March 20, 2024 at 09:52AM
The makers of Flipper Zero oppose Canada’s plan to ban the device, denying its involvement in car thefts. They argue that its capabilities are overestimated and point out that similar functionality exists in other devices not targeted by the ban. They stress that the focus should be on addressing outdated and vulnerable access control systems in automobiles. They are rallying support against the ban.
From the meeting notes, it is clear that there is controversy surrounding the proposal to ban the Flipper Zero device in Canada. The makers of the Flipper Zero, Flipper Devices, argue that the device is wrongfully accused of facilitating car thefts and that the ban would harm security and technological progress. They point out that the functionality of the Flipper Zero can be replicated using other devices that are not being targeted by the ban.
Flipper Devices contends that the accusations against the Flipper Zero are ill-informed, emphasizing that the device is incapable of being used for car theft due to its limited power and functionality in comparison to the sophisticated and expensive repeater devices used by car thieves. The company also highlights that the focus should be on addressing the underlying problem of outdated and vulnerable access control systems in automobile systems, rather than targeting specific tools.
Furthermore, they stress that prohibiting tools used by security researchers will worsen the security issues by leaving devices vulnerable to exploitation for longer periods. The Flipper Zero team has called for the support of the security research and pen-testing community, asking people to sign a petition against the ban of Flipper Zero and similar devices. Additionally, Canadian fans of the device have created the ‘Save Flipper’ website to raise awareness and urge citizens to contact their parliament representatives to oppose the proposed measures.