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1 | <p>LibrePlanet is an annual conference hosted by the <a href="https://www.fsf.org">Free Software |
2 | Foundation</a> for free software enthusiasts and | |
3 | anyone who cares about the intersection of technology and social | |
4 | justice. LibrePlanet brings together software developers, law and policy | |
5 | experts, activists, students, and computer users to learn skills, | |
6 | celebrate free software accomplishments, and face challenges to software | |
7 | freedom. Newcomers are always welcome, and LibrePlanet 2020 will feature | |
8 | programming for all ages and experience levels. The theme for | |
9 | LibrePlanet 2020 is <strong>"Free the Future"</strong>.</p> | |
10 | <p>Many picture the future of software bringing about a dystopian world | |
11 | because of the daily encroachments on user rights. Even in our own | |
12 | homes, we are not shielded from technology companies listening to | |
13 | every word we say through their <a href="https://fortune.com/2019/08/08/gogole-amazon-microsoft-listen-conversation-siri/">proprietary "smart" personal | |
14 | assistants</a>. The thirst for user data gleaned through nonfree | |
15 | software and unethical network services like Amazon and Facebook seems | |
16 | to be unquenchable, and they require strong resistance.</p> | |
17 | <p>Surveillance developments are becoming more and more unsettling | |
18 | because of the use of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/business/facial-recognition-uk-court.html?module=inline">facial recognition by state and county | |
19 | agencies</a>. The <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-and-facebook-potentially-at-odds-over-social-media-monitoring-11565277021">FBI is planning to actively monitor our social | |
20 | media activity</a> in the name of "safety." Can free software help | |
21 | defend our rights?</p> | |
22 | <p>Education also needs our attention. The recent introduction of | |
23 | Pearson's "Netflix of textbooks" model inhibits students' rights to | |
24 | education by digitally constraining their learning environment. With | |
25 | our 2019 <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/help_defend_right_read_stand_against_drm_october_12th">International Day Against Digital Restrictions Management | |
26 | (DRM)</a>, we are exposing our rapidly diminishing authority over our | |
27 | technology, as exemplified by Pearson. Steps like these set a | |
28 | dangerous precedent for all readers, no matter their age or location.</p> | |
29 | <p>These are just some of the many examples that come to mind when | |
30 | contemplating the direction technology is taking us. For each new | |
31 | convenience that we gain, it seems we lose even more in the process, | |
32 | exchanging intangible but vital rights to freedom and privacy for the | |
33 | latest new gadget. But there is resistance, and it doesn't have to be | |
34 | this way. The free software community has continuously defied the | |
35 | pressure to use nonfree software and provided a means of escape. We | |
36 | are in the unique position to offer solutions to these problems by | |
37 | combining our technical abilities and educational skills with our | |
38 | ethical dedication to envision a future free from the clutches of | |
39 | nonfree software and network services that mistreat their users. In | |
40 | short, 2020 will be the year we <strong>"Free the Future."</strong></p> |