Software Freedom Podcast

By Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)

The regular podcast about Free Software and ongoing activities hosted by the FSFE... more

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FAQs about Software Freedom Podcast:

How many episodes does Software Freedom Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 41 episodes available.

Software Freedom Podcast episodes:

October 23, 2025SFP#40: How to tackle Openwashing?
SFP#40: How to tackle Openwashing?
It took us some time but we are finally there: The Software Freedom
Podcast episode is releasing its 40th episode! In this one Johannes
and Bonnie talk about Openwashing.
Openwashing is a misleading practice of pretending that some software is
Free Software even though it is not. Discover together with Johannes and
Bonnie what Openwashing actually is,
which strategies are used by openwashers, and – most importantly –
how to counteract it. Find out more about how to support
"Public Money? Public Code!" and
help everybody to spot cases
of Openwashing.
In our 40th episode, you can learn more about the FSFE's policy work and how we as a
charity advocate for software freedom. You can support our work by
donating.
Show notes
Support our work for Free Software
CLT25: Openwashing ans Licht! (DE only)
SFSCON24 - Johannes Näder - Tackling Openwashers, Freeloaders and Cuckoos
Zentrum Digitale Souveränität (ZenDiS)
openDesk
Survey: Openwashing - Please share your views and experiences!
"Public Money? Public Code": Read all about PMPC
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
We are happy to receive your feedback on the Software Freedom Podcast and
especially on the transcript of the episode.
Please, send us an email to: [email protected].
If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom,
please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
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...more
37min
October 09, 2025SFP#39: Policy and EU: CRA and what’s next?
SFP#39: Policy and EU: CRA and what’s next?
We are talking about the Cyber Resilience Act and the challenges, you, our community, and many others, pointed out. With our 39th episode Bonnie and Alex
follow up on the questionnaire we put to you for the Cyber Resilience Act and present the key findings.
Together with the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the FSFE has created three separate questionnaires for OSS stewards, project maintainers and manufacturers.
Bonnie and Alex discuss the most important findings from the questionnaires and take a closer look at the challenges that stewards, project maintainers and manufacturers face. But they also see light at the
end of the tunnel.
Find out more about the challenges in regards to the implementation of the CRA and what next steps are lying ahead of us.
The FSFE's policy work is an important part of our work to safeguard Free Software and help to further the implementation of "Public Money? Public Code!".
You can support our work by donating.
Show notes
Support our work for Free Software
Datenspuren 2025 - CRA: Cybersicherheit in der Gesellschaft (DE)
Requirements you need to full fill for the CRA (Datenspuren 2025 - CRA: Cybersicherheit in der Gesellschaft (DE))
SFP#37: Policy and EU: The most famous of them all – we are talking about the CRA
Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
CRA: Free Software stewards, maintainers and manufactures, share your input!
CRA & PLD: Liability rules with large exemptions for Free Software are introduced
Cyber Resilience Act: Cybersecurity in the EU
"Public Money? Public Code": Read all about PMPC
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
We are happy to receive your feedback on the Software Freedom Podcast and especially on the transcript of the episode. Please, send us an email to:
[email protected]. If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
Join the FSFE community and support the podcast
...more
37min
September 11, 2025SFP#38: Policy and EU: Free Software Software Stack(s)
SFP#38: Policy and EU: Free Software Software Stack(s)
During the debate on digital sovereignty, the term “software stack” started to float around. This term quickly started
to fill up with different ideas, and a discussion about it took root. Follow Alex and Bonnie in this episode to learn more
about Free Software Software stacks and their connection with public administration.
Software stacks do not advance digital sovereignty merely by avoiding US components, but they must be 100 % Free Software.
Find out, together with Alexander Sander and Bonnie Mehring, why it is so important that these stacks must be completely
Free Software and discover the current debates on this topic in the EU.
Listen to our Software Freedom Podcast and stay up to date with the discussions about technological topics in Europe and the European Union.
In our 38th episode you can learn more about the FSFE's policy work and how we as a charity advocate for software freedom. You can support our
work by donating.
Show notes
Support our work for Free Software
Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
SFP#26: Policy and EU: the need of long-term funding and the NGI case
EUROSTACK: Building a European alternative for technological sovereignty
Zentrum Digitale Souveränität (ZenDiS)
openDesk
La suit
"Public Money? Public Code": Read all about PMPC
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
We are happy to receive your feedback on the Software Freedom Podcast and especially on the transcript of the episode. Please, send us an email to:
[email protected]. If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
Join the FSFE community and support the podcast
...more
36min
August 14, 2025SFP#37: Policy and EU: The most famous of them all – we are talking about the CRA
SFP#37: Policy and EU: The most famous of them all – we are talking about the CRA
Most of you have heard of the famous Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), a legislation introducing CE labels for digital products. In our latest episode of the
Software Freedom Podcast Bonnie and Alex have a easy to follow conversation about the CRA and what will be happening next.
Listen to Alexander Sander and Bonnie Mehring talk you through the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The CRA has entered into force in December 2024
and since then a lot has happened. In this episode they will give you a short introduction into the CRA and dive into the current discussions surrounding
its implementation. Learn how you can support the FSFE in safeguarding Free Software during the implementation process with answering the questionnaire
created together by the FSFE and the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
In our 37th episode you can learn more about the FSFE's policy work and how we as a charity advocate for software freedom. You can support our
work by donating.
Show notes
Support our work for Free Software
Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
CRA: Free Software stewards, maintainers and manufactures, share your input!
CRA & PLD: Liability rules with large exemptions for Free Software are introduced
Questionnaire for potential OSS Stewards in terms of CRA
Questionnaire for OSS Projects Maintainers in terms of CRA
Questionnaire for Manufacturers in terms of CRA
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
We are happy to receive your feedback on the Software Freedom Podcast and especially on the transcript of the episode. Please, send us an email to:
[email protected]. If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
Join the FSFE community and support the podcast
...more
35min
July 20, 2025SFP#36: Policy and EU: Call on the Commission to implement the AI Act
SFP#36: Policy and EU: Call on the Commission to implement the AI Act
In August 2025 the first part of the European Artificial Intelligence Act enters into force. For our 36th episode of the
Software Freedom Podcast Bonnie and Alex break down the current discussion about it and shed light on the arguments.
For this episode Alexander Sander and Bonnie Mehring talk you through the European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act),
one of the prominent acts from the EU. The AI Act will partly enter into force at the beginning of August 2025 - however companies started an “stop the clock” attempt to put
the EU Commission under pressure and to delay the implementation of the AI Act. This attempt prompted civil society including consumer rights protection organisations to
speak up and back the EU Commission in enforcing the AI Act for general purpose AI with an
Open letter.
Shortly after the recording of this episode the EU Commission released a statement confirming its devotion to protecting consumer rights.
Still, the discussion is not over.
Listen to our 36th episode and learn more about the FSFE's policy work, how we as a charity advocate for software freedom. You can support our
work by donating.
Show notes
Support our work for Free Software
European Artificial Intelligence Act
European CEOs plead for pause in AI Act by Politico
Open letter by civil
society: European Commission must champion the AI Act amidst simplification pressure
The FSFE promotes freedom of software, hardware, and data
CRA & PLD: Liability rules with large exemptions for Free Software are introduced
SFP#24: The status of Free Software with Karen Sandler and Alexander Sander
Podcast recommendation: Linux InLaws
Linux InLaws: FLOSS in education
Linux InLaws: Ada and Zangemann a childrens book about FLOSS
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
We are happy to receive your feedback on the Software Freedom Podcast and especially on the transcript of the episode. Please, send us an email to:
[email protected]. If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
Join the FSFE community and support the podcast
...more
27min
June 12, 2025SFP#35: Policy and EU: Tech sovereignty vote in the ITRE Committee
SFP#35: Policy and EU: Tech sovereignty vote in the ITRE Committee
And we are back for our 35th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast with our monthly update on policy decisions, votes and discussions in the European Union!
Together Bonnie Mehring and Alexander Sander talk about one specific policy topic in regard to Free Software. This month they sat down and covered the vote on the
Tech sovereignty INI in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).
Bonnie and Alex, talk about the vote in the ITRE committee on the European technological
sovereignty and digital infrastructure Own-initiative procedure (INI). As already discussed in our previous episode, this report is remarkable in many respects, among other things
because there is a far-right rapporteur. We discuss what impact this has on the report and how the European Parliament is dealing with the issue. Alex and Bonnie shed some light on this
and explain the procedures, the status of Free Software in the currently approved version of the technological sovereignty INI and discuss some likely outcomes for the upcoming weeks
before the summer break.
Listen to our 35th episode and learn more about the FSFE's policy work, how we as a charity advocate for software freedom. You can support our
work by donating.
This is the perfect episode for everybody who wants to learn more about the work of the European Parliament, politics on a European level and the current views on technological sovereignty!
Show notes
Support our work for Free Software
European technological
sovereignty and digital infrastructure INI
A "rapporteur" - the person who presents reports to Parliament
CRA & PLD: Liability rules with large exemptions for Free Software are introduced
Free Software and CRA - expert talk and discussion on 3 April
SFP#34: Policy and EU: Tech sovereignty debate in the EU
"Public Money? Public Code!" initiative by the FSFE
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
Join the FSFE community and support the podcast
...more
34min
May 22, 2025SFP#34: Policy and EU: Tech sovereignty debate in the EU
SFP#34: Policy and EU: Tech sovereignty debate in the EU
Dive with us into the inner workings of the European Parliament and learn about their approach on technological sovereignty. In this 34th episode of the Software Freedom
Podcast Alex and Bonnie discuss the current debate in the European Union and pay special attention to the current European technological sovereignty and digital infrastructure INI.
Bonnie Mehring and Alexander Sander, talk about European technological
sovereignty and digital infrastructure Own-initiative procedure (INI), the European Parliaments infrastructure to table important topics for the Commission and to work
on them. In their discussion they highlight the importance of a clear understanding of Free Software and how much it interacts with the different discussion around the ongoing
work by the European Parliament. They examine the European Parliament views on technological sovereignty and how important Free Software is for achieving independency.
Listen to our 34th episode and learn more about the FSFE's policy work, how we as a charity advocate for software freedom. You can support our
work by donating.
This is the perfect episode for everybody who wants to learn more about the work of the European Parliament and the current views on technological sovereignty!
Show notes
Support our work for Free Software
European technological
sovereignty and digital infrastructure INI
A "rapporteur" - the person who presents reports to Parliament
CRA & PLD: Liability rules with large exemptions for Free Software are introduced
Free Software and CRA - expert talk and discussion on 3 April
SFP#27: Policy and EU: Free Software hearing in the German Bundestag
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
Join the FSFE community and support the podcast
...more
36min
April 22, 2025SFP#33: Policy and EU: Coalition treaty in Germany and its role for Free Software
SFP#33: Policy and EU: Coalition treaty in Germany and its role for Free Software
Recently, the German coalition treaty from the CDU/CSU and SPD has been published with over 140 pages.
In our latest episode Alexander Sander and Bonnie Mehring talk about the coalition treaty and break down
the standing of Free Software in it.
Listen to the 33rd episode of our Software Freedom Podcast and find out what the coalition treaty outlines
for Free Software in Germany and where spillover effects to the EU policy are to be expected. Bonnie and Alex
discuss where we, as a civil society, need to keep an eye out for threats to our software freedom, and what the
options are for the Free Software ecosystem in the future. Together they also talk about the sudden decision to
remove Jutta Horstmann, former CEO of the German Center for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDiS in German), from her
position and cover the recent symposium "Public Money? Public Code! in practice”, organised by the FSFE.
This is the perfect episode for everybody who wants to learn more about the coalition treaty and its aspects on
Free Software! Help us to protect software freedom by donating.
Show notes
SFP#26: Policy and EU: the need of long-term funding and the NGI case
EU consultation confirms demand: long-term funding for Free Software is needed
SFP#27: Policy and EU: Free Software hearing in the German Bundestag
Alexander Sander, FSFE Senior Policy Consultant, at the German Bundestag hearing on “Open Source”
SFP#31: Policy and EU: FOSDEM recap
ZenDiS
Symposium “Public Money? Public Code! in practice”: Digital sovereignty needs Free Software!
Get active: "Public Money? Public Code!"
German Elections 2025: We demand public code, secure funding for Free Software, and transparent measurement of progress!
CLT25: Openwashing ans Licht! (DE only)
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
The people in the FSFE
Support our work for Free Software
If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
Join the FSFE community and support the podcast
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38min
March 26, 2025SFP#32: Policy and EU: Router Freedom in the EU
SFP#32: Policy and EU: Router Freedom in the EU
Have you ever used your personal router to connect to the internet? Recently we achieved a major win in Germany for Router Freedom. In this 32nd episode of the
Software Freedom Podcast, Bonnie Mehring, Alexander Sander, and Lucas Lasota talk about Router Freedom and our work to protect freedom of choice regarding internet devices.
Router Freedom, one of the FSFE's longest running initiatives, ensures the right to use any device to connect to the internet.
Lately this freedom was threatened by the largest telecom provider in Germany - however the
Bundesnetzargentur ruled in favour of Router Freedom, Germany's telecom regulator, and thereby safeguarded freedom of choice in Germany.
Listen to our 32nd episode and find out what Router Freedom is, how it connects back in history to the 50s, and how long the FSFE and other digital societies have been defending
your digital rights. Together with Bonnie, Alex and Lucas you can find out more about the status quo and how you can
help to protect Router Freedom.
This is the perfect episode for everybody who wants to support Router Freedom and ensuring the right to choose your own router!
Show notes
Router Freedom
Router Freedom in Germany: A victory for consumers!
Timeline of compulsory routers
The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)
SFP#26: Policy and EU: the need of long-term funding and the NGI case
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
Support our work for Free Software
If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
Join the FSFE community and support the podcast
...more
55min
February 26, 2025SFP#31: Policy and EU: FOSDEM recap
SFP#31: Policy and EU: FOSDEM recap
In our 31st episode of the Software Freedom Podcast, Alexander Sander and Bonnie Mehring discuss the highlights of the two Devrooms that the FSFE co-organized during FOSDEM 2025:
the 'Legal and Policy Issues DevRoom' and the 'Funding the FOSS Ecosystem DevRoom'. Find out more about the topics discussed there and tips about what to re-watch.
FOSDEM is always a great experience and it is amazing to see how the hard work in organising talks, panels and discussions pays off. Once again the FSFE team, including Alex and Bonnie,
had a fantastic time at what continues to be a place to be.
The Legal and Policy Issues DevRoom focuses on current EU and US legislation, and this year with a strong focused on
the implementation of the Cyber Resiliance Act. This dedicated DevRoom provided the chance to discuss the worries and thoughts that are raised
in the community. It was amazing to see how the DevRoom turned once again into a networking space and provided a source of feedback loop to get in touch with the local Free Software communities
and advocates.
On the other hand the Funding the FOSS Ecosystem DevRoom started a new network for all people involved in funding of FOSS projects
to connect and share resources. This turn out is really inspiring and a great way to get new discussions started, to learn from each other and to share knowledge - just what Free Software is at is
core a great community with four freedoms, to use, study, share and improve. ❤️
This is the perfect episode for everybody who missed FOSDEM or wants to keep the spirit of networking and staying in touch alive for a few more moments!
Show notes
Recordings from the Legal and Policy Issues DevRoom
Recording from Funding the FOSS Ecosystem DevRoom
Get in touch with Alexander Sander
The FSFE calls for broader interoperability by Apple under the DMA
Stay up-to-date and join our Newsletter
Support our work for Free Software
If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.
Discuss this
Join the FSFE community and support the podcast
...more
33min

FAQs about Software Freedom Podcast:

How many episodes does Software Freedom Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 41 episodes available.

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