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Read and share online: https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/ftcs-solicitation-for-public-comments-make-your-voice-heard

Dear Ruben Safir,

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wields considerable influence
over technology. Now, they are soliciting public comments on the
business practices of so-called "cloud computing" providers. In a
recent announcement, the FTC said that its staff are seeking to better
understand the impact of [the growing reliance on cloud
computing], the broader competitive dynamics in cloud
computing, its implications for artificial intelligence, and
potential security risks in the use of [the] cloud."

Since it isn't every day that the FTC solicits public comments on
subjects in which the free software community is so well-versed, let's
take this opportunity to submit comments that support digital
sovereignty. The hope is to persuade policy makers to make software
freedom and privacy a central part of any future considerations made
in the areas of storage, computation, and services. Such comments will
be made part of the public record, so any participation promises to
have a lasting impact.

Take Action

Write about it! Help influence decision makers and docket commentors
by writing on the subject. As for your text, we have prepared the
following points for consideration:

• When considering rules and regulations in technology that stand to
  protect people's fundamental civil liberties, it is important to
  start from the question, "does this decision improve digital
  sovereignty or diminish it?"


• In the case of computing, (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, and
  graphic design programs), the typical options diminish digital
  sovereignty because the computations are being run on another
  computer under someone else's control, inaccessible to the end
  user, who therefore does not have the essential freedoms to share,
  modify, and study the computations (i.e. the program). The only real
  solution to this is to offer free "as in freedom" replacements
  of those programs, so that end users may maintain control over their
  computing.


• In the case of storage, today's typical options diminish digital
  sovereignty because many storage providers only provide unencrypted
  options for storage. It is imperative that individuals and
  businesses who choose third-party storage always have the choice to
  encrypt their storage, and the encryption keys must be entirely
  within the control of the end user, not the third-party provider.


• In the case of services (such as email, teleconferencing, and
  videoconferencing), while the source code that runs services need not
  necessarily be made public, end users deserve to be able to access
  such services via a free software client. In such cases, it is
  imperative that service providers implement a design of
  interoperability, so that end users may use the service with any
  choice of client.


• Free software allows end users to inspect the software for possible
  security flaws, while proprietary software does not. Therefore free
  software is the only realistic option for an end user to achieve
  verifiable security.

Such responses address the questions being asked by the FTC in the
Market power and business practices affecting competition section of
their instructions, while maintaining focus on our free software
advocacy efforts.

Feel free to use any of these suggestions, adapting them to your own
style of writing. The only thing we ask is that you keep the free
software message strong throughout. If you would like to run any ideas
by us before submitting, we are delighted to receive your drafts at
campaigns@fsf.org.

A note about the FTC docket website

Unfortunately, the FTC's website requires nonfree JavaScript
(reCAPTCHA, specifically) to comment on a document, and the FTC has
declined repeated requests for instructions for how to submit comments
by paper form. If you're not in the habit of avoiding nonfree
JavaScript for the sake of your freedom, which we recommend, you can
also leave comments on the FTC's website. While you're there, let
webmaster@ftc.gov know about the injustice of proprietary JavaScript
and encourage them to respect the freedom of their users.

If you would like to join us in reaching out to the FTC to request
comments be accepted in ways that do not require running nonfree
JavaScript, please consider contacting their office by mail and/or
phone:

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20580

Telephone: (202) 326-2222

The deadline to submit is June 21, which is just enough time to
publish something meaningful on the topic in support of free software.

In solidarity,

Free Software Foundation