This article talks about GE refrigerators that have a chip installed in the filter to be sure it is a GE product. It goes on to talk about coffee makers, printers, and ventilators that have some sort of lock on them. The commentary is from James B. Meigs in Commentary Magazine.
This sort of thing has been in use for 30+ years. There's a firm that makes a medical diagnostic device that relies on distilled water to operate. The distilled water is sold in "chipped" vials -- to allow it to control the supply (presumably to ensure the "quality" of the material and the accuracy of the test result).
Toner cartridges have been chipped. And, the chip not just used as a Go/NoGo indicator to the host electronics but, also, TRACKS the number of pages printed and, eventually, "expires". This prevents a "thrifty" user from refilling the cartridge! Again, to ensure the quality of the resulting prints.
This is nothing different than giving away toilet paper dispensers that require a refill roll with an overly large inner core diameter (so, competitor rolls won't fit!)
It boils down to FUD -- with a mechanical reinforcement!
I'll never forget watching a demo of a guy with a laptop creating complete brake failure in a car that was only connected by wireless dongle. Die-by-w ire electronics.
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