New FSFE staff member Alexander Sander: EU public policy programme manager

The Free Software Foundation Europe is happy to welcome our newest staffer Alexander Sander. Alexander is hired as our new EU public policy programme manager and works full-time in the FSFE's Berlin office. In this position, Alexander mainly works with us on policy topics covering Free Software and Open Standards issues on the EU and member state level and help us identify and monitor EU policy developments to alert the FSFE's network on relevant issues.

Alexander Sander

At the end of May, the FSFE has been looking for a EU public policy programme manager to work with us full-time and found Alexander Sander to join our team now.

Alexander has studied politics in Marburg and later has been an MEP Assistant in Brussels for three years and the General Manager of Digitale Gesellschaft e.V. in Berlin for four years. Furthermore he is the founder NoPNR!, a campaign against the data retention of travel data. He is also a Member of the Advisory Board of the ZMI Gießen and the Initiative gegen Totalüberwachung.

We look forward to working with Alexander on our path towards a free society. You can directly get in contact with Alexander via email (PGP).

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Call to Action: Save Free Software this September

Free Software is at risk! On the 12th of September the EU is getting ready to vote on a "Copyright Reform" package, which undermines the foundations upon which Free Software is built. The proposed Article 13 of the EU Copyright Directive targets every online service that allows its users to upload and share content with each other, including code hosting platforms.

Let’s call upon European policy makers to delete the threat posed against Free Software in the Copyright Directive.

The widespread reuse of Free Software is a foundation of the Internet, as code can be used, studied, shared and improved by each user. It would be wrong to take this freedom for granted. Since most of the internet medium is compiled and reused as Free Software, the ruling would dismantle the media ecosystem.

We are getting ready for the EU’s vote on a "Copyright Reform" package, in order to remove a section of its terms and conditions that looks to hamper Free Software development and code-sharing. Every Internet user, who shares information, media, and code with the public, has been targeted in the proposed directive. The idea in Article 13 is that Free Software is a cause for copyright violations and that, therefore, upload-filters should be created by internet platforms.

Share graphics hand-made by Save Your Internet

There are even a variety of types of governmental organisations, facilitated and powered by Free Software. In fact, on just one of the major code hosting platforms, over 128 government organisations from over 17 European governments have, in total, licensed 4594 instances of Free Software on code-hosting platforms, at the time of writing. They are, as follows: Open Government initiatives, Cutural heritage directories, Ecology research departments and agencies, Digitalisation projects, Emergency Services, Information Systems, Election Services, Transport networks, Education institutions, Energy services, Mapping and Geographical research institutes, Statistical bureaus, Business departments, Law courts, Security groups, and Departments of Finance.

So, for those inside the EU, now’s the time to do your bit and to communicate with an MEP, who represents your country, in order to notify your support for Free Software in the face of Article 13 in the Copyright Directive.

Do that at saveyourinternet.eu, where there are tips on who and how to address and send your message. When you’re ready, you can even use a tool, created by EDRi and Open Media, to directly call and e-mail your MEP.

Let’s call upon European policy makers to delete the threat posed against Free and Open Source Software in the Copyright Directive.

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"Public Money? Public Code!": plus de traductions, plus de soutiens, plus de sensibilisation

La campagne Public Money? Public Code! a bénéficié d'une série de mises à jour concernant les traductions, site notament sur le site Web, la vidéo et la lettre ouverte. À cette fin, la Free Software Foundation Europe a entrepris d'interrogé les administrations publiques concernant les bénéfices d'un code public, ces échanges sont maintenant disponibles sur notre site Web.

Pour quelles raisons les logiciels crées avec les finances publiques ne sont-ils pas distribués sous forme de Logiciels Libres ? Nous avons soulevée cette question par le biais de notre campagne Public Money? Public Code! et depuis, nous ne cessons de recevoir des encouragements et des soutiens du monde entier.

Un élément clé pour permettre d'atteindre le plus de personnes possible, est de disposer de contenus traduits dans leur langue maternelle. C'est pourquoi, à ce jour, le site de la campagne Public Money? Public Code! est traduit et retranscrit en 18 langues parlées en Europe et au-delà. La vidéo correspondante a été doublée en 6 langues (narrations en Anglais, Français, Italien, Allemand, Portugais et Russe) et dispose également de sous-titres en 16 langues distinctes. Si ce n'est déjà fait, merci de vérifier que votre langue est bien prise en charge !

Par ailleurs, une part importante de la campagne porte/repose sur la lettre ouverte connexe. Près de 18 000 personnes et 150 organisations ont signée cette lettre, dans laquelle nous demandons que le code source des logiciels payés par les citoyens soit accessible aux citoyens. Parmi Les signataires, il y a des organisations de premier plan liées au Logiciel Libre et à la défense des droits des utilisateurs d'Internet, ainsi qu'une première administration publique, le conseil de la ville de Barcelone. Pour comprendre la démarche du conseil, nous avons mené un entretien avec Francesa Bria, directrice de l'innovation à Barcelone, qui explique comment l'utilisation de Logiciels Libres permet de construire une société numérique plus démocratique, inclusive et durable.

Dans un autre entretien lié à la campagne Public Money? Public Code, nous avons interrogé Elena Muñoz Salinero, qui dirige le centre de transfert Technologique du Gouvernement Espagnol, sur les meilleures pratiques pour le réemploi des solutions logicielles entre administrations publiques en les publiant sous licence Logiciel Libre.

Nous allons poursuivre nostre efforts d'appel à signatures jusqu'aux Élections Européennes 2019, qui vont se dérouler dans moins d'un an. Il est donc temps de passer à l'action et d'informer vos représentants politiques de l'intérêt du code public. Si vous ne l'avez pas encore fait, aidez nous en signant notre lettre ouverte. Après l'avoir signée, demandez à vos proches, collègues ou contacts sur les canaux de vos réseaux sociaux favoris de la signer également.

Public Money? - Public Code!

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"Public Money? Public Code!": more languages, more supporters, more awareness

The "Public Money? Public Code!" campaign has received an updated set of translations, including the website, open letter and video. The Free Software Foundation Europe has also conducted interviews to ask public administrations about the benefits of public code, which are now available on our website.

Why is software, created using taxpayers' money, not released as Free Software? We've started raising this question with our "Public Money? Public Code!" campaign, and since then we've received a lot of international attention and support.

One key element for reaching out to as many people as possible is to have translations into their native language. That's why, as of today, our campain website is translated in 18 languages, spoken in Europe and beyond. The corresponding and popular campaign video is dubbed into 6 different languages (English, French, Italian, German, Portuguese and Russian) and offers subtitles in a total of 16 languages. If you haven't done yet, be sure to check whether your language is already supported!

Meanwhile, an important part of the campaign is the corresponding open letter. Almost 18.000 individuals and 150 organisations signed this letter, in which we demand that code, paid by the people, should be available to the people. Among the subscribers are very prominent Free Software and Internet user right's organisations, as well as a first public administration, the City Council of Barcelona. To understand the motivation behind the Council's decision, we conducted an interview with, Francesca Bria, CTO of Barcelona, who explains how using Free Software helps to build a more democratic, inclusive and sustainable digital society.

In another interesting interview, in relation to the PMPC campaign, we recently asked Elena Muñoz Salinero, who leads the Technology Transfer Centre of the Spanish Government, about best practices for the re-use of software solutions by publishing code under Free Software licenses between public administrations.

We will keep running our call for signatures until the European Elections 2019, which is less than a year away. So, now is the time to take action and let your political representatives know about the benefits of public code. If you have not yet done so, please help us by signing our open letter. After having signed it, do ask your friends, colleagues, or the buddies on your favourite social media channel to sign it too.

Public Money? - Public Code!

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FSFE is hiring: interns and trainees for legal, policy and technical areas

We are looking for interns and trainees experienced in legal, policy or technical fields. The persons will work 35 hours per week with our team in the FSFE's Berlin office. There will be coordination with remote staff and volunteers, and depending on the work area opportunity to participate in events and meetings throughout Europe.

About the FSFE

Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use, understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.

The FSFE helps individuals and organisations to understand how Free Software contributes to freedom, transparency, and self-determination. It enhances users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption, encourages people to use and develop Free Software, and provides resources to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.

We drive numerous activities and campaigns to reach our targets, for example "Public Money Public Code", "Save Code Share" and the REUSE initiative.

What we can offer

We work together with decision makers, licensing experts in the world's largest Legal Network on these topics, facilitated by the FSFE, and Free Software organisations all over Europe and beyond. This work is either done directly by staff or together with volunteers, as well as other Free Software and digital rights associations around Europe.

You will enjoy:

A challenging and exciting time with a dynamic NGO working internationally. A close-up view of organisational and community processes. A chance to take the initiative and put your own ideas into practice. The opportunity to meet and work with Free Software advocates across Europe. Your profile and responsibilities

We are looking for a reliable team player who is passionate about driving new initiatives to make the world a better place for further generations. You should have some experience or a considerable interest in Free Software. Your field of study doesn't matter, but you should be able to relate it to our work. Traditionally, a lot of interns in the FSFE have a legal or political science background, but we've also had excellent interns working with us with a more technical or other social science background.

In the day to day work, you will:

Contribute to FSFE's ongoing projects, working with one or more of our staff and volunteers. Communicate with contacts from the FSFE community, NGOs, industry, and public administrations. Coordinate volunteers and others in the work on various projects. General office tasks. Find your own strengths, and do something you care about. Details and formal requirements

Location: Berlin, Germany. Please note the FSFE has no ability to help with accommodation or travel, you will need to cover this yourself and arrange this prior to your internship.

Duration: At least 4 months full time at 35 hours per week, starting as agreed (earliest from October 2018). Longer periods are favoured.

Compensation: This traineeship is compensated with € 1340,73 gross per month.

You must be fluent in English. You will be required to show that you can legally work in Germany; either by being an EU citizen, or by having a residence and work permit for the duration. The FSFE can not help you in getting either of these documents, but we will accept them if you have them.

You must also have a German tax number, which you get by registering with the residents registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) in Germany. This should ideally be done before starting the employment, or at latest on the first days of your employment.

How to apply

To apply please send a maximum one-page cover letter and a maximum two-page CV (only PDFs are accepted) by email to jobs@fsfe.org subject "Trainee/Intern 2018". Please do not include pictures of yourself in the application. There is no immediate closing date for applications but we recommend to apply as early as possible as the open positions are limited. We will conduct interviews with candidates as soon as possible for both sides. Your personal data will be deleted 3 months after we take a decision.

Free Software is meant to serve everyone regardless of their age, ability or disability, gender identity, sex, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Hence, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and promise to judge all applications on merit, without reference to any of the characteristics listed. To promote diversity and equality in the Free Software community, we shall give preference to applicants who identify as part of a traditionally marginalised demographic in technology for applications of equal strength.

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