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author | rsiddharth <s@ricketyspace.net> | 2020-07-11 12:15:42 -0400 |
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committer | rsiddharth <s@ricketyspace.net> | 2020-07-11 12:15:42 -0400 |
commit | 558f9feaee46d3f3f47e37d61938e3f435a694b4 (patch) | |
tree | 3651155d2dac036877b1566f7b38fe185fb7c3fb /md | |
parent | ea575499dc058a22e6917e6864ccaf08ee25c079 (diff) |
Add news/proprietary-apps-in-schools
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-rw-r--r-- | md/news/proprietary-apps-in-schools.md | 127 |
1 files changed, 127 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/md/news/proprietary-apps-in-schools.md b/md/news/proprietary-apps-in-schools.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..08e21a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/md/news/proprietary-apps-in-schools.md @@ -0,0 +1,127 @@ +<!-- pubdate: 20200711 --> + +# Open letter to KITE: On the use of proprietary apps and services for online classes in schools + +<strong>To</strong><br /> +Hon' Minister for Education,<br /> +Govt of Kerala. + +Dear Sir + +Kerala Govt has always been a leader in adoption of Free Software +(free as in freedom) in the country. Most importantly it started with +introduction of Free Software in the schools. Leadership shown by +teacher community in Kerala is also commendable. + +In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the adoption of online +mode of education<sup>[1](#fn-1)</sup>, we found that proprietary +software is being promoted within the educational system. We learned +that official documents by the offices under the Govt. of Kerala calls +for use of proprietary software exclusively for educational +purposes<sup>[2](#fn-2)</sup>. Promotion of proprietary software such +as WhatsApp is particularly problematic on two grounds. It is +explicitly going back from the Government's position to use Free +Software and secondly it promotes a monopoly power. + + +## The WhatsApp Trap + +Many people do not realize the trap of WhatsApp as they only see that +the service is free of cost and everyone around them is using it. One +reason for this is their lack of understanding about the trade-offs +they are making when using WhatsApp. Most people using WhatsApp do not +realize how their data is being collected, stored and analyzed by +WhatsApp. Making our students use this software at a time when they +can not make an informed decision is like a drug dealer providing a +sample pack. The State is creating consumers for a monopoly +business. Use of WhatsApp as the channel to exchange educational +content discriminates against those who would prefer not to use +WhatsApp but other options. WhatsApp is a subsidiary of +Facebook<sup>[3](#fn-3)</sup> which is infamous for its carelessness +and complete disregard for its user's privacy<sup>[4](#fn-4)</sup>. + + +## Alternates available + +We suggest that Kerala Government adopt free software alternatives +such as <https://quicksy.im> which works exactly like WhatsApp from a +user's perspective, but without lock-in to a single company. After +installing the Quicksy app, the user has to provide their phone number +and it is verified by an OTP sent to their phone. It then finds all +users listed in the Quicksy directory matching with the local phone's +address book entries<sup>[5](#fn-5)</sup>. A Quicksy user can +communicate with users of any app or service that uses the XMPP +protocol, not just users of Quicksy app and service. The state +government may easily setup a server on its own and provide this +facility to every student in the state. Apart from Quicksy, there are +other free software alternatives that government may +consider<sup>[6](#fn-6)</sup>. + +## Standards and interoperability + +XMPP is similar to the SMTP protocol used for email and the GSM +standard used to ensure interoperability between mobile service +providers. A mobile subscriber has the option to buy a SIM card from +any service provider and port their number to a different provider +without losing the ability to talk to their existing contacts if they +are unhappy with the service. In the case of WhatsApp, they have no +choice to move to a different messaging service provider if they want +to talk to other WhatsApp users. So, moving away from WhatsApp is +often not a practical option due to this lock-in. In the case of XMPP, +the users can choose their preferred service provider and change it if +they are not happy with a service provider. + +## Recommendations + +We would like make following recommedations to the government. + +KITE under the Department of Education should be directed to setup +free software based e-learning and communication infrastructure for +state government. This can include instant messaging, file-sharing +systems, and e-learning platforms. + +Free software community expertise can be leveraged to setup +infrastructure and train teachers. More than 25 people from the Free +Software community have already volunteered to support the +teachers<sup>[7](#fn-7)</sup>. + +Currently the videos are uploaded only on Youtube and Facebook. KITE +should also consider offering PeerTube as another option, which is +Free Software powered and offers better privacy to users. Additionally +it saves cost of live streaming via KITE website by sharing bandwidth +among the users<sup>[8](#fn-8)</sup>. If needed PeerTube instance at +<https://videos.fsci.in> operated by Free Software Community of India +can be used provided the content is licensed under Creative Commons +license which allows sharing freely. + +It was noted that the teachers who give classes through first bell +program are recommending proprietary services as tools for +communication. This will create confusion for both students and +parents that they might think they are required for the student's +education. This confusion should be prevented. + +A long-term plan for software and infrastructure adoption should be +discussed. This will help to avoid being depended on proprietary +solutions in an emergency as we will be well prepared. Such +discussions, with the adoption of free software solutions, can design +an advanced, inclusive IT-enabled education system. Free Software +Communities can be involved for support and development of such +system. + +## References + +1. <span id="fn-1"><https://education.kerala.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GO-Online-Class-First-Bell.pdf></span> + +2. <span id="fn-2"><https://www.doolnews.com/online-learning-parents-and-teachers-need-attention-education-department-guidelines-454.html></span> (we have a copy of the document referenced in this article) + +3. <span id="fn-3"><https://www.fsf.org/facebook></span> + +4. <span id="fn-4"><https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-factbox/factbox-who-is-cambridge-analytica-and-what-did-it-do-idUSKBN1GW07F></span> + +5. <span id="fn-5"><https://www.f-droid.org/en/packages/im.quicksy.client/></span> + +6. <span id="fn-6"><https://switching.software/replace/whatsapp/></span> + +7. <span id="fn-7"><https://codema.in/d/LDwsanKx/open-letter-to-kerala-it-school-kite-director-on-forcing-teachers-students-and-parents-to-use-whatsapp/5></span> + +8. <span id="fn-8"><https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PeerTube></span> |