[FSFE PR][EN] FSFE supports recognition for User Data Rights

[press at fsfeurope.org]

 = FSFE supports recognition for User Data Rights =

[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2015/news-20150829-01.en.html ]

FSFE supports the publication of the User Data Manifesto 2.0, which aims
at defining basic rights for people to control their own data in the
internet age. The manifesto is published today and also supported by
GNOME, KDE, Netzpolitik.org, ownCloud, Spreed, “Terms of Service -
Didn’t Read” and X-Lab.

Today, users are increasingly using online services to perform their
daily computing, whether it is for social networking, for collaboration,
or for sharing pictures, among many other activities. Thus, users are
losing control over their own data more than ever.

According to the User Data Manifesto, people should have:

1. *Control* over user data access,

2. *Knowledge* of how user data is stored, and which laws or
   jurisdictions apply.

3. *Freedom* to choose a platform, without experiencing vendor lock-in.
   FSFE believes that Free Software is necessary to guarantee this.

“The recognition of the User Data Rights defined in the manifesto is an
important block to build a free society in the digital age“ says Hugo
Roy, deputy coordinator of FSFE’s Legal Team and coauthor of the User
Data Manifesto.  “The freedoms to use, share, study and improve software
that we use in our lives is a necessity not only for programs on our
local machines, but also for the programs that run online services
processing our data” according to Björn Schießle, deputy coordinator of
FSFE’s German Team.  The manifesto is a good starting point for an
important debate about users’ rights online. FSFE looks forward to other
organisations joining the effort to promote online services that
respects users’ rights and freedoms.


  == About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==

  The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a non-profit
  non-governmental organisation active in many European countries and
  involved in many global activities. Access to software determines
  participation in a digital society. To secure equal participation in
  the information age, as well as freedom of competition, the Free
  Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) pursues and is dedicated to the
  furthering of Free Software, defined by the freedoms to use, study,
  modify and copy. Founded in 2001, creating awareness for these issues,
  securing Free Software politically and legally, and giving people
  Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are central issues
  of the FSFE.

  http://fsfe.org/