A #ThankGNU! to Juan José González, Julie and Kilian Bernauer and Cavalotti, and Ken Senoo for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/45m
SILENCE IS DEAFENING
California's computer age verification law is poison. The new California age verification law is a version of INGSOC's telescreen watching you. And the usual self-proclaimed software freedom fighters are AWOL as this attack on your freedom is executed.
Don't listen to apologists who claim this isn't a big deal. It is a huge deal. This law is not about protecting children. The California law is a ruse for laying the foundation and precedent for mandatory remote control of all operating systems. They are using children as a shield for their true intentions. It's called a 'subterfuge' or a 'pretext' to hide the real rationale. And in politics subterfuge is very common. These politicians don't care about your children. They care about control and information is control. Compliance with California's new law is highly corrosive to free software and deadly to personal privacy.
With the mandatory age verification API in place, legislators can later add more laws mandating retrieval of even more privacy-invasive information just to install and use any operating system. This is Big Brother's telescreen in your living room. And the Linux community is nearly silent on the matter, instead focused on artificial intelligence investment.
Where were the software freedom organizations when California was mandating installation of #spyware in all free and open source operating systems? Did they oppose it? Or did they support it by silence? The California age verification law is the greatest threat to software freedom in recent history., striking right at the root of software installation for all users. Yet (((crickets))).
Is silence really tacit support?
Where were they when this mandatory spyware infrastructure was being shoved down our throats? Where were the self-proclaimed software freedom fighters? Where were the calls to action? I didn't see any.
Is silence golden ... or is gold buying silence?
Let these organizations know that you oppose California's age verification spyware law and that you expect them to rally in defense of true software freedom--freedom from government oversight of your software systems. Parents--and not the spyware state--should protect their children. The government is neither your parent nor your god nor your savior and the people should send a clear message stating that.
California, stay out of my operating system! And stay the hell away from children!
@eff@mastodon.social
@linuxfoundation@social.lfx.dev
@fsf@hostux.social
@osi@opensource.org
@conservancy@sfconservancy.org
#AgeVerification #Linux #EFF #OSI #LinuxFoundation #FSF #Privacy #Cybersecurity #Surveillance #Spyware #OpenSource #OperatingSystems #FreeSoftware #SoftwareFreedom #Panopticon #BigBrother #Government
CC: @laffer1@bsd.network @leo@twit.social @MichaelRoss@social.linux.pizza @rms@mastodon.xyz @thenewoil@mastodon.thenewoil.org @TechDesk@flipboard.social @remixtures@tldr.nettime.org
"While the [age verification] bill moved through the legislature, the OSI, FSF, Software Freedom Conservancy, and Linux Foundation all sat it out — no testimony, no public analysis, no formal opposition on the record."Are the adults listening?
California's computer age verification law is poison. The new California age verification law is a version of INGSOC's telescreen watching you. And the usual self-proclaimed software freedom fighters are AWOL as this attack on your freedom is executed.
Don't listen to apologists who claim this isn't a big deal. It is a huge deal. This law is not about protecting children. The California law is a ruse for laying the foundation and precedent for mandatory remote control of all operating systems. They are using children as a shield for their true intentions. It's called a 'subterfuge' or a 'pretext' to hide the real rationale. And in politics subterfuge is very common. These politicians don't care about your children. They care about control and information is control. Compliance with California's new law is highly corrosive to free software and deadly to personal privacy.
With the mandatory age verification API in place, legislators can later add more laws mandating retrieval of even more privacy-invasive information just to install and use any operating system. This is Big Brother's telescreen in your living room. And the Linux community is nearly silent on the matter, instead focused on artificial intelligence investment.
Where were the software freedom organizations when California was mandating installation of #spyware in all free and open source operating systems? Did they oppose it? Or did they support it by silence? The California age verification law is the greatest threat to software freedom in recent history., striking right at the root of software installation for all users. Yet (((crickets))).
Is silence really tacit support?
"While the [age verification] bill moved through the legislature, the OSI, FSF, Software Freedom Conservancy, and Linux Foundation all sat it out — no testimony, no public analysis, no formal opposition on the record."[https://boingboing.net/2026/03/02/californias-age-verification-law-could-regulate-every-linux-command.html]
Where were they when this mandatory spyware infrastructure was being shoved down our throats? Where were the self-proclaimed software freedom fighters? Where were the calls to action? I didn't see any.
Is silence golden ... or is gold buying silence?
Let these organizations know that you oppose California's age verification spyware law and that you expect them to rally in defense of true software freedom--freedom from government oversight of your software systems. Parents--and not the spyware state--should protect their children. The government is neither your parent nor your god nor your savior and the people should send a clear message stating that.
California, stay out of my operating system! And stay the hell away from children!
@eff@mastodon.social
@linuxfoundation@social.lfx.dev
@fsf@hostux.social
@osi@opensource.org
@conservancy@sfconservancy.org
#AgeVerification #Linux #EFF #OSI #LinuxFoundation #FSF #Privacy #Cybersecurity #Surveillance #Spyware #OpenSource #OperatingSystems #FreeSoftware #SoftwareFreedom #Panopticon #BigBrother #Government
CC: @laffer1@bsd.network @leo@twit.social @MichaelRoss@social.linux.pizza @rms@mastodon.xyz @thenewoil@mastodon.thenewoil.org @TechDesk@flipboard.social @remixtures@tldr.nettime.org
Gerardo Lisboa
boosted
⚠️ #Apple’s current #iOS model limits #SoftwareFreedom and locks users and developers into its walled garden, blocking independent developers and innovation in mobile ecosystems.
For instance, Apple still does not allow sideloading and maintains tight gatekeeping over the App Store.
👉 The exception to this was achieved by the EU's #DMA, where Apple is forced to open up its mobile operating systems to third-party software installation.
A #ThankGNU! to Jean-Louis Abraham, John Gilmore, and John Sullivan for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/45m
We, the 
FSFE, just shared our views with the #UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on #Apple’s proposed “interoperability commitments” under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (#DMCCA).
Such weak requirements will deem interoperability ineffective, entrenching #Apple's monopolistic power in #UK's digital market.
⚠️ #Apple’s current #iOS model limits #SoftwareFreedom and locks users and developers into its walled garden, blocking independent developers and innovation in mobile ecosystems.
For instance, Apple still does not allow sideloading and maintains tight gatekeeping over the App Store.
👉 The exception to this was achieved by the EU's #DMA, where Apple is forced to open up its mobile operating systems to third-party software installation.
A #ThankGNU! to Holger Kienle, Jared Flatow, and Jean-Francois Blavier for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/45m
With the one and only @chobeat, we discussed the upcoming Cables of Resistance and of course the latest from the #TechWorkersCoalition 🔥
It would be incredible if we were able to bring TWC conversations to #DWebCamp
In the office of the @fsfe with @kirschner!
Crazy to realize that I was an #FSFE intern just 2 years ago, it feels like a much longer time… so much has changed, and maaaybe I also grew up a bit.
We will for sure read Ada & Zangemann at #DWebCamp, and we hope Matthias can come to do it himself!
Long life to #SoftwareFreedom 💕
A #ThankGNU! to Frank Graffagnino, Fumitoshi Ukai, and Gerald Sussman for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/45m
ina
boosted
🫵 What you can do
- Read and share the open letter: https://keepandroidopen.org/open-letter/
- If you are part of an organisation, join the signatories from across civil society, #FreeSoftware communities, and industry.
- Please help so that Google also understands it is not in its interest to jeopardise its own success in mobile by making Android unfriendly to developers who care about #softwarefreedom
A #ThankGNU! to Cristian & Andrea Frâncu, Dock Williams, and Donald Craig for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/45m
Commons based is a broad concept, but ultimately you can say that commons based means "in alignment to the adapted Circles of #Sustainability model" that #SX defines.
https://coding.social/blog/reimagine-social/#circles-of-sustainability
Let's zoom in on a particular area of the commons: the #FreeSoftware movement and their #FOSS deliverables, where a strong #WorkingInPublic credo dominates. The noble focus is on offering open technologies, software and systems. But in their quest to uphold #SoftwareFreedom the overlooked aspect is #sustainability. The ability to not only sustain oneself, but also by extension the creative #commons one is part of. The commons is an entirely chaotic grassroots environment with very specific social dynamics that are not properly accounted for. Instead top-down "herding of cats" governance models that work in regular business environments, are attempted. These may work, but only in small organizational settings, and NOT at scale where they break down.
FOSS in this definition is NOT commons-based. For that we need #ChaordicCommons where FOSS is the deliverable and #SOSS initiatives the engines of delivery, #FSDL (Free software development lifecycle) supply chains.
https://coding.social/blog/reimagine-social/#sustainable-open-social-systems
A #ThankGNU! to Bruce Baumgart, Colin Strasser, and Chuck Metalitz for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/45m
📢 What we ask from #Google:
- Rescind mandatory developer registration for all third‑party distribution.
- Engage in transparent dialogue with civil society, #FreeSoftware communities, and regulators on improving security without sacrificing openness.
- Commit to platform neutrality so that Google’s role as Android steward does not conflict with its commercial interests.
🫵 What you can do
- Read and share the open letter: https://keepandroidopen.org/open-letter/
- If you are part of an organisation, join the signatories from across civil society, #FreeSoftware communities, and industry.
- Please help so that Google also understands it is not in its interest to jeopardise its own success in mobile by making Android unfriendly to developers who care about #softwarefreedom