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policy: make fsdg section flow better 

move the censorship argument to the first sections

generally just be clearer

Signed-off-by: Leah Rowe <leah@libreboot.org>
c20230710
Leah Rowe 2023-07-05 10:51:39 +01:00
parent 99f06fe9a7
commit 3eff58ec05
1 changed files with 14 additions and 10 deletions
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24
site/news/policy.md
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@ -306,7 +306,16 @@ firmware blobs are required for certain hardware to work correctly.
The FSDG criteria is separate from RYF, but has similar problems. FSDG is The FSDG criteria is separate from RYF, but has similar problems. FSDG is
what the FSF-endorsed GNU+Linux distros comply with. Basically, it bans what the FSF-endorsed GNU+Linux distros comply with. Basically, it bans
all proprietary software, including device firmware. This may seem noble, but all proprietary software, including device firmware. This may seem noble, but
it's extremely problematic in the context of firmware. Food for thought: it's extremely problematic in the context of firmware.
*Banning* linux-firmware specifically is a threat to freedom in the long term,
because new users of GNU+Linux might be discouraged from using the OS if their
hardware doesn't work. You might say: just buy new hardware! This is often not
possible for users, and the user might not have the skill to reverse engineer
it either. **Banning such firmware constitutes *censorship*, in the name of
freedom, but all it does is reduce freedom of choice; somebody else has already
made that decision for you, *against* you.** You should not use linux-libre at
all. Some wisdom:
* Excluding firmware blobs in the linux kernel is *bad*. Proprietary firmware * Excluding firmware blobs in the linux kernel is *bad*. Proprietary firmware
is *also bad*. Including them is a wiser choice, if strong education is also is *also bad*. Including them is a wiser choice, if strong education is also
@ -324,7 +333,9 @@ it's extremely problematic in the context of firmware. Food for thought:
to hide the firmware instead, making actual (software) freedom less likely!* to hide the firmware instead, making actual (software) freedom less likely!*
Besides this, FSDG seems OK. Any libre operating system should ideally not Besides this, FSDG seems OK. Any libre operating system should ideally not
have proprietary *drivers* or *applications*. have proprietary *drivers* or *applications*. Libreboot *previously* adhered
to FSDG, but now takes a more pragmatic approach when it comes to things like
CPU microcode or *EC firmware*.
Hardware manufacturers like to shove everything into firmware because their Hardware manufacturers like to shove everything into firmware because their
product is often poorly designed, so they later want to provide workarounds in product is often poorly designed, so they later want to provide workarounds in
@ -358,14 +369,7 @@ their `fw_update` program which you can read about here:
<https://man.openbsd.org/fw_update> <https://man.openbsd.org/fw_update>
*Banning* linux-firmware specifically is a threat to freedom in the long term, OpenBSD is great.
because new users of GNU+Linux might be discouraged from using the OS if their
hardware doesn't work. You might say: just buy new hardware! This is often not
possible for users, and the user might not have the skill to reverse engineer
it either. Banning such firmware constitutes *censorship*, in the name of
freedom, but all it does is reduce freedom of choice; somebody else has already
made that decision for you, *against* you. You should not use linux-libre at
all.
More detailed insight about microcode More detailed insight about microcode
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