Norway’s Consumer Council targets enshittification
Summary
Norway’s Forbrukerrådet has published a 100-page report, “Breaking Free: Pathways to a fair technological future,” that diagnoses and tackles the phenomenon of “enshittification” — the progressive degradation of digital services as platforms prioritise rent-seeking, lock-in and attention-extracting behaviour. The report is written in accessible English, sprinkled with humour and puns, and is supported by a short four-minute film, “A Day in the Life of an Ensh*ttificator.”
The report covers a wide range of consumer-facing problems: social networks and algorithmic prioritisation, generative AI as a new vector for enclosure, streaming restrictions, DRM and printer lock-ins, always-connected cars, gaming monetisation, dating and ride-hailing apps, and the erosion of ownership in favour of renting access. It recommends policies and practical moves to revive openness: open source and protocols, interoperability, portability, decentralisation, and stronger enforcement of competition rules like the DMA.
Key Points
- Forbrukerrådet released “Breaking Free,” a 100-page, reader-friendly report on enshittification of digital services.
- The report adopts the term “enshittification” popularised by Cory Doctorow and examines concrete examples across social media, streaming, gaming, IoT and genAI.
- Accompanying creative outreach includes a short, humorous film to help communicate the issue beyond technical audiences.
- Core recommendations focus on open source, open protocols, interoperability, portability and decentralisation to rebalance power between consumers and Big Tech.
- The council urges stronger enforcement of the DMA and competition laws and has circulated open letters to Norwegian and European policymakers.
- The campaign has attracted over 70 organisations across Europe and the US, signalling cross-border concern and support.
- The report is pitched for both consumers and decision-makers — useful as a plain-English tool to persuade boards, regulators and the public.
Why should I read this?
It’s short, funny and actually useful — not another dry policy tome. If you want sharp examples to explain why your apps, streaming services, printers or cars feel like they’re getting worse on purpose, this is the cheat-sheet. Comes with a great short film you can show folks who won’t read the whole thing.
Context and Relevance
This report turns a popular critique into an actionable consumer-policy agenda. It connects consumer harms to wider debates on digital sovereignty, regulation (notably the DMA) and how genAI might become the next closed, extractive platform. For anyone working on consumer advocacy, product policy, regulation or corporate strategy, the report offers accessible arguments and realistic policy levers — and a handy communications toolkit to persuade non-technical stakeholders.
Author style
Punchy — the council writes plainly, with humour and clear priorities. If you’re interested in stopping platforms turning into closed, rent-extracting systems, the report doesn’t just diagnose the problem; it gives concrete, campaignable recommendations.