Basically, a website can block you or treat you suspiciously based on whether or not this “feature” says that your computer or browser is approved and unmodified.

This can become a problem as more sites adopt this. You can be using a 2 year old device and suddenly your bank stops working because your device no longer shows up as approved. It can be used to artificially enforce obsolescence. The fix would be to buy a new device.

You could be using Linux or a 3rd party browser and many websites will become unavailable to you because they can never show up as approved and unmodified. It basically breaks the open web.

Imagine the web as a playground where some big companies like Apple and Google act as gatekeepers, deciding who gets access to certain features or sites. They use something called "Private Access Tokens" to check if your device is allowed. It's like showing a special ticket to play with the cool toys.

The problem is, this system could limit our choices and freedom. Only devices approved by these companies would get full access, while others might be treated suspiciously or blocked. It could stifle competition and innovation because only approved browsers and operating systems would be allowed.

Moreover, attestation means they control what we do with our own devices. Customization might not be allowed, and they could tighten the rules later on. This could change the web for the worse and hurt competition and user choices, making it less open and free.

The author does a pretty good job of explaining the potential problems this technology could cause. Scroll down to Why Attestation Is Bad.