All Your Devices Are Belong to Us

When I imagined the future of technology, I pictured a world where all my devices worked together seamlessly under my control. My car would never get lost in a parking lot because it could simply tell me its location. My home would intelligently manage the thermostat to save energy. The garage door would open automatically when it detected my arrival. My phone would serve as a personal assistant, coordinating everything to make each day run smoothly. At home, a central hub would connect all these devices, sharing information to optimize my life.

Yet in our current reality, these conveniences come with strings attached - usually in the form of monthly subscriptions. When IoT first emerged, enthusiasts dreamed of a world where users maintained complete control over their devices. Instead, ownership has quietly shifted from individuals to corporations. The devices you paid for no longer truly belong to you.

They belong to:
- The companies that can remotely disable them
- The subscription services that lock basic features behind paywalls
- The hackers who exploit their weak security
- The servers that must remain online for functionality

This isn't just about privacy or security - it's fundamentally about who controls the technology in your life.

1. The Subscription Trap: Paying to Use What You Already Own

Purchasing a device used to mean actual ownership. Today, companies treat hardware as merely a gateway for recurring revenue:

• BMW's Heated Seats: $18/month subscription for hardware already installed in your car
• Tesla's Full Self-Driving: $99/month software unlock for existing autonomous capabilities
• Peloton's Treadmill: $44/month membership required, or your $4,000 machine becomes an expensive clothes rack

Even basic home devices like smart bulbs (Philips Hue) and thermostats (Nest) require cloud accounts for full functionality. When companies eventually shut down these servers, your devices lose value - or worse, become completely useless.

I experienced this firsthand with a Westinghouse device I purchased and forgot about for a couple years. When I finally went to use it, I discovered it had turned into a brick.

2. The Kill Switch Problem: Corporate Control Over Your Property

Manufacturers now retain alarming power to remotely disable devices:

• Sonos' "Recycle Mode": Software that intentionally bricks older speakers to force upgrades
• Tesla's Remote Disabling: Ability to deactivate Supercharging and Autopilot on "salvaged" vehicles
• Google's Revolv Hub: After acquiring Nest, Google shut down servers, rendering $300 hubs useless

This goes beyond planned obsolescence - it's corporate override of personal property rights.

3. The Surveillance Economy: Your Devices as Corporate Spies

While I believed my devices should understand me to serve me better, today's IoT products gather excessive data while serving their manufacturers first:

• Smart TVs (Samsung, LG): Track viewing habits and share with advertisers
• Ring Doorbells: Share footage with police without warrants
• Tesla Vehicles: Record cabin audio and video continuously, even when parked

Opting out typically means losing core functionality. Your devices prioritize corporate interests over yours.

4. The Right-to-Repair Battle: Ownership Under Siege

I assumed owning something meant I could open it up with a screwdriver. Now even the screws require proprietary tools:

• John Deere Tractors: Farmers must hack their own equipment to bypass software locks
• Apple's "Self-Service Repair": Overly complex system that still pushes users to Apple Stores
• HP Printers: Firmware updates deliberately block third-party ink cartridges

If you can't maintain or repair it, did you ever really own it?

The Internet of Trojan Horses

The IoT revolution has devolved into a dystopia of subscriptions, surveillance, and corporate dominance. In trading ownership for convenience, we've lost both. Until this changes, remember: Every "smart" device you bring into your home ultimately serves its manufacturer first.

I no longer want IoT in my life - not unless I can have full, uncompromised control.

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