From ea575499dc058a22e6917e6864ccaf08ee25c079 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: rsiddharth Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 17:31:48 -0400 Subject: Add news/arogya-sethu --- md/news/arogya-sethu.md | 45 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 45 insertions(+) create mode 100644 md/news/arogya-sethu.md (limited to 'md') diff --git a/md/news/arogya-sethu.md b/md/news/arogya-sethu.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0cc6bbc --- /dev/null +++ b/md/news/arogya-sethu.md @@ -0,0 +1,45 @@ + + +# Aarogya Sethu client app released as Free Software + +FSF India, appreciates the Indian government's effort to publish the +source code of the Aarogya Setu application as [Free Software][fs]. It +is the first step towards achieving "transparency, privacy, and +security" as mentioned by CEO of NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant as the core +values on which the application was designed. However, we stress that, +this is only a first step and we hope that the government will follow +up with some more actions that further strengthen the commitment made +towards transparency, privacy and security. + +[fs]: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html + +Some of the specific technical steps that would strengthen the +commitment towards transparency include: + +1. Publishing the source code of server side code so that the solution +is completely usable for any one interested in using it. + +2. Ensuring systems for reproducibility of builds so that application + may be verified and security is enhanced. + +Lack of good legal frameworks for personal data protection and use of +server side data implies that source code release will not help us +address the questions raised around privacy and security of the data. +Without such legal framework, there shall be no transparency either. +While release of source code is definitely a positive first step, it +is not sufficient in addressing concerns around an application like +Aarogya Setu. + +FSF India, hopes that release of Aarogya Setu application as free +software will lead to more software being published under a [free +software license][fs-l]. We urge the national government and the state +government agencies to follow this lead and publish software they +develop under a Free Software license. As the leading national agency +for software development we thank National Informatics Center and +encourage them to release more software as Free Software. + +[fs-l]: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/ + +We also urge the government to take necessary steps to build a strong +personal data protection system in the country with our citizen's +interest and privacy at the centre stage. -- cgit v1.2.3