*Please consider adding <[email protected]> to your address book, which
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*Read and share online: <[link removed]>*

Welcome to the *Free Software Supporter*, the Free Software
Foundation's (FSF) monthly news digest and action update -- being read
by you and 231,184 other activists. That's 338 more than last month!

## TABLE OF CONTENTS

* Tech team intern Nick Shrader shares why free software is important
* Call on the IRS to provide libre tax-filing software
* Watch the LibrePlanet: Charting the Course videos on GNU MediaGoblin and PeerTube
* Google's decision to deprecate JPEG-XL emphasizes the need for browser choice and free formats
* Free Software Gigabit Mini VPN Router (TPE-R1400) from ThinkPenguin, Inc. now FSF-certified to respect your freedom
* An interview with Alexandre Oliva, lead developer of Linux-libre at FSFLA
* Wrong time to weaken encryption, UK IT-chartered institute tells government
* Announcing FerretDB 1.0 GA -- a free software MongoDB replacement
* Tesla workers shared images from car cameras, including "scenes of intimacy"
* April GNU Emacs news
* Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory
* LibrePlanet featured resource: Tax Liberation
* April GNU Spotlight with Amin Bandali: Eighteen new GNU releases!
* FSF and other free software events
* Thank GNUs!
* GNU copyright contributions
* Translations of the *Free Software Supporter*
* Take action with the FSF!

View this issue online here: <[link removed]>

Encourage your friends to subscribe and help us build an audience by
adding our subscriber widget to your website.

* Subscribe: <[link removed]>
* Widget: <[link removed]>

Miss an issue? You can catch up on back issues at
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Want to read this newsletter translated into another language? Scroll
to the end to read the *Supporter* in French or Spanish.

### Tech team intern Nick Shrader shares why free software is important

*From April 27*

The FSF's latest tech intern Nick Shrader shares his journey up the
freedom ladder, his experience as an intern, and why he believes free
software is so very important. Currently working in heavy industry in
Louisiana, Nick provides his perspective on the conceptual
similarities between working with mechanical systems and computers,
and why software freedom is a must for tinkering, upgrading, and
repairability. Explaining how nonfree software was forcing unwanted
"updates" upon him, he tells how he switched to GNU/Linux and,
ultimately, how free software has enabled him to further educate
himself.

* <[link removed]>

*Note: Interested in interning at the FSF? There's still time to
apply! Apply ASAP at <[link removed]>.*

### Call on the IRS to provide libre tax-filing software

*From April 25*

US taxpayers: Tell the IRS that you want to file your taxes in
freedom! For far too long, many US taxpayers have felt that they have
no other option than to use nonfree software or a Service as a
Software Substitute (SaaSS), giving up their freedom as well as their
most private financial information to a third-party company, in order
to file taxes. Whether or not taxpayers were able to file their taxes
gratis, they often had to give up their freedom in order to
file. However, with the passage of the *Inflation Reduction Act*, now
is the time to tell the IRS that what the public needs is a tax filing
system in which every taxpayer can file their taxes entirely with free
software. Read and share the article, and send a letter to the IRS
commissioner.

* <[link removed]>

### Watch the LibrePlanet: Charting the Course videos on GNU MediaGoblin and PeerTube

*From April 18*

This year's LibrePlanet hosted over forty talks over two days,
offering interesting, insightful information on everything from
"Finding a job while caring about free software" to "The state of free
software in farming, food, & agriculture." Now, recordings of those
talks are published in video and audio, and slides are available as
well. Watch an interesting talk you may have missed, share a link to a
relevant talk with others, or just listen to your favorite talks again
and again while doing your daily routine. Plus, the LibrePlanet 2023
program page now has links to all recorded videos, audio, and
accompanying slides. You can watch them in the LibrePlanet archives on
MediaGoblin, as well as on the FSF's PeerTube channel.

* <[link removed]>
* <[link removed]>
* <[link removed]>
* <[link removed]>
* <[link removed]> (LibrePlanet podcast RSS)

### Google's decision to deprecate JPEG-XL emphasizes the need for browser choice and free formats

*From April 12*

Despite Chromium users pleading with Google not to make the decision,
in February, Google deprecated the JPEG-XL image format in favor of
its own patented AVIF format. Google's stated rationale for the
deprecation is that "there is not enough interest [...] to continue
experimenting with JPEG-XL." This makes the company seemingly ignorant
of the fact that -- on its own issue tracker -- the issue regarding
JPEG-XL's removal is the second-most "starred" issue in the history of
the Chromium project. What's at stake here is control and freedom.
Fortunately, there are things we can do to show "the big G" that we
won't be bossed around.

* <[link removed]>
* <[link removed]>

### Free Software Gigabit Mini VPN Router (TPE-R1400) from ThinkPenguin, Inc. now FSF-certified to respect your freedom

*From April 6*

The FSF recently awarded Respects Your Freedom (RYF) certification to
the Free Software Gigabit Mini VPN Router (TPE-R1400) from
ThinkPenguin, Inc. This adds itself to a growing list of RYF
certifications for the company, including the Free Software Wireless-N
Mini Router, which is the predecessor of the TPE-R1400 and served as a
case study in excellent free software license compliance for devices
in "Copyleft and the GNU General Public License: A comprehensive
tutorial and guide." Of the router itself, FSF's copyright and
licensing associate Craig Topham said, "The latest version of
ThinkPenguin's VPN router lets its users take advantage of
gigabit-per-second Internet connections while protecting their rights
and privacy."

* <[link removed]>

### An interview with Alexandre Oliva, lead developer of Linux-libre at FSFLA

*From April 24 by Manish*

Alexandre Oliva recently shared his perspective on a wide range of
free software topics, as well as gave an update about his work as
co-maintainer of Linux-libre, the fully free version of the
kernel. Along with Jason Self, who has recently joined the ongoing
effort, Alex currently continues the work that Jeff Moe, the original
maintainer, began. Ensuring that Linux-libre "is released in
accordance with the values of free software," Alex and Jason's work is
a critical component of ethical distributions.

* <[link removed]>

### Wrong time to weaken encryption, UK IT-chartered institute tells government

*From April 18 by Lindsay Clark*

Encryption is important for many reasons, from storing one's passwords
securely to communicating privately with loved ones. Based on
innocuous, yet sophisticated mathematical and algorithmic methods,
encryption is being targeted in a high-stakes political battle in the
United Kingdom. The so-called "*Online Safety Bill*," which reached
the House of Lords last month, threatens to require a backdoor that
would allow companies and governments to monitor all communication.

Signal and Element, among other organizations, have sent an open
letter to both the European Union, which is also considering similar
bills, as well as the UK. Quoting from PGP inventor Phil Zimmermann,
it says, "if privacy is outlawed, only outlaws will have privacy."

* <[link removed]>

*Take action: educate yourself and others about encryption by reading
and sharing our Email Self-Defense guide:
<[link removed]>*

### Announcing FerretDB 1.0 GA -- a free software MongoDB replacement

*From April 11 by Peter Farkas*

FerretDB, a free software replacement for MongoDB, has just announced
its first production-ready release. FerretDB is licensed under the
Apache 2.0 license, a free software license.

According to the announcement, "FerretDB 1.0 GA includes all the
essential features capable of running document database workloads."
Currently, FerretDB is being tested on applications such as
BigBlueButton, a free software videoconferencing system. For those who
have been rightfully concerned over MongoDB's change of license
conditions in 2018, this is welcome news indeed.

* <[link removed]>

### Tesla workers shared images from car cameras, including "scenes of intimacy"

*From April 6 by Jon Brodkin*

Perhaps unsurprising to readers of the *Supporter*, news broke
recently that photos taken from Tesla vehicles were abused. Sometimes
capturing intimate moments in the lives of car owners, as well as
unwitting passersby, photos taken by the cars (and subsequently sent
to Tesla) were shared among staff responsible for viewing them. As
embarrassing as this may be to the people whose privacy has been
abused by this system, it's an abuse that happens all too often in
tandem with proprietary software. When choosing a device that has
software -- whether that be a phone or a car -- choose free software
and reject nonfree software. By doing so, you can verify that your
privacy is being respected.

* <[link removed]>

### April GNU Emacs news

*From 24 April by Sacha Chua*

In these issues: supporting maintainers, praise for Jinx Enchanted
Spell Checker, comic strips in GNU Emacs, and more!

* [2023-04-24]([link removed])
* [2023-04-17]([link removed])
* [2023-04-10]([link removed])
* [2023-04-03]([link removed])

### Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory

Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to
discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth
of useful information, from basic category and descriptions to version
control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing. The Free Software
Directory has been a great resource to software users over the past
decade, but it needs your help staying up-to-date with new and
exciting free software projects.

To help, join our weekly IRC meetings on Fridays. Meetings take place
in the #fsf channel on Libera.Chat, and usually include a handful of
regulars as well as newcomers. Libera.Chat is accessible from any IRC
client -- Everyone's welcome!

The next meeting is Friday, May 5 from 12:00 to 15:00 EDT (16:00 to
19:00 UTC). Details here:

* <[link removed]>

### LibrePlanet featured resource: Tax Liberation

Every month on [the LibrePlanet
wiki]([link removed]), we highlight one
resource that is interesting and useful -- often one that could use
your help.

For this month, we are highlighting "Tax liberation," a page for free
software advocates to collaborate toward a libre tax-filing system.
Still in its formative stage, we hope it will become a useful
reference as we work toward ensuring that no taxpayer feels obligated
to run nonfree software in order to file. You are invited to adopt,
spread and improve this promising resource.

* <[link removed]>

Do you have a suggestion for next month's featured resource? Let us
know at <[email protected]>.

### April GNU Spotlight with Amin Bandali: Eighteen new GNU releases!

*From April 29 by Amin Bandali*

Eighteen new GNU releases in the last month (as of April 29, 2023):

* [a2ps-4.15.4]([link removed])
* [auctex-13.2]([link removed])
* [coreutils-9.3]([link removed])
* [gcc-13.1.0]([link removed])
* [g-golf-0.8.0-a.4]([link removed])
* [gnun-1.4]([link removed])
* [gnunet-0.19.4]([link removed])
* [gnupg-2.4.1]([link removed])
* [health-4.2.1]([link removed])
* [lightning-2.2.2]([link removed])
* [linux-libre-6.3-gnu]([link removed])
* [mediagoblin-0.12.1]([link removed])
* [octave-8.2.0]([link removed])
* [parallel-20230422]([link removed])
* [parted-3.6]([link removed])
* [poke-3.1]([link removed])
* [r-4.3.0]([link removed])
* [taler-0.9.2]([link removed])

*For a full list with descriptions, please see:
<[link removed]>*

For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <[link removed]>.

To download: nearly all GNU software is available most reliably from
<[link removed]>. Optionally, you may find faster download
speeds at a mirror located geographically closer to you by choosing
from the list of mirrors published at
<[link removed]>, or you may use
<[link removed]> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.

This month, we welcome David Thompson as a new co-maintainer of
guile-opengl.

A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance. Please see
<[link removed]> if you'd like to
help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
<[link removed]>.

If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like to
offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<[link removed]>.

As always, please feel free to write to me, <[email protected]>, with
any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.

### FSF and other free software events

* May 8, Online, [LeanWeb: A Ruby (out of rails) web framework for static and dynamic content by Felix Freeman]([link removed])
* May 10-12, 2023, Vancouver, Canada, [OSSNA]([link removed])
* May 15, 2023, Online, [LibrePlanet workshop -- Digital colonialism, surveillance capitalism, and a libre software future by Jose Castro]([link removed])
* May 30, 2023, Online, [LibrePlanet talk -- BigCode: Open and responsible research on code-generating AI systems]([link removed])
* Jun 05, 2023, Online, [WorldVistA EHR version of the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record by Nancy Anthracite]([link removed])
* July 13-16, 2023, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR [FOSSY]([link removed])

### Thank GNUs!

We appreciate everyone who donates to the Free Software Foundation,
and we'd like to give special recognition to the folks who have
donated $500 or more in the last month.

* <[link removed]>

This month, a big Thank GNU to:

* Andrew Gaul
* David Almassian
* Dwight Cass
* Edward Flick
* František Kučera
* John Rakestraw
* Paul Becker
* Reynaldo Cordero
* Roger Trimble
* Stéphane Bortzmeyer
* Uko Kokņevičs

You can add your name to this list by donating at
<[link removed]>.

### GNU copyright contributions

Assigning your copyright to the Free Software Foundation helps us
defend the GNU GPL and keep software free. The following individuals
have assigned their copyright to the FSF (and allowed public
appreciation) in the past month:

* Arto Olavi Jantunen (GNU Emacs)
* Eshel Yaron (GNU Emacs)
* Fathma Mehnoor (GNU Astro)
* John Lee (GNU Emacs)
* Sebastian Tennant (GNU Emacs)
* Vincenzo Pupillo (GNU Emacs)
* 谢骐 (Shynur) (GNU Emacs)

Want to see your name on this list? Contribute to GNU and assign your
copyright to the FSF.

* <[link removed]>

### Translations of the *Free Software Supporter*

El *Free Software Supporter* está disponible en español. Para ver la
versión en español haz click aquí:
<[link removed]>

**Para cambiar las preferencias de usuario y recibir los próximos
números del *Supporter* en español, haz click aquí:**
<[link removed]>

Le *Free Software Supporter* est disponible en français. Pour voir la
version française cliquez ici:
<[link removed]>

**Pour modifier vos préférences et recevoir les prochaines
publications du *Supporter* en français, cliquez ici:**
<[link removed]>

### Take action with the FSF!

Contributions from thousands of individual associate members enable
the FSF's work. You can contribute by joining at
<[link removed]>. If you're already a member, you can help
refer new members (and earn some rewards) by adding a line with your
member number to your email signature like:

> I'm an FSF member -- Help us support software freedom!
> <[link removed]>

The FSF is always looking for
[volunteers]([link removed]). From rabble-rousing to
hacking, from issue coordination to envelope stuffing -- there's
something here for everybody to do. Also, head over to our [campaigns
section]([link removed]) and [take action on software
patents]([link removed]), [Digital Restrictions
Management]([link removed]), [free
software]([link removed]) adoption,
[OpenDocument]([link removed]),
and more.

**Do you read and write Portuguese and English?** The FSF is looking
for translators for the *Free Software Supporter*. Please send an
email to <[email protected]> with your interest and a list of your
experience and qualifications.

***

Copyright © 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit
<[link removed]>.

--
* Follow us on Mastodon at <[link removed]>, GNU social at
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