The impending next-generation devices that will come with their own embedded 3G/4G antennae are going to pose a whole new set of problems.
Manufacturers do already build in dead-man switches into some products, and the more that do this, the more this becomes a problem because then even disabling an antenna will not work. It would be down to requiring custom firmware for a device.
This is an area right-to-repair legislation could address and prevent this.
If disabling an antenna makes the machine fail to operate, what happens when I live in a poor service area? There's places in my house where the cell signal is unusable.
And if they let you use it if the antenna is intact (tamper sensing cover for it, maybe?) but without service, then you just need a low power RF noise generator right beside it.
The impending next-generation devices that will come with their own embedded 3G/4G antennae are going to pose a whole new set of problems.
Manufacturers do already build in dead-man switches into some products, and the more that do this, the more this becomes a problem because then even disabling an antenna will not work. It would be down to requiring custom firmware for a device.
This is an area right-to-repair legislation could address and prevent this.