taler-merchant-demos

government-free-software.html (14127B)

---

 <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
 <!-- Parent-Version: 1.96 -->
 <!-- This page is derived from /server/standards/boilerplate.html -->
 <!--#set var="TAGS" value="essays upholding need" -->
 <!--#set var="DISABLE_TOP_ADDENDUM" value="yes" -->
 <title>Measures Governments Can Use to Promote Free Software
 - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
 <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/government-free-software.translist" -->
 <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
 <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/ph-breadcrumb.html" -->
 <!--GNUN: OUT-OF-DATE NOTICE-->
 <!--#include virtual="/server/top-addendum.html" -->
 <div class="article reduced-width">
 <h2 style="margin-bottom: .2em">
 Measures Governments Can Use to Promote Free Software</h2>
 <h3 style="margin: 0 0 1.2em">
 And why it is their duty to do so</h3>
 
 <address class="byline">by <a href="https://www.stallman.org/">Richard
 Stallman</a></address>
 
 <div class="introduction">
 <p>This article suggests policies for a strong and firm effort to promote
 free software within the state, and to lead the rest of the country
 towards software freedom.</p>
 </div>
 
 <p>The mission of the state is to organize society for the freedom and
 well-being of the people.  One aspect of this mission, in the
 computing field, is to encourage users to adopt free software:
 <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">software that respects the users'
 freedom</a>.  A proprietary (nonfree) program tramples the freedom of
 those that use it; it is a social problem that the state should work
 to eradicate.</p>
 
 <p>The state needs to insist on free software in its own computing for
 the sake of its computational sovereignty (the state's control over
 its own computing).  All users deserve control over their computing,
 but the state has a responsibility to the people to maintain control
 over the computing it does on their behalf.  Most government
 activities now depend on computing, and its control over those
 activities depends on its control over that computing.  Losing this
 control in an agency whose mission is critical undermines national
 security.</p>
 
 <p>Moving state agencies to free software can also provide secondary
 benefits, such as saving money and encouraging local software support
 businesses.</p>
 
 <p>In this text, &ldquo;state entities&rdquo; refers to all levels of government, and
 means public agencies including schools, public-private partnerships,
 largely state-funded activities such as charter schools, and &ldquo;private&rdquo;
 corporations controlled by the state or established with special
 privileges or functions by the state.</p>
 
 <h3>Education</h3>
 <p>The most important policy concerns education, since that shapes
 the future of the country:</p>
 
 <ul>
 <li><b>Teach only free software</b><br />
 Educational activities, or at least those of state entities, must
 teach only free software (thus, they should never lead students to use
 a nonfree program), and should teach the civic reasons for insisting
 on free software.  To teach a nonfree program is to teach dependence,
 which is contrary to the mission of the school.</li>
 </ul>
 
 <h3>The State and the Public</h3>
 <p>Also crucial are state policies that influence what software
 individuals and organizations use:</p>
 
 <ul>
 <li><p><b>Never require nonfree programs</b><br />
 Laws and public sector practices must be changed so that they never
 require or pressure individuals or organizations to use a nonfree
 program.  They should also discourage communication and publication
 practices that imply such consequences (including
 <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital
 Restrictions Management</a>).</p></li>
 
 <li><p><b>Distribute only free software</b><br />
 Whenever a state entity distributes software to the public,
 including programs included in or specified by its web pages, it must
 be distributed as free software, and must be capable of running on a
 platform containing exclusively free software.</p></li>
 
 <li><p><b>State web sites</b><br />
 State entity web sites and network services must be designed so
 that users can use them, without disadvantage, by means of free
 software exclusively.</p></li>
 
 <li><p><b>Free formats and protocols</b><br />
 State entities must use only file formats and communication
 protocols that are well supported by free software, preferably with
 published specifications.  (We do not state this in terms of
 &ldquo;standards&rdquo; because it should apply to nonstandardized interfaces as
 well as standardized ones.)  For example, they must not distribute
 audio or video recordings in formats that require Flash or nonfree
 codecs, and public libraries must not distribute works with Digital
 Restrictions Management.</p>
 
 <p>To support the policy of distributing publications and works in
 freedom-respecting formats, the state must insist that all reports
 developed for it be delivered in freedom-respecting formats.</p></li>
 
 <li><p><b>Untie computers from licenses</b><br />
 Sale of computers must not require purchase of a proprietary
 software license.  The seller should be required by law to offer the
 purchaser the option of buying the computer without the proprietary
 software and without paying the license fee.</p>
 <p>The imposed payment is a secondary wrong, and should not distract
 us from the essential injustice of proprietary software, the loss of
 freedom which results from using it.  Nonetheless, the abuse of
 forcing users to pay for it gives certain proprietary software
 developers an additional unfair advantage, detrimental to users'
 freedom.  It is proper for the state to prevent this abuse.</p>
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 <h3>Computational Sovereignty</h3>
 <p>Several policies affect the computational sovereignty of the state.
 State entities must maintain control over their computing, not cede
 control to private hands.  These points apply to all computers,
 including smartphones.</p>
 
 <ul>
 <li><p><b>Migrate to free software</b><br />
 State entities must migrate to free software, and must not install,
 or continue using, any nonfree software except under a temporary
 exception.  Only one agency should have the authority to grant these
 temporary exceptions, and only when shown compelling reasons.  This
 agency's goal should be to reduce the number of exceptions to zero.</p></li>
 
 <li><p><b>Develop free IT solutions</b><br />
 When a state entity pays for development of a computing solution, the
 contract must require it be delivered as free software, and that it be
 designed such that one can both run it and develop it on a 100%-free
 environment.  All contracts must require this, so that if the
 developer does not comply with these requirements, the work cannot be
 paid for.</p></li>
 
 <li><p><b>Choose computers for free software</b><br />
 When a state entity buys or leases computers, it must choose among
 the models that come closest, in their class, to being capable of
 running without any proprietary software.  The state should maintain,
 for each class of computers, a list of the models authorized based on
 this criterion.  Models available to both the public and the state
 should be preferred to models available only to the state.</p></li>
 
 <li><p><b>Negotiate with manufacturers</b><br />
 The state should negotiate actively with manufacturers to bring
 about the availability in the market (to the state and the public) of
 suitable hardware products, in all pertinent product areas, that
 require no proprietary software.</p></li>
 
 <li><p><b>Unite with other states</b><br />
 The state should invite other states to negotiate collectively with
 manufacturers about suitable hardware products.  Together they will
 have more clout.</p></li>
 </ul>
 
 <h3>Computational Sovereignty II</h3>
 <p>The computational sovereignty (and security) of the state includes
 control over the computers that do the state's work.  This requires
 avoiding <a href="/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html">
 Service as a Software Substitute</a>, unless the service is run by a state
 agency under the same branch of government, as well as other practices
 that diminish the state control over its computing.  Therefore,</p>
 
 <ul>
 <li id="state-control"><b>State must control its computers</b><br />
 Every computer that the state uses must belong to or be leased by
 the same branch of government that uses it, and that branch must not
 cede to outsiders the right to decide who has physical access to the
 computer, who can do maintenance (hardware or software) on it, or
 what software should be installed in it.  If the computer is not
 portable, then while in use it must be in a physical space of which
 the state is the occupant (either as owner or as tenant).</li>
 </ul>
 
 <h3>Influence Development</h3>
 <p>State policy affects free and nonfree software development:</p>
 
 <ul>
 <li><p><b>Encourage free</b><br />
 The state should encourage developers to create or enhance free
 software and make it available to the public, e.g. by tax breaks
 and other financial incentive.  Contrariwise, no such incentives
 should be granted for development, distribution or use of nonfree
 software.</p></li>
 
 <li><p><b>Don't encourage nonfree</b><br />
 In particular, proprietary software developers should not be able to
 &ldquo;donate&rdquo; copies to schools and claim a tax write-off for the nominal
 value of the software.  Proprietary software is not legitimate in a
 school.</p></li>
 </ul>
 
 <h3>E-waste</h3>
 <p>Freedom should not imply e-waste:</p>
 
 <ul>
 <li><p><b>Replaceable software</b><br />
 Many modern computers are designed to make it impossible to
 replace their preloaded software with free software.  Thus, the only
 way to free them is to junk them.  This practice is harmful to
 society.</p>
 
 <p>Therefore, it should be illegal, or at least substantially
 discouraged through heavy taxation, to sell, import or distribute in
 quantity a new computer (that is, not second-hand) or computer-based
 product for which secrecy about hardware interfaces or intentional
 restrictions prevent users from developing, installing and using
 replacements for any and all of the installed software that the
 manufacturer could upgrade.  This would apply, in particular, to any
 device on which <a href="/proprietary/proprietary-jails.html">&ldquo;jailbreaking&rdquo;</a> is needed to install a
 different operating system, or in which the interfaces for some
 peripherals are secret.
 </p></li>
 </ul>
 
 <h3>Technological neutrality</h3>
 
 <p>With the measures in this article, the state can recover control
 over its computing, and lead the country's citizens, businesses and
 organizations towards control over their computing.  However, some
 object on the grounds that this would violate the
 &ldquo;principle&rdquo; of technological neutrality.</p>
 
 <p>The idea of technological neutrality is that the state should not
 impose arbitrary preferences on technical choices.  Whether that is a
 valid principle is disputable, but it is limited in any case to issues
 that are merely technical.  The measures advocated here address issues
 of ethical, social and political importance, so they are
 <a href="/philosophy/technological-neutrality.html">outside the scope
 of <em>technological</em> neutrality</a>.  Only those who wish to
 subjugate a country would suggest that its government be
 &ldquo;neutral&rdquo; about its sovereignty or its citizens' freedom.</p>
 </div>
 
 </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
 <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
 <div id="footer" role="contentinfo">
 <div class="unprintable">
 
 <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to <a
 href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.  There are also <a
 href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a> the FSF.  Broken links and other
 corrections or suggestions can be sent to <a
 href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
 
 <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
         replace it with the translation of these two:
 
         We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
         translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
         Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
         to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
         &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
 
         <p>For information on coordinating and contributing translations of
         our web pages, see <a
         href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
         README</a>. -->
 Please see the <a
 href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations README</a> for
 information on coordinating and contributing translations of this article.</p>
 </div>
 
 <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
      files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
      be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
      without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
      Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
      document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
      document was modified, or published.
      
      If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
      Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
      years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
      year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
      being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
      
      There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
      Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
 
 <p>Copyright &copy; 2011-2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022 Free Software
 Foundation, Inc.</p>
 
 <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
 href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
 Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
 
 <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
 
 <p class="unprintable">Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
 $Date: 2022/03/16 13:55:24 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>
 </div><!-- for class="inner", starts in the banner include -->
 </body>
 </html>