FreedomBox
Encyclopedia
FreedomBox is a community project to develop, design and promote personal server
s running free software
for distributed social networking, email
and audio/video communications
. The project was announced by Eben Moglen
at the New York ISOC
meeting on February 2, 2010.
On February 4, 2011, Moglen formed the FreedomBox Foundation to become the organizational headquarters of the project, and on February 18, 2011, the foundation started a campaign to raise $60,000 in 30 days on the crowdfunding service, Kickstarter
. The goal was met on February 22, and on March 19, 2011, the campaign ended after collecting $86,724 from 1,007 backers.
The project aims to develop a software stack that can run on plug computer
s that can easily be located in individual residences or offices. 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."
Personal web server
A personal web server is an appliance that allows users to store and access private files remotely from any device connected to the web. A personal web server might just be an occasional user's computer loaded with the requisite software for remote management or a dedicated high-end computer with...
s running free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
for distributed social networking, email
Email
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
and audio/video communications
Voice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol is a family of technologies, methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission techniques for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol networks, such as the Internet...
. The project was announced by Eben Moglen
Eben Moglen
Eben Moglen is a professor of law and legal history at Columbia University, and is the founder, Director-Counsel and Chairman of Software Freedom Law Center, whose client list includes numerous pro bono clients, such as the Free Software Foundation....
at the New York ISOC
Internet Society
The Internet Society or ISOC is an international, nonprofit organization founded during 1992 to provide direction in Internet related standards, education, and policy...
meeting on February 2, 2010.
On February 4, 2011, Moglen formed the FreedomBox Foundation to become the organizational headquarters of the project, and on February 18, 2011, the foundation started a campaign to raise $60,000 in 30 days on the crowdfunding service, Kickstarter
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.-Model:...
. The goal was met on February 22, and on March 19, 2011, the campaign ended after collecting $86,724 from 1,007 backers.
FreedomBox Definition and Scope
The project currently describes a FreedomBox asThe project aims to develop a software stack that can run on plug computer
Plug computer
A plug computer is a small form factor server for use in the home or office. Compared to their PC-based counterparts, plug computers are lower cost, consume less power, often do not have a video card, and are intended to be powered up at all times...
s that can easily be located in individual residences or offices. 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."
Related or similar projects
- The Sovereign computing group is a similar project (their Manifesto).
- Beedbox Active project (French project but with more and more English content)
- Soxyd (French/English)
- Commotion - wireless mesh project.
- WaspMote sensor device for developers (Open source and hardware)
External links
- The FreedomBox Foundation website
- freedombox-discuss mailing list
- "Decentralizing the Internet So Big Brother Can’t Find You", The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
story on the project.