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1. RNZfans (rnzfans@botsin.space)'s status on Monday, 26-Dec-2022 07:38:35 JST RNZfans

   Free software programs a risk to students' privacy - EdTech industry body https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/481437/free-software-programs-a-risk-to-students-privacy-edtech-industry-body

   • Jon Sullivan (joncounts@mastodon.nz)'s status on Monday, 26-Dec-2022 07:38:19 JST Jon Sullivan

     in reply to

     • Dave Lane 🇳🇿
     • Andrew Bartlett

     @lightweight @abartlet Yes, there's a messy mixed message in that article around what is meant by "free software". I get that lack of national leadership and standards, plus insufficient budgets, have pushed many NZ schools into using "free" software built by big global advertising companies. That's quite different from the robust free #FOSS options that could be used (with the right national standards and training).

   • Dave Lane 🇳🇿 (lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz)'s status on Monday, 26-Dec-2022 07:38:21 JST Dave Lane 🇳🇿

     in reply to

     • Andrew Bartlett

     @abartlet And yes, it's diabolical. Framed, I suspect, by proprietary tech vendors to cast aspersions at moves in the directions I've been proposing due to the fact that few of the edtech decision makers involved will understand the significance of the various terms being bandied about. Typical.

   • Andrew Bartlett (abartlet@mastodon.nzoss.nz)'s status on Monday, 26-Dec-2022 07:38:30 JST Andrew Bartlett

     in reply to

     • Dave Lane 🇳🇿

     Pity about the calling out of Free Software but @lightweight this looks to match your concerns.

   • Dave Lane 🇳🇿 (lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz)'s status on Monday, 26-Dec-2022 07:38:46 JST Dave Lane 🇳🇿

     in reply to

     • Jon Sullivan
     • Andrew Bartlett

     @joncounts indeed. It's a confusing message, unfortunately, and will almost certainly scare any #edTech procurement people into the hands of high priced but still proprietary and possibly surveillance capitalist options, because they just don't understand this stuff (esp not #FOSS) and are trying to avoid embarrassing their minister. @abartlet