[Discussioni] Fwd: [FSFE PR][EN] Joint Statement on the Radio Lockdown Directive

[Francesco Potortì]

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From: press a fsfeurope.org
Organization: Free Software Foundation Europe
To: press-release a fsfeurope.org
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2016 08:47:31 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: [FSFE PR][EN] Joint Statement on the Radio Lockdown Directive
Reply-To: press a fsfeurope.org, pr a fsfeurope.org

 = Joint Statement on the Radio Lockdown Directive =

[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2016/news-20160411-01.en.html ]

23 organisations including the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)
joined up in proposing measures[1] to EU institutions and EU member
states to avoid negative implications on users' rights and Free Software
imposed by the EU Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU.

The ‘ Radio Lockdown Directive[2] ’ that will be applicable in the EU
since 13 June 2016 threatens software freedom, users' rights, fair
competition, innovation, environment, and volunteering – without
comparable benefits for security. It introduces disproportionate
‘essential requirement’ in the form of forcing device manufacturers to
prove radio regulatory compliance for every possible software able to
run on every product using the radio frequency spectrum. In practice,
this means that in the future only particular software authorised by the
manufacturers can be installed on any device connecting through wireless
and mobile networks or GPS: e.g. routers, mobile phones, WiFi cards and
the laptops they are built in, or almost all devices including network
functionality.

This requirement will lock users to hardware manufacturers, and will
also disadvantage businesses based on Free Software or any other
alternative software not installed by default by the manufacturer of the
device. Thereby it will have negative implications on fair competition
and freedom to conduct business. The requirement to assess every
possible hardware and software combination to be compliant with the RED
– which is envisaged to enhance security of radio devices – disables
users and businesses to choose software whose security problems can be
fixed by everybody without having to relay on the vendor.

The FSFE and the other signatories, therefore, ask the EU institutions
and the EU member states to safeguard rights of users and businesses to
use and install Free Software and any other alternative third-party
software on their devices; to avoid the lockdown of the devices to the
software provided by the hardware manufacturer; and refrain from
shifting the responsibility for the software's regulatory compliance
from the users to the manufacturers when making changes to the default
configuration. Software and hardware should not be treated differently
in that respect. The EU Commission has been entitled to adopt delegated
acts which can make these vitally needed adjustments.

The joint statement on the Radio Lockdown Directive is open to more
signatures. Whether a user, a charity project, or a business, the Radio
Lockdown Directive affects everyone. We ask other organisations and
companies to support our statement and make sure that the Radio Lockdown
Directive will not place blanket, unnecessary and disproportionate
restrictions on the rights of consumers and businesses when implementing
the Directive into national legislations.

Please also read our detailed analysis[3], and feel free to contact us
if you have any questions.

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 1. https://fsfe.org/activities/radiodirective/statement.en.html
 2. https://fsfe.org/activities/radiodirective/radiodirective.en.html
 3. https://fsfe.org/activities/radiodirective/radiodirective.en.html

  == About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==

  The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a non-profit
  non-governmental organisation active in many European countries and
  involved in many global activities. Access to software determines
  participation in a digital society. To secure equal participation in
  the information age, as well as freedom of competition, the Free
  Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) pursues and is dedicated to the
  furthering of Free Software, defined by the freedoms to use, study,
  modify and copy. Founded in 2001, creating awareness for these issues,
  securing Free Software politically and legally, and giving people
  Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are central issues
  of the FSFE.

  http://fsfe.org/
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