Stallman called Ubuntu "spyware"

How difficult it is to be RMS (from comments)



The president of the Free Software Foundation, Richard Stallman, called Ubuntu “spyware” because a search in “Dash” sends search query data to a Canonical server. He urged developers not to use this operating system.



The search results show not only local file and application data, but also Amazon search data. If a person buys something, then the creators of Ubuntu receive a certain percentage of the sale. Despite the fact that further data Canonical does not go, this was quite sufficient for Stallman.

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He wrote on his blog:

Ubuntu, a widespread and influential GNU / Linux distribution, uses spyware. When a user searches for a specific string in their local files, Ubuntu sends this string to the Canonical server ... The problem is not in advertising, the problem is in espionage. The fact that Canonical collects personal information is as bad as if Amazon collected it.

Moreover, he insists on the complete rejection of the distribution:

If you have ever recommended or distributed GNU / Linux, please remove Ubuntu from your lists .... In your installation festivals, in Software Freedom Day, in FLISOL events, do not install or recommend Ubuntu. Instead, encourage people to avoid Ubuntu for spying.

And even the fact that the option can be turned off had little impact on its findings:

Even if the option was turned off by default, it would still be dangerous. And if they use all the money they get from Amazon to develop free software, it is unlikely that it will cover the loss that free software will incur if it stops offering users effective ways to avoid such abuses.

Mark Shuttleworth called the opinion of Stallman simply - FUD (an acronym for Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt - fear, uncertainty, doubt).



Johno Bacon, Canonical’s Community Manager explained the company’s policy as follows:

The goal of Dash in Ubuntu has always been to provide a central place to search and find things that are interesting and relevant to you - it is created to be the center of your computer experience. This is a big goal and we have gone only part of the way in its implementation.



Today it is not perfect - we need to improve search accuracy, present data more efficiently, expand coverage and data capabilities in Dash search. With every new release of Ubuntu, we get great feedback from the community and users. We strive to improve all areas, so that with each new release we offer more comprehensive functions that are freely available to all.



The data we collect is automatically anonymized and is never available to end services. And we get only the necessary minimum, which is needed to improve the search in Ubuntu.