End Planned Obsolescence: Demand an 'Open Firmware' Path for Expired Chromebooks

Every Chromebook has an 'Auto Update Expiration' (AUE) date. After this date, Google stops all security patches, effectively turning perfectly functional hardware into a security risk and, eventually, e-waste. While Google recently moved to a 10-year policy, millions of devices are still being pushed toward the landfill every year simply because a software flag has been set to "expired."

As a hobbyist developer, I know that these devices have plenty of life left. The hardware inside—the processors, memory, and screens—does not stop working just because Google stops sending updates. By locking the bootloader and preventing users from installing their own, modern operating systems (like standard Linux distributions), Google is forcing consumers and school districts to abandon perfectly good machines.

Our Demands:

The 'Open Firmware' Release: We demand that when a device reaches its AUE date, Google releases a tool to officially unlock the bootloader, giving users the freedom to secure their hardware with their own OS.
Transparency: Clearly label the AUE date on the physical packaging of every Chromebook sold, so consumers know exactly how long their device will be "supported" before they buy it.
Right to Repair & Repurpose: Stop treating Chromebooks as disposable "browser terminals" and recognize them as computers that users should have the right to maintain and secure indefinitely.
The Call to Action: We aren't asking for Google to support old software forever—we are asking them to get out of the way and let the users keep their hardware secure. Sign this petition to hold Google accountable for the massive environmental impact of their software-driven obsolescence.