The Illusion of Choice
Sat, 2 Nov 2024
I was recently talking to someone about the importance of free software. They argued that it's good to have choices, regardless of whether the software is free or proprietary. On the surface, this might seem like a reasonable argument. After all, who doesn't like having options? However, regarding software, this thinking misses a crucial point: not all choices are equal.
Treating free and proprietary software as simply two options in a marketplace, as if choosing between them is like Coke and Pepsi, is a dangerous oversimplification. It ignores the fundamental differences in how these types of software impact users, communities, and society.
Not All Choices Are Equal
When applied to software, the "choice is good" argument creates a false equivalence between free and proprietary software. It suggests that both are equally valid choices with no inherent moral distinction.
In reality, free and proprietary software have vastly different implications for users and society. Free software, emphasizing user freedom and community collaboration, empowers individuals and promotes a better digital world. Proprietary software restricts users and keeps them divided and helpless. Users are divided because they're forbidden to share, collaborate, or help each other. They're helpless because they're banned from understanding what the software does or changing it.
To illustrate this further, let's consider an analogy. Imagine you have the choice between two modes of transportation: a bicycle and a car. The car follows a pre-programmed route you cannot modify, and all of the inner workings have been welded closed so that you have no access. There is no steering wheel, and you are the only person allowed to sit in it. If you try to access the car's internal workings to change anything, add a steering wheel, or let someone else sit in the car, the carmaker will call you a criminal and jail you for years. The bicycle represents free software - you can take it apart, modify it, and learn how it works. You can even share your modifications with others or build upon their improvements. The car, however, represents proprietary software. You can use it from point A to point B but have no control over its inner workings. You can't change its route, you can't fix it if it breaks down, and you certainly can't share it so others can use it. While both offer the "choice" of transportation, they offer vastly different levels of freedom and control.
To truly understand the difference, we must move beyond the superficial level of choice and delve into the underlying values and consequences. Choosing between free and proprietary software isn't just about picking a program; it's about choosing the world we want to live in.
Choosing Your Master
The inherent power imbalance between users and proprietary software developers is perfectly captured in a quote by Richard Stallman, the founder of free software:
"To have the choice between proprietary software packages is being able to choose your master. Freedom means not having a master. And in computing, freedom means not using proprietary software."
This statement highlights a crucial truth. When you use proprietary software, you are handing over complete control over the software, and sometimes even your data, to someone else. You're at their mercy for updates, bug fixes, and new features. They can do (or not do) anything they want, even discontinuing the software altogether, leaving you little recourse.
In contrast, free software allows you to control your computing. You are not dependent on the developer for the software's functionality, continued existence, or anything else. You can examine the source code, modify it to suit your needs, and share it with others. This fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment that is impossible with proprietary software. This is essential for individual freedom and promoting a healthy and free society.
Choosing Freedom
The next time someone tells you it's good to have choices between free and proprietary software remember that not all choices are created equal. While having options is essential, we must go beyond simply counting the number of choices available and conclude that, as the number of choices increases, so must our society improve. We must move beyond this simplistic view and recognize that the quality and impact of the choices matter deeply. It's important to take a hard look and evaluate the impact of those choices on our freedom, our communities, and society as a whole.
Free software represents a fundamentally different approach to software, one that prioritizes user freedom, collaboration, and societal well-being. While proprietary software may seem convenient, it comes with costs far beyond the purchase price. These costs impact not only individual users but also society as a whole. It ultimately restricts users and society, leaving them divided and helpless.
The next time you choose between proprietary and free software, remember that you're not choosing among equals; you're choosing a set of values that reflects the world you want to live in. Do you want to live in a world where we're divided and helpless? Choose the other option. Choose to have power over your digital life. Choose freedom. Choose empowerment. Choose free software.