Baseus recall affects over 55,000 power banks after fire hazard reports
Shenzhen-based electronics manufacturer Baseus is recalling approximately 55,380 of its 30,000 mAh 65-watt portable battery banks. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has logged 76 incidents related to these devices, including 72 cases of battery bulging and four fires—three of which resulted in property damage. Affected units carry the model number BS-30KP365 and serial numbers ending in 0–9 or the letter D. Customers can request a replacement by submitting proof of purchase and serial number photos. This is not Baseus' first incident; in 2024, it recalled 132,000 wireless chargers under similar fire risk concerns.
Internet Archive faces $700 million lawsuit from major record labels
The Internet Archive, known for the Wayback Machine and digital preservation of public records, is again under legal fire. A coalition including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Capitol Records is suing the non-profit over its "Great 78 Project," which digitizes early 20th-century 78 RPM records. The Archive has labeled the suit an existential threat, arguing that the project falls under fair use and provides irreplaceable access to historical content. The platform is a vital resource for journalists, educators, and engineers alike. Over 850 musicians and nearly 90,000 petition signatories have called for the lawsuit to be dropped.
New e-waste database exposes short product lifespans and software-triggered obsolescence
The U.S. PIRG Education Fund has launched an interactive "Electronic Waste Graveyard" database cataloguing more than 100 discontinued tech products. These include PCs, smartphones, wearables, and car accessories abandoned due to software expirations or discontinued cloud services. One example is Amazon's Halo Rise sleep tracker, which was retired less than a year after release. PIRG estimates over 130 million pounds of e-waste have resulted from such terminations since 2014, and expects 1.66 billion pounds of waste from Windows 10 PCs once support ends in October 2025.
Signal takes stand against Microsoft Recall feature
Encrypted messaging app Signal has updated its desktop software to block Microsoft’s Recall feature by default. Recall, exclusive to Copilot+ PCs with NPUs, stores constant screenshots of user activity to allow AI-based data retrieval. Despite being a local feature, critics argue it introduces massive security and privacy vulnerabilities. Signal's developers implemented a screen security measure that prevents Windows 11 from capturing chat windows, citing Microsoft’s lack of sufficient protections as justification.
Fortnite returns to Apple App Store after five-year legal standoff
Following a long court battle over in-app purchase restrictions, Fortnite is once again available on the iOS App Store. The legal conflict began in 2020 when Epic Games circumvented Apple’s payment system, prompting removal from the platform. Courts later ruled that Apple must allow developers to inform users of alternative payment options. Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney sees the reinstatement as a victory for platform fairness, though he notes more global progress is needed.
Washington state enacts limited right to repair law, becoming eighth U.S. state to do so
Washington has passed bill HB 1483, expanding consumer access to repair documentation, tools, and parts. Exemptions apply to video game consoles, motor vehicles, medical devices, and low Earth orbit broadband equipment manufactured before 2044. The law takes effect in 2026. Advocacy groups like iFixit have praised the legislation, noting Apple’s subsequent decision to include iPads in its self-repair program. All 50 states have now introduced some form of right to repair legislation.