Throughout history technology has influenced society. Reading, writing, arithmetic, agriculture, printing and radio are all examples of developments that changed the way we interact through trade, art and science. The most important cultural technology of the 21st century is software. It runs our workplaces, laptops, mobile phones as well as less obvious places like trains, cars, televisions, washing-machines, fridges, and many other devices. Today it depends on software how the government can implement laws, who will be able to join which university or job, or if and how long people might end up in jail.

The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) empower people to control technology; and thereby democratize software. If just a few can understand and control software it is a danger for democracy. Instead we must ensure that power is distributed by empowering people to shape this central technology.

Matthias Kirschner, FSFE