Products configured this way are a combination of a "logic bomb" [0] and a "dead man's handle" [1]. Together they form a very nasty combo. Suicide bombers like

Products configured this way are a combination of a "logic bomb" [0] and a "dead man's handle" [1]. Together they form a very nasty combo. Suicide bombers like release-to-make switches, so if you shoot them they at least complete part of their mission. Companies that create self-destructing products are thinking like this. They are binding their survival to that of their customers as human shields and saying "we'll take you with us". It's very disturbing psychology and having laws that allow companies to do it, even by hiding behind supposed technical ignorance, is a problem. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic_bomb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic_bomb [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_man's_switch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_man's_switch