Free Software, The Internet, And Global Communities Of Resistance

Description

This book explores software's pivotal role as the code that powers computers, mobile devices, the Internet, and social media. Creating conditions for the ongoing development and use of software, including the Internet as a communications infrastructure, is one of the most compelling issues of our time. Free software is based upon open source code, developed in peer communities as well as corporate settings, challenging the dominance of proprietary software firms and promoting the digital commons. Drawing upon key cases and interviews with free software proponents based in Europe, Brazil and the U.S., the book explores pathways toward creating the digital commons and examines contemporary political struggles over free software, privacy and civil liberties on the Internet that are vital for the commons' continued development. Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 2 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright Page......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 1 Hiding in Plain Sight: Software, Surveillance, and Capitalism in Everyday Life......Page 12 2 Coding the Digital Commons: Foundations in Free Software and the Emerging Internet......Page 22 3 From Markets to Commons: Free Software as Catalyst for Change......Page 64 4 Forking toward the Commons: Struggles to Sustain Freedom through Organizational Change......Page 116 5 Software Politics: Building Communities to Defend Software Freedom......Page 155 6 Internet Politics: Organizing for Net Neutrality and Civil Liberties......Page 186 7 Global Communities of Resistance and the Digital Commons......Page 233 References......Page 242 Index......Page 254