In his speech, John emphasized how proprietary JavaScript, which runs on the user's Web browser without being released under a free license, hurts the user's freedom to view and modify the software that they run. He also highlights some specific examples of malicious behavior by proprietary JavaScript such as blocking browser functions or recording the user's keystrokes.

Watch the video on our GNU MediaGoblin instance

John discussed the progress of the FSF's Free JavaScript campaign, as well as the development of GNU LibreJS, a browser plugin built to stop non-free JavaScript from being executed on the user's computer. He also explained how simple it is to release JavaScript under a free license through Web Labels -- simple pages that enumerate the licenses of all the JavaScript distributed on a Web site -- or by adding a license tag to the code.

Through the Free JavaScript campaign, which grew out of Richard Stallman's insights in The Javascript Trap, the FSF is working to pursuade governments, NGOs, and other organizations to fix their Web sites to work without forcing the user to execute any proprietary software on their computer. The campaign is currently focusing on Reddit.

To get involved in the Free JavaScript campaign, join the low-volume Free JavaScript Action Team email list.

If you have expert-level knowledge of JavaScript or software licensing, we invite you to submit a request to join the JavaScript Developers Task Force, a discussion list that works closely with the FSF on the Free JavaScript campaign and provides technical guidance to Web sites working to free their JavaScript.

If you'd like to view the slides from John's presentation, you can view them on John's user page on LibrePlanet.

This blog post was written by FSF campaigns intern Alex Patel.

More information about the FSF's internship program is available on our Internships page.

Spanish

Join the FSF and friends on Friday, August 29, from 2pm to 5pm EDT (18:00 to 21:00 UTC) to help improve the Free Software Directory by adding new entries and updating existing ones. We will be on IRC in the #fsf channel on freenode.

Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth of useful information, from basic category and descriptions, to providing detailed info about version control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing info that has been carefully checked by FSF staff and trained volunteers.

While the Free Software Directory has been and continues to be a great resource to the world over the past decade, it has the potential of being a resource of even greater value. But it needs your help!

If you are eager to help and you can't wait or are simply unable to make it onto IRC on Friday, our participation guide will provide you with all the information you need to get started on helping the Directory today!

Join the FSF and friends on Friday, September 5, from 2pm to 5pm EDT (18:00 to 21:00 UTC) to help improve the Free Software Directory by adding new entries and updating existing ones. We will be on IRC in the #fsf channel on freenode.

Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth of useful information, from basic category and descriptions, to providing detailed info about version control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing info that has been carefully checked by FSF staff and trained volunteers.

While the Free Software Directory has been and continues to be a great resource to the world over the past decade, it has the potential of being a resource of even greater value. But it needs your help!

If you are eager to help and you can't wait or are simply unable to make it onto IRC on Friday, our participation guide will provide you with all the information you need to get started on helping the Directory today!

According to Heise online, the intelligence agencies of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, have used HACIENDA to map every server in twenty-seven countries, employing a technique known as port scanning. The agencies have shared this map and use it to plan intrusions into the servers. Disturbingly, the HACIENDA system actually hijacks civilian computers to do some of its dirty work, allowing it to leach computing resources and cover its tracks.

But this was not enough to stop the team of GNU hackers and their collaborators. After making key discoveries about the details of HACIENDA, Julian Kirsch, Christian Grothoff, Jacob Appelbaum, and Holger Kenn designed the TCP Stealth system to protect unadvertised servers from port scanning. They revealed their work at the recent annual GNU Hackers' Meeting in Germany.

Please be sure to share this with everyone you know who cares about bulk surveillance.

We must fight the political battle for an end to mass surveillance and reduce the amount of data collected about people in the first place. On an individual level we have to do everything we can to thwart the surveillance programs that are already in place.

No matter your skill level, you can get involved at the FSF's surveillance page.

Ethical developers inside and outside GNU have been working for years on free software that does not keep secrets from users, and programs that anyone can review to remove potential vulnerabilities. These capabilities give free software users a fighting chance against surveillance. Now, our community is turning its attention to uncovering and undermining insidious programs like HACIENDA. Free software and its ideals are crucial to putting an end to government bulk surveillance.

Share this news with your friends, to help make people aware of the importance of free software in fighting bulk surveillance.

Jacob Appelbaum of the TCP Stealth team gave a remote keynote address at the FSF's LibrePlanet conference this year. Watch the recording of "Free Software for freedom: Surveillance and you."

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"Knocking down the HACIENDA" by Julian Kirsch, produced by GNU, the GNUnet team and edited on short notice by Carlo von Lynx from #youbroketheinternet is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivatives 3.0 Unported License.

Spanish

Join the FSF and friends on Friday, August 22, from 2pm to 5pm EDT (18:00 to 21:00 UTC) to help improve the Free Software Directory by adding new entries and updating existing ones. We will be on IRC in the #fsf channel on freenode.

Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth of useful information, from basic category and descriptions, to providing detailed info about version control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing info that has been carefully checked by FSF staff and trained volunteers.

While the Free Software Directory has been and continues to be a great resource to the world over the past decade, it has the potential of being a resource of even greater value. But it needs your help!

If you are eager to help and you can't wait or are simply unable to make it onto IRC on Friday, our participation guide will provide you with all the information you need to get started on helping the Directory today!