Haack's Networking

A small informal review of the Conservancy's "Recommendations when Using AI"

📚️ sfconservancy.org/llm-gen-ai/llm-backed-generative-ai-recommendations.html

✍️ I think this is a very reasonable approach to LLM-gen-AI (hereafter AI) and floss space. Despite the fear mongering, AI is simply a tool. As with any statistical software, the human has to be the final arbiter of the content - not the tool itself. The free form input and output increases the concern over confirmation bias but it does not negate the value of the tool if used properly.

💡The main goal - imho - and one which we see this piece calling for in #12 ... is the rapid and immediate forking/development of floss-only AI tooling. Some do already exist, but they are crude in comparison. As with any software, the four software freedoms are paramount for ensuring the safety, equity, and accessibility of the tooling. This is essential and I've already started investing so as to be able to self-host my own generative AI.

🔨 In short, if these two criteria are met - namely, the human is the final arbiter of the content and the underlying models/tooling are floss, then I think arguments against AI-usage crumble. Sure, concerns over reliance on proprietary AI, governmental and/or big money influence, those all matter ... and floss and the four freedoms protect us from these valid concerns. AI is just the latest software - it's not special.

⚡️ This set of recommendations is game-changing. I think the next task for the Conservancy to consider is the legal / copyright side of the matter. A member of our small group brought this up and I share that same concern. As more litigation and legal precedent emerges, it will be interesting to see how this guidance evolves. In particular, I am referring to the US-side of legality re: https://www.copyright.gov/ai/ - I think the next wisest task for the Conservancy to take on is licensing + AI.

Final Grade: A+

This piece reaffirms the Conservancy firmly as a leader in FLOSS spaces. Massive thanks.

@jimsalter @bkuhn @conservancy

#self-hosted #freesoftware #opensource #floss #linux #gnulinux

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Hello Fediverse!

This is the very first post on this friendly new instance for everyone who likes, uses, and enjoys talking about free and open source software, especially Linux, BSD, and illumos operating systems.

#fediblue #darkblueproject #mastodon #opensource #freesoftware #fediverse

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New to the #FreeSoftware movement and not sure where to start? Check out some of our videos on Framatube: u.fsf.org/3it #FSF #education

Map your footprint.
Score the leak.
Get a plan.

Inventory the services that hold your data. Answer a few questions about how you use each. Get a privacy grade with prioritized fixes.

https://privacyscore.me

#opensource #privacy #freesoftware #technology #apps #lifestyle #economy

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@bkuhn @conservancy @dalias

> While it was surely unintentional, your reply is quite similar to the cruelty of traditional #FreeSoftware rhetoric — wherein we shunned people for using #Apple & #Microsoft. Such users deserve sympathy and help toward more software freedom.
>
> Same goes for #LLM-backed generative #AI users.

Sorry, I usually really value your opinions on stuff, as you tend to run contrary to the so-pragmatic-they'd-pimp-their-own-mothers attitude that is far too prevalent in (F)OSS, but hard disagree.

There's a big difference between knocking someone for using a MacBook and knocking someone for using an LLM.

Using a MacBook harms the user in ways that are somewhat debatable. Its harm outside of the user is very negligible and even more debatable.

Using LLMs harms us all. I don't doubt that there are valid and ethical applications for LLMs in many sectors, but you don't build a giant baby shredder on top of an indigenous burial ground and then suddenly pivot to saying, "But wait, it can process potatoes, too!"

If we're not talking about the theft of human creativity, the theft of potable water, the theft of human labor and wages, the promotion of über-fascist plutocrats, and all of the other horrendous harms associated with LLMs, then we're not talking about LLMs. We're engaging in some kind of fantasy roleplay.

Respectfully,

—Some dingbat named Dane, or something, who loves humanity and freedom.

In a policy statement¹, @conservancy said:
> “#FOSS projects should not shun contributors who choose to use LLM-gen-AI systems.”

@dalias' reply:
>> “LOL WTF NOPE. 🤡”

While it was surely unintentional, your reply is quite similar to the cruelty of traditional #FreeSoftware rhetoric — wherein we shunned people for *using* #Apple & #Microsoft. Such users deserve sympathy and help toward more software freedom.

Same goes for #LLM-backed generative #AI users.

¹ https://sfconservancy.org/llm-gen-ai/llm-backed-generative-ai-recommendations.html

#OpenSource

Calling all #Bookworms: the #GNUPress Shop has lots of great #books on #FreeSoftware, including how to use it! https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #GNU

Coming up in #LibreOffice 26.8, our next major release (due in August): the border toolbar button in Calc is now a split button that remembers and reapplies the most recently used border style. Thanks to Andreas Heinisch for implementing this feature! #foss #openSource #freesoftware

Every donation to the #FSF, no matter the size, funds essential #FreeSoftware work: https://u.fsf.org/commit #Commit2Freedom #GNU

Most people can't answer a simple question: who holds my data, what are they allowed to do with it, and how do I reduce that?

The information is scattered across dozens of accounts and buried in privacy policies almost no one reads.

This free open source tool turns that fog into a ranked list of concrete actions and alternatives.

PERSONAL PRIVACY SCORE
https://privacyscore.me

#privacy #opensource #freesoftware

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Personal Privacy Score website preview.

Just because #LibreLocal month is over doesn't mean you have to wait until 2027 to meet up with #FreeSoftware activists in your area. Organize a meetup today! https://u.fsf.org/45l

When you're building software aimed at a niche related to hype, the only thing you can do is hook people onto it. I mean, you're targeting the kind people who have an attention span of a fruit fly. Unless they're literally addicted to your software, they're going to forget it as soon as they notice the next shiny thing.

#AI #LLM #NoAI #NoLLM #FreeSoftware #OpenSource

Big new documentation update for #LibreOffice! Thanks to the volunteers who made it happen: https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2026/06/17/the-getting-started-guide-26-2-has-just-arrived/ #foss #opensource #freesoftware

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Getting Started guide cover

Show a member of the free software community or a project that you've noticed their important work by nominating them for a #FreeSoftware Award: https://u.fsf.org/4bc #FSF #GNU

A #ThankGNU! to the Sheila, Dave and Sherry Gold Foundation and Tom Benjamin Radtke for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/4ao

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If you don't want unknown entities spying on your emails, setting up email encryption is a great way to protect your #privacy and use your #UserFredom: u.fsf.org/1bq #surveillance #FSF #FreeSoftware #GNU

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Plasma 6.7 is out and landing soon on your distro of choice!

You can look forward to easier menu customization, better control over your mics, and, as for virtual desktops... Well, well, well! You get keyboard navigation and the much anticipated feature of having separate virtual desktops on different monitors.

Find out about all the new stuff packed into Plasma 6.7 here:

https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.7.0/

#Plasma6 #desktop #FreeSoftware #OpenSource

Apps for encryption, comms, Usenet, remailers ...

Ch1ffr3punk: https://github.com/Ch1ffr3punk

The owner is a denizen of the OG #Usenet scene.

#cypherpunk #cryptography #crypto #encryption #privacy #github #freesoftware

@cypherpunk@soc.octade.net @cryptography@soc.octade.net @usenet@soc.octade.net

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If you've been inspired by someone's hard work in the #FreeSoftware community, nominate them for a Free Software Award by July 12: https://u.fsf.org/4bc #FSF #GNU

A #ThankGNU! to Norm Gunn, Raffael Stocker, and Ryo Nakamura for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/4ao

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Take a quick look back at 2025 and what happened in the #LibreOffice project – new releases, updates, #QA work, #accessibility and more: https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2026/06/16/libreoffice-releases-features-qa-and-accessibility-tdf-annual-report-2025/ #foss #openSource #freesoftware

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Annual Report banner with group photo from LibreOffice Conference

A #ThankGNU! to Adam Oberbeck and Edward Flick for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/4ao

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@louis @adbenitez @w8emv

Phone numbers as ids are not only bad for #privacy. They also make it hard to maintain multiple accounts for different areas of life.

E.g. I maintain four #chat accounts: One at work, one at my main #freeSoftware project, one for public #socialNetwork stuff, and of course a private one.

(In my case it's #Jabber/#XMPP, not Delta, but that doesn't matter in this context. Both do support multiple accounts.)

Local meetups are great for #FreeSoftware of all ages and experiences: https://u.fsf.org/4ag #FSF #LibreLocal

Interested in helping #FreeSoftware users find freedom-respecting programs by updating the Free Software Directory (FSD)? Please consider joining the FSD meeting this Friday on IRC. Read more at: https://www.fsf.org/events/fsd-2026-06-19-irc #FreeSoftwareDirectory #FSF

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⚠️ The FSFE has submitted its position to the @EUCommission's Android interoperability consultation under the #DMA

The FSFE is calling for the following, among other things:

🔹 the right to fully uninstall AI-based features from Android devices,

🔸 and access to interoperability functions for developers free from #Google verification requirements

https://fsfe.org/news/2026/news-20260615-01.en.html

#SoftwareFreedom #FreeSoftware

Give a talk at the upcoming #LibreOffice Conference 2026 in Pordenone, Italy! We've extended the Call for Papers for two more weeks: https://events.documentfoundation.org/libreoffice-conference-2026/cfp #foss #openSource #freesoftware

Join the #LibreOffice community! Build up your skills and learn new things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tundkAar9d4 #foss #openSource #freesoftware

A #FSF associate membership doesn't just support the #FreeSoftware movement, it also comes with a lot of great perks: https://www.fsf.org/associate/benefits