FreedomBox

FreedomBox
Preview release 0.3 / January 21, 2015
Type Encrypted proxy server
Website freedomboxfoundation.org

FreedomBox is a community project to develop, design and promote[1] personal servers running free software for distributed social networking, email and audio/video communications.[2] The project was announced by Eben Moglen at the New York ISOC meeting on February 2, 2010.[3]

On February 4, 2011, Moglen formed the FreedomBox Foundation to become the organizational headquarters of the project,[4] and on February 18, 2011, the foundation started a campaign to raise $60,000 in 30 days on the crowdfunding service, Kickstarter.[5] The goal was met on February 22,[6] and on March 19, 2011, the campaign ended after collecting $86,724 from 1,007 backers.[5]

The project currently describes a FreedomBox as

“ a personal server running a free software operating system, with free applications designed to create and preserve personal privacy. ”

The developers aim to create and preserve personal privacy by providing a secure platform for building federated social networks.[7] This shall be done by creating a software stack that can run on plug computers that can easily be located in individual residences or offices. The software stack is currently at version 0.3.[8]

The hardware currently put forward for use with the FreedomBox software is the DreamPlug.[9] By promoting a decentralized deployment of hardware, the project hopes that FreedomBoxes will "provide privacy in normal life, and safe communications for people seeking to preserve their freedom in oppressive regimes."[10]

Releases

0.1
On 27 August 2012, the first "Developer Preview" was released. It focused on laying the architecture and infrastructure groundwork, rather than being a finished product. The image did nonetheless include the first completed tool, the FreedomBox's Privoxy, which may help to make a user's communications with websites more secure.[11]
0.2
On 16 March 2014, the second "developer" release was distributed. It is billed as representing "a significant maturation of the components ... and a big step forward for the project as a whole".[12][13] In the release notes it is also claimed that "Work has really been speeding up on the FreedomBox in 2014 ..."[13]
0.3
On 21 January 2015, the third release was distributed. It added support for the BeagleBone and for Tor Hidden Services.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "FreedomBox/Roadmap". Debian Wiki. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  2. ↑ "What will Freedom Boxes do?". FreedomBox Foundation. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  3. ↑ "Highlights of Eben Moglen's Freedom in the Cloud Talk". Software Freedom Law Center. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  4. ↑ "Why Political Liberty Depends on Software Freedom More Than Ever". Software Freedom Law Center. Retrieved 2011-02-20. Yesterday in the United States, we formed the FreedomBox Foundation, which I plan to use as the [...] organizational headquarters [...]
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Push the FreedomBox Foundation from 0 to 60 in 30 days". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  6. ↑ "Thank you Kickstarters". The Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Linux.conf.au 2012: FreedomBox's privacy". ZDNet. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
  8. ↑ FreedomBox software 0.3
  9. ↑ Hardware promoted by FreedomBox
  10. ↑ "FreedomBox Foundation". Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ MaidSafe

External links