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El Reg published a story that quotes GNU evangelist and free-software advocate saying just about what we would expect him to say today about the current state of technology:
LinuxGNU firebrand Richard Stallman says Windows and Mac OS are malware, Amazon is Orwellian, and anyone who trusts the internet-of-things is an ass. In a column for The Guardian, Stallman preaches to the non-technical masses about the evils of proprietary software and vendor lock-in, and how closed-door coding facilitates clandestine deals with nation state spy agencies."What kinds of programs constitute malware? Operating systems, first of all," Stallman testifies.
"Apple systems are malware too: MacOS snoops and shackles; iOS snoops, shackles, censors apps and has a backdoor.
"Even Android contains malware in a non-free component: a back door for remote forcible installation or de-installation of any app."
Stallman references a a Bloomberg report in saying Microsoft "sabotages" Windows users by disclosing vulnerabilities to the NSA before patches are released. It isn't just Windows and MacOS that Stallman brands malware: Barbie dolls, smart TVs, and cars also earn his ire thanks to the potential for marketers to secretly pry on a child's worst fears or listen in to lounge room conversations.
I'm not sure that I'm going to worry about Barbie dolls listening on conversations, but I understand his concerns. I have often wondered about the expansion of sophisticated computer technology into all aspects of life, such as in HDTVs and cars. The possibilities for abuse are many, and we have learned over recent years governments are not immune from exploiting vulnerabilities to commit serious crimes and violations of our civil liberties.
[Editor's Comment: Original Submission]
(Score: 5, Interesting) by mTor on Tuesday May 26 2015, @03:42AM
I've been following RMS' writings for years and have enjoyed reading his points of view. Not necessarily because I agree with him, but because he's so far "out there" and he provides a very different point of view from what you see of other writers and average technology people in general.
Richard has amassed a large collection of his "grievances" with various companies and he keeps a list of reasons of why you shouldn’t use products of various companies. Here's one for Amazon [stallman.org], Apple [stallman.org], Facebook [stallman.org]. What's shocking is how short and terse his list of anti-Google arguments is [stallman.org]. It's almost as if he doesn't want to see the evil in Google. You'd think he'd mention gross privacy violations, google's enormous collection of tracking data on everyone and so on. But no, RMS doesn't mention any of that. I often wonder if that's because Google (through Googlers) gives FSF so much money each year.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 26 2015, @05:16AM
You'd think he'd mention gross privacy violations, google's enormous collection of tracking data on everyone and so on.
Like this? "Gmail was planned from the start as a massive surveillance system, to make psychological profiles not only of Gmail users but of everyone who sends mail to Gmail users."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 26 2015, @05:36AM
He should put all of his criticisms of Google on that page.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 26 2015, @11:25AM
It is probably easier if you just Google it.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Tuesday May 26 2015, @05:59AM
What's shocking is how short and terse his list of anti-Google arguments is.
This is the "Horizontal Strategy" from the Warring States Period in China! Brilliant! The evil of evil is my evil! Or, we ally with the soul-less corporation that has "don't be evil" as it's motto, turn that against the older (Think "Chi" state) evil that then must say that they disagree with that, and so further our claims to establish a new dynasty. So everything that the Fearless Leader has predicted has come to pass. The forces of proprietary software have done exactly as expected. Now is the time for the people who make the code to own the code, for the people who use the code to own the code! From each according to their ability, to each according to their need!! Kropotkin is alive and well in free software. (Although, it was actually the anarchist Proudhon who said that particular bit. Or maybe Louis Blanc? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_each_according_to_his_ability,_to_each_according_to_his_need [wikipedia.org] Oh, heck. Absolute right of authorship, moral right, not copyright. )