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The annoying nerds who said you should install Linux, use decentralised social media, use Signal secure messenger were right.
Control of our own computing is a prerequisite for freedom.
The internet *is* real life.
the united states uses laws named export controls to create a list of “naughty” nations who aren’t allowed to have certain technologies and; as of six-ish months ago; they forced those laws upon the linux kernel when they kicked out their russian developers.
the american federal government now gets to decide who can & can’t contribute to the linux kernel and the bsd’s did the same thing even though they didn’t have to.
in this case; it’s because the kernel has to interact with firmware and that firmware is proprietary and under export control laws, but it’s possible to get needful information on that firmware using the kernel; hence blocking people who know how to do that with the kernel from the kernel developer group.
the american gov’t can disappear/suicide american/european kernel developers if they discover these secrets; but they can’t do the same thing to russian kernel developers if they do the same thing.
the firmware is not part of the linux kernel (it only works with the kernel); you will not be able to read the source unless you work for the company that owns it.
oh, you meant that since russians cannot contribute, then they’re not going to work with american companies that want to have their firmwares supported by the kernel.
it’s the other way around: the russians (and likely the chinese soon) won’t be allowed to contribute so that linux can keep working with american companies & their firmware.
what do you mean by “export controls”? backdoors?
the united states uses laws named export controls to create a list of “naughty” nations who aren’t allowed to have certain technologies and; as of six-ish months ago; they forced those laws upon the linux kernel when they kicked out their russian developers.
the american federal government now gets to decide who can & can’t contribute to the linux kernel and the bsd’s did the same thing even though they didn’t have to.
How can you even have export controls on something digital and free?
in this case; it’s because the kernel has to interact with firmware and that firmware is proprietary and under export control laws, but it’s possible to get needful information on that firmware using the kernel; hence blocking people who know how to do that with the kernel from the kernel developer group.
the american gov’t can disappear/suicide american/european kernel developers if they discover these secrets; but they can’t do the same thing to russian kernel developers if they do the same thing.
cant you still get info on that firmware by just reading the kernel source code? how does contributing code get you info?
the firmware is not part of the linux kernel (it only works with the kernel); you will not be able to read the source unless you work for the company that owns it.
oh, you meant that since russians cannot contribute, then they’re not going to work with american companies that want to have their firmwares supported by the kernel.
it’s the other way around: the russians (and likely the chinese soon) won’t be allowed to contribute so that linux can keep working with american companies & their firmware.
i see
ah ok