> it presciently describes what has come to be since 1997 The only question now is when will the system he describes become fully operational? When will it be

> it presciently describes what has come to be since 1997 The only question now is when will the system he describes become fully operational? When will it be impossible to go online using a device that can't produce a "Secure Boot" attestation that it is running an "approved" operating system (namely one which runs a process like Gatekeeper[0] to monitor for unapproved applications)? My guess is that some G7/EU/FVEY nation will pass a law to that effect before the 20th anniversary of Stallman's essay. That will give time for desktop users to "upgrade" to Windows 11, with its required Pluton chip. If the law does allow "hobbyist" OSes like GNU/Linux to access the internet, it will probably require them to install a CA certificate for TLS interception. [0] https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-explains-why-it-grabs-data-from-mac-computers-amid-privacy-concerns https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-explains-why-it-grabs-data-...