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It is now 30 years since I launched the campaign for freedom in computing, that is, for software to be free or libre (we use that word toemphasize that were talking about freedom, not price).Some proprietary programs, such as Photoshop, are veryexpensive; others, such as Flash Player, are available gratis eitherway, they subject their users to someone elses power.

Much has changed since the beginning of the free software movement: Most people in advancedcountries now own computers sometimes called phones and use the internet with them. Non-free software still makes the users surrendercontrol over their computing to someone else, but now there is anotherway to lose it: Service as a Software Substitute, or SaaSS, whichmeans letting someone elses server do your own computing activities.

Both non-free software and SaaSS can spy on the user, shackle the user,and even attack the user. Malware is common in services and proprietarysoftware products because the users dont have control overthem. Thats the fundamental issue: while non-free software and SaaSS are controlled by someother entity (typically a corporation or a state),free software is controlled byits users.

Why does this control matter? Because freedom means having controlover your own life.

If you use a program to carry out activities inyour life, your freedom depends on your having control over the program.You deserve to have control over the programs you use, and all the moreso when you use them for something important in your life.

Free/libre software advocate Richard Stallman is president of the Free Software Foundation. He launched the development of the free software operating system GNU in 1984; the GNU/Linux system (essentially GNU with Linux added) is used on tens of millions of computers today. Stallman also founded the League for Programming Freedom, which campaigned against legal threats to programming (including patents).

Your control over the program requires four essential freedoms. If any of them ismissing or inadequate, the program is proprietary (or non-free):

(0) The freedom to run the program as you wish, for whatever purpose.

Original post:
Why Free Software Is More Important Now Than Ever Before