MacDailyNews Take: Users who are concerned with their security and/or personal privacy should not want third-party biometric sensors or third-party front-facing selfie cameras.
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