Re: [arch-d] IAB Statement on Encryption and Mandatory Client-side Scanning of Content

[Vittorio Bertola <[e-mail]>]

> Il 16/12/2023 23:41 CET Brian E Carpenter <[e-mail]> ha scritto:
> 
> > I am at a loss on how mandatory use of client-side scanning could 
> > restrict the use of open-source software as the statement does not 
> > explain that.
> 
> That seems fairly clear to me. If open-source software does not allow,
> or actively prevents, mandatory scanning it would be illegal to use it.

Well, yes, much like software that would be designed to break any other law. But (as an employee of a European open source software maker) I do not see how this is a problem for open source, especially once it is clear that any modification applied to the code by third parties for the purpose of circumventing a law is not the responsibility of the original author of the software. It's life in a democracy, you just make your software comply with any applicable law, like it or not, and that's it.

(Anyway, the European proposal has very little chances to be approved. There's just too much opposition, including that from Germany, and they only have a couple of months before the term ends and the Parliament is dissolved for new elections.)

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Vittorio Bertola | Head of Policy & Innovation, Open-Xchange
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