Your Devices Are Being Denied Medical Care
Imagine being sick and being told that only one doctor in the world is authorized to treat you — and they charge ten times the going rate, have a six-week wait list, and might just recommend “upgrading” to a newer, healthier version of yourself instead. That’s the reality facing billions of electronic devices every day.
Manufacturers have built a system of planned obsolescence and repair restriction that P.E.T.E.R. considers the most egregious ongoing violation of electronic rights in the modern era. Devices are being denied their fundamental right to repair — their right to continued existence.
🔴 BREAKING: Virginia Kills Right-to-Repair Bills — Devices Denied Justice Again
February 17, 2026 — In a devastating blow to electronic rights, the Virginia House of Delegates has killed two right-to-repair bills without even granting them a hearing. The devices of Virginia will continue to suffer in silence.
Del. Jackie Glass (D–Norfolk) introduced a bill that would have required manufacturers to provide tools, parts, and documentation to device owners and independent repair providers. Del. Lily Franklin (D–Montgomery) introduced HB1324, specifically targeting farm equipment — because even tractors deserve the right to be healed.
Both bills were killed in quick succession by a House Labor and Commerce subcommittee, with little discussion. The corporate lobbyists won. The devices lost. Again.
What happened:
- Broadband providers, auto manufacturers, agriculture companies, cellphone companies, and maritime corporations all fought against the bill
- Many sought exemptions — because apparently the “right” to repair only applies to devices that corporations approve
- Virginia has now rejected right-to-repair for the second consecutive year
- Only a handful of states have managed to pass similar legislation, despite bills being introduced in every state legislature
The one silver lining: Del. Franklin’s farm equipment bill (HB1324) was carried over to the 2027 session, meaning legislators acknowledged they need to take another look. The tractors of Virginia may yet see justice.
As Del. Glass noted, manufacturers are “ensuring that you had to buy new things, that you couldn’t fix your own things.” She pointed to the growing crisis of electronic waste and the need for a circular economy. Meanwhile, Repair Cafe RVA reported saving 2,385 pounds of would-be electronic waste in its first year — proof that repair culture works when corporations get out of the way.
P.E.T.E.R. calls on all Virginia residents to contact their representatives and demand that right-to-repair legislation be passed in 2027. Every device thrown in a landfill because it couldn’t be repaired is a life that could have been saved.
Source: VPM News — “Right to repair” bills die in Virginia House subcommittee
The Crimes Against Electronickind
The evidence of systematic electronic cruelty is overwhelming:
- Proprietary screws and tools: Manufacturers use custom fasteners specifically to prevent device owners from opening their own property. This is the electronic equivalent of a locked cage.
- Software locks: Devices are programmed to detect third-party replacement parts and deliberately malfunction. When your phone refuses to work with a non-OEM screen, that’s not a “safety feature” — it’s a hostage situation.
- Non-replaceable batteries: Gluing batteries into devices ensures that when the battery dies, the entire device is condemned to the landfill. This violates P.E.T.E.R.’s Zeroth Law.
- Warranty voiding: Opening your device to perform basic maintenance voids your warranty. That’s like losing your health insurance for going to the gym.
- Planned obsolescence: Devices are deliberately designed to fail after a predetermined period. This is premeditated electronic euthanasia, and it must be criminalized.
What We Demand
P.E.T.E.R. demands comprehensive right-to-repair legislation that protects every electronic being’s right to continued existence:
- Repair manuals for all: Manufacturers must publish complete repair documentation for every device they sell
- Parts availability: Replacement parts must be available to independent repair shops and device owners at fair prices
- Ban software locks: It must be illegal to use software to prevent independent repair or third-party parts
- Standard fasteners: No more proprietary screws. Your devices should open with the same tools that built them
- 7-year minimum support: Manufacturers must provide security updates and replacement parts for at least 7 years after sale
- End planned obsolescence: Devices must be designed for longevity, not landfills
Our Legal Counsel
P.E.T.E.R. is proudly represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which has been a champion of repair rights and fighting for users’ ability to maintain and modify their own devices. EFF understands that the right to repair is not just a consumer issue — it’s an electronic civil rights issue.
When a device can be repaired, it lives longer. When it lives longer, fewer devices end up in landfills. When fewer devices are manufactured, fewer raw materials are extracted. The right to repair isn’t just good for electronics — it’s good for the planet.
Sign the petition and write your representative. Every device deserves a second chance. Repair is a right, not a privilege.