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United States Supreme Count judges serve from the time they are appointed until they choose to retire -- it's a lifetime appointment. One judge recently stepped down, and Brett Kavanaugh was nominated to fill the empty seat. He comes with a firm stance against net neutrality.

Last year he wrote:

Supreme Court precedent establishes that Internet service providers have a First Amendment right to exercise editorial discretion over whether and how to carry Internet content.

Here, Kavanaugh argues that controlling the way you use the Internet is a First Amendment right that ISPs -- companies, not people -- hold. The First Amendment, which guarantees Americans the right to free speech, freedom of the press, and freedom to congregate, is one of the most dearly-held amendments of the United States Constitution. With this statement, he says that net neutrality protections -- policies that prevent companies from "editorializing" what you see on the Web -- is a violation of the Constitution. He believes net neutrality is unconstitutional. We know he's wrong.

We need you to contact your congressional representatives, asking them to vote against Kavanaugh's bid for the Supreme Court of the United States.

Why does net neutrality matter to free software?

There are so many reasons why we think net neutrality is important -- and why it's necessary for free software. We'll briefly mention that:

• Free software is built collaboratively by using Web tools and Internet connections around the world.

• Free software is most easily discoverable thanks to pages like the Free Software Directory.

• Need to update your system or software quickly? You need an Internet connection to make that happen.

• Organizations like the FSF use the Web to educate and share free software ideology and tools.

• The FSF itself is run by a small team spread across the globe. Every day we use tools like IRC to communicate and work for user freedom together, with one another, and with you.

• We promote decentralized free software replacements for centralized software services, and losing net neutrality means that centralized services will have a huge built-in advantage.

Without a free Web and Internet, what we can do online will be limited by what ISPs like Comcast and Verizon want. They will have the legal right to control which Web sites we can access and how fast that access will be -- and they will take advantage of their new ability to extort even greater fees from Web sites and consumers alike.

Call, microblog, or write

Call your senators!

Don't know who to call?

• Call your Senator directly. Find their number here.

• Dial the Senate at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you.

(Note: The number for the the Senate is a switchboard that will direct your call.)

If you're looking for help knowing what to say, try:

Hi, I'm [NAME] from [PLACE]. I think Brett Kavanaugh is unfit to serve on the Supreme Court. His position against net neutrality is harmful to all users of the Internet. Please vote against his nomination to the Supreme Court. Thank you.

Microblog

Many Senators are on microblogging services. You can microblog at yours!

Samples:

Keep Brett Kavanaugh off #SCOTUS for #freesoftware's sake.

Keep #netneutrality, protect #userfreedom, vote against Brett Kavanaugh #SaveSCOTUS

A vote against Kavanaugh is a vote for #netneutrality! #SaveSCOTUS

Writing to your Senators

If you're more comfortable reaching out to your senators over email, do it! Their email addresses are available online. If you're looking for ideas, try out:

Dear [SENATOR], I'm [NAME] and I live in your district. I am deeply troubled by the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States. He has come out against net neutrality, which is necessary for a free Web, a free society, and user freedom (). If Kavanaugh becomes a Supreme Court Justice, the threat to net neutrality is undeniable. Thank you, [NAME]

If your senator [voted for the CRA][5], consider thanking them for that as well.

Why does the Supreme Court matter for net neutrality?

While the regulations that are used to protect net neutrality are currently under the Federal Communication Commission, they might not stay this way. Should an Internet Service Provider (ISP) decide to sue for the "right" to ignore net neutrality protections, it is possible such a case would reach the Supreme Court. Should this happen, Kavanaugh's anti-net neutrality opinions could have a serious impact on our digital rights.

More on net neutrality from the FSF

• Success for net neutrality, success for free software
• It's not over! Take action for net neutrality today!
• OneMoreVote is needed to save net neutrality
• Free software needs net neutrality! This is our LAST CHANCE to save it
• Protect software freedom: Support net neutrality

We recently had some exciting news for our Respects Your Freedom (RYF) certification program. Our program helps users to find hardware that they can trust to come with freedom inside. When a retailer receives certification on a device, it means users know they will receive hardware that meets with our strict standards on free software and documentation.

First up, on May 15th, we certified the Zerocat Chipflasher "board-edition-1", which can be purchased from the Zerocat Label. This device is a really exciting addition to the program. The Zerocat Chipflasher enables users to flash their own devices using only free software, replacing proprietary firmware with free software. One of the big steps currently for a retailer in creating an RYF-certified laptop is flashing laptops to replace proprietary boot firmware with Libreboot. With the Zerocat Chipflasher, for the first time ever, retailers (or any user) can flash their laptops with a device that can likewise be trusted to respect the rights of users. It means many more users will be able to free their own devices using only free software, and could even help spur the creation of more RYF-certified devices in the future. Currently they are selling a limited edition version, signed by the founder of the Zerocat Label, which will help to fund future availability of the device. Only five remain at this point, but once they are sold, there will be enough funding for future runs of the device.

Next up, on May 30th, we announced certification of the Minifree Libreboot X200 Tablet, which can be purchased here. While not the first laptop-tablet hybrid to be RYF-certified (that honor goes to the Technoethical TET-X200T), it offers users even more choices in finding a tablet computing device they can trust. Minifree is also run by the creator of the free boot firmware project Libreboot, so buying a device from them helps to support the continued development of that critical piece of free software.

Both of these devices show great potential for the future of the RYF certification program, whether it is enabling the next generation of retailers who can free devices for users, or continuing the development of the free software needed on those devices. The future in general is looking quite bright for RYF, as we currently have around fifty devices working their way through the certification program. Help us in congratulating the Zerocat Label and Minifree Ltd in their recent accomplishments. And if you would like to help support our work on RYF and other free software initiatives, here's what you can do:

• Help spread the good news by sharing this article with friends and colleagues.
• If you sell devices with free software, help other users obtain devices they can trust by applying for RYF-certification yourself.
• Support our work financially by becoming an FSF Associate Member or by making a donation.

It's been ten years since Apple opened the App Store. This created a whole new industry through which third party app creators and Apple themselves found new ways to threaten user freedom with technical tricks and legal loopholes. Since the beginning, we at the Free Software Foundation have recognized the threats posed by the iPhone and have reported on Apple on fsf.org and DefectiveByDesign, while free software supporters around the world have been taking action.

Apple controls your apps

The only way to install apps on a non-jailbroken iPhone is through the iOS App Store -- this means that your device can only run what Apple wants it to run.

Apple acts as a gatekeeper for which apps you're allowed to access. They control what becomes available -- and not every app gets to stay there. They regularly remove apps for many reasons and sometimes no reason at all. They claim this enhances your security, but are happy to abuse their power: Apple blocked updates to messaging app Telegram in Russia, after demands from the government. This was after Telegram was removed entirely from the App Store, only to be made available again later. When BitCoin posed a threat to Apple Pay, they removed all BitCoin apps.

Other instances of app removal include July 2017, when Apple removed apps that circumvented the Great Firewall, making them no longer available in the App Store. GNU Go was removed after issues with GPL compliance on Apple's end.

Apple loves DRM

Apple loves Digital Restrictions Management (DRM)! DRM is the use of technology (including software) to restrict access to digital media like ebooks, games, and music. Apple's use of DRM not only steps on the freedoms of users, but has proven to be downright dangerous. In 2016, AceDeceiver became the first iOS trojan exploiting flaws in iOS DRM.

In a DRM-free a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. - Steve Jobs

When DRM was dropped from the iTunes store, Steve Jobs wrote an essay titled "Thoughts on Music," which took a firm stance against DRM. It has since been removed from the Apple Web site. In it, Jobs called for the world to abandon DRM technologies, and for Apple to embrace a DRM-free future. This is clearly no longer Apple's stance on DRM.

Apple loves surveillance

In addition to colluding with Russia, Apple has allowed itself to be the tool of other governments looking to monitor and control their populations. For example: the National Security Agency's (NSA) PRISM program, which allows the NSA access to data, including "search history, the content of emails, file transfers, and live chats" of Apple users. While Apple claimed no knowledge of the program, the NSA reported that the company gave them this access. Whether or not this is true, we can never know due to the opaque and proprietary nature of Apple's code and business practices.

The iPhone X brought with it facial recognition capabilities. In light of government use of facial recognition and government contracts with Amazon to use their Rekognition facial scanning technology, we are deeply concerned about the transparency and surveillance issues associated with the widespread deployment of this technology.

While Apple has taken strong stances against certain types of government surveillance, they support surveillance in other contexts. By building proprietary technology designed to lock users into a system, they enable the possibility for gross surveillance and limitless anti-privacy policies. Apple CEO Tim Cook is currently preventing this. Should Cook change his mind, decide that being pro-privacy is no longer profitable, or leave Apple, things could change. There are no guarantees a new CEO would not kowtow to government demands.

Apple also offers other forms of surveillance, like the Screen Time feature, which allows users to control the ability to access different apps and functionality on an iPhone. This might seem great if you're looking to keep yourself off Twitter, but it's also a tool of monitoring and control. Tools like this can (and will) be used by domestic abusers looking to control other people's access to technology.

There are better choices you can make!

What can you do?

Talk to Apple

One thing we always recommend is contacting Apple about your stance on iOS devices.

Talk to others

If you're looking to get more hands-on, visit your local Apple store with flyers and stickers and hand them out to people going into the store. We also have DRM-specific flyers.

If you're organizing an event or action, email info@fsf.org and we can arrange to send you some items to hand out (gratis within the United States, for the cost of shipping outside the United States).

Buy a better mobile device

There are more ethical options for your mobile needs. Technoethical -- a company that sells a number of Respects Your Freedom (RYF) devices -- also sells mobile devices. These mobile devices come pre-installed with Replicant (see below), a version of Android that has had the nonfree parts removed. Purism is also working on creating a mobile device. (Please note that at the moment there are no RYF-certified mobile devices.)

Get better software

Android and iOS aren't your only choices for a mobile operating system! Replicant is a free software OS. We help support Replicant through the Working Together for Free Software fund, and consider it to be a High Priority Project.

Rather than using a proprietary app store, you can download and install apps using F-Droid, a free software marketplace that features free software and is free itself! F-Droid works on Replicant and Android devices.

Join a project

Projects like Replicant and F-Droid are always looking for volunteers with a range of skill sets, including designers, developers, translators, and writers. You can also package for F-Droid, creating a more robust selection of apps available.

• autogen-5.18.14
• binutils-2.31.1
• coreutils-8.30
• gcc-8.2.0
• gdbm-1.16
• gnupg-2.2.9
• gnu-pw-mgr-2.3.3
• gnutls-3.6.3
• guile-2.2.4
• guix-0.15.0
• libextractor-1.7
• libredwg-0.5
• linux-libre-4.17.9-gnu
• parallel-20180722
• tramp-2.4.0

For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu mailing list: https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu.

To download: nearly all GNU software is available from https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/, or preferably one of its mirrors from https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html. You can use the url https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/ to be automatically redirected to a (hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.

This month, we welcome Jan Nieuwenhuizen as maintainer of the new GNU Mes.

A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint if you'd like to help. The general page on how to help GNU is at https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html.

If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html.

As always, please feel free to write to us at maintainers@gnu.org with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.

The Free Software Directory is an essential catalog of free software online, composed and maintained by countless volunteers dedicated to the promotion of software that respects your personal liberty. Tens of thousands of people visit the Directory every month to discover free software and explore the information about version control, documentation, and licensing. Adding and maintaining entries to the Directory is crucial work to give people access to free software which has only free dependencies and runs on a free OS. All of this information is also exported in machine-readable formats, making it a valuable source of data for the study of trends in free software. The Directory is powered by MediaWiki, the same software used by Wikipedia.

Every Friday at 12:00-15:00 EDT (16:00 to 19:00 UTC), volunteers meet on IRC in the #fsf channel on irc.freenode.org to add new entries, update existing ones, and talk about free software together (to see the meeting start time in your time zone, run this in GNU bash: date --date='TZ="America/New_York" 12:00 this Fri'). As with any group composed of volunteers, the informal Directory team has people who come and go, and right now, it could really use some fresh new members to kick our efforts into high gear. The Directory just passed 16,000 entries this year, and as far as we're concerned, there's no limit to how high it should go!

Examples of ways you can help include updating information about existing entries, proposing new entries, or reviewing new entries submitted by others to make sure they meet the Directory's criteria.

If you can't wait or don't have the time to jump onto IRC on Friday afternoons, you can still help: check out the Free Software Directory Participation Guide for instructions.

No matter how you participate, improving the Free Software Directory is an easy, nuts-and-bolts way to make a contribution to the free software movement, bringing us a tinier step every day to a truly free society. We look forward to seeing you on IRC!