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+<!-- pubdate: 20210217 -->
+
+# Better than Zoom and Google Meet: Try these Free Software powered video conferencing apps and services
+
+We recommend you to use [free software][fw] powered video conferencing
+software like [Jitsi][j] and [BigBlueButton][bbb]. Since they are free
+software, the software is under user's control, and they give the user
+the freedom to run their own server which gives users full control
+over their communications.
+
+[fw]: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw
+[j]: https://jitsi.org
+[bbb]: https://bigbluebutton.org
+
+We would like to highlight that the FOSDEM 2021 conference which [used
+only free software (Matrix and Jitsi) and hosted 30,000
+attendees][matrix-fosdem] which shows that for large conferences also
+we need not depend on proprietary software.
+
+[matrix-fosdem]: https://matrix.org/blog/2021/02/15/how-we-hosted-fosdem-2021-on-matrix
+
+## Problems with proprietary videoconferencing systems
+
+In the pandemic time, our communications are being held via nonfree
+video conferencing software like Zoom, Google Meet etc.<sup>[1](#fr)</sup>
+Hosting video conferencing via nonfree software gives away control of
+our communications.
+
+Video communications on Zoom are done via Zoom's central server which
+mistreats users in various ways such as [snooping on users][ia-vice]
+and [shutting down accounts of activists][guardian]. Zoom also
+[censored an event with Palestinian activist Leila Khaled][ti] and
+other events criticizing its censorship. A Zoom executive [reported on
+users to China][wp], and snooped on meetings.  If they discussed the
+Tien An Men Square massacre, he terminated the meetings and the
+participants' accounts, on the orders of China. What made it possible
+is that Zoom's design lets staff snoop on every conversation as it
+passes through the server.  Further, [Zoom has done a lousy job in
+protecting your privacy][cl].
+
+[ia-vice]: https://web.archive.org/web/20210104084812/https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7e599/zoom-ios-app-sends-data-to-facebook-even-if-you-dont-have-a-facebook-account
+[guardian]: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jun/11/zoom-shuts-account-of-us-based-rights-group-after-tiananmen-anniversary-meeting
+[ti]: https://theintercept.com/2020/11/14/zoom-censorship-leila-khaled-palestine/
+[wp]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/18/zoom-helped-china-surveillance
+[cl]: https://citizenlab.ca/2020/04/move-fast-roll-your-own-crypto-a-quick-look-at-the-confidentiality-of-zoom-meetings
+
+Surveillance and censorship are the consequences of the power Zoom has
+over its users because of its nonfree software and centralized
+server. It is Zoom's unjust power over their users that we
+oppose. This power bring users at the mercy of the entity (Zoom in
+this case) providing the service. The same is true for other nonfree
+conferencing systems like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams,
+[Skype][skype], etc.
+
+[skype]: https://stallman.org/skype.html
+
+Nonfree programs should never be trusted for privacy even if they say
+that the communications are end-to-end encrypted. It could send the
+unencrypted version to the owner of the software when asked, bypassing
+the encryption. A company that sold encryption systems to 100
+countries was controlled by US and German intelligence, [and the
+equipment spied on the governments that used it][guardian-crypto-spy]
+which means that you should never trust a proprietary encryption
+program to protect your privacy .  Therefore, we suggest you to reject
+any nonfree/proprietary software.
+
+[guardian-crypto-spy]: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/11/crypto-ag-cia-bnd-germany-intelligence-report
+
+## How can free software powered video-conferencing systems solve the problem?
+
+If the users communicate using free software installed in a server
+controlled by the users or a server run by a trusted service provider,
+they get full control over their communications. This gives them
+control over the policies of the service and data collection.  With
+Free Software like Jitsi and BigBlueButton, you have a choice of
+service providers, and you are not forced to host your video meetings
+on any particular server, say, Jitsi's central server. You can also
+host the service in countries with better Free Speech laws instead of
+forced to follow only Chinese law, in case of Zoom. This is like
+dissenters taking refuge in other countries to avoid persecution by
+oppressive governments.
+
+Jitsi instances usually have maximum capacity of 70 participants at a
+time.  A list of Jitsi instances can be found at
+<https://wiki.chatons.org/doku.php/la_visio-conference_avec_jitsi> and
+a list of BigBlueButton instances can be found at
+<https://wiki.chatons.org/doku.php/la_visio-conference_avec_big_blue_button>. We
+did not try all the instances listed in these links, this is just a
+list for users to try different instances. We suggest you to read the
+policies of the servers before hosting your communications there.
+
+Autistici's Jitsi instance <https://vc.autistici.org/> supports
+recording without using Dropbox or any other nonfree software service 
+(other Jitsi instances usually require a Dropbox account) and
+live-stream without using YouTube (other services usually support 
+live-streaming with YouTube only) on their own server. To record your
+meeting on Autsitici's server, you can click 'Start Recording' when
+you want to start and after 'Stop Recording', you will be sent a link
+in the Jitsi chat, and you can download the recording in your device.
+
+Jitsi instances like 8x8.vc has an Indian dial in (not toll-free but a
+number in Mumbai) number to join the audio conference. So people with 
+unlimited talk time but not a good internet connection can also join these.
+
+[tube.tchncs.de][tchncs.de] and other PeerTube instances that support
+live-streaming can be another option.
+[joinpeertube.org/instances][jpt] has a list of PeerTube instances and
+you can filter the list by choosing 'Video maker' profile and 'Yes' to
+'And do live streams' option. Apps like [NewPipe][np] and Fedilab
+support watching PeerTube videos and live streams. [OBS][obs] can be
+used to stream classes live.
+
+[tchncs.de]: https://tube.tchncs.de
+[jpt]: https://joinpeertube.org/instances
+[np]: https://newpipe.net
+[obs]: https://obsproject.com
+
+BigBlueButton instances generally have more capacity than Jitsi
+instances and instances like [meet.nixnet.services][bbb-nn] can scale
+up to 270+. Mixed approach of live-streaming and using separate text
+chat for questions can increase the limits.  BigBlueButton supports
+white board, presentations, live-streaming on YouTube. We suggest you
+to avoid live-stream on YouTube.  BigBlueButton doesn't need any app
+on mobiles to work, people can simply join via any web browser.
+[Chiguru also runs a BigBlueButton server][bbb-cg] especially for
+online classes and includes paid plans according to your needs.
+
+[bbb-nn]: https://meet.nixnet.services
+[bbb-cg]: https://classmeet.chiguru.tech
+
+## Conferences conducted using only free software
+
+In the pandemic time, we also saw the successful organization of
+conferences using only free software.  [FSCI][fsci] and [Free Software
+Foundation of India][fsfi] conducted the [Free Software Camp][c-fsfi]
+entirely [using Big Blue Button][c-fsfi-bbb]. Conferences
+[DebConf][debconf20] and [MiniDebConf Online India 2021][mdebconf21]
+were also held using Jitsi and Vogol for live-streaming the conference
+and Etherpad + IRC chat were used by the audience to ask
+questions. The [Free Software Foundation][fsf] conducted their 2020
+annual LibrePlanet conference online [without the use of any
+nonfree/proprietary software][fsfi-lp2020]. The FOSDEM 2021 conference
+was [conducted using only free software which hosted 30,000
+attendees][matrix-fosdem] which shows that there is absolutely no
+reason that [any online conference should require proprietary
+software][sfc-no-zoom]<sup>[α](#fn-1)</sup>. Any organization seeking
+to run a conference can either hire their own people, hire some of the
+people who organized FOSDEM to deploy the technology for you. If they
+can host their conference using only free software, other
+organizations can do it too.
+
+[fsci]: https://fsci.in
+[fsfi]: https://fsf.org.in
+[c-fsfi]: https://camp.fsf.org.in
+[c-fsfi-bbb]: https://videos.fsci.in/accounts/fscamp/videos
+[debconf20]: https://debconf20.debconf.org/about/debconf
+[mdebconf21]: https://wiki.debian.org/DebianIndia/MiniDebConfOnlineIndia2021
+[fsf]: https://fsf.org
+[fsfi-lp2020]: https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-in-person-component-canceled-but-well-see-you-online
+[sfc-no-zoom]: https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2021/feb/08/just-say-no-to-zoom
+
+## Educational Institutes should switch to free software
+
+Educational institutes all over the world are conducting
+lectures/webinars via nonfree software.  We suggest educational
+institutes to adopt free software alternatives like Jitsi,
+BigBlueButton and avoid nonfree software for lectures and
+conferences. Conferences can be held using only free software similar
+to the above mentioned conferences. Educational institutes have a
+responsibility towards their students and teachers to respect their
+freedom and privacy. Students should not be forced to give away their
+freedom and privacy to attend lectures, webinars to build their
+career.
+
+If you are from an educational institute, and need help in switching
+to free software services which respect your freedom, we will be glad
+to help you. Please do not [hesitate to contact us in this
+regard][fsfi-contact].
+
+[fsfi-contact]: https://fsf.org.in/contact
+
+## Ways in which students can resist
+
+To show rejection of nonfree software, students can resist in various
+ways.  Students can get in touch with each other and send collective
+letters to teachers or their administration to create awareness about
+the problems that proprietary software poses. To raise awareness, they
+can share this article.  They can ask their teachers to make
+recordings from the Zoom calls and post the recordings where they can
+download them later. We suggest free software like upload.disroot.org
+or PeerTube for sharing video lectures. Or else ask teachers to post
+the pertinent visual materials so that students can get them before
+the class, and they can record the audio themselves. That way they can
+attend the classes without running any nonfree program.
+
+Students can also set up kludges to avoid running nonfree video chat
+programs. For instance, the teacher (or one student) could point a
+camera at a screen showing the Zoom call, and stream that camera and
+mic to the students who want to stay off Zoom. There can also be a
+kludge for them to speak and send their voice to the Zoom call.
+
+## How to start and join a meeting via Jitsi and BigBlueButton?
+
+[Find a Jitsi service that suits your needs][chatons-j] and create a
+room with a random name or a name that you can remember. Share the
+meeting link with attendees.  Joining a Jitsi meeting is as easy as
+clicking a link and loading it in your browser(Recent versions of
+Chromium and Firefox) or Android or iOS Jitsi Meet apps and does not
+require creating any accounts. Jitsi meetings can also be password
+protected so that only invited attendees can join.
+
+[Find a BigBlueButton instance that suits your needs][chatons-bbb] and
+sign up for an account. Once you are logged in, you can create rooms
+and share the links with attendees. Joining a BigBlueButton meeting is
+as easy as clicking a link and loading it in your browser (Recent
+versions of Chromium and Firefox) either on your laptop/desktop or on
+your mobile.
+
+[chatons-j]: https://wiki.chatons.org/doku.php/la_visio-conference_avec_jitsi
+[chatons-bbb]: https://wiki.chatons.org/doku.php/la_visio-conference_avec_big_blue_button
+
+## Need help? Contact us
+
+If you would like to switch to free software powered services like
+Jitsi and BigBlueButton, and you need help in this matter, feel free
+to contact us at [fsf.org.in/contact][fsfi-contact]. We would be very
+glad to help you.
+
+## Further reading
+
+1. <span id="fr-1"></span>Members of UK parliament were [forced to use Zoom in
+   order to vote][fr-1].
+
+2. <span id="fr-2"></span>Americans are getting evicted because [they could not attend a
+   court hearing carried out via Zoom][fr-2].
+
+3. <span id="fr-3"></span>[Why Schools Should Exclusively Use Free
+   Software][fr-3].
+
+
+[fr-1]: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/apr/20/mps-expected-approve-plans-virtual-parliament
+[fr-2]: https://www.npr.org/2020/06/19/880859109/zoom-call-eviction-hearings-they-ll-throw-everything-i-have-out-on-the-street
+[fr-3]: https://www.gnu.org/education/edu-schools.html
+
+- - -
+
+α. <span id="fn-1"></span>The article uses the term 'FOSS' which
+stands for 'Free and Open-Source Software' which we avoid because we
+stand for freedom and therefore prefer 'free software' over 'FOSS'.