FSF responded to the release of new models of iPhone

The Free Software Foundation encourages users to avoid all Apple products in the interests of their own freedom and that of others.





On September 10, Apple announced the release of two new iPhone models: the 5S, which comes with a fingerprint scanner, and a budget 5C. In response, FSF Executive Director John Sullivan (John Sullivan) made the following statement:

At the moment, mobile phones are the most widely used computing devices. And it is very important that such devices that store such important data as personal correspondence, etc., are completely under the control of the owner. However, Apple, once again updating the hardware, leaves the old restrictions unchanged, which leave the user and his data one on one with programs whose functionality is not clear and suspicious. It is difficult to even imagine a tougher reaction to the wave of indignation associated with unauthorized access to personal information (NSA and the like) than the equipping of new devices with a fingerprint scanner, and also the presentation of this in the form of "features".

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In view of the fact that so many people carry with them devices capable of transmitting data about their location, about the owner’s conversations, about his interests and even about the environment, it becomes clear that at least some safe living conditions depend on free software. . Free software allows you to replace dangerous programs with those that only perform their tasks. And the first step towards this replacement should be the abandonment of restrictions and controls promoted by Apple.

We urge users to pay attention to the software that does not limit the basic rights and freedoms of users.

Such projects include Replicant , the free fork of Android, and F-Droid , a repository for free Android applications.



Original: www.fsf.org/news/free-software-foundation-statement-on-new-iphone-models-from-apple