– Contents

Building ethical software – based on the four freedoms TheRespectsYourFreedom (RYF)certificationprocess ' Lovelocked:Whyonline datingisstillafreesoftwareissue ' ThepathtoafreeInternet TheFreeSoftwareAwards: Honoringthe2018winners Myglobaljourneyintofree softwareactivism

Buildingethicalsoftware basedonthefourfreedoms

'

' concerns, like labor issues (Anti 996 analogous to putting restrictions on a License – see u.fsf.org/2xw), textbook to say, "you may only read health concerns (Vaccine License – see this book ifyou use the knowledge to u.fsf.org/2xx), and general harm help people in ways the author to others (Hippocratic License – see believes they should be helped." u.fsf.org/2xy). These licenses Would the next step be using Digital aim to leverage the legal force of a Restrictions Management (DRM) to copyright license to prevent unethical enforce the usage rules? uses. I see it as a success that these The lack ofusage restrictions in engineers are drawing inspiration from licensing is key to the success offree the free software movement. software. A world of proliferating The FSF licensing committee has and potentially conflicting usage not formally reviewed all ofthe above restrictions, each seeking to address a specific licenses, but we can broadly different social cause or need, would say that any license which restricts introduce so much friction that the the first of the four freedoms (see tremendous democratic social u.fsf.org/2cj ) – the freedom to benefit brought about by the free run the program for any purpose – is a sharing of software – including the nonfree license. As a movement of empowerment of individuals to ethically concerned human beings, we effect social change in unjust want to do everything we can to institutions – would be undermined. encourage ethical behavior, but Just because a license is not the embedding that desire in software right place to enforce ethical software license requirements will backfire by usage doesn't mean that we don't legitimizing fundamentally unjust recognize the problem, or respect the power over others. While all free people raising it. We should software licenses do use the power of encourage and participate in copyright law, a power which is unjust conversations about the ethical usage in its current implementation, they use of software. With the ground rules of it to directlycounter the ways inwhich free software as the baseline, anyone it isunjust. can build systems to specifically To allow more than this woud promote ethicaluse. allow not just restrictions for good, We already have some such but also unfair restrictions like, "you systems. For example, the FSF's may not use this software to publish Respects Your Freedom certification criticisms of Microsoft." Because program (see page 3) starts with the software is inherently an expression requirement that software in the of speech and knowledge, this is product be free software, but its

2 '

TheRespectsYour Freedom(RYF) certificationprocess ' '

' ' '

Lovelocked:Whyonline datingisstillafree softwareissue

'

' in which it harms us. The where our digital autonomy and announcement of Facebook Dating privacy are at risk. and its disturbing implications recall Self-determination is directly to mind why all online datingservices contrary to the model practiced by remain something that free software services like Facebook, which funnels activists should be concerned about. its victims into neatly classifiable Honesty matters on a dating categories for advertising purposes. Facebook is not only Facebook, profile, and we're likely to give more " " intimate details about ourselves and it's not only "Facebook Dating" there than we would anywhere else. either. The company also owns Giving this information is important Instagram and WhatsApp, the programs many would move to after in deciding how well we might "click" with another person. But being so the initial contact on a dating site. sensitive, it is also important that Similarly, the Match Group owns this self-expression be self­ Tinder, OKCupid, Match.com, and determined. The user should be the Hinge, among others. The difference one setting limits on how they wish between these conglomerates and the to describe themselves, something plethora of apps they offer is a only an Internet dating service based mirage: providing the illusion of on free software could provide. Aside choice where there is none at all, from any privacy violations that consolidating power and vast might be happening on the server amounts of sensitive user data in a level, the only way for users to single place. interact with these nonfree services Ifwesignuptoservices likethese, is through proprietary apps and we are at the mercy of the provider: JavaScript: two additional places maybe hoping there is more nuance 5 " " " "

ThepathtoafreeInternet

' distributed social networks, and communicate with another program Pagure, a Web-based Git hosting or Web service. Some Web services, system. like distributed social networks, use One major pitfall you will APIs to communicate with each commonly run into with Web other. services is that they often require If Web services with proprietary nonfree JavaScript, code that runs on backends serve free JavaScript, using your machine via your browser. those services is technically Proprietary JavaScript often spies on compatible with free software, you, collects information, and sends because we are not running the it to third parties. This is generally backend code ourselves. However, we the case for embedded shouldn't run proprietary backend advertisements, and for JavaScript code on our own servers. We also served by those who benefit from don't want to use those services via selling or analyzing user data. You our browsers if there is reason to can learn more about the "JavaScript believe they are surveilling us. Trap" at u.fsf.org/spb9. Of course, software freedom is Occasionally, unethical Web not just about security concerns. It sites try to persuade you to use a also matters that we have control proprietary application to interact over our own computing, so we can with them in order to get around rate run the code that we want on our limits and other missing features. computers and on our servers, and so Some sites put proprietary that we don't have to deal with CAPTCHAs in the way of users, antifeatures or limitations upon which impact the accessibility of further improvement. these sites for visually impaired With free software, we get to people, as well as those who don't share that software with our friends, want to use nonfree JavaScript. including our own changes. This is A distinction that should be much harder to do, and often illegal, made that relates to software with proprietary software. SaaSS freedom: frontend code is delivered (Service as a Software Substitute) to users' browsers, and is executed presents a similar problem: even if a there, while backend code runs on Web service makes use of some free remote servers. Backend code tends software, if it's replacing computing to generate HTML, deliver you would do on your local machine, JavaScript, and expose Application you don't have the power to modify Programming Interfaces (APIs). the software, so it doesn't respect APIs allow remote programs to your freedom. Ultimately, we want

7 all frontend and backend code to be to source code and its license. Many free software. sites that run on free software share With all ofthis said: how do you this information on their site. protect yourself from the perils of If you want to take things a step problematic Web services? further, setting up your own instance One tool you can use is GNU of a freedom-respecting Web service LibreJS, which protects your can be rewarding if you're willing to freedom on the Web by blocking put in the time and effort to maintain JavaScript that isn't properly and upgrade its installation. If you marked with a free license (see don't want to put in the effort, using u.fsf.org/fb6). You can also such a Web service hosted by others check to see ifthe backend for a site will help to grow the user base and is free software by looking for links network offree software communities. The Free Software Awards: Honoring the 2018 winners

t the 2019 LibrePlanet conference A in March, the FSF recognized OpenStreetMap with the 2018 Free Software Award for Projects ofSocial Benefit, and Deborah Nicholson with the Award for the Advancement of Free Software. The Award for Projects ofSocial Benefit is presented to a project or team, and stresses the use of free software in service to humanity. The Award for the Advancement ofFree Software goes to an individual who has made a great contribution to the progress and development of free software through activities that accord with the spirit of free Kate Chapman accepted the 2018 Free software. Software Award for Projects of Social Nominations are already in for Benefit on behalf of OpenStreetMap. the 2019 awards – join us at LibrePlanet 2020 this coming out who wins! Learn more at March, in the Boston area, to find libreplanet.org/2020.

8 '

Myglobaljourneyintofree " " softwareactivism

' how we behave, is analyzed carefully. change them for my own benefit. I I learned how easily accessible this had a basic understanding of how data is, and how valuable it is to complex and powerful software could companies. A note is written beside be, and wanted more authority over your name with every move you it. When my understanding of the make online, and once again, this development of software improved, happens without your permission in the concept of free software started any meaningful sense. becoming clear. If software doesn't This knowledge made me respect its user's freedom, then that interested in recognizing what the is a conscious decision made by programs involved in this process someone to take something away were doing, and exploring if I could from you. Enter free software, and

New from the GNU Press shop Support the Free Software Foundation by purchasing GNU Press merchandise! New this fall: keep warm while fighting for software freedom with the FSF's all-new zip-up hoodie, featuring improved, high-bandwidth access technology (a zipper) and flexible deployment architecture (six sizes from Small to XXXL)!

Visit shop.fsf.org and use discount code FALL19 for 10% off from November 15 through December 31, 2019.

10

DonatetotheFSFwithBitcoin

Copyright 201 FreeSoftwareFoundation,Inc.

Thearticlesinthis are individuallylicensedunderthe CreativeCommonsAttribution­ ShareAlike4.0Internationallicense.

PublishedtwiceyearlybytheFree SoftwareFoundation,51Franklin Street,5thFloor,Boston,MA02110­ 1335,(617)542­5942­

This wasproducedusingall freesoftware,includingScribusand GIMP.