Technology
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in this case; it's because the kernel has to interact with firmware and that firmware is proprietary and under export control laws, but it's possible to get needful information on that firmware using the kernel; hence blocking people who know how to do that with the kernel from the kernel developer group.
the american gov't can disappear/suicide american/european kernel developers if they discover these secrets; but they can't do the same thing to russian kernel developers if they do the same thing.
cant you still get info on that firmware by just reading the kernel source code? how does contributing code get you info?
the firmware is not part of the linux kernel (it only works with the kernel); you will not be able to read the source unless you work for the company that owns it.
oh, you meant that since russians cannot contribute, then they're not going to work with american companies that want to have their firmwares supported by the kernel.
it's the other way around: the russians (and likely the chinese soon) won't be allowed to contribute so that linux can keep working with american companies & their firmware.
i see