= L’édition 2024 de la compétition Youth Hacking 4 Freedoom démarre =
[ Version en ligne: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20231116-01.fr.html ]
Les inscriptions sont désormais ouvertes pour l’édition 2024 de Youth
Hacking 4 Freedom, le concours de codage destiné aux jeunes Européens.
Ce concours donne aux adolescents la possibilité de coder leur propre
projet - seul ou en équipe - de se faire de nouveaux amis dans toute
l’Europe et de gagner jusqu’à 4 096 euros !
Après deux éditions réussies, Youth Hacking 4 Freedom [1], le concours
de codage de la Free Software Foundation Europe pour les jeunes
Européens, ouvre les inscriptions pour sa troisième édition [2]. YH4F
2024 démarre le 7 décembre avec un événement en ligne pour répondre aux
questions des participants avant que la période de codage ne commence en
janvier 2024. Plus de 10 000 euros en espèces seront attribués aux six
gagnants de l’édition 2024. 4096 € pour la première place, 2048 € pour
la deuxième place, 1024 € pour la troisième place et des prix spéciaux
seront distribués. En outre, tous les participants qui soumettent un
projet recevront le prix de participation YH4F.
L’objectif de ce concours est de rassembler des jeunes de toute l’Europe
intéressés par le codage, quel que soit leur niveau actuel en la
matière. Pendant six mois, les participants - qui doivent être âgés de
14 à 18 ans au moment de l’inscription - auront la possibilité de
travailler sur leur propre projet de logiciel libre, seuls ou en équipe.
Les participants doivent s’inscrire pour participer au concours qui
débutera le 7 décembre par un événement en ligne expliquant les détails
du même. Cet événement de lancement est une excellente occasion pour
tous ceux qui pourraient avoir des doutes quant à leur participation
d’obtenir des réponses à leurs questions et de comprendre le
fonctionnement de ce concours et les raisons pour lesquelles toute
personne, quelles que soient ses compétences en matière de codage, est
plus que bienvenue pour y participer.
Lorsque la période de codage débutera le 1er janvier 2024, les
participants auront la possibilité de travailler sur leurs projets
pendant six mois, jusqu’au 30 juin 2024, date à laquelle ils devront
soumettre leurs projets. Une inscription tardive est possible, de même
qu’une modification de l’idée originale du projet, mais la période de
codage ne sera pas prolongée.
Au cours de ces six mois, les participants auront également l’occasion
de rencontrer d’autres jeunes Européens qui partagent leurs intérêts et,
très probablement, leurs défis en matière de codage. Des réunions
mensuelles facultatives en ligne seront organisées pour guider les
participants tout au long de la période de codage et leur apprendre à
mener à bien un projet de logiciel libre, à tirer parti des expériences
des participants précédents et à obtenir des conseils de la part des
membres expérimentés de notre jury.
En juillet et août 2024, un jury international d’experts techniques
examinera les projets et les gagnants seront notifiés en septembre 2024
et officiellement annoncés lors du week-end de la cérémonie de remise
des prix à Bruxelles en octobre 2024.
=== Èvenement d’ouverture – 7 December ===
Lors de l’événement d’ouverture en ligne du 7 décembre, les
organisateurs du concours YH4F expliqueront en détail ce qui est attendu
des participants et répondront à leurs questions. En outre, les
participants auront la possibilité de poser des questions aux
participants des éditions précédentes, qui expliqueront leur expérience
dans le cadre de ce concours.
Sur le site web du YH4F [3] vous trouverez de plus amples informations
sur l’inscription, l’événement d’ouverture et le concours en général. Si
vous avez des questions, vous pouvez toujours nous contacter à l’adresse
contact(a)fsfe.org [4].
=== Sponsor 2024 Youth Hacking 4 Freedom ===
Le concours 2023 a pu être organisé grâce au financement généreux de
Reinhard Wiesemann et du Linuxhotel GmbH.
Si vous souhaitez sponsoriser l’édition 2024 ou les éditions futures de
YH4F, veuillez nous contacter à l’adresse contact(a)fsfe.org [5].
1: https://yh4f.org
2: https://survey.fsfe.org/index.php/658534
3: https://yh4f.org
4: https://fsfe.org/mailto:contact@fsfe.org
5: https://fsfe.org/mailto:contact@fsfe.org
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.
https://fsfe.org
= German Parliament receives Upcycling Android Open Letter =
[ Version en ligne: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20231115-01.fr.html ]
On 14 November, the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) handed over
the Open Letter “The right to install any software on any device" to
Tabea Rößner, Chair of the Digital Affairs Committee at the German
Bundestag. The letter aims to enable a more sustainable use of
electronic products and devices in the European Union.
To achieve this goal, the Open Letter [1] sets out four key demands:
1. Users have the right to freely choose operating systems and software
running on their devices
2. Users have the right to freely choose between service providers to
connect their devices with
3. Devices are interoperable and compatible with open standards
4. Source code of drivers, tools, and interfaces are published under a
free license
Signed by more than 3000 individuals and by 147 organisations, the Open
Letter to European Union legislators was presented on 14 November to the
Chair of the Digital Affairs Committee (Ausschuss für Digitales) at the
German Bundestag, by a delegation from the FSFE.
Tabea Rößner, Chair of the Digital Committee, commented when receiving
the open letter:"So many devices end up on the scrapyard after just two
or three years. But the devices are still in good condition and could be
made to last with new software. We could bring them back to life,
especially with Free Software. It would be a real sustainability effect
if we had the right to install any software on any device. That's why
this initiative is absolutely worth supporting.”
Rößner announced that she would hand over the Open Letter to Steffi
Lemke, Germany's Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature
Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.
"The Open Letter is part of our Upcycling Android campaign, which we
started to raise awareness about how Free Software can help to improve
the sustainability of our digital devices. In addition to the Open
Letter, the initiative has held workshops, developed policy
recommendations, and received a lot of public attention, promoting the
right of every user to install any software on any device. Moreover,
upcycling our devices is an important step in rethinking our short-term,
linear consumption of electronic devices in favour of a circular
economy”, explains Johannes Näder, FSFE Senior Policy Project Manager.
== About Upcycling Android ==
Launched in November 2021, under the name “Upcycling Android" [2], this
FSFE initiative has also helped people to flash their phones with Free
Software operating systems. This not only promotes the right of any user
to install any software on any device, but also enables a more
sustainable use of electronic products.
Even after the project has officially ended, the Upcycling Android
material can be freely used by others who want to continue promoting the
use of Free Software while overcoming software obsolescence.
1: https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/openletter.fr.html
2: https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/index.fr.html
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.
https://fsfe.org
= Interoperable Europe Act: an ambition that turned out to be watered-down =
[ Version en ligne: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20231113-01.fr.html ]
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 FSFE has received exclusive access to the the final agreement of the
IEA [1] which will be agreed on tonight, on 13 November. We welcome that
there is a clear definition of Free Software licenses, as well as the
intention to monitor the development of Free Software interoperable
solutions in the public sector.
There is, nonetheless, an especially concerning wording in the text when
it comes to the sharing and reusing of interoperability solutions
(Art4(5a)). The draft text suggests that public administrations should
prioritise Free Software when deciding on the implementation of
interoperability solutions. However, the way the final text looks is
problematic for two reasons:
The wording /"solutions that do not carry restrictive licensing terms,
such as open source solutions"/ implies that there are other solutions
that do not carry restrictive licensing terms apart from open source
licenses. If so, which ones would those be? This is indeed not clear in
the text and this leads to legal uncertainty.
Since this specific wording can become extremely misleading, it is
particularly important to highlight this problematic loophole. To serve
as an example, we have the well-known fact that FRAND licensing terms -
that in theory stand for "fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory"
terms - in practice are incompatible with most of Free Software [2]. In
the past, we have already criticised the stance of the Commission on
such licensing and we have also pointed out that in fact FRAND licences
cannot be considered fair, reasonable nor non-discriminatory.
Furthermore, the European Commission has watered down the already
ambiguous wording of this article by limiting the situations in which
public administrations shall prioritise Free Software interoperable
solutions by adding the following criteria: /"when equivalent in
functionalities, total cost, user-centricity, cybersecurity or other
relevant objective criteria"./
This wording undermines a regulation that aims to make the sharing and
reuse of solutions a more common practice among public administrations.
By adding this criteria to allow public administrations to actually
refuse to use Free Software solutions, the Commission is going in the
opposite direction of the "Free Software first" approach [3] that this
legislation needs.
Wording as /"other relevant objective criteria"/ brings back, once
again, the constant problematic tendency of the Commission to limit Free
Software and its adoption by adding ambiguous and unclear wording. It
also shows a lack of ambition which could have led it to become a real
game changer.
By adopting this position, the European Commission is also falling short
of its own ambitions, already defined in documents such as the Open
Source Strategy [4] and the ’Decision on the open source licensing and
reuse of Commission software’. Therefore, it is deeply concerning that
the European Commission is now pushing back by turning on the opposite
direction.
Last but not least, unfortunately, the chance for other stakeholders to
be part of the governance structure, specifically on the Board, has been
removed from the final text, being currently only up to the Chair to
decide if an expert can join the Board as an observer.
That is why the role of the Free Software community is crucial to
monitor the implementation of the IEA, while highlighting the importance
of Free Software for achieving interoperability in the European digital
public services.
1: https://download.fsfe.org/documents/version-trilogue131123-1.pdf
2: https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/standards/why-frand-is-bad-for-free-software.…
3: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230323-02.fr.html
4: https://fsfe.org/news/2020/news-20201023-01.fr.html
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.
https://fsfe.org
= Belgium commits to Router Freedom =
[ Version en ligne: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20231113-01.fr.html ]
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.
Router Freedom [1] is the right that customers of any Internet Service
Provider (ISP) are able to choose and use a private modem and router
instead of equipment provided by the operator. This freedom has direct
impact on consumer welfare, device security, and sustainability in the
telecom sector. In a decision published on October 2023, the Belgian
telecom regulator BIPT formally introduced Router Freedom nation wide,
applying this right to all network types, including fiber (FTTx).
In a comprehensive analysis [2], the regulator confirmed its previous
proposal [3] to set the position of the Network Termination Point (NTP)
at Point A, meaning that end-users will be able to use routers and
modems of their choice. The regulator rebuked the arguments of telecom
operators who claim that Router Freedom would have a negative impact on
the interoperability and security of the network.
The decision of the BIPT explicitly recognised Router Freedom for fiber
networks in the EU. Although other regulators have considered this
freedom in general terms for all network types, operators have been
pushing for exceptions for fiber in order to push their own optical
terminal equipment (ONT) onto consumers. The BIPT dismissed the
exception of fiber networks, arguing in favour of the same definition of
the NTP for all topologies. ISPs will have twelve months to come
infrastructure to come into compliance.
== “Since the location of the network connection point at A most promotes innovation and competition in the terminal equipment market, it is appropriate to set the NTP at point A. […] This means that modems and routers are part of the terminal equipment and can therefore be freely selected for broadband and VoIP services”. (translated from Belgian) Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT). Community support was paramount ==
T"The BIPT recognised the demands of the FSFE and quoted us in several
parts of their analysis, referring inclusively to our monitoring map
[4]. A network of supporters, volunteers, and supporting organisations
in Belgium empowered the expert contribution of the FSFE to the
regulatory process. We relied on the support of the FSFE Benelux team
[5], who proactively monitored and supported communication with the
regulator. Besides that, our partners in Italy [6] helped us provide
prompt repsonses when the regulator required further input regarding the
certification procedures for router interoperability in Italy.
== Practical implementation requires proper monitoring ==
As we point out in our recently published comprehensive survey on Router
Freedom [7], even in countries where Router Freedom is regulated, end-
users suffer several hurdles to use their own equipment. Operators
contractually prohibit the use of private equipment or impose
disproportional disadvantages to users with private routers. The
operators often do not inform end-users about access credentials device
compatibility with the network and customers often do not receive the
same level of service compared to customers who use the operators’
routers.
The FSFE will closely follow up on the implementation and further
monitor future developments. We urge the BIPT to do the same and
strictly intervene in non-compliant cases.
== Further material ==
- The FSFE position to public consultation of the BIPT (EN) [8] (NL)
[9]
- The BIPT decision on the position of the NTP (NL) [10]
== The Router Freedom initiative ==
Router Freedom [11] is the right that customers of any Internet Service
Provider (ISP) are able to choose and use a private modem and router
instead of equipment provided by the operator. Since 2013, the Free
Software Foundation Europe has been successfully engaged with Router
Freedom, promoting end-users’ freedom in many European countries. Join
us and learn more about the several ways to get involved [12]. Please
consider becoming a FSFE donor [13]; you help make possible our long-
term engagement and professional commitment in defending people’s rights
to control technology.
1: https://fsfe.org/activities/routers/index.fr.html
2: https://www.bipt.be/consumers/publication/decision-of-26-september-2023-reg…
3: https://fsfe.org/news/2022/news-20221215-01.fr.html
4: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/router-freedom-tracker_581123#4/53.15/…
5: https://wiki.fsfe.org/LocalGroups/BNL
6: https://www.modemlibero.it/
7: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230515-02.fr.html
8: https://download.fsfe.org/routers/fsfe-bipt-ntp-en.pdf
9: https://download.fsfe.org/routers/fsfe-bipt-ntp-nl.pdf
10: https://www.bipt.be/consumenten/publicatie/besluit-van-26-september-2023-be…
11: https://fsfe.org/activities/routers/index.fr.html
12: https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20210330-01.fr.html
13: https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20210330-01.fr.html
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.
https://fsfe.org
= Frank Karlitschek receives the European SFS Award at SFSCON23 =
[ Version en ligne: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20231110-01.fr.html ]
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"/.
/"He is not only a talented technologist, but also a tireless advocate
of digital freedom as a universal right"/. With these words, the
European SFS Award was presented to Nextcloud founder Frank Karlitschek
today, 10 November, at SFSCON 2023. This is the first time that the
well-established SFS Award has been extended to the European level, a
joint collaboration with the initiators of this recognition, the Linux
User Group BZ (LUGBZ) and the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE).
More than two decades ago, Frank Karlitschek founded the community
website KDE-Look.org, then GNOME-look.org and finally openDesktop.org to
improve Free Software. In 2010, with the ownCloud project, the
Stuttgart-based Free Software developer laid the foundation for a
platform that allows people to store their data securely and
independently. This led to the launch of Nextcloud in 2016.
Today, Nextcloud is a Free Software collaboration tool used by millions
worldwide /"and which some of the biggest technology companies around
the world fear as a competitor"/, as Matthias Kirschner, FSFE president,
pointed out during the Award ceremony. Kirschner further noted that
/“even in situations where he could have personally or with his company
benefited financially, he decided to follow his principles and ensure
that there is a fair level playing field for others in our community as
well"/.
/He[Karlitschek] followed his ideals and his strong believe that users
should have the rights to use, understand, share, and improve their
software—and created a comprehensive, user-friendly and secure
collaboration platform/, added Rafael Barbieri, LUGBZ member.
In his thank you speech, Karlitschek said he can just accept the award
in the name for the Nextcloud community, the ones that really deserve
this recognition.
== The European SFS Award ==
The first SFS Award was presented to Hugo Leiter in 2004 at the SFSCON
South Tyrol Free Software Conference for the implementation of Libre
Office in all municipalities of South Tyrol. Twenty years later, at the
start of the SFSCON at the NOI Techpark, the award was presented for the
first time on a European level. The Free Software Foundation Europe
teamed up with the initiator of the award, LUGBZ, to jointly honour Free
Software developers who have made outstanding contributions to the
dissemination and promotion of Free Software in Europe.
== 2023 Laudatio ==
*Rafael*: It’s an honour for me (on behalf of the Board of Linux User
Group Bozen-Bolzano-Bulsan) to present the first European SFS Award,
continuing a twenty year old tradition, since the first SFS Award was
assigned in 2004 to Hugo Leiter, for introducing Libre Office in all
municipalities of South Tyrol. Traditionally the AWARD has always been
given to someone who greatly contributed to the culture of Free Software
in South Tyrol, and this tradition will continue, but as SFSCON this
year we extended the narrative to the essential European level. LUGBZ,
promoting digital sustainability in South Tyrol, joined forces with an
important European association active in the sphere of Free Software,
namely the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE). Let me introduce the
president: Matthias Kirchner.
*Matthias*: Thank you Raphael! As the FSFE we have now participated many
years at the SFSCON, and saw how the LUGBZ was awarding great Free
Software contributors from Italy – so we were happy when we have been
approached to join forces and award European Free Software contributors
together with the LUGBZ.
*Raphael*: As in previous years, we received many nominations for
potential winners. It was not easy for us to choose a winner, since many
of the suggested candidates made enormous contribution to Free Software.
*Matthias*: The deciding factor for us this year was to choose a
European who lives the values of software freedom, a person who has
dedicated decades of work to software freedom and brought it to the next
level, a true visionary and pioneer of software freedom.
*Raphael*: In 2001, over two decades ago, he started KDE-Look.org, later
GNOME-look.org, as well as openDesktop.org to improve Free Software, and
supported many initiatives in our field, including serving as Vice
President of KDE e.V.
In 2010 at Akademy he laid the foundations for a platform that enabled
millions of people to store their data securely and self-determined on
servers. He promoted Open Standards, and inspired people to join the
movement for software freedom.
With the development of a remote collaboration tool for teams, which is
developed under the freedom protecting GNU AGPL license, he followed his
ideals and his strong believe that users should have the rights to use,
understand, share, and improve their software – and created a
comprehensive, user-friendly and secure collaboration platform.
*Matthias*: His tireless commitment to software freedom has resulted in
a Free Software product which some of the biggest technology companies
around the world fear as a competitor.
Even in situations where he could have personally or with his company
benefited financially, he decided to follow his principles and ensure
that there is a fair level playing field for others in our community as
well.
*Raphael*: He is not only a gifted technologist, but also a champion of
the idea of digital freedom as a universal right. With his work he lives
the ideals of transparency, privacy, and individual control over digital
information, but he also laid the foundation for a diverse and engaged
community.
*Matthias*: His dedication, his vision, and his strong principles
enriched and inspired many in our community. We are deeply grateful for
his contributions and look forward to a future he helps shape.
For these reasons, we hereby award Frank Karlitschek, the founder of
Nextcloud, the European SFS Award 2023.
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.
https://fsfe.org