Richard Stallman started the free software movement in 1983. He initiated development of the GNU operating system which anyone can freely copy and distribute. Combined with the program Linux, GNU is used on millions of computers. Among his prizes and honorary doctorates is a MacArthur Fellowship, Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Pioneer Award, and induction into the Internet Hall of Fame.
In this interview on Singularity Weblog, Dr. Stallman explains “how nonfree software and online dis-services impose their control on us, and some specific kinds of wrong they are designed to do.” A key initiator of the free software movement and founder of the Free Software Foundation explains what we must do to take back control.
Given challenges to net neutrality, press freedom, and to our own freedom and privacy, the stakes we face in using the internet are enormous.