Petition Summary: The petitioner calls for the European Union to actively develop and implement a Linux-based operating system, termed ‘EU-Linux’, across public administrations in all EU Member States. This initiative aims to reduce dependency on Microsoft products, ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and promoting transparency, sustainability, and digital sovereignty within the EU. The petitioner emphasizes the importance of using open-source alternatives to Microsoft 365, such as LibreOffice and Nextcloud, and suggests the adoption of the E/OS mobile operating system for government devices. The petitioner also highlights the potential for job creation in the IT sector through this initiative.

  • @sibachian@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    6322 days ago

    I’ve said this a million times, but it’s definitely about time we stop spending taxes on a rogue entity across the ocean who definitely does not have our best interests in mind. I’m not convinced it’s even legal and I don’t understand why the legal prospects have never been brought up about this fucking situation. R&D money should not go to a foreign corporation. In addition, I (and pretty much everyone else on the planet) already paid for microsofts products and services so my government can use it (against my will), so why the fuck do they get away with setting a public price at all? It should legally be free or the governments shouldn’t need to pay for it in the first place, and it should legally be open source because it’s publicly funded. There are just so many problems with the entire idea of our government using Windows, Office, and their services.

    • Fonzie!
      link
      fedilink
      2422 days ago

      They’re already putting out a petition so they’re not wholly against the idea of an EU-Linux.

      Also, this has been done before by other governments, like parts of the UK’s and many Indian governments.

      I think it’d be a big step, but a doable one and for the better.

      Why do you compare it to destroying and rebuilding one of the EU countries, if I may ask?

      • Why do you compare it to destroying and rebuilding one of the EU countries, if I may ask?

        Because destroying and rebuilding the digital infrastructure is very similar. It’s extremely expensive and causes a lot of breakages in the process.

        • @sibachian@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          English
          1122 days ago

          most software is web based and OS-agnostic so there is no destruction and rebuilding happening, and for everything else, FOSS is literally free. How is it expensive to switch from X with a monthly cost to X that is free? Even if things breaks initially, the cost would equalize and long-term be considerably reduced.

          • most software is web based and OS-agnostic so there is no destruction and rebuilding happening

            I don’t think EU backend and government job software is OS-agnostic.

            and for everything else, FOSS is literally free

            Yes but they need to switch and develop new utilities which is time and money.

            Even if things breaks initially, the cost would equalize and long-term be considerably reduced.

            That might be true depending on the maintenance costs of the new solutions.

  • @N0x0n@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    2122 days ago

    As long as the EU doesn’t reinvent the wheel, why not? I mean if they are going to fork Linux and rewrite a EU-based linux OS, this would further divide the community and make issues and security a lot more wacky… Not sure this is a good idea.

  • @mostlikelyaperson@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    1920 days ago

    While I like the idea, it’ll be incredibly tough to overcome Microsofts lobbying, one just needs to look on the history of the LiMux project.

  • Dariusmiles2123
    link
    fedilink
    622 days ago

    If only the GAFAMS could stop getting money from taxpayers! It would be a big start and then it would just be the individuals who would decide to support by buying their products or not.

    • @theshatterstone54@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      120 days ago

      You’re forgetting corporations. That’s where big money is at. Business and Government. If we can take away the Government, that would be nice.

  • NutWrench
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1222 days ago

    Especially in light of Microsoft CoPilot. You do not want obvious spyware on any computer.

    • @theshatterstone54@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      521 days ago

      Don’t forget Recall, aka literal spyware, taking screenshots of your device regardless of whether you’re entering passwords, making private searches, using TOR, opening sensitive documents, looking at private pictures. It’s all exposed.

  • Papamousse
    link
    fedilink
    822 days ago

    Just use Debian, it has old root, stable, still being developed, it’s the base of various others distro that “enhance” it (sometimes badly).

    Debian.

    I’m using MX Linus AHS, based on Debian, BTW.

  • @OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    721 days ago

    PSA: You can sign the petition even if you’re not a European national. I registered and signed as a Canadian myself and it accepted it

  • To register on that website I need to agree to Privacy Policy:

    Please be aware that registered petitions are public documents. This means that your identity, the number given to the petition and the personal data contained therein: (1) may be disclosed to the recipients mentioned in the paragraph above; (2) may be mentioned in public meetings held by the Committee on Petitions, and thus webstreamed (which means that they may be watched by anyone through the European Parliament website); (3) may be mentioned in the plenary session, and thus be recorded in the minutes published in the Official journal; (4) may be made available on the internet website of the European Parliament.

    Do I understand it incorrectly or does it allow them to webstream my home address???

  • @elucubra@sopuli.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    1922 days ago

    This is dumb. Hand over development to bureaucrats? create a set of guidelines and requirements, and allow distros to be certified, and fund development of distros that are being used.

    • andrew_bidlaw
      link
      fedilink
      English
      222 days ago

      I don’t know how it works with a frequently updating OS. In my mind beaurocrats can become asses about certifying one exact version they inspected and then making users afraid that open source community can inject the next version with viruses and they can’t be sure it’s okay too. Ah, and making each certification a paid service and somehow fucking it up.

      In Russia there are like two projects of local Linux with custom wine that you can buy just like other software, certified by FSB for sensitive business (I believe them being the first pieces of software to get it except specific cryptographic stuff), but I feel the reason it’s getting adopted and certified is because there are some nepotism and illegal connections with money not really changing pockets.

    • @QuazarOmega@lemy.lol
      link
      fedilink
      221 days ago

      100% I can imagine they don’t want to rely on third parties to develop their distribution, but, realistically, all the software that keeps the system going will be developed by “randos on the internet” still, so might as well hand over all the development effort to who has the knowledge already, while providing funds/grants

    • Handles
      link
      fedilink
      English
      4422 days ago

      It would make so much more sense to fund existing Linux development than making a new distro, tbh.

      If the EU changed to Linux systems and donated the same amount back to open source development as they currently pay for Microsoft licenses, that would make a hell of a difference.