It's hard to be sure what you're actually giving someone--especially when you're talking about digital media, electronics, and the newest batch of gadgets. With manufacturer restrictions going out of control, some gifts take away more than they give us.
Ethical companies are making--and using--ethical technologies to make sure the gifts we give belong to those they're for. Whether you're looking for freedom and privacy or just the knowledge that that ebook will still be around six months from now, the Free Software Foundation's Ethical Giving Guide can help you find the perfect gift.
Use #givefreely. You might get a gift out of it!
Print and distribute to holiday shoppers.
Help a free software organization in a friend's name.
Your smartphone isn't just a phone--it's a computer you carry with you every day. It's your camera, your connection to your friends and family, and, for many people around the world, their only internet-enabled device. By choosing one of these phones, you're bringing freedom to your pocket, not just your communications.
In addition to Technoethical's refurbished S3, they also offer an S2 and N2.
Setting up a fully free system is easier than it used to be, but can still seem daunting--especially if you've never done it before. Luckily, you can now get a new-to-you laptop that's ready to go out of the box.
While we're highlighting the follow laptops, there are other options available.
Get it from
LibiquityLibiquity's X200 is Respects Your Freedom certified, but shipping is limited to the US. Sale details.
TechnoethicalTechnoethical's X200 has not yet been evaluated for Respects Your Freedom certification, but global shipping is available. Sale details.
The Free Software Foundation, as a small publisher of books, recommends not purchasing on Amazon. If you do, please use smile.amazon.com to designate a nonprofit to receive some of the money.
The FSF certifies hardware as respecting your freedoms. There is a complete list of RYF products on FSF.org.
We would never recommend you use, run, or give proprietary software. However, one part of RYF certification is the promise that one can install any software they wish on the device. This includes proprietary software. Free software is about many things, including the right to choose what is on your device. We urge you to keep your gifts and own devices fully free--it's not only the responsible thing, but the right thing.
This page by the Free Software Foundation is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported.
The graphics and photos used on this page have been modified by the Free Software Foundation and are licensed separately under the following terms: