= FSFE signs association joint letter for terminal device freedom =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2015/news-20151028-01.sv.html ]
Together with 9 other civil and economic organisations the Free Software
Foundation Europe (FSFE) sent a letter to numerous members of the German
Bundestag concerning the compulsory routers issue at the present
Wednesday. The letter is supposed to highlight the importance of passing
the bill for freedom of terminal devices in telecommunication.
On the 4th of November the four parliament committees Economy and
Energy, Law and Consumer Protection, Traffic and Digital Infrastructure,
and Digital Agenda will consult about the bill „for selection and
connection of telecommunication terminal devices“. The 132
representatives who sit in the committees will bear a special
responsibility since it is in their power to save the rights of
consumers and protect small and medium-sized businesses.
„We welcome the Federal Government drafting a bill which can
effectively eradicate compulsory routers“, says Matthias Kirschner,
FSFE's President. „The current status of compulsory routers is
harmful for both citizens and economy. This fact has to be known to
all representatives cross-party. Now we need a quick and unmodified
implementation of the drafted law.“
The bill is the outcome of a long discussion about so-called compulsory
routers. These forbid internet users to use a terminal device of their
choice and force them to always have the provider's device in the own
home network. This widespread practise is a threat to security, privacy,
and independence of all internet users and has negative effects on free
and fair competition of manufacturers.
Despite the unanimous opinion of experts, consumer protectors, and
politicians some members of the Federal Council aligned with the few
current bill's opponents. In doing so they adapted technically
inconsistent and long-disproved arguments of internet providers and
network carriers. Up to now the Federal Government rejected the
Council's criticism as not reasonable.
„Today's letter shall prevent a repetition of the Council's
disappointing reaction. With a broad alliance of many-faceted
supporters of terminal device freedom we ask the committees' members
to put those basic user rights as soon as possible and without any
rotten compromises into law“, says Max Mehl, FSFE's Germany
Coordinator. „As of today no representative can plead lack of
knowledge of the importance of terminal device freedom for the
independent usage and security of the internet.“
You can view the depersonalised version of the sent association joint
letter here[1]. Additionally we listed all important events in the
course of the compulsory routers debate seperately on our website[2].
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1. https://fsfe.org/activities/routers/files/20151027_Verbaendeschreiben.pdf
2. https://fsfe.org/activities/routers/timeline.sv.html
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a non-profit
non-governmental organisation active in many European countries and
involved in many global activities. Access to software determines
participation in a digital society. To secure equal participation in
the information age, as well as freedom of competition, the Free
Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) pursues and is dedicated to the
furthering of Free Software, defined by the freedoms to use, study,
modify and copy. Founded in 2001, creating awareness for these issues,
securing Free Software politically and legally, and giving people
Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are central issues
of the FSFE.
http://fsfe.org/
= FSFE convinces 1125 public administrations to remove proprietary software advertisements =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2015/news-20151013-01.sv.html ]
After six years of activity, the PDFreaders campaign[1] is coming to a
close this month as one of our most successful campaigns.
The campaign began in 2009 with the intent of removing advertisements
for proprietary PDF reader software from public institutions' websites.
To start it all off, volunteers submitted 2104 "bugs", or instances of
proprietary PDF software being directly promoted by public authorities,
and the FSFE listed[2] them online. Since then, hundreds of Free
Software activists took action by writing to the relevant public
institutions and calling for changes to their websites. We received a
lot of positive feedback from the institutions thanking us for our
letters, and to date, 1125 out of the 2104 websites (53%) edited their
websites by removing links to proprietary PDF readers, or adding links
to Free Software PDF readers.
In addition to writing letters, FSFE also collected signatures for a
petition calling for an end to advertisement for proprietary software
products on government websites[3]. 90 organizations, 63 businesses, and
2731 individuals signed this petition.
Furthermore, we were able to push for change at both national and
international levels.
- In Germany, national parties[4] gave statements in favor of free PDF
readers and the German Government itself has recommended the usage of
our text snippet in their migration guide[5]. FSFE's coordinator for
Germany, Max Mehl, covers it[6] in more detail on his blog.
- In the EU: the European Parliament directly asked[7] the European
Commission what were the reasons for advertising a specific software
and which steps were taken to solve this problem.
- In 2011 one of our pdfreaders.org coordinators, Hannes Hauswedell, was
in contact with Google[8], asking them to release the PDF reader
included in their Chrome browser as Free Software. Finally, in May
2014, the pdfium sources were published openly[9], and while FSFE's
enquiry might not have been the only reason they were released, it
marks an important change for the widespread adoption of Free Software
PDF readers.
"This success would not have been possible without the help and hard
work from our volunteers and the support from our donors. *Thank
you!* While many public and private web-sites still promote
proprietary readers, the level of awareness has changed
significantly during our campaign and now it should be much easier
for you to approach the remaining web-site administrators. Also most
internet users today already use Free Software when they open a PDF
file in their browser -- a huge difference from 2009!" says Hannes
Hauswedell who started the campaign. "Of course work still remains
and we invite you to keep on reminding (public) administrators to
use Open Standards and not recommend proprietary software. And with
your support, we too, will continue to fight for a web that respects
its users' privacy and freedom!"
To get involved[10] you can use our sample letter[11] to send to the
relevant public administration, or you can write one of your own. Just
make sure to include where to find a list of Free Software PDF
readers[12] that could replace the link from their website.
A special thanks again to the activists, volunteers, and donors who
helped make this campaign a success!
1. https://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/pdfreaders.sv.html
2. https://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/buglist.sv.html
3. https://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/petition.sv.html
4. http://gruen-digital.de/2012/03/document-freedom-day-kleine-anfrage-zur-wer…
5. http://www.cio.bund.de/Web/DE/Architekturen-und-Standards/Migrationsleitfad…
6. http://blog.mehl.mx/2015/german-government-wants-authorities-to-advertise-p…
7. https://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/parliamentary-questions-eu.en.html
8. http://blogs.fsfe.org/polina/2015/09/10/free-pdf-reader-for-the-web-browser/
9. https://twitter.com/nasko/status/469595752734269440
10. https://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/follow-up.sv.html
11. https://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/letter.sv.html
12. http://pdfreaders.org
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations to understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency, and self-determination.
It enhances users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software
adoption, encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and
provide resources to enable everyone to further promote Free Software
in Europe.
http://fsfe.org/