The EFF proposes laws to require large communications back-end companies to allow interoperability.

This would work by requiring them to offer data portability, back-end interoperability, and "delegability" (letting users communicate through independently developed front ends).

The EFF's definition of "delegability" is inadequate, because companies often permit access through independent client programs, but only if they are nonfree and satisfy various other demands. They do this by requiring the client program to contain a secret "client key" furnished by the company, which the company can revoke if it becomes known to the public, or if the client program allows users to protect themselves from certain crucial forms of manipulation.

Effective delegability requires that companies permit access by users running exclusively free software.