Netherlands consumer watchdog group targets Samsung for failing to update its devices

Android is successful largely because of its open nature, but it’s difficult to deny Google’s operating system doesn’t suffer from a broken update model, especially since only 0.7 percent of all Android devices utilize the latest version of its platform, Marshmallow.

Android operating system updates are first released by Google, before trickling down to manufacturers – who often put their own spin on Android with a unique skin – and then finally, carriers.

A consumer protection group in the Netherland doesn’t think this split level of OS update responsibility is fair, and instead feels it should be up to Android OEMs to ensure updates are released in a timely fashion.

Consumentenbond, a non-profit organization that reportedly holds a significant amount of influence in the Netherlands, is taking Samsung to court over the smartphone manufacturer’s slow release of Android updates.

In a recent press release, the company says it reached out to Samsung on December 2nd regarding the issue, but didn’t receive a response. The non-profit says it now intends to take legal action against Samsung and the group demands “clear and unambiguous information” related to update releases and security packages. It also says that it wants Samsung to “actually release updates for at least two years from the date of purchase.”

Consumentenbond claims that 82 percent of Samsung phones sold in the Netherlands did not get updated to the most recent version of Android over the course of a two year period. While some of the blame should fall on Samsung for this issue, carriers are also responsible for the problem as well.

In Canada, regardless of the carrier, Android 6.0 still hasn’t launched on the company’s latest smartphones, the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6+, Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5.

[source]Android Authority[/source]