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en:philosophy:chromium_flaws [2019/10/13 19:54]
emulatorman 		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 <color #B90B0B/#FFDDDD>considered to be nonfree</color>. Thanks to Debian's Lintian Reports and efforts, **it appears those issues have been solved**.+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**.
  
-**However, Chromium, by default**, still has a <color #B90B0B/#FFDDDD>number of issues</color> 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 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]]. 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]].
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 ==== Pre-built Binaries ==== ==== Pre-built Binaries ====
  
-By default, Chromium still includes <color #B90B0B/#FFDDDD>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.+**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 <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 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]].+**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 ====