This is why the GPLv2 doesn't only require the source code itself. You have to be able to effectively make use of that software freedom. It doesn't matter so m

This is why the GPLv2 doesn't only require the source code itself. You have to be able to effectively make use of that software freedom. It doesn't matter so much if you had software freedom, if all you had was the freedom to study, which is only one of the four freedoms. You need the freedom to modify, and freedom to install modified versions, and the GPL guarantees that. Question: How many IoT devices out there are running GPL'd firmware, providing source code, but no method to actually modify the device (or the current method is unmaintained and broken)? Answer: A lot! If you can't request sources and build & install them, it's a GPL violation. Rebuilding and reinstalling linux on IoT devices is a necessary step towards privacy and security on those devices.