Digital devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets or an increasing number of intelligent, wearable IT gadgets such as smart watches and fitness bracelets are part of everyday life for many online users. But “as end users we are increasingly losing control over them,” complains the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE). Manufacturers, providers and platform operators exercise “monopolistic power” over such devices and “unreasonably restrict their application options by acting as 'gatekeepers' to the digital world.” It is therefore time to give users control over their devices again, with free software playing a key role.
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“End user control over devices”
Essentially, cell phones etc. are universal computers, explains the FSFE. Free software enables the full use of this hardware. Large gatekeepers in particular – but also other providers – could prohibit users from running programs with freely available source code and the associated application freedoms on their devices. Protecting free alternatives to proprietary operating systems, drivers, app stores, browsers and other software is therefore “critically important for freedom of choice and a healthy, competitive, democratic, diverse and sustainable digital society.”
The FSFE has therefore launched a campaign for “device neutrality” including an accompanying website with which it builds on concepts such as net neutrality and router freedom. According to the non-profit institution, the initiative aims to “restore end-user control over devices” and the data processed through them. The means to this end is to ensure software freedom in the devices and to protect users from “lock-in methods”. End users would have to be able to run the programs of their choice and use “services independent of the control of hardware manufacturers, providers and platforms”.
Digital Markets Act with initial aspects for device neutrality
Some aspects of device neutrality are imposed on large tech companies in the EU by the Digital Markets Act (DMA), explains the FSFE. This regulation came into force on Thursday. It is intended to restore a higher level of competition in digital markets and ensure interoperability and data portability between individual services. The EU Commission initially classified Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, ByteDance (TikTok), Meta and Microsoft as gatekeepers within the meaning of the DMA. But smaller companies could also “behave in a predatory manner against device neutrality,” points out the FSFE. The principle must therefore be seen “in a much broader context”, apply to all tech companies and become a general standard.
At the same time, according to the activists, it is important to enforce the DMA decisively. Even when it comes to router freedom, it can be observed how network operators are setting up various barriers and hurdles for the exercise of this right. The gatekeepers covered by the DMA are also likely to try to hinder the implementation of solutions that “fully benefit” users. Apple, for example, has already gone to court to avoid the DMA obligations. The iPhone manufacturer is relying on an “absurd strategy” against third-party app store providers such as F-Droid. In general, gatekeepers are known to keep users in “walled gardens” such as their own payment environments, to link networked devices to online accounts and to hinder the portability of data. This makes it more difficult for users to “change software, devices and services.”
(bme)