Re: [GNU/consensus] [RFC][SH] User Data Manifesto

[hellekin (GNU Consensus)]

On 12/31/2012 11:05 PM, Richard Stallman wrote:
> Hold your horses!
> 
*** Christian, Richard, I really appreciate working with you both. That
is a real challenge sometimes to match your vision-logic, and I learn a
lot along the path. I'm really glad.

I invited Frank Karlitschek, the author of this manifesto, to join the
list. I hope he will do it and reflect on your comments. I will review
them after a good night of sleep.

Happy GNU year!

==
hk

P.S.: Frank, Christian Grothoff made other comments, available in the
GNU/consensus list archive.

>     1. Own the data
>     The data that someone directly or indirectly creates belongs to the
>     person who created it.
> 
> The words "own" and "belong" will give people the wrong idea.
> Meanwhile, "data" is too general.
> 
> What if the data is program?  This seems to say that the program
> should gave an owner -- and we are against that.
> 
>     2. Know where the data is stored
>     Everybody should be able to know: where their personal data is
>     physically stored, how long, on which server, in what country, and what
>     laws apply.
> 
>     3. Choose the storage location
>     Everybody should always be able to migrate their personal data to a
>     different provider, server or their own machine at any time without
>     being locked in to a specific vendor.
> 
> I guess so, but in the long term, this is aiming low.  The real goal
> should be that everyone has a server and keeps her data there.
> 
>     5. Choose the conditions
>     If someone chooses to share their own data, then the owner of the data
>     selects the sharing license and conditions.
> 
> "Owner of the data" has the same problems as in the first item.
> 
>     6. Invulnerability of data
>     Everybody should be able to protect their own data against surveillance
>     and to federate their own data for backups to prevent data loss or for
>     any other reason.
> 
> "Invulnerability" is too strong.  Nobody can achieve that.
> 
>     7. Use it optimally
>     Everybody should be able to access and use their own data at all times
>     with any device they choose and in the most convenient and easiest way
>     for them.
> 
> This is a demand for perfect convenience.  I suspect it is impossible;
> more importantly, it is a distraction, since it is not an ethical issue.
> Mere convenience issues should not be elevated to the same status
> as ethical issues.
> 
>     8. Server software transparency
>     Server software should be free and open source software so that the
>     source code of the software can be inspected to confirm that it works as
>     specified.
> 
> Please don't use the term "open source" here.  This is part of the
> free software movement.  "Open source" is the slogan of people who
> disagree with our ethical ideals.
>

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