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When Devices Stop Getting Updates: What End-of-Support Means for Your Digital Rights
The title of this page refers to a familiar moment in consumer technology: a manufacturer announcing that older flagship phones, such as Samsung's Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, would no longer receive software updates. Announcements like this can look like routine tech news, but they touch on questions that matter to anyone who uses a phone to read the news, organise, record public events or speak online.
Why software support matters
When a phone stops receiving updates, it usually stops getting new features first and, eventually, security patches. An unpatched device becomes easier to compromise over time. For journalists, activists, students and everyday citizens, that can mean greater risk to private messages, contacts, location data and recorded video. Free expression depends partly on being able to communicate without unwanted surveillance or interference, so the security of the tools we use is a practical civic concern.
Practical steps if your device is no longer supported
- Check your device's status. Look in the phone's settings for the date of the latest security patch, and consult the manufacturer's official support pages for its update policy.
- Keep apps current. Messaging and browser apps often keep receiving updates for a while after the operating system does, which helps reduce some risks.
- Use encrypted messaging and strong screen locks. These protect content if a device is lost or seized.
- Back up recordings. If you film public meetings or demonstrations, store copies securely in more than one place.
- Plan a replacement. When budget allows, choose a device whose maker publishes a clear, multi-year support commitment.
The wider debate
Support timelines feed into broader policy discussions, including right-to-repair proposals, electronic waste and whether consumers should be told clearly how long a product will be maintained. These are areas where public comment and engagement with elected representatives genuinely shape outcomes. Our Rights Explained section covers how to take part in that kind of process, and our Commentary pieces look at how technology choices affect speech, privacy and access to information.
Being an informed citizen today includes understanding the devices in your pocket: how long they will protect you, and what you can do when that protection runs out.