Hello,
For four decades the Free Software community has been working to empower
users to control technology and to help our society understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency, and self-determination.
On 27 September, the Free Software community will celebrate the fortieth
anniversary of the announcement of the GNU Project. In Europe, the GNU
Project is celebrating this day with a hacker meeting in Biel/Bienne,
Switzerland, which will be attended by the President of the Free
Software Foundation Europe, Matthias Kirschner, among others.
GNU is an operating system made entirely of Free Software to enable
people to use, understand, adapt, and share software. Usually combined
with the Linux kernel, GNU forms the backbone of the Internet and now
powers millions of servers, desktops, and embedded computing devices.
In addition to its technical advances, GNU pioneered the concept of
"copyleft", best exemplified by the GNU General Public License (GPL).
GNU markedthe start of the software freedom movement. Today it is a
global and broad movement whose participants range from small local
enterprises to large global companies, civil society organisations, and
thousands of professionals working towards a world where the four
freedoms are guaranteed: users are free to use software and adapt it to
their needs, and are able to understand and share it. These rights
support other fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of
the press, and privacy.
This movement provides important safeguards for democracy. Free Software
contributes to the interaction and participation of interested
stakeholders and our society in general, empowering people to use
software to create solutions to their problems, contributing to the
creation of trustworthy systems, enabling technology that serves us
rather than technology that controls us.
At FSFE, we have prepared a Press ReleaseKit for this milestone,
consisting of:
* A Press Releasewith background information full of links where you
can find more information about this topic.
* Quotes from relevant members of the Free Software community (if you
need to contact them, let us know so we can give you their contact
details. They are already aware of thisand have agreed to it).
* Information about why Free Software is essential to a democratic
society.
You can find the Press ReleaseKit here: https://download.fsfe.org/GNU40/
Best regards,
Ana Galán
press(a)fsfe.org <mailto:press@fsfe.org>**
+49 157 92 34 72 12*
== 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 understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance 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.
https://fsfe.org
= Router Freedom: German telcos want to exclude fiber =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230915-01.en.html ]
German network operators have requested the national regulator
Bundesnetzagentur to start procedures to exclude Router Freedom from
fiber networks. In a consultation, the FSFE picks apart all the telcos’
arguments and calls on the regulator to respect consumer rights.
The German telecommunications regulator Bundesnetzagentur, has opened
procedures [1] to analyse a request made by fiber network operators
requesting to exclude Router Freedom from fiber networks. The request
contains the fiber operators’ arguments, including security of the
network, cost of support, quality of service and interoperability
issues.
In the public consultation (in German) [2] the FSFE has called on the
regulator to dismiss the request since it goes against the German law
and the EU regulatory framework of net neutrality, which has clearly set
rules safeguarding freedom of terminal equipment for end-users. Although
the network operators have tried to pose fiber networks as a special
case, we have demonstrated that there is no objective technological
necessity to abolish Router Freedom. On the contrary, Router Freedom
represents also for fiber freedom of choice, security, consumer welfare,
fair competition and sustainability.
The FSFE’s arguments were also supported by empirical data collected in
the comprehensive Router Freedom survey, where more than 1.600
participants have stated their problems with ISPs hampering their rights
to use their own routers and modems.
"German fiber networks are pushing the boundaries against Router
Freedom. However, telcos were not able to prove the necessity to
revisit the law, making their request void. We call on the
Bundesnetzagentur to consider end-users rights and interests and
safeguard Router Freedom in fiber networks".
- Alexander Sander, FSFE’s Senior Policy Consultant.
You can download the FSFE’s consultation paper here (in German) [3]
1: https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/DE/Fachthemen/Telekommunikation/Unternehme…
2: https://download.fsfe.org/routers/fsfe-bnetza-fiber-de-2023.pdf
3: https://download.fsfe.org/routers/fsfe-bnetza-fiber-de-2023.pdf
== 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 understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance 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.
https://fsfe.org
= The Netherlands: Important points for the election =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230906-01.en.html ]
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is committed to empower users
to control technolgy to digital civil rights, transparency and control
over technology. It does this by promoting Free Software (also known as
Open Source Software). In addition, Free Software promotes innovation
and prevents vendor lock-in. Digital sovereignty is only possible with
Free Software.
Our society is becoming increasingly digital, so it is crucial that
public values are also safeguarded in the digital domain. The upcoming
elections and term of office are an opportunity to take important steps
on current themes such as *artificial intelligence (AI)* and *digital
commons*.
FSFE asks parties to work on the following action points:
- Strengthen the 'open, unless' policy that requires government to
choose Free Software by default This is crucial for transparency and
digital sovereignty, so embed this policy in legislation. Support
governments in selecting and developing Free Software with a central
expertise center. Identify government tasks where control and
explainability is necessary and ensure this by applying the principle
of ‘Public Money? Public Code!’ [1].
- Encourage wise reuse of software by investing in *digital commons* to
make sure others can benefit from the improvements. Support the
adaptation and development of these joint Free Software solutions with
knowledge and financial resources. Use the European knowledge network
and the space of European digitization funds for this.
- Improve the oversight and transparency of *algorithms* in government
use. The further filling of the national *algorithm register* is a
first step in this respect. In addition, increase transparency by
publishing the *training data* and *source code* of those algorithms
under a Free license, as we have argued before [2].
- Pupils and parents should not be forced to use proprietry software
that often even spies on them. Place additional requirements on IT
solutions for *knowledge and educational institutions* to help them
maintain sovereignty in a digital world. Support institutions in the
use of Free Software to prevent vendor-lock in and to promote
independent digital skills.
- Stop wasting energy and strategically important raw materials by
*extending the life of electronics*. Make sure that the end of support
does not mean the end of the service life. To this end, empower
consumers and businesses to *repair* hardware and replace software
with Free Software that they control themselves. This call has been
supported by the signatories of our open letter 'The universal right
to install any software on any device' [3].
The FSFE is happy to elaborate on these points.
1: https://fsfe.org/activities/publiccode/publiccode.en.html
2: https://fsfe.org/news/2022/news-20220330-01.en.html
3: https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/openletter.html%20
== 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 understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance 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.
https://fsfe.org