Apple Watch (Photo : Reuters/Robert Galbraith)
The United States' Library of Congress has updated the types of technologies that hackers can experiment with yet not break the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Although previously this included lifting the ban on smartphone unlocking to allow their inspection and modification, the latest revised list includes video games, smartwatches, tablets, televisions, Wi-Fi routers, and car software, giving security researchers the legal right to find bugs and vulnerabilities.
Librarian of Congress David S. Mao gave Americans the thumbs-up to jailbreak more devices. The list now includes tablet computers and wearable devices.
Consumers can now modify original video games to keep playing after the manufacturer has shut down authentication servers. However, massively multiplayer online (MMO) games are exempt.
The Librarian has also given the green light for people to tinker with their car's onboard software starting next year. However, the vehicle's entertainment and telematics software is exempt from the ruling, according to Engadget.
Automakers lobbied hard against this change. Nevertheless, the recent surge in car hacking cases and Volkswagen emissions scandal were likely key factors.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) had also requested the Librarian to include Blu-Ray encryption on the list of hackable gadgets, according to The Register. This was for remixing films and as teaching tools.
Corynne McSherry is EFF's Legal Director. She referred to the current inconsistent system that requires updated DMCA rules as "ridiculous," but was pleased that the Library of Congress protected rights to research, modify, and tinker.
The DMCA became effective in October 1998. Since being passed it has been the center of various lawsuits involving large companies such as Google, Sony, and Viacom.
