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Happy 40th Anniversary of Software Freedom!

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.

Did you know that the most powerful supercomputers run with Free Software?

Four decades ago, technology began to shape our lives: it was the early 1980s, computers did not yet fit into our pockets but filled large rooms. and we started to swap from tapes and floppies to CDs to listen to music. In 1982, the Time magazine named the computer "Person of the Year". At that point, some people already started pointing out the need to give users control over this technology. So in 1983 the GNU Project was announced by Richard M. Stallman. The goal: to create an operating system consisting entirely of Free Software to allow people to use, understand, adapt, and share software. Two years later the FSF, a sister organisation of the FSFE, was founded as the legal backbone for the GNU project.

That was the beginning of the software freedom movement! Today it is a global and broad movement that includes small local companies, large global corporations, civil society organisations and thousands of professionals. All are 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.

It is a movement that nowadays safeguards democracy. Free Software contributes to the interaction and participation of interested stakeholders and our society. In general, it empowers people to use software to create solutions to their problems, it contributes to creating trustworthy systems, and it enables technology that serves us instead of technology that controls us.

Software Freedom and the GNU GPL

In 1992, the essential components of the GNU operating system were complete, except for one, the kernel. When in 1992 the Linux kernel was re-released under the GNU GPL, the combination of GNU and Linux formed a complete free operating system. This combination is the GNU/Linux system.

Usually combined with the kernel Linux, GNU forms the backbone of the Internet and powers millions of servers, desktops, and embedded computing devices. Aside from its technical advancements, GNU pioneered the concept of “copyleft,” which is best exemplified by the GNU General Public License (GPL).

Copyleft gives permission for a user to enjoy the four freedoms of Free Software, under the condition that those freedoms remain intact in further distribution of the software or derivative works. In practical terms, a copyleft license would generally mean that the derivative has to be licensed under the same license as the original work. As a result, this ensures that users of copylefted Free Software benefit from the four rights to use, understand, share, and improve it, and those rights cannot be withheld from the users.

This does not exclude Free Software from being sold, so long as the buyers are not restricted from exercising those four rights after their purchase. Free Software can also be commercialized in other ways, such as by selling support, services, or certification. (Learn more about Free Software Licensing).

Forty years later, GNU and Free Software are even more relevant. Software has become an indispensable resource for our societies, but users do not have full control over it. Device manufacturers, vendors, and Internet platforms have restricted software freedom by exercising control over end-user devices, threatening individual autonomy, consumer welfare, and digital sovereignty. End users must take ownership of their devices with Free Software.

Device Neutrality can restore end-user control over devices, and fair competition in digital markets requires ensuring software freedom for devices, protecting end-users from lock- in, and promoting end-user control over data.

Celebration and Hacker Meeting

The GNU Project is celebrating with a 40th anniversary hacker meeting on 27 September at the Volkshaus in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Organized by GNUnet e.V, the event is open to all who want to celebrate, work on, or learn about Free Software.

In Boston, the Free Software Foundation, which sponsors GNU, is organizing a hack day for families, students, and anyone interested in celebrating GNU’s anniversary. It will be held at the FSF’s offices in Boston (USA), on October 1.

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Sovereign workspace openDesk: German Ministry of the Interior provides answers

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) and the public IT service provider Dataport are working on administrative workspaces to enable digital sovereignty. But are both products Free Software? How are they related? We asked the BMI and publish the answers here.

In June, the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) sent a catalogue of questions to the BMI about its “Sovereign Workspace” project. Our questions covered the relationship between the BMI workspace and Dataport's dPhoenixSuite, the funding of both projects, and the availability of their respective source code.

New developments: openDesk code available, dPhoenixSuite still proprietary

Some weeks later, the BMI released the first source code of its workspace suite as Free Software on openCoDE, the code repository for public administration. According to extensive documentation, the release is an alpha version, with the first operational release planned for later this year. The documentation states that the suite will be released entirely under Free Software licences and will include modules such as Univention Corporate Server, Collabora Online, Nextcloud, OpenProject, XWiki, Jitsi and the Matrix client Element. Extensibility through new and alternative modules is planned. The suite was renamed "openDesk" a few weeks ago. As of 2024, the coordination and management of openDesk will be completely handed over to the Centre for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDiS GmbH). ZenDiS was founded at the end of 2022 to bundle the German government's digital sovereignty initiatives, and is fully state-owned.

In contrast, Dataport has not yet released the source code for its workspace suite. The dPhoenixSuite contains numerous Free Software components and is advertised as "open source", "based on open source" and "digitally sovereign". This gives the false impression that dPhoenixSuite is Free Software. Dataport has not yet taken any steps to correct this impression or to actually make the suite available as Free Software.

BMI: Dataport collaborates intensively on openDesk

Meanwhile, [FSFE has received the BMI's response to our questions](LINK TO ANSWERS PDF). The answers clarify that Dataport plays an important role in the development of openDesk, especially in the architectural design and operational development of the product, and receives public funding from the BMI for this. For 2023 alone, the BMI has earmarked 21.6 million euros for openDesk. However, it remains unclear what proportion of this funding is passed on to Dataport. There is also a lack of transparency about how much of the funding will actually go to the companies driving the development and integration of the modules used in openDesk.

According to the BMI, there are overlaps between openDesk and the older dPhoenixSuite, which has mainly influenced the architecture of openDesk. However, the Ministry emphasises the independence of its openDesk suite: "The Sovereign Workspace is building its own architecture. [...] The Sovereign Workspace is an independent project. […] To what extent Dataport aligns its dPhoenixSuite with it is up to Dataport". The BMI does not disclose to what extent dPhoenix code has been incorporated into openDesk. The Ministry states that it did not influence Dataport to make the dPhoenixSuite available as Free Software.

The full BMI response can be found here.

Dataport must take a stand

So far, when asked about the dPhoenixSuite code, Dataport has referred to the source code of the included modules and to the BMI's openDesk project. The BMI's answers make it clear once again: Despite some similarities and organisational entanglements, dPhoenixSuite and openDesk are two different products. Dataport can no longer shift the responsibility for releasing its own source code onto the BMI, but must take a stand: if the dPhoenixSuite is to be a digitally sovereign workspace for public administrations, then Dataport should finally make the complete dPhoenix code available under a Free Software licence, ideally compliant with the openDesk reference implementation and not as a competing product.

However, BMI's response also contains a reference to possible proprietary components of the dPhoenixSuite. If Dataport continues with its proprietary strategy, and if the suite does contain proprietary code, it should no longer be advertised with the misleading terms "digitally sovereign" and "open source". In this case, Dataport should also correct the previous misleading communication by stating on its website that the suite is not Free Software to avoid any impression of open-washing.

openDesk needs transparency and efficiency

Regarding the openDesk workspace, its funding and its links to the dPhoenixSuite, the BMI's answers only partially provide the necessary transparency. However, the publication of the openDesk code and its open development on openCoDE are important steps in the right direction. The documentation and announcements about the future of the openDesk project also give reason for cautious optimism that a fully-fledged Free Software workspace for administrations might soon be available.

In the future, the BMI and ZenDiS should not only manage the development of openDesk transparently, but also make the governance of the project transparent and understandable to the public – a prerequisite for openDesk to gain trust and acceptance in public administrations.

Transparency is also the only way to ensure that public funds for openDesk are used efficiently and actually contribute to the development of Free Software. The FSFE has recently called on the German government to increase funding for Free Software instead of cutting it, as is currently planned in the 2024 budget. Since openDesk is a major digital sovereignty project of this legislative period, there should be more budget for it, and that money should be used for actual Free Software development, feature implementation, maintenance, and integration of the modules. The BMI must finally make the organisational development of ZenDiS a priority and thereby secure Free Software projects for public administration in the long term.

The FSFE will continue to monitor developments around openDesk and the dPhoenixSuite. If you have any relevant information, you're welcome to share it with us.

Free Software and "Public Money? Public Code!”

Free Software gives everyone the right to use, study, share, and improve applications for any purpose. These freedoms ensure that similar applications do not have to be programmed from scratch every time and, thanks to transparent processes, others do not have to reinvent the wheel. In large projects, expertise and costs can be shared and applications paid for by the general public are available to all. This promotes innovation and saves taxpayers money in the medium to long term. Dependencies on vendors are minimised and security issues can be fixed more easily. The Free Software Foundation Europe, together with over 200 organisations and administrations, is therefore calling for “Public Money? Public Code!” - If it is public money, it should be public code as well. More information on the initiative is available on the “Public Money? Public Code!” website.

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EU: Digital sovereignty & Interoperability. What about the role of Free Software?

Speaking about Digital Public Infrastructures last week, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pointed out that "the trick is to build public digital infrastructure that is interoperable, open to all and trusted". What exactly does this mean? What is required to achieve such an accessible digital infrastructure that can help foster innovation and allow cooperation on a global scale? What role does Free Software play in such ambition?

At the G20 summit 2023 in New Delhi, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called the attention of the world to recognise the importance of building a digital public infrastructure that is open to everybody, that is interoperable and that connects us with one another. However, in order to understand what is behind this statement, it is important to take a look at how the values of openness, digital sovereignty and interoperability have guided the latest EU digital policies.

Over the last years, the EU has witnessed the emergence of an EU discourse that highlights the need to strengthen the EU digital sovereignty. Since the beginning of her candidature, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged “technological sovereignty” as one of her key priorities in the ongoing digital strategy of Europe(pdf). This has guided the EU in its ambition to reduce dependencies on technology and to assure that such technology empowers people (pdf).

With a common vision of the EU in 2030 – the 2030 Digital compass has started to move Europe forward towards more digital sovereignty “in an interconnected world by building and deploying technological capabilities in a way that empowers people and businesses to seize the potential of the digital transformation, and helps build a healthier and greener society".

Digital sovereignty and Free Software

In an era of increasing digitalisation, the core values of openness, accessibility, and trustworthiness must lead the way. A crucial aspect of the modernisation of our digital infrastructure is to ensure digital sovereignty.

As stated by the European Commission in its Communication “Shaping Europe Digital Future”(pdf): “European technological Sovereignty starts from ensuring the integrity and resilience of our data infrastructure, networks and communications. It requires creating the right conditions for Europe to develop and deploy its own key capacities, thereby reducing our dependency on other parts of the globe for the most crucial technologies. Europe's ability to define its own rules and values in the digital age will be reinforced by such capacities.”

In this regard, Free Software serves as an enhancer for governments and public institutions to build and maintain their digital systems without vendor lock-in, ensuring long-term control, cost-efficiency, and digital sovereignty. Moreover, it fosters innovation by allowing collaborative contributions resulting in robust and secure software that can be customized to meet specific public needs. By embracing Free Software, potential vulnerabilities in such digital public infrastructure can be easier identified and fixed while it promotes equitable access to technology, and reinforces the fundamental democratic principles of accountability and citizen engagement.

This promotes a self-reliant approach to technology, empowering the EU to shape its digital future in alignment with its values, regulations, and strategic interests, while fostering a more competitive and technologically independent European digital landscape.

As EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn has clearly stated “digitalisation cannot be seen in isolation” and “the force of good” - Free Software - has also the potential to ensure the proper use of public money, promote freedom of choice while guiding the EU and the world in the efforts of achieving a sovereign digital infrastructure.

Interoperability and Free Software

Interoperability has also played an important role in the digital efforts of an EU more interconnected, open and sovereign. In order to be able to have information systems and devices that work seamlessly together, a critical infrastructure is needed, and Free Software together with Open Standards play a fundamental role in these efforts.

With projects such as “FOSSA” and “FOSSA2” with the goal to increase the security and integrity of the Free Software used by European Institutions, “ISA”and “ISA2” aiming to strengthening interoperability across borders and sectors, as well as the latest EU Open Source Strategy and the further “Commission decision on the Open Source licensing and reuse of Commission software”, Europe has slowly and ambitiously laying the foundation for a digitalisation that realises the role of Free Software. However, ahead, there is still a long way to effectively bring such efforts into practice, so that this can be translated into solutions to real-life problems.

As EU Commission President von der Leyen has highlighted during her statement at the G20 summit, the success of the COVID19 digital certificate in the EU is a clear and practical example of what it is needed to tackle a global crisis in the most efficient way: Free Software. Free Software allowed a secure and transparent solution and also laid the groundwork for the interoperability that was needed in such global crisis by showing how collaboration can thrive a global solution.

EU about to take a landmark decision

With the current Interoperable Europe Act, the EU has already noted upon the need to create a dedicated legal framework that can pave the way of an interoperable digital landscape and is about to take a step ahead towards a more sovereign and interoperable Europe. Once finalised, the proper implementation of this Act within member states is of paramount importance to attain its full potential in fostering a unified and harmonised digital environment across the European Union as well as to amend the shortcomings that the final text might have when it comes to realising the potential that Free Software has to offer for a more interoperable Europe.

Ahead, there is the opportunity to assure a proper implementation of this and other digital policies which will help to more clearly define what Europe means with digital sovereignty and interoperability. It is time to underlying the fundamental role that Free Software and its community can play in the digitalisation of Europe.

Summary

The EU has started to recognise the important role that Free Software can play in the ambitious efforts of a more sovereign and interoperable digital infrastructure in Europe. It has started to come clear that Free Software can be a cornerstone of the EU's digital policies aimed at enhancing digital sovereignty and interoperability. By embracing Free Software, the EU can assert greater control over its digital infrastructure, promote interoperability, spend taxpayers money efficiently, improve security and privacy, foster innovation, and collaborate with partners globally, ultimately leading to a more self-reliant and digitally resilient European Union.

Yet a decisive period ahead is the implementation in Member States of the some of these digital policies that have come as a result of the ongoing digital agenda and which will be decisive to ensure that Europe achieves a sovereign and interoperable digital landscape.

Support FSFE

EU: Digital sovereignty & Interoperability. What about the role of Free Software?

Speaking about Digital Public Infrastructures last week, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pointed out that "the trick is to build public digital infrastructure that is interoperable, open to all and trusted". What exactly does this mean? What is required to achieve such an accessible digital infrastructure that can help foster innovation and allow cooperation on a global scale? What role does Free Software play in such ambition?

At the G20 summit 2023 in New Delhi, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called the attention of the world to recognise the importance of building a digital public infrastructure that is open to everybody, that is interoperable and that connects us with one another. However, in order to understand what is behind this statement, it is important to take a look at how the values of openness, digital sovereignty and interoperability have guided the latest EU digital policies.

Over the last years, the EU has witnessed the emergence of an EU discourse that highlights the need to strengthen the EU digital sovereignty. Since the beginning of her candidature, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged “technological sovereignty” as one of her key priorities in the ongoing digital strategy of Europe(pdf). This has guided the EU in its ambition to reduce dependencies on technology and to assure that such technology empowers people (pdf).

With a common vision of the EU in 2030 – the 2030 Digital compass has started to move Europe forward towards more digital sovereignty “in an interconnected world by building and deploying technological capabilities in a way that empowers people and businesses to seize the potential of the digital transformation, and helps build a healthier and greener society".

Digital sovereignty and Free Software

In an era of increasing digitalisation, the core values of openness, accessibility, and trustworthiness must lead the way. A crucial aspect of the modernisation of our digital infrastructure is to ensure digital sovereignty.

As stated by the European Commission in its Communication “Shaping Europe Digital Future”(pdf): “European technological Sovereignty starts from ensuring the integrity and resilience of our data infrastructure, networks and communications. It requires creating the right conditions for Europe to develop and deploy its own key capacities, thereby reducing our dependency on other parts of the globe for the most crucial technologies. Europe's ability to define its own rules and values in the digital age will be reinforced by such capacities.”

In this regard, Free Software serves as an enhancer for governments and public institutions to build and maintain their digital systems without vendor lock-in, ensuring long-term control, cost-efficiency, and digital sovereignty. Moreover, it fosters innovation by allowing collaborative contributions resulting in robust and secure software that can be customized to meet specific public needs. By embracing Free Software, potential vulnerabilities in such digital public infrastructure can be easier identified and fixed while it promotes equitable access to technology, and reinforces the fundamental democratic principles of accountability and citizen engagement.

This promotes a self-reliant approach to technology, empowering the EU to shape its digital future in alignment with its values, regulations, and strategic interests, while fostering a more competitive and technologically independent European digital landscape.

As EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn has clearly stated “digitalisation cannot be seen in isolation” and “the force of good” - Free Software - has also the potential to ensure the proper use of public money, promote freedom of choice while guiding the EU and the world in the efforts of achieving a sovereign digital infrastructure.

Interoperability and Free Software

Interoperability has also played an important role in the digital efforts of an EU more interconnected, open and sovereign. In order to be able to have information systems and devices that work seamlessly together, a critical infrastructure is needed, and Free Software together with Open Standards play a fundamental role in these efforts.

With projects such as “FOSSA” and “FOSSA2” with the goal to increase the security and integrity of the Free Software used by European Institutions, “ISA”and “ISA2” aiming to strengthening interoperability across borders and sectors, as well as the latest EU Open Source Strategy and the further “Commission decision on the Open Source licensing and reuse of Commission software”, Europe has slowly and ambitiously laying the foundation for a digitalisation that realises the role of Free Software. However, ahead, there is still a long way to effectively bring such efforts into practice, so that this can be translated into solutions to real-life problems.

As EU Commission President von der Leyen has highlighted during her statement at the G20 summit, the success of the COVID19 digital certificate in the EU is a clear and practical example of what it is needed to tackle a global crisis in the most efficient way: Free Software. Free Software allowed a secure and transparent solution and also laid the groundwork for the interoperability that was needed in such global crisis by showing how collaboration can thrive a global solution.

EU about to take a landmark decision

With the current Interoperable Europe Act, the EU has already noted upon the need to create a dedicated legal framework that can pave the way of an interoperable digital landscape and is about to take a step ahead towards a more sovereign and interoperable Europe. Once finalised, the proper implementation of this Act within member states is of paramount importance to attain its full potential in fostering a unified and harmonised digital environment across the European Union as well as to amend the shortcomings that the final text might have when it comes to realising the potential that Free Software has to offer for a more interoperable Europe.

Ahead, there is the opportunity to assure a proper implementation of this and other digital policies which will help to more clearly define what Europe means with digital sovereignty and interoperability. It is time to underlying the fundamental role that Free Software and its community can play in the digitalisation of Europe.

Summary

The EU has started to recognise the important role that Free Software can play in the ambitious efforts of a more sovereign and interoperable digital infrastructure in Europe. It has started to come clear that Free Software can be a cornerstone of the EU's digital policies aimed at enhancing digital sovereignty and interoperability. By embracing Free Software, the EU can assert greater control over its digital infrastructure, promote interoperability, spend taxpayers money efficiently, improve security and privacy, foster innovation, and collaborate with partners globally, ultimately leading to a more self-reliant and digitally resilient European Union.

Yet a decisive period ahead is the implementation in Member States of the some of these digital policies that have come as a result of the ongoing digital agenda and which will be decisive to ensure that Europe achieves a sovereign and interoperable digital landscape.

Support FSFE

Router Freedom: German telcos want to exclude fiber

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 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) 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.

Router Freedom is key for a neutral, fair and secure Internet access

"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)

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