Free Software Foundation launches anti-Vista campaign

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 18 Dec 2006 at 14:32

The Free Software Foundation (FSF)has launched a campaign against Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, claiming it is an incursion on users' freedoms.

The FSF backs the use of Free Software, which does not impose restrictions on the way software is used, and says Vista is culpable of 'daylight theft of computer users' rights'. It also criticises the Trusted Computing platform, aimed at building security into the hardware as well as software. The FSF describes the platform as 'Treacherous Computing' and 'an attempt to turn computers from machines controlled by their user into machines that monitor their user and refuse to operate in ways that manufacturers don't authorize.'

'Vista is an upsell masquerading as an upgrade. It is an overall regression when you look at the most important aspect of owning and using a computer: your control over what it does. Obviously MS Windows is already proprietary and very restrictive, and well worth rejecting. But the new 'features' in Vista are a Trojan Horse to smuggle in even more restrictions. We'll be focusing attention on detailing how they work, how to resist them, and why people should care,' said FSF program administrator John Sullivan.

As well as outlining its concerns with Vista, the FSF will use the BadVista campaign to promote Free Software products that could replace the Vista operating system and its programs without the licensing restrictions on how it is used. It will also aggregate various online articles it finds that address the issues it is trying to highlight.

For more information, visit the BadVista.org website.

Microsoft had not responded to requests for comment at the time of writing.