Comment by pbhjpbhj

Transparency pairs with a regulatory environment(*). I can trust a company because they gave to have their ingredients tested, and aren't allowed to include poisons under UK regulations -- I doubt have to verify (I'm not a biologist of any sort, U couldn't) as the company can be held to account through their transparency I can assume (!) they are not being evil.

Now, it depends what is on the line, even an open-hardware device could have had a routine built into a chip that seeks to set the battery on fire. Do you decap and check the silicon? Dunno all the firmware and indirect every routine?

For almost anything it's impossible to make a thorough check by yourself.

Transparency means the provider enables such actions though. That builds trust.

* regulatory environment includes the possibility that you can find a person and enact violence on them.