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The Public Interest Research Group along with 36 organizations
signed a letter sent to Google asking the company to extend the
expiration date on the devices.
“We want to teach students how to have a sustainable
relationship with technology, where they gain digital literacy
while also understanding how to take care of technology and
avoid being wasteful. Chromebooks need to last longer and become
easier to repair,” the letter said.
PIRG noted that several of the Chromebooks appeared on Amazon,
with some listed as new, even though the Automatic Update
Expiration was approaching.
“That means that an unsuspecting shopper, doing some
back-to-school shopping for a laptop for their kid could end up
buying a laptop that shows up on their doorstep and has already
lost support, even though they spent $550 on the laptop that was
listed as new, so that is completely outrageous,” Designed to
Last Director with PIRG, Lucas Gutterman, told The Center
Square.
An April report by PIRG, “Chromebook Churn,” found that many
schools purchased the laptops when they were forced to switch to
remote learning after Gov. J.B. Pritzker closed down schools
during the pandemic. PIRG reports that if Google doubled the
life of Chromebooks in Illinois, it would save schools and
taxpayers $68 million.
When technology like Chromebooks reach their expiration date,
the PIRG report said about one-third of the electronic waste is
properly recycled.
“Google should restore updates to these laptops that still
work,” said Gutterman. “They should also act to extend support
for the 51 models expiring next summer to save schools money and
prevent e-waste.”
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