For the past thirteen years, the Free Software Foundation has published an Ethical Tech Giving Guide. But what’s interesting is that this year’s guide also tags companies and products. negative “Stay away” is recommended.
Stay away: iPhone
Siri isn’t the only one who’s creepy. All Apple devices contain software that is hostile to the user. Although they claim to be concerned about user privacy, they do not hesitate to keep users under surveillance.
Apple prohibits the installation of free third-party software on its phones and uses this control to censor apps that conflict with or subvert Apple’s interests. increase.
Apple has a history of abusing its absolute control over its users to silence political activists and help governments spy on millions of them.
Stay away: M1 MacBook and MacBook Pro
macOS is proprietary software that limits your freedom.
In November 2020, macOS was discovered to warn Apple every time a user opened an app. Even though Apple is making changes to the service, until there is an outcry, it just shows how badly Apple is trying to do.
Spyware that turns you into an advertiser is crawled.
Stay away: Amazon
Amazon is one of the most notorious DRM violators. They use this Orwellian control over devices and services to spy on users and keep them locked in walled gardens.
Note that Amazon is not an ebook DRM peddler. Disturbingly, it is enthusiastically endorsed by most major publishers.
Read more about the dangers of DRM through our Defective by Design campaign.
Stay away: Spotify, Apple Music, and all other major streaming services
In addition to streaming music blocked by DRM, those who want to use Spotify need to install additional proprietary software. Even her Spotify client for GNU/Linux relies on proprietary software.
Apple Music is nothing more than that, it imposes severe restrictions on music streamed through its platform.
Stay away: Netflix
Netflix continues its disturbing trend of making nasty DRM the norm for streaming media. This is why it was targeted at last year’s International Day Against DRM (IDAD).
They have also used their position in the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to advocate for tighter restrictions on users and to promote efforts to embed DRM into the fabric of the web.
“Let freedom come first in your gifts this year,” begins the guide.
We also suggest giving the gift of FSF membership as a last minute gift idea that honors freedom (this includes “allowing the gift to be presented as a physical object if desired”). Comes with code and printable page).
Membership is valid for one year and includes many of the benefits that come with an FSF Associate membership, such as a USB member card, email forwarding, access to the Jitsi Meet video conferencing server and member forums, discounts on FSF shops and ThinkPenguin hardware, and more. increase. , more.
If you are in the United States, your gift is also fully tax deductible in the United States.
