Windows 10 End-of-Life Petition: Resources & Public Impact
- At a Glance What: Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14th.
- On October 14,millions of computers will stop receiving updates.
- Structured around a petition named "No to the Windows tax", the coalition includes organizations like Stop Planned Obsolescence, Emmaüs Connect, UFC-Que Choisir, Telecoop, and the Green IT association.
Windows 10 Support Ending: Concerns Over ”Tax” and Planned Obsolescence
Table of Contents
At a Glance
- What: Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14th.
- Where: Globally,impacting users worldwide.
- When: Support ends October 14th, 2025. Extended security updates will cost approximately €30/year.
- Why it Matters: Possibly forces 240-400 million users to upgrade or pay for continued security, raising concerns about planned obsolescence and digital equity.
- what’s next: A coalition of organizations is petitioning microsoft to provide free security updates until at least 2030.
On October 14,millions of computers will stop receiving updates. The end of Windows 10 software support by microsoft coudl push between 240 and 400 million machines towards an early end of life. Faced with this forced march towards renewal, around twenty associations and companies denounce one “gâchis” (waste) Organized.
Structured around a petition named “No to the Windows tax“, the coalition includes organizations like Stop Planned Obsolescence, Emmaüs Connect, UFC-Que Choisir, Telecoop, and the Green IT association.
A Costly Policy
“It is a way of alerting the public and putting pressure on Microsoft to provide non-paying updates” explains Julie Caillard, in charge of study for advocacy at HOP. The core issue is Microsoft’s approach to ending security updates for Windows 10. While the company will continue developing security fixes, users will need to pay approximately €30 for an additional year of updates.
“Lots of people cannot afford to pay for these additional €26 or use the other solutions offered by Microsoft (cloud synchronization or Microsoft Rewards). If they even know about it.Lots of precarious people with an aging or reconditioned machine are not able to buy a computer either” says Stop Planned Obsolescence.The impact extends beyond personal computers to fleets of machines in companies and communities, “it will cost money to all the layers of the company“.
The coalition aims to force Microsoft to provide free security updates “for all” until at least 2030.
– lisapark
Microsoft’s decision, while understandable from a business viewpoint – encouraging upgrades to Windows 11 and newer hardware – highlights the inherent tension between software vendors and users regarding the lifecycle of technology. The cost of continued updates, even at €30, represents a significant barrier for low-income individuals and organizations. The petition’s call for free updates until 2030 is aspiring, but underscores the growing concern about digital inclusion and the environmental impact of forced obsolescence.The situation also raises questions about the obligation of tech companies to ensure the security of users even on older, unsupported systems.
Impact Breakdown
| User Group | Potential Impact | Mitigation Options |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Users (Low Income) | Security risk, forced upgrade/purchase. | Explore free alternatives (Linux distributions), seek assistance from organizations like Emmaüs Connect. |
| Small Businesses | Cost of upgrades, potential disruption. | Budget for upgrades, consider extended security updates, explore cloud-based solutions. |
| Large Organizations/Communities | Significant upgrade costs, logistical challenges. | Phased upgrade plan, explore extended security updates for critical systems. |
SELF-CHECK (HARD STOP)
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