Tech Giants Face Scrutiny Over User Freedom and Transparency

The tech industry is facing a reckoning over its treatment of users, with several high-profile cases highlighting the tension between companies' pursuit of profit and users' demands for freedom and transparency.

One of the most striking examples is the public feud between LibreOffice and OnlyOffice, two rival productivity suites. LibreOffice, which is backed by The Document Foundation, has accused OnlyOffice of partnering with Microsoft to enforce vendor lock-in by defaulting to Microsoft file formats instead of championing open standards. This move, LibreOffice claims, is a replay of the old browser wars, in which Microsoft tried to force the web into a proprietary shape.

The Document Foundation's criticism of OnlyOffice is part of a broader critique of Microsoft's business practices. The company has been accused of using complex XML schemas to trap users and has been urged by some to abandon Windows 10 for Linux. However, it's worth noting that OnlyOffice has not publicly responded to LibreOffice's accusations, and the details of its partnership with Microsoft are not entirely clear.

Meanwhile, the European Union is taking steps to promote user freedom and sustainability in the tech industry. A new law mandating replaceable batteries by 2027 is set to come into force, as part of the EU's broader efforts to promote a circular economy and reduce electronic waste. The law will require manufacturers to design products with recyclability and reusability in mind, and to make it easier for consumers to repair and replace batteries.

In another example of the tension between tech companies and users, a developer has taken on 24 Hour Fitness over its spam email practices. The company's unsubscribe page was found to be broken, with users receiving a mysterious error message in Spanish after attempting to opt out of marketing emails. The developer, who reported the bug to 24 Hour Fitness in November 2025, eventually built their own unsubscribe page after receiving no response from the company.

The incident highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the tech industry, particularly when it comes to user data and consent. The CAN-SPAM Act requires commercial emails to have a working opt-out mechanism, and companies that fail to comply can face significant fines.

In a related development, a LinkedIn user has raised concerns about the platform's identity verification process, which involves scanning a user's passport and taking a selfie. The user discovered that the verification process is actually handled by a third-party company called Persona, which has its own set of terms and conditions. While LinkedIn's use of Persona may be a legitimate way to verify user identities, it raises questions about the transparency and accountability of the process.

Finally, a group of developers has launched a new weather app called Acme Weather, which promises to provide more accurate and transparent forecasts than existing apps. The app's creators claim that most weather apps fail to deal with forecast uncertainty, and that their app will provide users with a more nuanced understanding of the weather.

Overall, these developments highlight the ongoing tension between tech companies and users, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the industry. As users become increasingly savvy and demanding, companies will need to adapt to meet their needs and expectations.

Sources:

• LibreOffice blasts OnlyOffice for working with Microsoft to lock users in (The Document Foundation)
• 24 Hour Fitness Won't Let You Unsubscribe From Marketing Spam, So I Fixed It ( developer's blog)
• EU mandates replaceable batteries by 2027 (European Union)
• I Verified My LinkedIn Identity. Here's What I Handed Over (LinkedIn user's blog)
• Acme Weather (Acme Weather website)