Newsletter

German elections+++ I Love FS Day+++ DMA, Ada, Router Freedom

February started with FOSDEM! It was great to meet some of you there before we meet again for “I Love Free Software Day”! In recent weeks, we shared our demands for the coming German elections, great news about Router Freedom, and an update about DMA. Moreover, the Ada movie is now available in French and we published two podcast episodes.

Quote of the Month

“Creating a community for Free Software and sharing our appreciation for all Free Software contributors is a task that needs our commitment throughout the year. And all this work can be highlighted on I Love Free Software Day! It is amazing how many people come together and celebrate their favourite type of software together <3”

Albert Astals Cid, co-organizer of 'I Love FS Day' Barcelona since 2019

German Elections 2025: We demand public code, secure funding for Free Software, and transparent measurement of progress!

The next German government must finally push for the controllability, security, and sovereignty of the public digital infrastructure. As Free Software is a prerequisite for this, the FSFE is making 4 key demands: "Public Money? Public Code!", securing long-term funding for Free Software, deepening Free Software knowledge in administrations, and monitoring progress.

“I Love Free Software Day”: celebrate it with us!

Ready for I Love Free Software Day 2025? We are celebrating this day, to say thank you to Free Software projects, with different events across Europe.

Join us to celebrate this day in Villach in Carinthia (Austria); Nuremberg, Berlin or Frankfurt (Germany); Bozen-Bolzano, Sicilia, Este or Bergamo (Italy); Luxembourg; Nijmegen (Netherlands); Warsaw, Poznań or Wrocław (Poland); Barcelona or Madrid (Spain); Zurich (Switzerland); and Staffordshire (United Kingdom). Find all the information about the events on ilovefs.org.

You can also get involved and celebrate this day by: crafting a personalized thank you message using our redesigned template from the Sharepic Generator or record a short thank you message to your favourite Free Software project, and share it on your social media channels using the hashtag #ilovefs; send a postcard to your favourite Free Software project; and share your knowledge about Free Software. Let us spread the word about the four freedoms – come and join us for this year’s I Love Free Software Day <3

Router Freedom in Germany: A victory for consumers!

After a failed attempt by internet providers to exclude Router Freedom from fiber networks, the German regulator BNetzA has confirmed Router Freedom in the country. The FSFE, which has been pushing for this since 2013, will continue to monitor implementation and compliance.

The FSFE calls for broader interoperability by Apple under the DMA

The Free Software Foundation Europe, alongside civil society organizations, developers, and researchers, submitted its position to the European Commission’s public consultation on measures requiring Apple to ensure compliance with the Digital Markets Act’s interoperability provisions. The FSFE stressed the urgent need for Apple to provide effective, free-of-charge interoperability.

Furthermore, on February 6, the FSFE participated in the "DMA and Beyond Conference" organised by the Knight-Georgetown Institute and Yale University in Washington, D.C. There, our volunteer Jithendra Palepu presented a comprehensive study, elaborated upon by Lucas Lasota, FSFE's Legal Programme Manager, on Apple's restrictive interoperability policies and their harm to Free Software in the context of the DMA.

Check out our participation here!

The FSFE launches 'Ada & Zangemann' movie in French as Open Educational Resource

The Free Software Foundation Europe is releasing the animated film ‘Ada & Zangemann - A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream’ in French as an Open Educational Resource. Originally a highly successful illustrated book, now available in 10 languages and counting, the story has been adapted into a film that can be freely used in schools.

The FSFE supports Dutch call to adopt social media platforms that respect public values

Last week six Dutch civic organisations launched the campaign ‘Make Socials Social Again’. They call upon public organisations to adopt social media platforms that respect public values and thus are the real ‘social’ platforms. The FSFE joins this campaign to encourage a public debate on this. As stressed in the FediGov campaign by the Swiss FSFE local team. It is important that platforms used by public bodies enable independent and self-determined use of technology.

Software Freedom Podcast! Find out how South Tyrol is taking a step in the direction of software freedom

In our lastest Software Freedom Podcast, Marta Andreoli, FSFE's Italian deputy coordinator, talks to Paolo Dongilli, technical inspector of the Autonomous Province of Bozen-Bolzano - South Tyrol, about the FUSS project. Together they unravel how FUSS is helping the schools in South Tyrol take a step towards software freedom.

Also, we continued our series of episodes about Policy and the EU. Last month, we talked about the two DevRooms that the FSFE organized at FOSDEM 25.

From our community!

• Ada & Zangemann themed mini game on the Luanti gaming platform: thanks to Marco Amato -Zughy-, FSFE Italy volunteer and his team A.E.S., you can now pass your ice cream cone to someone else before it melts in your hand. Try it out!
• A volunteer, who recently moved to South Spain, organized a reading and tinkering “Ada & Zangemann session” at an art center in Granada. More than 20 children were able to tinker and play with technology as well as learn about the story of Ada!

Contribute to our Newsletter

We would love to hear from you. If you have any thoughts, pictures, or news to share, please send them to us at newsletter@fsfe.org. You can also support us, contribute to our work, and join our community. We would like to thank our community and all the volunteers, supporters, and donors who make our work possible, with a special mention to our translators who make it possible for you to read this newsletter in your mother tongue.

Your editor,
Ana

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