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News

The FSFE empowers users to control technology with its diverse activities and concrete engagement for software freedom. Follow us and make sure to receive regular updates and deeper insights on our various channels.

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Software Freedom Podcast illustration: a blue gradient background with the three starts from the FSFE logo also in blue and the words Software Freedom Podcast. It also has in white the fsfe website url

SFP#26: Policy and EU: the need of long-term funding and the NGI case

19 November 2024

Join this new episode of our Software Freedom podcast in which Bonnie Mehring and Alexander Sander discussing current topics affecting Free Software in the European Union. In this episode we focus on the 27 million euros cut of funding of the Next Generation Internet initiative (known as NGI). Alex and Bonnie shed some light on the history of this European project and share the newest developments in this case. 

Collage with an illustration of an apple with a worm inside, a picture with FSFE booth and some staffers during SFSCON 2023, router freedom sticker and a picture from the workshop during YH4F award ceremony showing YH4F transparent badges and all the tools needed to tinker with arduino

YH4F 2024 winners +++ Apple litigation page +++ SFSCON ‘24

05 November 2024

It's November and our team heads to Bolzano for SFSCON, still thrilled by the inspiring 2024 Youth Hacking 4 Freedom award ceremony! Last weeks we’ve also launched a new page to keep you updated on the latest developments in our involvement with the Apple vs. EC litigation. Find out the latest updates on Router Freedom, REUSE and more! 

Some members of the FSFE team standing behind the FSFE stand during SFSCON 2023. The picture is showing a table with Ada books, merch and info material. Also, on the left side, there is an FSFE banner with the sentences "Keeping the power over technology in your hands" and on the back a lot of red and blue balloons.

Where the FSFE Shapes the Future: SFSCON 2024!

01 November 2024

We are excited to be back for the South Tyrol Free Software Conference (SFSCON) on 8 and 9 November with talks, workshops and a booth! SFSCON is the place to be if you’re passionate about Free Software and want to dive into discussions on key topics, including the need for sustainable, long-term funding for Free Software projects. Come to Bolzano to learn, connect, and be inspired!. 

Collage showing an illustration of Ada & Zangemann book, the one of the village protesting; an image of the European Commission building; and an illustration of an apple with a worm inside

Ada movie premiere +++ EC consultation +++ Apple litigation

09 October 2024

The story of Ada & Zangemann is now available as an animated movie! We’d also like to thank everyone who contributed feedback to the EC consultation, urging European policymakers to establish long-term sustainable funding for Free Software Additionally, we’ve submitted our arguments in the ongoing Apple litigation. And great news, our hoodies are back! 

Illustration from  the story 'Ada & Zangemann' showing Ada & Zangemann characters protesting with placards. The illustration has a yellow background.

Premiere of the "Ada & Zangemann" movie on Ada Lovelace Day

02 October 2024

The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is celebrating Ada Lovelace Day on October 8 with a special event for its supporters: the global English premiere of the animated film 'Ada & Zangemann - A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream'. Originally a highly successful illustrated book, now available in 10 languages and counting, the story has been adapted into a film and is licensed as an open educational resource.  

software freedom in Europe

Software Freedom in Europe 2024

20 September 2024

In 2024, we continued to promote software freedom through our presence at conferences and events across Europe, as well as through our various activities and initiatives. Despite our ongoing financial challenges, we have actively raised our voice in defence of Device Neutrality and are advocating for a dedicated Free Software budget in Europe.  

European Commission building in Brussels

The FSFE demands EU Commission sustainable long-term Free Software funding

11 September 2024

In the wake of the recent €27 million cut in the NGI funding, the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is responding to growing concern by participating in a public consultation of the European Commission. The FSFE is stressing the urgent need for sustainable, long-term financial support for Free Software to ensure Europe's technological independence. 

European Commission building in Brussels

Bring Back Free Software Funding: Give Your Feedback to the European Commission

11 September 2024

The European Commission has cut important funds for Free Software. The non-transparent decision shows the need for sustainable long-term funding to allow the EU to control its own technology. Raise your voice and take part in an ongoing consultation to ask for sustainable long-term funds for software freedom. We explain why and how. 

Collage showing three images in different sizes in round shapes and the FSFE logo. One image has the sentence Next Generation Internet over a EU map in blue, another is the logo of the ZOOOM project and the last one is a drawing of an apple in a green color with a worm inside

Apple litigation +++ EU funding for Free Software +++ YH4F +++ ZOOOM project

03 September 2024

September is here, along with our newsletter. We have continued advocating for a Free Software budget in Europe, following the European Commission's decision to stop NGI funding, and we are intervening in Apple's lawsuit against the European Commission. YH4F got a new sponsor and its 2024 edition is in the final stage, and the ZOOOM project ended.  

Man sitting on a bench holding a newspaper that is covering his face

Spread your concern about Free Software funding in your local newspaper

28 August 2024

Are you also worried and concerned about the European Commission decision to cut the funding for Free Software projects? Besides contacting European representatives you can also write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to make their readers aware of the importance of funding Free Software solutions with a long term sustainable funding. 

Illustration showing a rotten apple: an apple with a worm inside

Apple vs EU Commission: the FSFE intervenes to safeguard Free Software

12 August 2024

The Free Software Foundation Europe is intervening in litigation brought by Apple against the European Commission before the Court of Justice of the European Union. Apple is seeking to avoid DMA obligations related to its App Store and the interoperability of its operating system. The FSFE aims to protect Free Software against monopolistic corporate control. 

Illustration showing a rotten apple: an apple with a worm inside

Apple vs EU Commission: the FSFE intervenes to safeguard Free Software

09 August 2024

The Free Software Foundation Europe is intervening in a litigation brought by Apple against the European Commission before the Court of Justice of the European Union. The case relates to Digital Markets Act, with Apple seeking to avoid obligations related to its App Store and the interoperability of its operating systems. The FSFE aims to hold Apple accountable under the DMA to protect Free Software against monopolistic corporate control.  

Illustration with a EU map in the background in blue, the sentence Next Generation Interent in white and some yellow stars

European Commission needs to come up with dedicated budget for Free Software solutions

08 August 2024

After the recent news that funding for the Next Generation Internet initiative would be cut for the next phase of Horizon Europe, the European Commission has expressed vague support for Free Software. Unfortunately it is failing to provide concrete examples on how to do so. This has highlighted the fragility of funding for Software Freedom and the need for change in the long-term. 

Collage showing an image from NGI of a futuristic city, the router freedom sticker and a picture with the word cybersecurity with a locker

EU cuts funding for FS +++ Router Freedom +++ SFP

06 August 2024

The EC is planning to cut its funding to NGI projects, while in Belgium a court has supported end-users’ Router Freedom rights. We also submitted feedback on the NIS2 implementation; learnt about Linqa, a Free Software platform developed with public money; and gathered with volunteers at the Summer Meeting. Listen to our new SFP episode. 

Illustration from the PMPC video showing a futuristic city with the city hall building in foreground

Linqa: a Free Software bilingual collaboration platform developed with public money

26 July 2024

Linqa is a bilingual collaboration platform whose code is Free Software and developed using public money. It helps the daily work of the Franco-German Forum for the Future, a public institution that fosters collaboration among actors in France and Germany. We dive into the roots of Linqa with the people behind it. 

Ilustration with the sentence NGI Initiative Internet of Humans, showing a futuristic city with  two arms holding a smartphone in their hand

EC cuts funding support for Free Software projects

19 July 2024

The Next Generation Internet initiative has supported Free Software projects with funding and technical assistance since 2018. Despite its proven success, the European Commission made the decision to cut this funding in the current draft for the Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme. This decision highlights the larger problem of the lack of motivated and sustainable public funding for Free Software projects.  

Illustration showing a network termination point, consisting in the end-user private network, a router, and the public communication network, the access to the Internet, which is the domain of the ISP

Belgian court’s decision impacts the future of Router Freedom

09 July 2024

In an historic ruling within the EU, a Belgian court has upheld the decision of the country’s regulator to introduce Router Freedom for fiber networks. The objections, raised by a local internet service provider, were deemed unfounded. This landmark decision represents a significant victory for consumer rights, and we urge other national regulators to follow this example. 

Picture collage showing a YH4F illustration, Ada illustration, a red heart with the 4 freedoms; an illustration of a snake that forms what looks like an apple; and a REUSE infographic

DMA & Apple +++ Openwashing, EU infrastucture & more

02 July 2024

The July issue is full of news! We continue to monitor and raise our concerns about DMA compliance. We call upon the EU to use Free Software for its digital infrastructure and are asking for your experiences with openwashing. And we also bring you updates on REUSE, YH4F, Ada & Zangemann...  

Ilustration showing what looks like a snake in the shape of an apple in black with a red shadow

Defending DMA against Apple: The FSFE signs joint position paper

27 June 2024

Together with nine stakeholders organisations, the FSFE has submitted a joint position paper to the European Commission, with whom we are working on the implementation of the Digital Markets Act. This paper, supported by legal and data-backed arguments, addresses Apple’s non-compliance with the law, particularly concerning software freedom, alternative Free Software app stores and interoperability obligations. 

Illustration showing, in an easy way, how REUSE works

Save time and minimise licensing headaches with REUSE

20 June 2024

REUSE helps make a project's licensing and copyright status more transparent, ensure that third-party code is properly attributed, and make the project's code easily reusable. This tool is currently used worldwide and its specification has been adopted by several corporate and institutional projects. We spoke to Matija Šuklje of Liferay International, one of the companies that has adopted REUSE.  

Picture collage with a heart with the 4 freedoms, the SUSE I love FS logo and the thank you i love fs postcard

I ♥ Free Software Day & SUSE OSCC network

10 June 2024

We got an email, a few weeks ago, that caught our attention. It came with a donation explaining that it was made in the name of an employee network at SUSE. We decided to investigate, asked the people responsible, and today we want to share this awesome story with you. (Note - this is also a great idea for an initiative to ask your company about).  

Illustration from the Ada and Zangemann book showing children and adults demonstrating

Ada goes to the set: let’s make an animated movie

15 May 2024

What do a Prime Minister, an MIT professor, and a child from Rajasthan have in common? They, along with other public figures and thousands of children, love the illustrated book 'Ada & Zangemann: A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream'. Ada has already made it into homes and libraries around the world, and now she needs your help to reach even more kids! Help us make a film of this story to spark more kids’ interest in coding and tinkering! 

Picture collage showing an YH4F illustration, the Ada & Zangemann book with the French award and an image of the LLW registration desk with the LLW logo

LLW 2024 +++ YH4F interviews +++ Ada in France

08 May 2024

May comes with legal news such as the Legal & Licensing Workshop and the Bitcoin lawsuit regarding the liability of Free Software developers. We also talked to two 2023 YH4F participants and our Danish local group sent an Open Letter to their parliament. Did you see that Ada & Zangemann won a prize and that the French ebook version is now available?  

Image showing a bitcoin with a blue tech background

Are Free Software developers at risk?

17 April 2024

Free Software is everywhere, with studies estimating that it is present in about 96% of the applications that we use. But what are the responsibilities and liabilities of the Free Software developers? A potential threat to Free Software developers looms in the form of an ongoing lawsuit in the UK involving Bitcoin and its core developers. 

Illustration done with a computer showing the parliament of the city with people and buildings around

Let’s advocate together for Free Software in the European Elections

21 March 2024

European citizens will hit the ballot boxes from 6 to 9 June 2024 to choose their next representatives in the European Parliament. As the campaign heats up, it is important to get active and ensure Software Freedom is part of the larger political debate. How can you do this? Find practical advice on how to advocate for Free Software in the coming months!  

Collage picture of a DIY IloveFS heart with lights, FSFE staff and volunteers at our FOSDEM 2024 booth, and an image of a phone with a 2FA app on it

I love FS celebrations +++ FOSDEM 2024 +++ SFP episode

05 March 2024

Our March newsletter is here! Last month took us to FOSDEM, while ‘I Love Free Software Day’ was celebrated all over Europe. We also launched a new SFP episode on the state of Free Software and a discussion on banking and Software Freedom. Check out some interesting reading and event recommendations!  

Smiling FSFE team members and volunteers at the FSFE booth at FOSDEM 2024

FOSDEM 2024 was a blast!

01 March 2024

At the beginning of February, FSFE volunteers and staffers went back to Brussels to take part in FOSDEM 2024 with a booth and talks. While for some of us this has become an awesome yearly experience, it was the first time for others. Thanks to everyone who came to FOSDEM, visited our booth for a nice chat, and joined us during our social events!  

'I Love Free Software Day' heart shaped badge with LED strip, a group of FSFE volunteers with their personal ilovefs badges

"I Love Free Software Day" 2024: Forging the future with Free Software

26 February 2024

Together with hundreds of people and several organisations, we have celebrated another "I Love Free Software Day" on 14 February! On this day, we reached out to Free Software contributors to say Thank you! To all who joined us this time: Thank you for participating in this 14th edition of the "I Love Free Software Day" ❤️❤️❤️!  

Collage of the Sharepic from Alexander Sander and Karen Sandler on why they loves Free Software

SFP#24: The status of Free Software with Karen Sandler and Alexander Sander

14 February 2024

Have there been any changes for Free Software in Europe or the USA in the last year? How is Free Software viewed by legislators? What can we do to support software freedom? Karen Sandler and Alexander Sander are active in the Free Software movement and share their views on the current status of Free Software in our society.  

A collage of pictures with a screenshot of the final vote results for IEA, ILoveFS “Thank you” postcards, and a group picture with Edulife participants

Celebrate I Love Free Software Day +++ Interoperable Europe Act adopted

13 February 2024

Once again, FOSDEM did not disappoint! Meeting the Free Software community in Brussels is always one of the best moments of the year! And just before we meet again to celebrate I Love Free Software Day with the news of the Interoperable Europe Act being adopted! This newsletter also includes our first interviews with 2023 Youth Hacking 4 Freedom participants… and more! 

Infographic of the final vote

Interoperable Europe Act adopted, close monitoring vital

06 February 2024

Today the Interoperable Europe Act has been adopted in plenary with 524 votes in favour, 18 against and 97 abstentions. Although some of the potential of the regulation got undermined, the Act as a whole is an important opportunity for Free Software and its community to contribute to an interoperable Europe. The FSFE will closely monitor its implementation. 

Image collage with an illustration of a heart in a screen with 1 and 0; the router freedom sticker and the software freedom podcast logo

Podcast episodes +++ Router Freedom tech wiki +++ Become our policy intern

16 January 2024

We are starting 2024 with a lot of energy, looking for a policy intern and with great news: two new SFP episodes, the Router Freedom tech wiki, the ‘Ada & Zangemann’ ebook is free of charge in French, and we are looking forward to celebrating ‘I Love Free Software Day’ on 14 February!  

An illustration about privacy showing eyes behind some bars

Unblocking User Freedom: the right to use adblockers

20 December 2023

Companies increasingly aim to control how users interact with their content online, threatening user freedom. As more companies crack down on browser extensions and other third-party software used by internet users to customise their experiences, two recent German court cases on adblockers could strengthen the legal case for user control over technology. 

A router with angel-like wings and all the freedoms related to it around it

Router Freedom tech wiki is now online!

14 December 2023

In recent years we have focused on the policy and legal aspects of Router Freedom. Now, with the help of our Netherlands volunteer team, we are publishing the Router Freedom tech wiki, which provides information on the necessary steps you need to use and connect your own router. We need your help to get it printed! 

Group picture of the Italian community and FSFE friends on the Italian Alps

The FSFE is looking for a policy intern

11 December 2023

We are looking for a motivated intern to support the FSFE’s policy activities and contribute to our work to empower people to control technology. The person will work 35 hours per week with our team in the FSFE Berlin office for a period of six months. 

Image showing the Ada & Zangemann book in different languages

What pupils write about proprietary software and why it motivates me

07 December 2023

Pupils all over the world are learning about the story of "Ada & Zangemann - A Tale of Software, Skateboards and Raspberry Ice Cream": it is encouraging to see how new generations are inspired to start coding, and to write to Zangemann about his behaviour. Below a message from our president Matthias Kirschner to our readers.  

collage of different pictures of this month

YH4F kickoff +++ UpA Open Letter +++ Router freedom in Belgium

05 December 2023

Last month YH4F 2024 kicked off, the German Parliament received the Upcycling Android Open Letter, we discovered that the ambitious plan of the Interoperable Europe Act turned out to be watered down, we celebrated Belgium’s commitment to router freedom, and much more interesting news was out. 

Illustration about the network termination point showing a modem, as a private network, and the connecting internet point, as a public communication network

Austria goes against Router Freedom

01 December 2023

The Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, RTR, has decided not to regulate the network operators with regard to Router Freedom, allowing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to impose their equipment on consumers. For RTR, routers configured in “bridge mode” is synonymous with terminal equipment freedom. The FSFE laments this decision as a missed opportunity for Net Neutrality in Austria.  

Illustration with teenagers in a hackerspace

2024 Youth Hacking 4 Freedom kicks off

16 November 2023

Registration is now open for the 2024 edition of Youth Hacking 4 Freedom, the coding competition for young Europeans. This competition gives teenagers the opportunity to code their own projects – alone or in a team –, make new friends across Europe, and win up to €4,096! 

Picture collage with a picture of Earth from space (REUSE goes to Space), the crowd at the Fediverse Symposium in Cologne, and the winners of YH4F 2023

SFSCON 2023 +++ YH4F winners +++ REUSE goes to Space

14 November 2023

Our yearly report, Software Freedom in Europe 2023, is out. At the YH4F award ceremony, we learned about the awesome projects from this edition's winners, our team went to Bolzano to SFSCON, and we are happy to find out how the REUSE specification keeps on helping developers, such as the ones at the German Aerospace Center. Find these and other stories in our November issue! 

Image of an European map with connected pins.

Interoperable Europe Act: an ambition that turned out to be watered-down

13 November 2023

Decision makers are meeting to agree on the final text of the Interoperable Europe Act (IEA). There is a concerning wording related to giving priority to Free Software when implementing interoperable solutions and confusing criteria to do so. Overall, what could have been a very ambitious initiative turned out to be another regulation with ambiguous and problematic wording. 

The Belgian regulator BIPT recognised Router Freedom as a key element for Internet connections.

Belgium commits to Router Freedom

13 November 2023

The Belgian telecom regulator BIPT formally introduced Router Freedom. The decision encompasses all network types including fiber (FTTx) and the decision sets a deadline of twelve months for becoming compliant. The FSFE acknowledges this decision as a major win for consumer rights, and will monitor further implementation. 

Portrait picture of Frank Karlitschek

Frank Karlitschek receives the European SFS Award at SFSCON23

10 November 2023

The founder of Nextcloud received the European SFS Award at SFSCON. This recognition which was presented for the first time jointly by the Linux User Group Bolzano and the Free Software Foundation Europe, went to "a tireless advocate of digital freedom as universal right"

    Image of the entrance of the SFSCON 2022 with a SFSCON baner

    Join us at SFSCON 2023!

    08 November 2023

    We cannot wait to be in Bolzano for the South Tyrol Free Software Conference (SFSCON) on 10 and 11 November. This two-day conference brings together Free Software advocates, decision makers and the general public at the gateway to the Dolomites. Our team will be there with talks, side events and a booth. We are ready to talk to you, so just drop by and say hello! 

    The rocket 'Fairydust' in front of the CCH building in Hamburg

    FSFE at the Chaos Communication Congress

    06 November 2023

    The FSFE is back for the Chaos Communication Congress! Come and join us at the end of December in the "Bits & Bäume" habitat and end the year in a fun and chaos way attending interesting talks and making new friends! The Call for Participation ends on 11 November so hurry up!  

    Image showing the planet Earth from the space

    REUSE goes to space!

    02 November 2023

    The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has adopted the REUSE specification in some of its projects. We have talked to Tobias Schlauch, research software engineer at the DLR, about the role of Free Software for research and innovation, and the importance of clear understanding and displaying of the legal information of software projects. He highlights the special contributions that REUSE has to offer for software development but also for research. 

    Image showing the back of the participants of the Fediverse Day event raising their hands with a speaker on stage in the background

    Fediverse Symposium: Recordings are now online

    25 October 2023

    More than 70 people came together, in Cologne on 22 September, to get an insight into the Fediverse and to discuss the importance of decentralised social networks for our society. If you were not able to join our Fediverse Symposium or want to re-watch the talks, we now have the German-language recordings on our PeerTube instance for you!  

    Image collage showing a picture of Ada & Zangemann in English, YH4F logo, our booth in SFSCON 2022 and a group picture from the summer meeting

    Software Freedom in Europe 2023

    20 October 2023

    In 2023, Software Freedom has been back on stage, while we have boosted our activities for the coming generations with our children's book and the coding competition for young Europeans. We have also continued to bring our demands to lawmakers, helped projects to become REUSE compliant, and shared many great moments with our community. 

    Picture of YH4F workshop during the Award Ceremony weekend

    Find out our YH4F second edition winners!

    17 October 2023

    A real-time plotter for microcontrollers; a classroom quiz platform; a radio tool; a device that provides bags to pick up your dog's poo; a game engine to help non-programmers develop their ideas; and a program to search for a file on your computer by its hash. These are the six projects that won the 2023 edition of Youth Hacking 4 Freedom.  

    Picture collage with an image of GNU 40, about the four freedoms and a last one with the Router Freedom sticker

    GNU turns 40 +++ Router Freedom, Fediverse & Ada

    04 October 2023

    October starts after celebrating the 40th anniversary of the GNU project, that marked the beginning of our Free Software movement. The new political season has started, both at the EU and the national levels. Thanks for contributing to make our What is Free Software video available in more languages… and we had the first Ada reading in Italian!  

    Map of the world interconnected

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

    20 September 2023

    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? 

    Symbol of Public Money, Public Code

    The Netherlands: Important points for the election

    06 September 2023

    The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is committed to empower users to control technolgy to digital civil rights, transparency and control over technology. It does this by promoting Free Software (also known as Open Source Software). In addition, Free Software promotes innovation and prevents vendor lock-in. Digital sovereignty is only possible with Free Software. 

    Picture collage with an image of an Android robot inside a wrench; an image of the Bundestag with a magnifying glass in the foreground; and an image of the cover of the book Ada & Zangemann

    "Back to school" for EU and German policy +++ Ada available worldwide

    05 September 2023

    September brings the resumption of EU politics and the middle of the term of the current German government, and we look at them from a Free Software perspective. 'Ada & Zangemann' can now be ordered internationally, and you can help us translate our 'What is Free Software' video into more EU languages. And remember - rooting your device does not void its warranty.  

    Entrance to Bits und Baeume village by night

    Chaos Communication Camp 2023: back to the grounds!

    25 August 2023

    One of our favourite events was back this summer: Chaos Communication Camp 2023! This event brings together technologists, activists, and enthusiasts to discuss, share, and celebrate technology, privacy, and freedom in Brandenburg, Germany. This year, the Free Software Foundation Europe joined the campers as part of the 'Bits und Bäume' village.  

    An illustration about the four freedoms that allows Software Freedom

    Liability, Interoperability & Free Software in EU: what we are expecting

    24 August 2023

    After the summer recess, EU institutions are resuming their activities at the end of August. In the coming months, we expect to see the adoption of legislation that could have an impact on Free Software: the Cyber Resilience Act, the Product Liability Directive, the AI Act, and the Interoperable Europe Act. What does all this legislation mean for Free Software and its community? 

    Four photographs of different events and activities with interns and other members of the FSFE community

    Join us as an intern and make the difference!

    15 August 2023

    Have you heard about Free Software and you want to know more about it? Are you already a Free Software advocate and do you want to help to bring software freedom to our society? Then our paid internships are for you! Learn by doing and gain knowledge and technical skills through an internship with us. 

    Picture collage with an image of a people attending the Summer    Meeting posing on some stairs with a building behind, a image of a    photocall poster with the words EU parliament in different languages    and an image with the words Sofware Freedom Podcast

    CRA & IEA +++ SFP episode +++ Summer Meeting

    01 August 2023

    Our August issue comes with the latest updates of the CRA and the IAE, a new episode of our Software Freedom podcast exploring Software Freedom in EU policy, and the announcement of our symposium about decentralised social networks. YH4F participants -and we too- are waiting for the jury feedback on their projects. 

    Lina Ceballos talking at the European Parliament

    SFP#21: Exploring Software Freedom in European Politics with Lina Ceballos

    28 July 2023

    Listen to our new Software Freedom Podcast episode with Lina Ceballos. Lina and Bonnie talk about everything related to Free Software in European Politics. Learn more about Lina's work at the Free Software Foundation Europe and how political decisions come to pass in the EU. Discover how best to advocate for Free Software, and especially, what the Interoperable Europe Act is all about and why the Free Software communities need to be on the lookout for the protection of software freedom.  

    Image with a laptop with some code in the screen

    YH4F: Coding is over!

    24 July 2023

    The second edition of Youth Hacking 4 Freedom, the hacking competition for young Europeans, has just ended. For the last six months, the participants have worked on developing their own personal Free Software projects. 

    Two computer screens showing some code

    Cyber Resilience Act & Free Software: Parliament waters down its own position

    19 July 2023

    The European Parliament today voted on its position on the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). While the position improves on the Commission's exemption to protect Free Software, it fails to introduce a proper protection . We call on the institutions to put the burden of liability only on those who significantly financially benefit from the market, while protecting developers and non-profit work. 

    European Parliament photocall with EU Parliament words in different EU languages

    EU Parliament intends to widen participation in the Interoperable Europe Board

    19 July 2023

    Today the EU Parliament’s Committee responsible for the Interoperable Europe Act has adopted its final position. It is a step forward towards a more inclusive Interoperable Europe Board while it introduces clearer indicators and statistics to monitor the progress of the Act. This position must now be upheld during the upcoming trilogue. 

    European building with the European Parliament symbol

    IEA: EU Parliament advances in strengthening the role of Free Software, yet needs more to improve

    29 June 2023

    The two EP Committees for opinion, IMCO and LIBE, have today adopted their texts on the Interoperable Europe Act. While both recognise the importance of Free Software for this regulation, the inclusion of the Free Software community in the Board remains uncertain. The wording on proper monitoring and evaluation goes in the right direction. 

    House consisting of 0s and 1s

    Germany: dPhoenix on the road to failure?

    06 June 2023

    A Free Software office and collaboration suite for the public sector is one of the projects with which the German government aims to fulfil the goals of the coalition agreement. But a closer look at the project raises questions: Where is the source code? Who is responsible? What happens to the public money involved? We asked the relevant ministry.  

    Picture collage with images inside circles of the Router Freedom sticker, a human head draw in a blue background surrounded by the EU stars and the Public Money, Public Code campaign image surruonded by headphones

    AI Act and Interoperability +++ Router Freedom Survey +++ Podcasts, YH4F & Ada

    06 June 2023

    The June issue brings updates on the Interoperable Europe Act and the AI Regulation, and the publication of the conclusions of our European Router Freedom survey. We were invited to two podcast episodes and were the focus of Edri's 'Member in the spotlight'. Check out a study on net neutrality regulation and read a lovely story about Ada arriving in rural India. 

    EU flag with a gavel in the background and the word fail in the foreground

    Interoperable Europe Act: Committee of the Regions fails to substantially promote Free Software

    24 May 2023

    The Committee of the Regions approved its opinion on the Interoperable Europe Act. The EU representative body has failed to recognise the importance that Free Software has for interoperability and thus for digitalisation and innovation. This underlines the relevance of the Free Software Community's participation in the planned Interoperable Board.  

    Panoramic of Chalmers Univerisity buildings with Swedish flag

    Tack foss-north 2023!

    09 May 2023

    The 2023 edition of foss-north took place in Gothenburg on 24 and 25 April 2023. It was a great occasion to meet again in person with the Nordic Free Software community. Over 180 participants had the opportunity to learn about and discuss Free Software in more than 20 sessions.  

    Picture collage with images of a woman giving a talk, an illustration from a children book and some brochures and totebags

    FOSS-North & LLW+++Device Neutrality+++NGI Zero

    03 May 2023

    In this issue, you can read about the EU project NGI Zero, LLW, the FOSS-North conference, and the struggle of Lithuanian students to avoid using proprietary 2FA. Don't miss our new SFP episode on Device Neutrality; deepen your knowledge with two interesting articles; enjoy the latest ‘Ada & Zangemann’ readings; and discover two YH4F projects.  

    LLW brochure and tote bag

    LLW 2023: learning and exchanging legal knowledge

    28 April 2023

    The Swedish city of Gothenburg hosted the 2023 edition of the Free Software Legal & Licensing Workshop (LLW), the annual conference for the Legal Network community. It was great to see so many old and new faces in person after two years online, and to learn, share and network about the legal and licensing issues facing current technology developments.  

    foss-north 2023 is taking place in Gothenurg on April 24 and 25

    Ready for foss-north 2023?

    12 April 2023

    The FSFE is organising a track covering political and legal aspects of Free Software at foss-north, the conference in Gothenburg that brings together Nordic Free Software communities. It will take place on April 24 and 25 preceded by the community day that will take place on April 23. It is time to register and get your tickets!  

    Greece is now in the row of countries regulating Router  Freedom.

    Η Ελλάδα υιοθετεί νέους κανόνες σχετικά με την Ελεύθερη Επιλογή Δρομολογητή

    13 March 2023

    Ο ελληνική νομοθετική αρχή υιοθέτησε νέους κανόνες για την εισαγωγή της Ελεύθερης Επιλογής Δρομολογητή στη χώρα. Από το 2021, το FSFE δουλεύει με υπεύθυνους χάραξης πολιτικής για να προστατεύσει τα συμφέροντα των χρηστών. Διάφορες εταιρίες της κοινωνίας των πολιτών και του κλάδου υποστήριξαν το FSFE και συνέβαλαν θετικά στον νέο νόμο.  

    Painting of a women surrounded by flowers. Text: “Diversity drives innovation – when we limit who can contribute, we in turn limit what problems we can solve.” – Telly Whitney

    Happy Women’s Day!

    08 March 2023

    Today we are celebrating Women’s Day. Thank you to everyone who is making the tech sector more inclusive! Let’s continue working together to achieve gender parity and embrace equity. There might be problems coming our way, but we also have each other. Join us and meet the FSFE Women team.  

    Pictures of peole and an illustration of a sphygmometer

    Medical Devices Should Use Free Software +++ 25 New Videos

    07 March 2023

    In this issue we have a podcast episode about the need that medical devices have Free Software. Watch our talks from FOSDEM and videos about legal issues when developing. Participants of YH4F are already coding. Thanks to all your contributions, our fundraising ended successfully. We bring community news from 9 countries.  

    Call for papers is open

    Call for Papers for foss-north open (Gothenburg, April 2023)

    22 February 2023

    foss-north is a Free Software conference in Gothenburg that brings together Nordic Free Software communities. This year, the Free Software Foundation Europe is organising a track covering political and legal aspects of Free Software, as well as best practices from Scandinavia. We're looking forward to your contribution by March 5! 

    The coding period of this new edition has started

    Let's code!

    20 February 2023

    Youth Hacking 4 Freedom, FSFE's coding competition for young Europeans, has just started. The kick-off event took place on the 26th of January with an online meeting for the participants of this year's competition. There they got the most important information about the contest while starting to get to know each other. 

    Thank you for your support

    Thank you for helping us reach our goal!

    15 February 2023

    Thanks to your valuable contributions, we have reached our fundraising target*. Thank you for your confidence and support, even in these difficult times. These funds will help us run our campaigns and organise events and talks to spread the word about our work, while continuing to promote software freedom. 

      Pictures of a person, a heart, and a mastodon in front on of a building

      I Love Free Software +++ Public authorities in Fediverse

      08 February 2023

      In this issue we invite public institutions to join free, decentralised social networks. Watch our info-session on German municipalities using Free Software. An FSFE volunteer doubts the reliability of AI-generated text. I Love Free Software Day is just around the corner. Celebrate with us!  

      FSFE's booth at one event

      Ready for FOSDEM 2023?

      23 January 2023

      FOSDEM 2023 is taking place in Brussels the first weekend of February. The FSFE team will be participating at the main Free Software convention in Europe with a booth and giving some keynotes. Are you going to be there? Come to our booth and do not miss our talks! 

      Some of the FSFE team hiking in Bolzano

      Join our team as an intern!

      13 January 2023

      Are you a motivated person who wants to support FSFE's activities as an intern? If your background is in computer science, law, political science or another social science field, apply to become part of our team in our Berlin office, working 35 hours per week for a period of 6 months. Join us in empowering people to take control of technology!.  

      Three photographs. The municipality of Dortmund, a portrait of a person in front of GNU Health banner, a makerspace.

      Promising news from Belgium and Dortmund +++ IT Security +++ Job opportunity

      10 January 2023

      In January’s Newsletter: Dortmund embraces Free Software, and Belgium is working to ensure Router Freedom. A cryptographer analyzes IT security. A digital health ecosystem licenses files with the REUSE tool. We are looking for an office coordinator. We look forward to seeing you in FOSDEM and I Love Free Software events.  

      I love Free Software Day

      ♥ I Love Free Software Day: Let’s Meet and Connect!

      04 January 2023

      Every February 14 the Free Software community around the world comes together to celebrate the “I Love Free Software Day”. On this special day we show our gratitude for every Free Software contributor. Join us in celebrating our love for Free Software and thank all the supporters of software freedom.  

      Hugo Roy

      SFP#16: Free Software in France with Hugo Roy

      09 September 2022

      In this episode of the Software Freedom Podcast, Bonnie Mehring speaks with Hugo Roy about his long involvement with the FSFE. Hugo is also very active in the French Free Software community and gives us an overview of the standing of Free Software in France.  

      Till Jaeger sitting on some stairs

      SFP#12: Enforcement of the GNU GPL with Till Jaeger

      22 September 2021

      With our 12th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast we dig into the history and the beginning of enforcing Free Software licences, especially the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL). Together with Till Jaeger, who has been working alongside Harald Welte for enforcing the GNU GPL in the first court cases in Germany, we talk about the long way we have come since those early days.  

      Podcast recorder and headphones with a rose and ballons in the background

      SFP#9: I Love Free Software Day

      11 February 2021

      For this episode of the Software Freedom Podcast we talk about the background of the "I Love Free Software Day" and how it all began 11 years ago. Discover together with Bonnie Mehring why Free Software developers, advocates, activists and contributors think this special day is so important for Free Software.  

      Three different sizes of coin piles with seeds growing on top of them

      SFP#8: How to tell my mother that Free Software can cost money?

      04 December 2020

      In this Software Freedom Podcast episode Bonnie Mehring and Matthias Kirschner talk about the monetary costs of Free Software. On the example of a conversation Bonnie had with her mother, both discover ways of explaining the world of Free Software and how to answer common questions and misunderstandings about software freedom.  

      Katharina Nocun, Lawrence Lessig and Matthias Kirschner while recording the Software Freedom Podcast

      SFP#5 about regulation with Professor Lawrence Lessig

      09 April 2020

      For our Software Freedom Podcast we talk with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In this episode, we talk with Professor Lawrence Lessig, founder of Creative Commons, about regulation of society, offline as well as online, about the different means of regulation, and shed light on regulations through code. 

      Logo of the Software Freedom Podcast

      SFP#4 about REUSE with Carmen Bianca Bakker

      21 January 2020

      In the monthly Software Freedom Podcast we talk with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In this episode, we talk with Carmen Bianca Bakker about the REUSE project. By this we are covering the very broad topic of software licensing and the problems there, which REUSE is able to solve with three simple steps.  

      Logo of the Software Freedom Podcast

      SFP#2 about KDE with Lydia Pintscher

      12 November 2019

      We are back with the second episode of our Software Freedom Podcast! Once a month, we talk with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In this episode, we talk with Lydia Pintscher from KDE about the development of the KDE community, the different KDE projects and the issues they will be tackling over the next two years.  

      Logo of the Software Freedom Podcast

      SFP#1 on Day Against DRM with Cory Doctorow

      12 October 2019

      We have a Podcast! Starting with this episode, we will talk once a month with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In our first episode of our Software Freedom Podcast, we address the issue of Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) together with Cory Doctorow, a British-Canadian writer, political activist, and co-editor of the blog boingboing.net. Cory Doctorow is a prominent supporter of software freedom and a less restrictive copyright law. His books are published under Creative Commons licenses.  

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