If you’re still clutching onto that Galaxy S6 in the vain hope Samsung might update the software, it’s probably time to give up the ghost.
A consumer advocacy group in the Netherlands has lost a court case after arguing Samsung should continue updating its phones for at least four years after they go on sale.
Consumentenbond had pushed for Samsung to continue pushing the latest Google security updates to its handsets for much longer than the two years it currently pledges.
The group also claimed Samsung hasn’t been pushing those crucial security fixes to customers in a timely fusion.
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The court rejected both arguments, calling them “inadmissible” because they pertained to “future acts”.
The group said it was “disappointed” with the verdict and likened the situation to a car manufacturer who has an obligation to ensure the car remains safe and reliable.
“Samsung chooses to bring so many models to the market, there is no-one who forces them to do so,” Consumentenbond said in a statement. “An automobile manufacturer must also ensure that all its models are safe and reliable and remain so. Samsung has the same obligation.”
Samsung welcomed the verdict, telling the BBC it is “doing more than enough” to ensure its products are safe for users.
“It is a pity that the court route taken by the Consumentenbond has unjustly cast our update policy in a negative light, as the ruling shows that we take the security of the smartphones we provide to consumers very seriously,” the company said.
Apple fans might point to the fact iPhone owners are guaranteed updates to iOS 11, as far back as the iPhone S5, which was launched in 2013, over five years ago.
Do you think Android smartphone companies should be bound to update their phones for longer than two years? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
