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[LUG] Fwd: Save WiFi

 

FYI.. had this from a friend this morning..

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Save WiFi
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:17:22 +0100


In case you're not already aware, the FCC in America is trying to push
through legislation that will ban any third-party "tampering" with any
device that has WiFi connectivity (that will include laptops as well as
routers and other hardware. This is a HUGE deal as it will likely result
in federal laws that will require all hardware to be totally locked down
(meaning that you won't be able to flash custom firmware on your router
(such as OpenWRT) or on your phone (Cyanogenmod etc). More seriously,
the proposed legislation has provision to require total lockdown of UEFI
bootloaders, meaning that it will be impossible to install a third party
OS (such as Linux or BSD) on your PC or laptop.

This is a very serious threat to technological freedom - much more so
that the old software patents thing from a few years back as this one
has the backing of the US Government and law enforcement agencies on the
grounds of national security.

Anyway the FCC is inviting comments on the issue, but the general fear
is that these will be largely ignored due to the overarching political
agenda behind it :(

https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Save_WiFi

-- 

All government snoopers have very small penises




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