One company does something to fuck over consumers and the others hold their breath for a minute to see what happens, then stampede to do it too.
It's why we have binding arbitration agreements and no right to class action lawsuits in EULAs for game consoles.
It's why we have every company around trying to extract their 30% cut by sticking themselves in as a middle man.
It's why we will end up losing the right to use our cars as we see fit. I don't the buy the argument that it's a "software platform" now. The amount of software in cars has been increasing for decades and this being a bit smarter doesn't suddenly mean that Tesla should get to take this step.
They need to be stopped. It's not some Stallman-esque FOSS zealotry, it's just wanting to preserve the basic concept that I own my car.
Tesla is not even assured of getting self-driving approved in lots of jurisdictions. It's going to be a long uphill battle to get it accepted. They are aware that even well-intentioned owners and modders could get into all sorts of trouble, and that the blame would fall on Tesla and self-driving cars generally, potentially doing great damage to their prospects. They're already under scrutiny.
If you buy a self-driving Tesla in the future, you do own it. Drive it anywhere you like. But the software is under license and may not be used for certain things. Demanding that they open up their software to interfacing with who-knows-what is to demand that they introduce new security measures and functionalities, dependent on unpredictable third parties with unknown properties.
Also, there's an easy way to avoid not feeling like you own your Tesla: don't buy a Tesla. I mean, as of now you really have to go out of your way to get one - so if they're "fucking over consumers" so bad with this, why would you buy it? This isn't something they're springing on you after a purchase, they're warning you years in advance.
> Also, there's an easy way to avoid not feeling like you own your Tesla: don't buy a Tesla. I mean, as of now you really have to go out of your way to get one - so if they're "fucking over consumers" so bad with this, why would you buy it? This isn't something they're springing on you after a purchase, they're warning you years in advance.
I won't, but did you read what I posted? Allowing this to pass unchallenged will hurt everyone.
But the way you challenge it is by not buying into it. The policy is restrictive and perhaps a bit paranoid, sure, but that doesn't mean that it needs to be made illegal. Tesla can't force anyone to buy its cars and if this is such a poor value proposition for most people, then I don't see how it'll succeed. They don't have a monopoly on anything they're doing.