Notices by Free Software Foundation Europe (fsfe@mastodon.social)

💻 Love computers? Don’t waste money on gadgets today. Support the individuals, companies, and organisations behind #FreeSoftware (#OpenSource) who are shaping how society uses technology in the long run. (E.g. to us: https://fsfe.org/donate

PS: We apologize if our graphics trigger nostalgia, mild trauma, or an uncontrollable urge to code. 😅

Digital sovereignty can only be achieved with Free Software! That’s why, in our feedback to the Germany Stack consultation, we call for the Stack to be implemented entirely as Free Software.

Read our news item:
https://fsfe.org/news/2025/news-20251124-01.html

Our feedback on openCode:
https://gitlab.opencode.de/dstack/d-stack-home/-/issues/347 (DE)

The Germany Stack consultation runs until 30 November 2025. Until then, everyone can submit feedback via openCode.

#FreeSoftware #PublicCode #DStack #OpenSource @BMDS

💥Code paid by the people should be available to the people! 💥

Why is software created using taxpayers’ money not released as #FreeSoftware under a #FOSS licence? If it is public money, it should be public code as well!

🖥️ https://publiccode.eu

https://media.fsfe.org/w/7cH6EATpmPwaMsEZN8vfyj

Our democratic public sphere needs open networks!

Together with @offene_netzwerke we demand that public money be invested into Free Software and in open, decentralised infrastructures.

Read our demands (en/de/fr), published this week:
https://offene-netzwerke.eu/forderungen/

#FreeSoftware #PublicCode #OpenSource #Fediverse #EUsummit25 @BMDS

I don’t want your OS, I want #FreeSoftware🐧

💻 Manufacturers and vendors must not force specific operating systems or bundle costs into every purchase.

https://en.refund4freedom.org/

#Refund4Freedom #SoftwareFreedom

Today the Support of Windows 10 is over

💡As an user, you should have the right to choose your operating system

🖥️ If you buy a computer with a pre-installed Windows license that you don’t want to use, you can request a refund💸.

“You should not have to pay for software you do not want. Manufacturers and vendors have no right to impose specific operating systems on users” @llas Refund4Freedom co-coordinator.

👉 https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20210302-01.en.html

How to request a refund 👉 https://en.refund4freedom.org/

Boa Tarde 🇵🇹

Since yesterday, we :fsfe: have been at the @FestaSoftwareLivre in Porto to spend the weekend with lots of stickers, postcards, posters and friends from all around the world!

If you are still around, pass by our booth and get some last stickers 👾

Thank you @ansol and everyone involved for organising this weekend of talks and #FreeSoftware celebrations!

Hey Google: don't be evil! 😈 We will keep protecting #softwarefreedom and #deviceneutrality for all users!

⚖️ New Legal Corner Article ⚖️

Bringing SumUp to compliance: a case study of license enforcement

What happens when those who benefit from the four freedoms fail to comply with the terms of a #FreeSoftware license?We take a look at the experience of license enforcement by one of our FSFE volunteers against the fintech company SumUp, and examine the lessons that supporters of Free Software can take away from it

https://fsfe.org/news/2025/news-20250820-01.en.html

🎧 New episode 🎧

Listen to our latest episode of the Software Freedom Podcast about the AI act!

📻 https://fsfe.org/news/podcast/episode-36.en.html

With the EU AI Act about to come into force, @annabonnie and @lexelas discuss the current debate surrounding it and shed light on the arguments.

#SoftwareFreedom #FreeSoftware

Have you realized that all your Internet traffic, encryption, backups, communications, shopping, writing, business interactions, and so on, go through your router?

😟 Is your router free? If not, your digital freedom could be compromised.

✅ The good news: #RouterFreedom is secured by EU laws.
❌ The not so good ones: Router Freedom is still not a full reality in most of the EU countries.

https://fsfe.org/activities/routers/routers.en.html

#FreeSoftware #SoftwareFreedom

@nlnet announced 62 new projects for the NGI Zero Commons Fund - the largest round of the programme yet 🚀

https://ec.social-network.europa.eu/@EC_NGI/114743427600397498

As part of this consortium, the @fsfe :fsfe: will support these projects! Congrats to these 62 projects!

#SoftwareFreedom #NGI

💥 Refund4Freedom is here! 💥

The :FSFE: and @ItaLinuxSociety are happy to announce the launch of Refund4Freedom!

👀 This initiative promotes the right to choose your operating system and get a refund for pre-installed software that you don’t want.

Check out its website for more information - https://refund4freedom.org/

📆 And save the date! Join our launch event on 29th May (in Italian).
Registration for the event: https://pretix.eu/fsfeItaly/refund4freedom/

#SoftwareFreedom #DeviceNeutrality #FreeSoftware

💡 Want to install and uninstall any software, including operating systems, browsers and app stores?
Device manufacturers, vendors, and platforms should not dictate how we use our devices.

We need #DeviceNeutrality

https://deviceneutrality.org/

#FreeSoftware #SoftwareFreedom

Most mobile devices are not controlled by their users, but by the manufacturer and the operator.

Did you know that by switching to a #FreeSoftware operating systems in your device, such as your phone, you can extend its lifespan, enhance privacy, and ensure greater control over your personal data?

https://fsfe.org/activities/android/android.en.html

Public Money? Public Code! 🏛💻
Software funded by taxpayers should be Free Software! This ensures that everyone can use, study, share, and improve the tools that serve the public
🔗 https://publiccode.eu

#publiccode #FreeSoftware

Why should public institutions use Free Software?

🔓 Freedom to use & share
👀 Transparency & adaptability
🛠 No vendor lock-in
💰 Public funds = public benefit

Public Money? Public Code! #publiccode #freesoftware

https://publiccode.eu/

💥 FSFE :fsfe: March Newsletter! 💥

🔸 In the last few weeks we published our first Legal Corner article and the recordings of our talks at #fosdem.

🔹 We were happy to see pictures from the #ilovefs Day celebrations and can't wait to meet you at CLT 2025!

🔸 We are organising an online Q&A session about the DMA and #freesoftware

🔹 The Ada & Zangemann movie is finally available in Spanish!

Find out more: https://fsfe.org/news/nl/nl-202503.en.html

#softwarefreedom

Happy I Love Free Software Day 2025! Today, we celebrate the people who contribute to Free Software. Their work is vital for our #softwarefreedomTake a moment to say THANK YOU to your favorite #freesoftware and contributors 💜 Use #ilovefs to share your appreciation and join the celebration.🎈

The FSFE :fsfe:, with 40+ civil society organisations, signed an open letter coordinated by @edri urging the @EUCommission to not be intimidated by threats against a vigorous Digital Markets Act enforcement.

For instance, #Apple has taken an aggressive position against the #DMA, litigating against the EC in a case we are intervening.

DMA is crucial to stop and prevent monopolistic practices. It represents an important step for #DeviceNeutrality and #SoftwareFreedom
https://edri.org/eu-resist-big-tech-bullying-open-letter-jan-2025/