IDAD 2024: December 20, 2024 | Defective by Design

IDAD 2024: December 20, 2024 | Defective by Design
IDAD 2024: December 20, 2024
IDAD 2024: December 20, 2024
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This year's annual day in protest of
Digital Restrictions
Management
(DRM) will be on December 20, 2024. On IDAD, a global
community of activists will stand up against the Microsoft Windows 11
requiring TPM, a treacherous technology that will soon force thousands
of users onto more restrictive hardware via planned obsolescence.
While TPM has legitimate use cases and could theoretically benefit
user security if handled through
free software
, it is
overwhelmingly deployed not to protect its actual users, but media
conglomerates. Today, most of the major streaming media platforms
utilize the TPM to decrypt media streams, forcefully placing the
decryption out of the user's control.
In this respect, it should come as no surprise that Microsoft has
eagerly mandated a hardware TPM as a requirement for Windows 11. In
addition to their many other
serious issues
, they just don't care
that this leaves users in the lurch. Very soon, the end of support for
Windows 10 will force users away from perfectly working hardware to
abide by this requirement. Let's be clear: the only significant reason
this is being done is to appease corporate monopolies. In doing so,
they'll send thousands of operable machines straight to the local
landfill, potentially setting back e-waste sustainability efforts for
years.
Thankfully, there's a way out. Now is the time for users to switch to
free software
and the
GNU/Linux
operating system, an ethical
replacement for Windows that respects the
freedom
of its users.
Let's keep these machines working for years to come, not throw them
away just because a corporation says we should.
How to participate
Try a live version ("distribution") of the GNU/Linux operating
system or help a friend do the same. We recommend trying one of these
fully free
distributions, but others are available elsewhere. For
coordination, feel free to use this
LibrePlanet wiki
page.
Ask around your friends and family if anyone is using Windows 10. If
they are, inform of the issue and let them know now is the time to
upgrade to freedom.
Organize your own event for IDAD and let us know about it. We can
promote it on social media and with any local FSF/DBD supporters.
Flood review sites with a
real
evaluation of Windows 11 --
highlighting the ways it robs users of their rights.
Challenge yourself to go a "Day without DRM," and refuse to engage
with media peddled by Disney+, Amazon, Peacock, and others that
don't respect your digital autonomy. If you need help, be sure to
check out our
Guide to DRM-free Living
Are you an organization or project interested in supporting IDAD?
We're looking for vendors of DRM-free media, organizations that
support the building of a DRM-free world, and those who believe in the
mission of Defective by Design to participate by offering sales,
writing blog posts, organizing events, and sharing with your members
about IDAD. Please contact us at
info@defectivebydesign.org
for more
information.
Together, we can build a future without DRM.
Cancel Netflix
Quote
...trying to make digital files uncopyable is like trying to make water not wet.
Bruce Schneier