this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2025
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I've seen many threads suggesting products but they often don't mention FOSS projects, which should always be preferred to corporate software. With FOSS you are already boycotting capitalism, on either side. Free and Open Source ignores borders and shouldn't be categorized in nationalist terms, no matter where some of the maintainers happen to live.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 19 hours ago

I've tried to extol the virtues of FOSS for a long time. Not many people even care about it or their privacy, always parroting the adage "If i do nothing wrong what do I need to worry about" without a further thought.

[–] [email protected] 74 points 1 day ago (1 children)

FOSS is not American. Foss belongs to literally everyone.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I kept saying it all over the place regarding the fascistic rejection of Russian (as in race) code and got flamed as result. These people use FOSS, especially GNU/GPL software and yet they have no clue about the license themselves.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Weren't Russian contributors (from very specific sanctioned companies) rejected from contributing because of US sanction laws and with Linux Foundation being HQ'd in the US?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I think that was mainly due to the concern of hostile actors committing code to the kernel.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

I think it was US OFAC sanctions

https://www.linuxfoundation.org/blog/navigating-global-regulations-and-open-source-us-ofac-sanctions

https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/23/linus_torvalds_affirms_expulsion_of/ (links to the OFAC sanctions set up after Russia invade Ukraine)

The OFAC sanctions do have quite a few lists, with one of them being "Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions", so it could be fear of harmful actions and not just retaliation for the invasion

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 day ago

I always like to say the fruits of FOSS labour are the common heritage of mankind. It belongs to all of us as a public good, created and maintained by selfless workers. (Nevermind the fact that most FOSS projects are based out of Europe anyways).

[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 day ago (10 children)

I'm the most anti-American user on here and I agree.

I'd rather use USA-linked free software than Spotify.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

I think there is a different problem. Many of the best FOSS products are unknown to the general public ;/

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 day ago

Is someone doing that? If it's FOSS it's from the internet.

[–] [email protected] 60 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Seeing people look for corporate social media alternatives is painful.

[–] [email protected] 49 points 1 day ago (19 children)

@Irelephant

> "Hey guys, I want to leave X, should I go to Bluesky or Threads? What? Mastodon? Never heard of that. Looks very complicated, I'll pass"
> -- CEO, founder, IT wizz on LinkedIn

Every time!

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[–] [email protected] 93 points 1 day ago (6 children)

lol who is suggesting boycotting foss projects?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 19 hours ago

nobody. op is insane.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I think OP means that one shouldn't boycott FOSS projects just because they are from USA. That said, I don't like to be told what I have to do and don't agree to "FOSS projects, which should always be preferred to corporate software". My pc, my LAN, my rules.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 20 hours ago (7 children)

you seem to hold your individual freedoms high, there is a kind of software i think you'll really like

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I don’t like to be told what I have to do and don’t agree to “FOSS projects, which should always be preferred to corporate software”. My pc, my LAN, my rules.

...he said, without a hint of irony.

Meanwhile, "my PC, my LAN, my rules" is precisely the reason I do agree with always preferring FOSS to corporate software.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

Lol, first time I hear that, as European😆 what a stupid movement..

[–] thericofactor 62 points 1 day ago (4 children)

From a purely "vote with your wallet" standpoint it doesn't make sense, because there's no money paid. However, one might worry about data/information getting in the hands of a fascist/compromised government. So I think people should judge this themselves case by case.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 20 hours ago

There is a lot you can do with your wallet to contribute to FOSS.

Companies, Governments they all can be enshitified but freedom lives on!

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 20 hours ago

I have been following some of these movements in the last few weeks and, at least the ones I know of, include FOSS in the alternatives to American products and services. So while I support what you say 100%, in my experience so far, it looks like most people are aware of this.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 day ago (5 children)

I get it as an European that it means more to me to consume "locally" and to prioritize services that are European-based. But due to the nature of computers and FOSS, borders are redefined and it is more about ideas and politics rather than physical location. However, computers and servers are also physical and submitted to legislations of countries, we cannot ignore laws such as the Patriot act and the power that the American state can have even on FOSS projects.

For me the priority is to use software that match my needs; if I have the choice between an American and an European solution, I'll tend to choose the latter one.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Agree with the main point, though disagree that FOSS is "boycotting capitalism", many for-profit companies contribute to FOSS and FOSS can be used by for-profit companies too, much of today's capitalism runs on FOSS.

The point of free software is that it does not have owners, so what exactly are you "boycotting"?

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[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Counterpoint: Fedora is a testing bed for Red Hat. One of Red Hat's notable customers is the US military. I'd prefer to stay off that path if I can help it. It's a matter of trust, and it's a matter of indirectly contributing. I've seen people say the same things about Deepin and everyone nods in agreement, but why the hell should I trust a US project, for the same reasons?

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 day ago

Honestly this should be a wake call to the FOSS community that we are way too reliant on the US.

Every default we have is US centric and if FOSS is really meant for everyone we should move away from that.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago (6 children)

I would think it depends on the project

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

There are some pretty corporate "open core" software companies tho, that's a more grey area

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