[FSFE PR][ES] European citizens demand Router Freedom

[press en fsfe.org]

 = European citizens demand Router Freedom =

[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230515-01.es.html ]

A pan-European survey, run by the Free Software Foundation Europe, has
collected information from more than 1600 end-users and highlighted
several obstacles to Router Freedom, such as lack of freedom of choice,
provider lock-in and promotion of equipment running exclusively
proprietary software.

More than a thousand consumers from across Europe have shared their
experience of the commercial practices of Internet Service Providers
(ISPs) in the most comprehensive end-user survey regarding freedom of
terminal equipment to date [1], resulting in a call for Router Freedom.
The responses from end-users all over Europe demonstrate how network
operators still hamper consumer freedom of choice, exercise lock-in over
internet equipment and promote proprietary devices, negatively affecting
consumer welfare, security, privacy and data protection.

Router Freedom is the right that customers of any internet service
provider have to be able to choose and use a private modem and router
instead of equipment provided by the ISP. Freedom of choice for routers
and modems has been regulated in the EU since 2015 (Net Neutrality
Regulation) but national implementation has led to fragmentation of the
digital markets, negatively impacting end-users’ rights. The survey
demonstrated that Router Freedom is not only a technical issue, but also
a policy demand [2]. More than 90% of the survey participants agreed
that freedom of terminal equipment is key for net neutrality and open
internet, security and data protection, fair competition and digital
sustainability.


/“The outcome of this survey serves as key insight for policy makers
regulating Router Freedom and consumer organisations protecting and
promoting the rights of end-users. Critically important are the reported
practices that could be considered infringements against Router Freedom.
Limitation to freedom of choice, ISP’s lock-in, provision of proprietary
devices, security issues and unlawful practices are some of the threats
reported against end-users”, states Lucas Lasota, FSFE’s senior project
manager./

 1: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230515-02.es.html
 2: https://download.fsfe.org/routers/rf-survey-report-2023.pdf

  == About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==

  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 understand how Free
  Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
  enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
  encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
  to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.

  https://fsfe.org