4 ms·

Serious question - can governments put mandates on open source software? How would that work? How could it work?

• p0w3n3d 3y ago
  banning software, mass surveillance, mandatory software installed on people's computers
  • taylodl 3y ago
    Sure, they can regulate the behaviors of the people using the software, but what means do they have for regulating the software itself?
    • karaterobot 3y ago
      Mozilla does business in France, I believe. They have an office in Paris, and likely employ French people. So, they could be regulated like any other business, and punished like any other business. Since Mozilla make the software, the software can be regulated.
    • deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
• popcorncowboy 3y ago
  Of course. Legislature can pass any laws it decides to. Open source software doesn't get some free-pass that allows it to dodge laws. Yes of course you can ignore, disagree and break laws. But they can and will come after you.
  • slotrans 3y ago
    Come after who? And how?
  • Zuiii 3y ago
    > But they can and will come after you No they can't and won't. Though they will grab you if you go to them.
  • johnnyanmac 3y ago
    passing a law and enforcing it are entirely different matters. I don't think a law like this can feasibly be enforced. Especially when "open source" is not limited to a singe country. And I don't think the US is extraditing anyone from Firefox over such a law.