In today’s automated world, it is difficult to imagine an industry breakthrough without software tools. However, the convenience and utility brought by these digital technologies also threaten our fundamental rights and democracy. As these tools become more advanced, every software user must grapple with a troubling question: Who is truly in control of the technologies we depend on?
Who is the real “user”?
At its core, software is the set of instructions that control what our devices and applications do. Every day, we work with software to access information, augment our work, and connect with the world around us. Like many technologies, it promises to empower users, but this “freedom” is merely an illusion. While we may feel in control, software usually operates the way its creators designed it.
Restrictions like costly paywalls, absurd warranties, and limited-use policies are hallmarks of non-free or proprietary software. For instance, Adobe, a popular creative software provider, has frequently been met with criticisms of its products’ subscription models for high costs, perpetual lock-ins, and hidden cancellation fees.
Software providers are sometimes not as transparent as they seem. As our lives become more dependent on software technologies, our autonomy lies at risk.
Proprietary is risky
The consequences of proprietary software seem abstract to many. Yet, even as regular software users, the use and regulation imposed by these technologies can have profound implications for all of us. In 2018, the infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed that 87 million Facebook users—a significant portion being Filipinos—had their data illegally harvested and weaponized for political messaging. This crime was not merely a data privacy issue; it also exposed how closed digital systems could compromise democracies.
In the Philippines, where millions lack digital privacy literacy and reliable internet access, most rely on free social media to consume and share information, often unaware of the data privacy risks it entails. The Philippine Digital Justice Initiative flagged some of the most prevalent digital problems in our country: the digital divide, precarious platform-based work, troll armies and fake news, and the risk of hijacked democracies.
Moreover, current legislation does not cover sound digital protection policies and regulations, enabling the spread of fake news, the weaponization of digital technologies, and the exploitation of online labor. The nature of proprietary software prevents the public from scrutinizing the systems these issues are built on, allowing companies and government entities to flagrantly violate our rights and freedoms.
One of the most recent cases involving these systems occurred this May, when TikTok was fined EUR 530 million by Irish data protection authorities for violating European General Data Protection Regulations. The fine was imposed as TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, failed to “verify, guarantee, and demonstrate” that European user data was securely transmitted to China, with data being remotely accessed by their engineers.
What’s all the FOSS about?
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) offers a radical alternative by allowing users to freely use programs as they wish. As it respects users’ rights and freedoms, the “free” in FOSS refers to freedom, not price.
Unlike proprietary software, FOSS enables its users to have control and encourages collaboration and learning. Most FOSS software is accessible and free of charge. As a result, not only does it reduce cost, but it also promotes user sovereignty and sustainability through open and transparent development practices.
For instance, European governments are slowly shifting to open source software to achieve digital sovereignty and reduce dependency on American-based companies. Lyon, France’s third-largest city and a leading economic hub, is replacing Microsoft Windows and Office Suite with FOSS alternatives such as Linux, OnlyOffice, NextCloud, and PostgreSQL for their digital tools.
The switch to FOSS aligns with the European Commission’s 2025 State of the Digital Decade report, which suggests that harnessing open source is essential to tech autonomy. With this, Lyon has placed itself on a path to digital sovereignty, the protection of citizen data, and reduced environmental footprints.
The Philippines has seen a surge of FOSS adoption across various sectors. Educational institutions like DLSU and Ateneo de Manila University are integrating FOSS tools into their curricula; open-source advocacy groups like the Open Source Software PH are maintaining and promoting Filipino projects; and the Department of Information and Communications Technology is considering the promotion and use of open-source solutions in government agencies as per the 2022 E-Government Masterplan.
A free and open-source future
Like most alternatives, the adoption won’t be easy. FOSS is frequently challenged with compatibility and integration issues, licensing concerns, and pressure and resistance from proprietary software distributors and companies. Therefore, it is paramount to engage with the communities behind FOSS to report bugs, suggest improvements, and advocate for open standards and the value of software freedom.
FOSS promotion and adoption cultivate an inclusive, secure, and independent software ecosystem among users and developers. Embracing its principles frees us from the seemingly coercive software upgrades, resulting in more electronic waste and digital footprints at the cost of our rights and freedoms.
Apart from those, FOSS empowers users and developers by championing ethical technology use and encouraging grassroots innovation. It is a testament against greedy corporate and national practices that prioritize profit over people.
As users, we deserve to have the freedom that comes with our software use. We don’t need to be policymakers or software developers to fight for our digital rights. At the very least, simply sharing or recommending a FOSS project and educating others about our rights is more than enough. Every small shift chips away at the dominance of closed, exploitative systems. Ultimately, FOSS matters because users matter.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s Vanguard Special 2025. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSVanguardSpecial2025.
