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ZeroKnowledge's Freedom Server Code Available

Posted by michael on from the happy-valentine's-day dept.

hey writes: "The Register reports that Zero Knowledge's Freedom Network source code is now available." This seems to be part of CodeCon, which is now underway in San Francisco. You can't use the code for commercial gain, but I could see a non-profit network springing up...

6 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. More hysteria kills software by coupland · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sorry, but despite the article it appears terrorism is once again eliminating freedoms internally. I used this service for a long time to dodge predatory advertisers and to avoid unsolicited contact. While Sep. 11th needs to be remembered vividly, people also need to remember that the basis of the American Constitution is that no external threat can strip one of their freedoms. This has been sadly missing of late but please don't forget that the precepts of democracy are Freedom, Tolerance, and and Equality. None can be abandoned due to an attack, in fact they are more sacred than ever...

    1. Re:More hysteria kills software by Chiasmus_ · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Dude... the point here is that they've open-sourced the software.

      Though the *company* may be unable to continue its anonymizing service in the wake of Sep. 11th, the people involved understood that their ideal could be fully realized simply by dumping the code on whoever wants to maintain it.

      They may not make a pile of money this way, but, hey, did anyone really expect that this idea would rake in the cash in the first place? Anyone trying something like this must have some ulterior motive (see Neal Stevenson's Avi for a fictional counterpart).

      --
      "Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master."
  2. Open Services? by ocip · · Score: 2, Insightful

    While I'm glad to see the source is out for download now, it would have been nice to see it a long time ago. It would be really neat if online services shared their code with a "you can look, and play for yourself, but don't try to make money" sort of license. Not only would it improve the service (because of feedback) but also help others to implement a similar service as a custom solution.

    I wish I had some examples.

    1. Re:Open Services? by Chiasmus_ · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think one of the reasons that open source works so well is that people *can* make money under most licenses.

      Really, how many venture capitalists would even *glance* at Linux if the GPL included a provision saying "Don't even think about redistributing this code in some hardware you're trying to sell. This is educational stuff only."

      Remember: something can't exactly be considered free (as in speech) if it tells you exactly how you're required to use it. From a law-abiding corporation's perspective, what's the difference between something you can't use and something you're not allowed to use?

      --
      "Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master."
  3. Uh, yeah, right. by base3 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    but I could see a non-profit network springing up...

    Because I'm certain there are lots of volunteers out there that want to donate their bandwidth to the cause of having their door kicked down and family forced face down on the floor at gunpoint because someone used their Freedom server to threaten the POTUS, exchange kiddie porn with an FBI agent, or (horror of horrors) download a non-rights-managed piece of music and that person was the lucky person to be the exit server for the traffic.

    These servers simply cannot be run successfully by individuals with the potential legal problems of relatively honest use, much less malicious use. And after 9/11, I doubt very many ISPs would be able to weather the storm, either.

    --
    One CPU cycle wasted on digital restrictions management is ONE TOO MANY.
    1. Re:Uh, yeah, right. by wurp · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Uh, yeah, right. I mean, really, right. There are people out there who want to donate their bandwidth to the cause of free anonymous speech, and if that means someone might see some ugliness that could result in us testing some of the more oppressive aspects of recent turns of law in court, so be it.

      If you're not willing to stand up for your beliefs, at least don't mock those who are.