Re: [Fsfe-uk] Explanation of Tivosiation and problems - comments sought

[Shane M. Coughlan]

Chris Croughton wrote:
> It's not just that.  One person with a mobile phone with hacked software
> can screw it up for everyone else (just as they can with TCP/IP or other
> protocols).  At the moment it is unlawful to have non-approved software
> on a phone except for testing, so anyone who does it can be prosecuted,
> but once you force manufacturers to make the things user-codable that
> protection vanishes.

Sorry to nit-pick, but you just referred protection under law (people
who use unauthorised software can be prosecuted) and then suggested that
user-codable software will circumvent that.  This is factually
incorrect, as the law will still stand.  If the user loaded
'bobsofthack1' onto his mobile he's still breaking the law.  The same
level of protection stands.

> The same as with cars.  If you allow unauthorised people to load
> modified firmware then anything can happen, including the deaths of
> innocent people (usually not the one at fault).

I'm not sure that this is 100% accurate.  There are a couple of
assumptions here (deaths of innocent people, not the person who loaded
the firmware) that may be possible but are somewhat far out...

Good point: some devices can do bad things if messed with

But let's not overshadow the good point with too much speculation or
assumption.

Shane

-- 
Shane Coughlan
FTF Coordinator
Free Software Foundation Europe
+41435000366 ext 408
address@hidden
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