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Phoronix: Linus Torvalds Comments On The Russian Linux Maintainers Being Delisted
(www.phoronix.com)
this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Is there a specific reason for this?
Yes, the sanctions against Russia, as mentioned by Linus. The change also said the maintainers "can come back in the future if sufficient documentation is provided".
My guess is that the Linux Foundation must ensure that none of the people they work with are in any way associated with any organisation, person or activity on the sanctions list. And that they preemptively removed all maintainers that might risk violating the sanctions while they work with them to establish whether they might be covered by the sanctions or not.
Regardless of what you or they think of the sanctions, they are the law, and I don't think anyone wants the Linux Foundation to have to spend their money on lawyers and fines because they had a maintainer who also worked on a research project funded by a sanctioned entity. (If that is how it works, IANAL)
OK, that's the first reasonable explanation I've come across. I wish ~~Greg~~ Linus didn't reply in that kind of "angry" tone, because for some of us it's not that obvious.
Reuters reports:
Since Linus is Finnish, this literally hits home for him, hence (probably) his reaction.
Yes, but this action sounds as effective against Russian espionage as burning any clothes that has red blue and white in them.
Compliance with sanctions from the US and EU IIRC
Sanctions apply on OS development?
I dont know ennough on the topic, does this ecen check out?
Yes they do. See the long-standing debate over the ban to export crypto algorithms to Iran.
As they said in the article, they are just listening to their lawyers. I would assume those lawyers are correct.