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en:philosophy:chromium_flaws [2019/10/11 06:16]
emulatorman created 		en:philosophy:chromium_flaws [2022/03/23 06:09] (current)
i3_relativism ↷ Page moved and renamed from en:project:chromiums_freedom_flaws to en:philosophy:chromium_flaws
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-====== Chromium's Freedom Flaws ======+====== Chromium's Flaws ======
  
-As free software activists, we all enjoy using the latest and greatest in free software, but we need to make sure that the software we are using really does respect our freedom. Many users have expressed to us their desire to run Chromium web browser, since it appears to be fully free software, but it still fails in several ways.+As free software activists, we all enjoy using the latest and greatest in free software, but we need to make sure that **the software we are using really does respect our freedom**. Many users have expressed to us **their desire to run Chromium web browser**, since it appears to be fully free software, **but it still fails in several ways**.
  
-In our research, we discovered that the situation is improving. Just a few years ago, there were over one thousand unlicensed files which were considered to be nonfree. Thanks to Debian's Lintian Reports and +In our research, we discovered that the situation is improving. Just a few years ago, **there were over one thousand unlicensed files** which were <color #B90B0B/#FFDDDD>considered to be nonfree</color>. Thanks to Debian's Lintian Reports and efforts, **it appears those issues have been solved**.
-efforts, this number has come down to under 100 files as of this writing. Licensing the remaining code with GPL-compatible licensing is fairly trivial and is expected to be completed soon - the majority of it being minified javascript.+
  
-However, Chromium, by default, still has a number of issues that are of concern for free software users - even if all the source code is licensed properly.+**However, Chromium, by default**, <color #B90B0B/#FFDDDD>still has a number of issues</color> that are of concern for free software users - **even if all the source code is licensed properly**.
  
 ===== What are the issues? ===== ===== What are the issues? =====
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 ==== Queries to Google ==== ==== Queries to Google ====
  
-By default, Chromium source code still has many lines of code that makes direct internet connections to Google.+**By default, Chromium source code still has many lines of code that makes direct internet connections to Google**.
 When building the software unpatched, much of your browsing experience is under the control of Google's online web services. When building the software unpatched, much of your browsing experience is under the control of Google's online web services.
-As mentioned in our article [[https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html|Who does that server really serve?]], free software is only free when you are in control and should not be dependant on third-party web services. Some work has already been done to free Chromium from this problem, including the removal of "Google OK", a [[https://www.pcworld.com/article/2940499/ok-google-hotword-detection-yanked-from-chromium-after-user-revolt.html|Google web service plugin used for voice recognition, after user outcry]].+As mentioned in the article [[https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html|Who does that server really serve?]], free software is only free when you are in control and should not be dependant on third-party web services. Some work has already been done to free Chromium from this problem, including the removal of "Google OK", a [[https://www.pcworld.com/article/2940499/ok-google-hotword-detection-yanked-from-chromium-after-user-revolt.html|Google web service plugin used for voice recognition, after user outcry]].
  
 ==== Pre-built Binaries ==== ==== Pre-built Binaries ====
  
-By default, Chromium still includes some pre-built binaries to aid in faster compiling. In order to have fully free software, we require all software to be built from source. Packagers should not use "use_prebuilt" as a compile option.+**By default, Chromium** <color #B90B0B/#FFDDDD>still includes some pre-built binaries</color> to aid in faster compiling. In order to have fully free software, **we require all software to be built from source**. Packagers should not use "use_prebuilt" as a compile option.
  
 ==== DRM and Proprietary Codecs ==== ==== DRM and Proprietary Codecs ====
  
-Chromium supports the use of Widevine DRM, Adobe Pepper Flash, and third-party codecs which are nonfree. Packagers must ensure that these are removed from the source code prior to compiling in order to be free software.+**Chromium supports** the use of <color #B90B0B/#FFDDDD>Widevine DRM, Adobe Pepper Flash, and third-party codecs which are nonfree</color>. **Packagers must ensure that these are removed from the source code** prior to compiling in order to be free software. **To disable them is not enough**. It is required to **remove (support and references about it) from the source** as per the [[https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.en.html|FSDG]].
  
 ==== Privacy problems ==== ==== Privacy problems ====
  
-While not specific to free software, we would like for users to have control over their private information. Chromium has a [[https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/wiki/doc/ImportantGoogleChromeBugs|number of reported privacy concerns which made it ineligible for use with Tor]]. +While not specific to free software, **we would like for users to have control over their private information**. Chromium has a [[https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/wiki/doc/ImportantGoogleChromeBugs|number of reported privacy concerns which made it ineligible for use with Tor]]. 
-Issues include outstanding proxy bugs which leak a user's IP address, fingerprinting issues that leak the computers hostname and hardware, and timing issues that enable timing attacks even in the browser's +Issues include **outstanding proxy bugs** which **leak an user's IP address**, fingerprinting issues that **leak the computers hostname and hardware**, and **timing issues that enable timing attacks** even in the browser's "Incognitio" mode. **Free software users should be aware of these issues** and work to patch them upstream and in their packages as needed.
-"Incognitio" mode. Free software users should be aware of these issues and work to patch them upstream and in their packages as needed.+
  
 ==== A work in progress ==== ==== A work in progress ====
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 There is work being done to remove queries to Google and pre-built binaries, as well as strengthen user-privacy. There is work being done to remove queries to Google and pre-built binaries, as well as strengthen user-privacy.
  
-The patch-set called ungoogled-chromium, which itself is a combination of inox, iridium, and Debian patches is one such effort. +The patch-set called **ungoogled-chromium**, which itself is a **combination of Inox, Iridium, and Debian patches is one such effort**. 
-Free software advocates are advised to use these patchsets and help contribute to their maintenance, while pushing for a self-contained version of Chromium with these fixes built-in. With each consecutive +**Free software advocates are advised** to use these patchsets and help contribute to their maintenance, while pushing for a self-contained version of Chromium with these fixes built-in. With each consecutive Chromium release a new patchset must be created to remove Google specific code and binaries which affect your freedom. **Having a self-contained version** ensures that **no one will be forced to accidentally use nonfree software** during these updates.
-Chromium release a new patchset must be created to remove Google specific code and binaries which affect your freedom. Having a self-contained version ensures that no one will be forced to accidentally use nonfree software during these updates.+
  
 ===== The Bigger Picture ===== ===== The Bigger Picture =====
  
-Chromium is also being used as an embedded framework in various projects.+Chromium is also being used as an **embedded framework in various projects**.
  
-Users should be aware that [[https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtwebengine-features.html#audio-and-video-codecs|QTWebengine is based on Chromium and therefore contains many of the same flaws]]. Proprietary codecs and other anti-features must be removed at compile time to ensure user's freedom is respected. Due to QT being a primary component of KDE and many applications, ensuring it is compiled correctly and removing nonfree software is of even greater importance to the free software movement.+Users should be aware that **Qt WebEngine is based on Chromium and therefore contains many of the same flaws**. [[https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtwebengine-features.html#audio-and-video-codecs|Proprietary codecs and other anti-features]] **must be removed at compile time** to ensure user's freedom is respected. Due to Qt being a primary component of KDE and many applications, ensuring it is compiled correctly and **removing nonfree software** is of even greater importance to the [[https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-intro.en.html|Free Software Movement]].
  
-For our freedom's sake, free software projects should take care about all kinds of freedom issues when deciding what components to depend on.+For our freedom's sake, **free software projects should take care about all kinds of freedom issues** when deciding what components to depend on.
  
-We are hopeful that the various projects currently working with Chromium source code will make Chromium fully respect both users' freedom and users' privacy, making the internet safer, as well as more freedom respecting, for everyone.+We are hopeful that the various projects currently working with Chromium source code will make Chromium fully respect both **users' freedom and users' privacy**, making the internet safer, as well as more freedom respecting, for everyone.
  
 ===== Licensing ===== ===== Licensing =====
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 This is Free work, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of either: This is Free work, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of either:
  
-The [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/|Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License]] as published by Creative Commons; either version 4.0, or (at your option) +The [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/|Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License]] as published by Creative Commons; either version 4.0, or (at your option) any later version, or
-any later version, or+
  
 The [[https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html|GNU Free Documentation License]] as published by the Free Software; either version 1.3, or (at your option) any later version; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. The [[https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html|GNU Free Documentation License]] as published by the Free Software; either version 1.3, or (at your option) any later version; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.