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@seyon @eu_os @EC_NGI

While FOSS does offer a great deal of flexibility, there are still practical concerns around jurisdiction, especially when it comes to legal matters, security audits, and the involvement of major corporations. Even though the software itself is open and can be modified, the infrastructure and support around it — such as funding, legal protections, or compliance — can still be influenced by where the project is based or the entities involved. Moving to a more independent, EU-based model could help mitigate some of those risks and offer more sovereignty in the long run.

Furthermore, the concern remains that the U.S. government could potentially order a company to introduce a hidden backdoor into the software, and the corporation might not be free — or even able — to disclose this information. This is a serious issue, especially as political pressures grow. In a broader sense, the U.S. is increasingly resembling more authoritarian regimes like Russia or China when it comes to digital policies, where control over software and data is prioritized over privacy or transparency.

Even though FOSS allows you to examine the code, the reality is that no one can continuously monitor the entire system at all times. The complexities of modern operating systems make it incredibly difficult to scrutinize every line of code, especially as it evolves. This is why reducing dependency on American corporations and jurisdiction could be an essential step toward ensuring true independence and security.

Replied to EU OS

@eu_os @EC_NGI

Relying on America's IBM's Fedora Linux, CentOS Linux, and Red Hat Linux as upstream sources does not address many of the challenges that an independent, EU-based OS could solve.

It would be beneficial if your concept either became independent (via a hard fork), thus removing reliance on American businesses and jurisdiction, or if you developed a completely independent OS from scratch.

A reminder, that should EU_OS every become more than an idea concept, it would not truly be a European OS, because they are insistent to rely on the America's IBM's Fedora Linux, the free upstream to CentOS and IBM's Red Hat Linux.

This could be resolved, of course, if they hard forked Fedora, since then they would not rely on Fedora as the upstream. Or developed something from scratch as an independent.

#EU_OS #EuOS #Europe #Linux

RE: https://eupolicy.social/users/eu_os/statuses/114693578823060293

EUpolicy.social - A Mastodon server for the EU bubbleEU OS (@eu_os@eupolicy.social)Attached: 1 image Flash update: Opening of the United Nations #opensourceweek2025 hackathon ✅ #UN has a #Gitlab server at https://opensource.unicc.org that could build #EU_OS (or #UN_OS) 😁 ❌ Everyone must use #discord. Why not opensource such as #Matrix? Today, EU OS is not in the scope of the event. #EuroStack #GovStack

EU OS, is something I wish someone had thought of and implemented, years ago.

I understand why they picked Fedora, but I hope they hard fork Fedora. I hope they have their own repositories.

If all you do is rely on the United States' Fedora Linux, you'll still be relying on and depending on the United States and its jurisdiction. You can claim people will have eyes on it, the same way they have eyes on everything else, but then you're not different.

#Eu_OS#EuOS#Europe

Building a "EU OS", a Linux distribution for the public sector, is another example of a repeating pattern.

Everybody throughout Europe talks about digital sovereignty, that we need to become independent, that Free Software is a great way of getting there, and at the end (almost nothing) happens.

Instead of simply starting to use all the great stuff out there, we start to build stuff because we tell ourselves that x, y, z is missing.

Let's get finally started! We will be surprised what's already possible. Gaps that might come up can be closed on the go.

Great article about seven FOSS-based projects the EU should support now instead of getting distracted:

fossforce.com/2025/04/the-last

"While politics shift and trade alliances fray, the open-source movement remains one of the most stable, borderless, and collaborative human endeavors on the planet."

Interesting read from openSUSE!

"Freedom Does Not Come From One Vendor"

news.opensuse.org/2025/03/26/freedom-is-not-one-vender/

#Linux #OpenSource #OSS #euOS

openSUSE NewsFreedom Does Not Come From One VendorAs political winds shift across the globe, the digital world is not immune to the turbulence. Governments and organizations across the globe are reassessing ...