Steering the Narrative: An Analysis of how Cybersecurity Rhetoric is used to Hinder the Right to Repair

Abstract

The intersection of consumer rights and corporate control is exemplified in the battle over automotive repairability, where claims of cybersecurity risks challenge the Right to Repair movement. This study critically examines challenges to Massachusetts’ Data Access Law, which sought to expand independent access to vehicle telematics data for purposes of diagnosis, maintenance, and repair. Through critical discourse analysis, the findings expose rhetorical strategies that prioritize corporate interests under the guise of safety. This research emphasizes the need for policy interventions that prioritize transparency and innovation and recognize that robust security and equitable access to repair can coexist.

Date
May 27, 2025 16:10 ADT — 17:00 ADT
Location
TBD
Jasvinder Mann
Information and Media Studies, Western University

JP Mann is PhD student at the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western University and has been president of the LIS Doctoral Student Association for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 terms.

Alissa Centivany
Faculty of Information and Media Studies, University of Western Ontario