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Read and share online: https://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/keep_putting_pressure_microsoft
Dear Free Software Supporter,
Grassroots organization against a corporation as large as Microsoft is
never easy. They have the advertising budget to claim that they "love
Linux" (sic), not to mention the money and political willpower to
corral free software developers from around the world on their nonfree
platform Microsoft GitHub. This year's IDAD took aim at one
specific injustice: their requiring a hardware TPM module for users
being forced to "upgrade" to Windows 11. As Windows 10 will soon stop
receiving security updates, this is a (Microsoft-manufactured) problem
for users still on this operating system. Normally, offloading
cryptography to a different hardware module could be seen as a good
thing -- but with nonfree software, it can only spell trouble for the
user.
As we mentioned in this year's action announcement, we hope you
took this opportunity to share the GNU/Linux operating system
with someone you know and explained the concept of free software using
this as an example of what we are up against.
Seemingly small acts like these could start a journey towards software
freedom -- in addition to saving yet another perfectly functioning
computer from becoming e-waste. What's crucial now is to keep
putting pressure on Microsoft, whether that's through switching to
GNU/Linux, avoiding new releases of their software, or actions as
simple as moving your projects off of Microsoft GitHub. If you're
concerned about e-waste or have friends who work to combat climate
change, getting them together to tell them about free software is the
perfect way to help our movement grow, and free a few more users from
Microsoft's digital restrictions.
IDAD is just one of the important events the Free Software Foundation
holds every year. Right now, we're in our annual fundraiser, and need
your help to continue our work against DRM and other forms of digital
injustice. We appreciate any contribution you can make, whether that's
a financial one or just spreading the word.
Will you consider becoming an FSF associate member if you aren't
one already? Like other social causes, our strength is in numbers.
Your support directly helps us campaign for another year.
On another note, we realized in the course of planning that IDAD's
"moveable feast" isn't the most conducive to satellite events or
helpful for our partner organizations. We hear you. In January, we
plan to announce the date of next year's IDAD, one we intend to keep
the same for as long as it serves the movement.
If you participated in this year's IDAD, whether as an individual
activist or a supporting organization, thank you. The day itself may
be over, but our work against digital restrictions still continues.
Avoiding DRM is something each of us ought to do year round. We
hope you'll keep on supporting the Defective by Design campaign and
the Free Software Foundation. We're all in this together.
In solidarity,
Greg Farough
Campaigns Manager |
