As this issue is related to free software I am also sending it to Libreplanet mailing list.
Issue: https://labs.parabola.nu/issues/3010 More comments on Telegram freedom issues: ========================================= - there are several Telegram related packages in Parabola, not just one; - Review terms for API here: https://core.telegram.org/api/terms Terms dictate that user cannot modify software how user wants, thus those Terms are in direct contradiction to the GPL3 software, thus I consider Telegram application non-free as additional terms are introduced limiting user to modify Telegram how user wish and wants, and for whatever purpose user wish and want. Those limitations are following: - third party clients must comply with following: - modifier has to observe these Terms of Services which are in conflict with the GPL3 - API terms dictate that any modification to Telegram software MUST allow connection to other Telegram users, this contradicts GPL3 -- as for example, I would like to use chat software to contact non-Telegram users, which are on different server, with compatible API, GPL3 allows me to do so, Telegram does not allow me. - It is forbidden to interfere with the basic functionality of Telegram. This includes but is not limited to: making actions on behalf of the user without the user's knowledge and consent, preventing self-destructing content from disappearing, preventing last seen and online statuses from being displayed correctly, tampering with the 'read' statuses of messages (e.g. implementing a 'ghost mode'), preventing typing statuses from being sent/displayed, etc. -- I would like to be chaning these features to something different, but I am not allowed. GPL3 allows me, but additional Terms apply there which do not allow me, which in effect defeat the purpose of the GPL3. - You must obtain your own api_id for your application. -- I don't want, I want software to function without getting API key from vendor. I need freedom 0. - We offer our API free of charge, but your users must be aware of the fact that your app uses the Telegram API and is part of the Telegram ecosystem. This fact must be featured prominently in the app's description in the app stores and in the in-app intro if your app has it. -- We do not use "ecosystem" as term. Hypothetically, I do not want to tell users that it uses Telegram API and I do not want to have application that becomes part of Telegram "ecosystem" and do not want to make it prominent. Those are all contradictory terms that impact GPL3 freedom 0. - To avoid confusion, the title of your app must not include the word “Telegram”. An exception can be made if the word “Telegram” is preceded with the word “Unofficial” in the title. -- So when I change it, I should not be naming it that way. But when I change XMPP application or IRC, I can still call it XMPP, IRC something. - You must not use the official Telegram logo for your app. Both the Telegram brand and its logo are registered trademarks protected by law in almost every country. -- because official Telegram logo is included in the telegram-desktop software, this renders software non-free. This may be allowed by GPL3, but one may get a feeling of intentions of the vendor. - If you decide to monetize your app, you must clearly mention all the methods of monetization that are used in your app in all its app store descriptions -- I do not want to clearly mention it, it is in the source code that will be available for people to inspect it. Those are hypothetical statements to show contradictions with freedom zero in GPL3 and Terms of usage of API, that directly prevent users to modify software how they wish and want. - Breach of terms ,---- | 4.1. If your app violates these terms, we will notify the Telegram | account responsible for the app about the breach of terms. 4.2. If | you do not update the app to fix the highlighted issues within 10 | days, we will have to discontinue your access to Telegram API and | contact the app stores about the removal of your apps that are using | the Telegram API in violation of these terms. | | We reserve the right to expand these terms and guidelines as the need | arises. We will inform client developers of such changes via an in-app | notification to their accounts connected to the app in question. `---- That means that contradictory, not GPL3 complying additional terms on GPL3 are imposed as software will not function how user wish and want in case that supplementary Terms are not respected. Additional future proprietary terms are imposed onto GPL3 as Telegram vendor reserves the right to change the Terms in future how vendor wish and wants. Thus Telegram applications are not free as additional limiting terms are imposed onto users. More viewpoints to consider for removal of this package from Parabola: ====================================================================== High priority projects for FSF: Decentralization, federation, and self-hosting https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority-projects/decentralization-federation Ways to help Self-hosting of services or service nodes allows the individual more control over the security and nature of their information storage and is a social contribution to building networks that serve rather than undermine communities We are not helping this purpose if we promote centralized network named Telegram. Let us change telegram-desktop to use our own self-hosted telegram-server, which is to be renamed, then we shall allow such package, otherwise it should not be there. It should be in the blacklist. Jean Take action in Free Software Foundation campaigns: https://www.fsf.org/campaigns Sign an open letter in support of Richard M. Stallman https://rms-support-letter.github.io/ _______________________________________________ libreplanet-discuss mailing list libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss