‘Free Software Awards’ Winners Announced: Andy Wingo, Alx Sa, Govdirectory
This week the Free Software Foundation honored Andy Wingo, Alx Sa, and Govdirectory with this year’s annual Free Software Awards (given to community members and groups making
“significant” contributions to software freedom):
Andy Wingo is one of the co-maintainers of GNU Guile,
the official extension language of the GNU operating … ⌘ Read more
Gaza named deadliest place for journalists in 2025
Gaza has been named the deadliest place in the world to work as a journalist by French-based press freedom advocates Reporters Without Borders. ⌘ Read more
Will a controversial water plan lead to ‘bad years’ for Roper River barra?
Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws have revealed planned water extraction from the aquifer that feeds the Northern Territory’s Roper River could lead to “bad years” for its fish populations. ⌘ Read more
Italy votes to make femicide a crime
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says the measure will help “defend the freedom and dignity of every woman”, following a series of killings and other violence targeting women in Italy. ⌘ Read more
Social media ban for under-16s challenged in High Court
Australia’s social media age ban is being challenged in the High Court on the grounds it restricts young teens’ implied right to freedom of political communication. ⌘ Read more
Global Web Freedoms Tumble
Global internet freedom declined for a 15th consecutive year, according to Freedom House’s annual report. Semafor: “Always grim reading,” this year’s is particularly sobering, Tech Policy Press noted, with the lowest-ever portion of users living in countries categorized as “free.” Conditions declined in 27 of the 72 countries assessed, with those in Kenya – where anti-corruption protests were quelled, in part, by a seve … ⌘ Read more
Rethinking polygamy—research upends conventional thinking about the advantages of monogamous marriage
In July 2025, Uganda’s courts swiftly dismissed a petition challenging the legality of polygamy, citing the protection of religious and cultural freedom. For most social scientists and policymakers who have long declared polygamy a “harmful cultural practice,” the decision was a frustrating but predictable setback in efforts to build healthier and more equal societies. ⌘ Read more
Dutch judge to Facebook: stop secretly disregarding your users’ settings
And here we have yet another case of the EU’s consumer protection legislation working in our favour. Dutch privacy and consumer rights organisation Bits of Freedom sued Facebook over the company’s little trick of disregarding a user’s settings under a variety of circumstances, such as when a user opts for a chronological, non-profiled timeline, only to have Facebook reset itself to the pro … ⌘ Read more
XMPP Interop Testing: Lots More Options
Since the last update, we’ve added a lot more options on how to run your tests. We’ve added a slew of new CI systems, this time focussing on freedom-respecting, open source CI systems for your open source projects.
Recent additions include Jenkins, Drone, Harness and Woodpecker.
This brings our total number of CI systems in which you can run XMPP interop tests up to a whopping ELEVEN, plus anywhere else you can run containers!
Whether you’re building … ⌘ Read more
It frustrates me that people who refuse to deal with Google, Apple or Microsoft for reasons of privacy or freedom are seen as the weird ones. The level of tracking, surveillance, advertising, hedonism, and societal fear being imposed on us is not normal. Those who reject the modern digital dystopia are not being radical or extreme; they’re trying to return to what should be normal.
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To combat malware and financial scams, Google announced today that only apps from developers that have undergone verification can be installed on certified Android devices starting in 2026.
⤋ Read More
@bender@twtxt.net That is a noble goal. We can talk about that – as long as it doesn’t mean giving up essential freedoms like choosing which software you can run on your device (without having to ask someone for permission).
Sweden snubs Greta’s plea for help on board ‘freedom flotilla’ ⌘ Read more
Palestine: Hamas security services must stop targeting protesters in reprisal and respect freedom of peaceful assembly in Gaza ⌘ Read more
Thanks again to our outgoing sponsor: Nova Custom
We’d like to thank our outgoing sponsor, Nova Custom, for sponsoring OSNews! Nova Custom, based in The Netherlands, makes laptops focused on privacy, customisation, and freedom. Nova Custom laptops ship with either Linux, Windows, or no operating system, and they’re uniquely certified for Qubes OS (the V54 model will be certified soon), the ultra-secure and private operating system. On top of that, Nova Custom laptops come with Dasha … ⌘ Read more
A threat model for opposing authoritarianism
A decade ago, I published a book on privacy “Dragnet Nation: A Quest for Privacy, Security, and Freedom in a World of Relentless Surveillance.” In the book, and since then, in articles and speeches, I have been dispensing advice to people on how to protect their privacy. But my advice did not envision the moment we are in – where the government would collaborate with a tech CEO to strip-mine all of our data from government databases and use i … ⌘ Read more
Nova Custom: this week’s sponsor
Nova Custom, based in The Netherlands, makes laptops focused on privacy, customisation, and freedom. Nova Custom laptops ship with either Linux, Windows, or no operating system, and they’re uniquely certified for Qubes OS (the V54 model will be certified soon), the ultra-secure and private operating system. On top of that, Nova Custom laptops come with Dasharo coreboot firmware preinstalled, which is completely open source, instead of a proprietary BIOS. Nova Custom c … ⌘ Read more
10 Times Patriotism Influenced Pop Culture
Americans have found many ways to display a sense of patriotism over the years, but when patriotic symbols and messages find their way into pop culture, they can be inspiring in a fresh, unexpected way. Sometimes, this happens with films that depict impactful events, such as World War II, or that explore topics like freedom […]
The post [10 Times Patriotism Influenced Pop Culture](https://listverse.com/2025/03/30/10-times-patriotism-influenced-po … ⌘ Read more
Lunduke talks w/ Bradley Kuhn: Open Source Initiative Election Shenanigans
The “Hacker-in-Residence” of the Software Freedom Conservancy (and past Executive Director of the Free Software Foundation) talks about Open Source Initiative election rigging. ⌘ Read more
[ANN] MoneroTop - Spasm-powered XMR forum
Most Monero-related discussions happen on slave tech platforms, which are vulnerable to censorship and surveillance. It’s time to embrace freedom tech. You can now sign messages with your private keys and submit them to different networks at MoneroTop forum, which is powered by Spasm - the future of social media.
Links:
degenrocket (Session) ⌘ Read more
Tech execs are pushing Trump to build ‘Freedom Cities’ run by corporations
A new lobbying group, dubbed the Freedom Cities Coalition, wants to convince President Trump and Congress to authorize the creation of new special development zones within the U.S. These zones would allow wealthy investors to write their own laws and set up their own governance structures which would be corporately controlled and wouldn’t involve a traditional bureaucracy. The new zone … ⌘ Read more
Monero Observer Artistic Saturday Top 5 - Week 8, 2025
Previous Artistic Saturday weekly reports can be found in the [art] 1 section.
Freedom for Meow ⌘ Read more
10 Times People Voluntarily Gave Up Their Freedom to Dictators
Let’s be honest: If history has taught us anything at all, it might just be that people love a strongman—until they don’t. Again and again, societies have handed over their rights with the enthusiasm of someone clicking “I agree” on terms and conditions they never even read. But instead of just annoying software updates, these […]
The post [10 Times People Voluntarily Gave Up Their Freedom to Dictators](htt … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Developer Diary, Freedom to Marry Day https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2025/02/10/freedom-marry.html #programming #project #devjournal
10 Films That Are Still Banned in the UK
Westerners live in an age of relative freedom when it comes to the films we can enjoy. U.S. and UK censors are more forgiving than they used to be, and horrific, graphic, and downright lewd films that would previously have been banned from even the roughest fleapit make it into mainstream cinemas. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924204745/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/education-news/video-nasties The UK’s […]
The post [10 Films That Are … ⌘ Read more
[ANN] MoneroTalk #336: Unmasking Elon Musk: Derrick Broze on Free Speech and Technocracy
In this episode of MoneroTalk, Douglas Tuman speaks with independent journalist Derrick Broze about Elon Musk’s true intentions, cryptocurrency, and freedom movements.
Links:
monerotalk.live ⌘ Read more
10 Exciting Things Entering the Public Domain in 2025
When a work enters the public domain, it’s like releasing an immortal animal into the wild after it has been caged for a hundred years. Now freed from copyright restrictions, the work can be studied, reinterpreted, and explored in ways that better reveal its true nature. Scholars, creators, and fans are granted new freedoms to […]
The post [10 Exciting Things Entering the Public Domain in 2025](https://listverse.com/2025/01/03 … ⌘ Read more
[LTH] Monero Talk/MoneroTopia needs your help
We’re looking for a passionate Monero fan to help us find and reach out to guests for Monero Talk and MoneroTopia shows on a weekly basis. This is a small gig (we will tip!), not a full-time job—perfect for someone who knows Monero deeply, values freedom tech, lives the “opt-out” ethos, and is already an avid fan of our shows! We need someone reliable, proactive, and excited about helping us expand the reach of these shows. If this sounds like you, email us with the subject: “Help wi … ⌘ Read more
[LFF] [100 XMR] Ross Ulbricht Freedom Party
After coordinating with @DouglasTuman and @vikrantnyc, we have launched a freedom fund for the release of @RealRossU!
Links:
- https://farside.link/nitter/MgkMshrmBrkfst/status/1857974202072182843
- https://kuno.anne.media/fundraiser/olm1/
n/a ⌘ Read more
South Australian fruit growers fight to save their pest-free advantage
Growers in South Australia’s pest-free area are under enormous financial and mental stress as they battle Queensland fruit-fly outbreaks. ⌘ Read more
Unitree G1 and H1 Humanoid Robots Now Available for Ordering
The distributor RobotShop recently featured the Unitree G1 and the more advanced Unitree H1 general-purpose humanoid robots. Both models are equipped with 3D LiDAR and a depth camera for sensing and offer multiple degrees of freedom for mobility. Additionally, the H1 provides an optional upgrade to the Jetson Orin NX for increased computing capabilities. The […] ⌘ Read more
JMP: Newsletter: SMS Routes, RCS, and more!
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the latest edition of your pseudo-monthly JMP update!
In case it’s been a while since you checked out JMP, here’s a refresher: JMP lets you send and receive text and picture messages (and calls) through a real phone number right from your computer, tablet, phone, or anything else that has a Jabber client. Among other things, JMP has these features: Your phone number on every device; Multiple phone numbers, one app; Free as in Freedom; … ⌘ Read more
JMP: Newsletter: eSIM Adapter Launch!
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the latest edition of your pseudo-monthly JMP update!
In case it’s been a while since you checked out JMP, here’s a refresher: JMP lets you send and receive text and picture messages (and calls) through a real phone number right from your computer, tablet, phone, or anything else that has a Jabber client. Among other things, JMP has these features: Your phone number on every device; Multiple phone numbers, one app; Free as in Freedom; … ⌘ Read more
JMP: Newsletter: eSIM Adapter Launch!
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the latest edition of your pseudo-monthly JMP update!
In case it’s been a while since you checked out JMP, here’s a refresher: JMP lets you send and receive text and picture messages (and calls) through a real phone number right from your computer, tablet, phone, or anything else that has a Jabber client. Among other things, JMP has these features: Your phone number on every device; Multiple phone numbers, one app; Free as in Freedom; … ⌘ Read more
(Updated) HiFive Unmatched SBC showcases new FU740 RISC-V SoC
SiFive has opened $665 pre-orders on a “HiFive Unmatched” Mini-ITX dev board that can power a PC. The SBC runs Linux on a penta-core, 64-bit SiFive FU740 SoC and offers 2x M.2 and PCIe x16 for graphics. In September when SiFive announced its FU740 (Freedom U740) SoC, the RISC-V chip designer said it would soon […] ⌘ Read more
JMP: Newsletter: SMS Routes, RCS, and more!
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the latest edition of your pseudo-monthly JMP update!
In case it’s been a while since you checked out JMP, here’s a refresher: JMP lets you send and receive text and picture messages (and calls) through a real phone number right from your computer, tablet, phone, or anything else that has a Jabber client. Among other things, JMP has these features: Your phone number on every device; Multiple phone numbers, one app; Free as in Freedom; … ⌘ Read more
Moon Landing Mission Profiles
⌘ Read more
Sam Whited: Thoughts on a New Software Commons
I use various legal and economic terms of art in this post, but I am neither a
lawyer or an economist.
They should be read in the way a layperson might read them, not as a serious
legal or economic analysis or advice.
I’ve long held that software being open source1 is necessary, but not
sufficient.
Using copyright and contract law to enshrine the freedom to use your software
instead … ⌘ Read more
JMP: Newsletter: JMP Data Plan
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the latest edition of your pseudo-monthly JMP update!
In case it’s been a while since you checked out JMP, here’s a refresher: JMP lets you send and receive text and picture messages (and calls) through a real phone number right from your computer, tablet, phone, or anything else that has a Jabber client. Among other things, JMP has these features: Your phone number on every device; Multiple phone numbers, one app; Free as in Freedom; Share one … ⌘ Read more
JMP: Newsletter: Holidays
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the latest edition of your pseudo-monthly JMP update!
In case it’s been a while since you checked out JMP, here’s a refresher: JMP lets you send and receive text and picture messages (and calls) through a real phone number right from your computer, tablet, phone, or anything else that has a Jabber client. Among other things, JMP has these features: Your phone number on every device; Multiple phone numbers, one app; Free as in Freedom; Share one num … ⌘ Read more
JMP: Newsletter: Summer in Review
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the latest edition of your pseudo-monthly JMP update!
In case it’s been a while since you checked out JMP, here’s a refresher: JMP lets you send and receive text and picture messages (and calls) through a real phone number right from your computer, tablet, phone, or anything else that has a Jabber client. Among other things, JMP has these features: Your phone number on every device; Multiple phone numbers, one app; Free as in Freedom; Sh … ⌘ Read more
An official FBI document dated January 2021, obtained by the American association “Property of People” through the Freedom of Information Act.
This document summarizes the possibilities for legal access to data from nine instant messaging services: iMessage, Line, Signal, Telegram, Threema, Viber, WeChat, WhatsApp and Wickr. For each software, different judicial methods are explored, such as subpoena, search warrant, active collection of communications metadata (“Pen Register”) or connection data retention law (“18 USC§2703”). Here, in essence, is the information the FBI says it can retrieve:
Apple iMessage: basic subscriber data; in the case of an iPhone user, investigators may be able to get their hands on message content if the user uses iCloud to synchronize iMessage messages or to back up data on their phone.
Line: account data (image, username, e-mail address, phone number, Line ID, creation date, usage data, etc.); if the user has not activated end-to-end encryption, investigators can retrieve the texts of exchanges over a seven-day period, but not other data (audio, video, images, location).
Signal: date and time of account creation and date of last connection.
Telegram: IP address and phone number for investigations into confirmed terrorists, otherwise nothing.
Threema: cryptographic fingerprint of phone number and e-mail address, push service tokens if used, public key, account creation date, last connection date.
Viber: account data and IP address used to create the account; investigators can also access message history (date, time, source, destination).
WeChat: basic data such as name, phone number, e-mail and IP address, but only for non-Chinese users.
WhatsApp: the targeted person’s basic data, address book and contacts who have the targeted person in their address book; it is possible to collect message metadata in real time (“Pen Register”); message content can be retrieved via iCloud backups.
Wickr: Date and time of account creation, types of terminal on which the application is installed, date of last connection, number of messages exchanged, external identifiers associated with the account (e-mail addresses, telephone numbers), avatar image, data linked to adding or deleting.
TL;DR Signal is the messaging system that provides the least information to investigators.
RT by @mind_booster: RT @fsf@fsf
LibrePlanet 2023: Charting the Course keynote “Education and the future of software freedom” by Erin Rose Glass (erinroseglass) will be starting soon in the Jupiter room. Check this talk out and more via: https://u.fsf.org/3yr (½)
RT @fsf@fsf
LibrePlanet 2023: Charting the Course keynote “Education and the future of software freedom” by Erin Rose Glass (erinroseglass) will be starting soon in the Jupiter room. Check this talk out and more via: [u.fsf.org/3yr … ⌘ Read more
**RT by @mind_booster: 4/8 Joachim Türk of the German Child Protection Association, said that #ChatControl is “a deep intrusion into the fundamental right of freedom of communication” also of children.
🚨No one can be protected by making the internet less secure. Read more at https://stopscanningme.eu/en/**
4/8 Joachim Türk of the German Child Protection Association, said that #ChatControl is “a deep intrusion into the fundamental right of freedom of communication” also of … ⌘ Read more
JMP: Threads, Thumbnails, XMR, ETH
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the latest edition of your pseudo-monthly JMP update!
In case it’s been a while since you checked out JMP, here’s a refresher: JMP lets you send and receive text and picture messages (and calls) through a real phone number right from your computer, tablet, phone, or anything else that has a Jabber client. Among other things, JMP has these features: Your phone number on every device; Multiple phone numbers, one app; Free as in Freedom; Shar … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Developer Diary, World Freedom Day https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2023/01/23/freedom.html #programming #project #devjournal
RT by @mind_booster: O prazo de inscrição no Youth Hacking 4 Freedom, foi alargado até ao final de Janeiro. Para participarem têm de ter entre 14 e 18 anos e viver na Europa. @fsfe #YH4F #SoftwareFreedom #softwarelivre @ANSOL #wikidata #wikimedia
https://fsfe.org/activities/yh4f/
O prazo de inscrição no Youth Hacking 4 Freedom, foi alargado até ao final de Janeiro. Para participarem têm de ter entre 14 e 18 anos e viver na Europa. @fsfe [#YH4F](htt … ⌘ Read more
The freedoms you surrender today are the freedoms your grandchildren will never know existed.