= COVID-19 Hackathons: Only Free Software creates global solutions =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2020/news-20200408-01.nl.html ]
Currently we see a lot of hackathons to find tools that help tackle the
crisis of pandemic COVID-19. More and more governments and
administrations are hosting or funding such hackathons. To make sure
that the results of these hackathons can be used globally and adapted
locally - that the software can be used, studied, shared and improved
everywhere - the FSFE asks to publish the outcomes under a Free Software
licence.
Breaking the chain of COVID-19 infections and alleviating its dramatic
impacts are of top priority within our societies. Software is inherently
connected to achieve these goals, from 3D printing ventilators to
tracking potential outbreaks or organising solidarity within
communities. During the last weeks we have seen virtual hackathons being
organised to help find and fund solutions that tackle the COVID-19
crisis. For the time being only some of them are published under a Free
Software licence, also called Open Source Software or Libre Software
licence, meaning that these solutions can be used, studied, shared and
improved by everyone around the world.
Meanwhile, more and more European governments and administrations are
hosting virtual hackathons to help develop new tools. While some of them
are explicitly supporting Free Software solutions only, like the
WirVsVirus [1] hackathon others are not mentioning their licence at all
- like EUvsVirus [2] initiated by the European Commission or Global Hack
[3], funded by StartUpEU, making it difficult or impossible to reuse the
software in other parts of the world.
In a time when humanity needs to work together to find solutions for a
crisis, we cannot afford to reinvent the wheel again and again for
software that helps us tackle the spread of COVID-19. Global problems
need global solutions! It is Free Software that enables global
cooperation for code development. Any proprietary solution will
inevitably lead to countless isolated solutions and waste energy and
time which we as humanity cannot afford in such a critical situation.
Besides global cooperation, Free Software licences allow sharing of code
in any jurisdiction. Solutions developed in one country can be reused
and adapted in another one. International development agencies and
humanitarian movements can help to contain the spread of COVID-19 in any
country around the world with the availability of Free Software
solutions.
Already before this crisis hundreds of organisations and tens of
thousands of people demanded that publicly financed software developed
for the public sector must be made publicly available under Free
Software licences [4]. It is now even more important than ever before to
tackle this crisis.
== Get involved ==
1: https://wirvsvirushackathon.org/international/
2: https://euvsvirus.org/
3: https://theglobalhack.com/
4: https://publiccode.eu/
5: https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Hackathons4Freedom
== 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 to understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency, and self-determination.
It enhances 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.
http://fsfe.org
= Any Corona tracking app must be used voluntarily and be Free Software =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2020/news-20200402-02.nl.html ]
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) demands that the use of
tracking technologies that aim at breaking the chains of disease
infection may only be promoted on a voluntary basis, fundamental rights
must be respected and the software must be published under a Free
Software licence.
In the last days there have been increasing debates about the use and
development of apps that aim at helping to contain the corona virus, by
tracking new infections and their contact persons. With the help of a
contact diary it is possible to record who met with whom and when. If a
person is infected with the corona virus, their contacts are informed
and asked to isolate themselves and to take further actions, if
necessary. It will be hopefully possible to break the chain of infection
and thus reduce the infection rate. In some countries, there are also
discussions about a mandatory use of this app, which would interfere on
people's right to control their technology and thus their privacy.
The Free Software Foundation Europe demands that any such app may only
be introduced on a voluntary basis and the software must be published
under a Free Software licence, sometimes also called Open Source. Any
medical records and data must be placed under the highest priority of
data protection. Only Free Software offers enough transparency to
validate a complete data protection and a compliant use, thus trust can
be established. Not to forget that a majority of investments in the
current crisis and a lot of actors in the medical sector are state-
funded, and publicly financed software developed for the public sector
must be made publicly available under Free Software licences [1], as
hundreds of organisations and tens of thousands of people demand.
Global problems need global solutions and it is only Free Software that
enables global code development cooperation in a legally safe
environment. Any proprietary solution will lead inevitably to countless
isolated solutions and thereby waste energy and time.
Besides global cooperation, Free Software licences allow sharing of code
in any jurisdiction. Solutions developed in one country can be reused
and adpated in another one. International development agencies and
humanitarian movements can help to contain the spread of COVID-19 in any
country around the world with Free Software solutions.
Discuss this [2]
1: https://publiccode.eu/
2: https://community.fsfe.org/t/any-corona-tracking-app-must-be-used-voluntari…
== 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 to understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency, and self-determination.
It enhances 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.
http://fsfe.org