Full speed into conference season with a heartfelt “Thank you”
Conference season is in full swing! In the last week we have been navigating the challenge of our payment provider ending our contract, attending events, and preparing for what’s ahead. Check out our first interview on the 2026 ilovefs celebrations and our two latest podcast episodes. Thank you to everyone who supported us during this time of financial uncertainty!
Over the past weeks we have been very busy as our long-term payment provider, Nexi, terminated our contract without prior notice. As a result, more than 450 current FSFE supporters who rely in their regular donation to the FSFE on automatic renewals via credit card or direct debit have been affected. While we had already begun preparing a transition to a new payment provider, existing supporter accounts unfortunately cannot be migrated automatically.
Your response to our call for help has been truly incredible. We are deeply grateful for our strong and supportive community: both for sharing our message and for stepping in with financial support when it was most needed. Thank you for helping us navigate this unexpected financial challenge!
Interoperability, Policy and Local Groups
A few weeks ago, our team contributed to a consultation by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on interoperability under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA). In our response, we urged the CMA to reject Apple’s voluntary interoperability commitments and instead impose binding, interoperability-by-design obligations that protect software freedom, consumer choice, and fair competition. You can read the full response here.
We also have two new episodes of our Software Freedom Podcast for you: in episode 49, we speak with a member of our local group in Zurich, offering insights into their work, local engagement, and the importance of community-driven initiatives in advancing Software Freedom.
In episode 48, we took a closer look at the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), addressing open questions and ongoing discussions, such as attestation and what these regulatory changes could mean for Free Software.
Reviving I love FS celebration and at the booth around Europe
Not long ago, the Free Software community celebrated “I Love Free Software Day” : a day when the FSFE, our volunteers, and many other organisations and individuals come together to thank all contributors for their dedication to using, studying, sharing, and improving Free Software. We are starting to revisit that special occasion with an interview featuring a volunteer from Poznań, who organized a local event there, the most attended one in 2026!
Besides, over the past weeks, we have been actively participating in events across Europe. At the Chemnitzer Linux-Tage 2026 in Chemnitz, Germany (one of the country’s largest and longest-running conferences dedicated to Free Software), we had the opportunity to meet community members, exchange ideas, and engage with a diverse audience through workshops, talks, and discussions. Together with some of our German volunteers, we were present with a booth and contributed a talk sharing practical insights on Free Software licensing with developers.
Also in Germany, we joined the 26th Gautinger Internet Meeting, where we contributed to discussions on digital sovereignty. There we presented our youth activities, including Youth Hacking for Freedom and the well-known children’s book “Ada & Zangemann”, highlighting the importance of empowering young people to keep their curiosity and to understand and shape technology to achieve digital sovereignty.
And last but not least, we took part in the panel discussion “What does Digital Sovereignty mean for Civil Society?”, organised by the ISOC Switzerland Chapter in Zurich, Switzerland. The discussion highlighted the crucial role that civil society plays in shaping a sovereign and sustainable digital future.
Your support helps us move our work forward.
We may be behind the wheel, but you’re the ones keeping us moving forward. You can also support us, contribute to our work, and join our community. Are you using social media? If so, do not forget to follow us there! You can also follow the FSFE news in your RSS Reader.
Your editor,
Ana