| From: |
| Free Software Foundation <info-AT-fsf.org> |
| To: |
| LWN <lwn-AT-lwn.net> |
| Subject: |
| Free Software Supporter — Issue 218, June 2026 |
| Date: |
| Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:32:56 -0400 |
| Message-ID: |
| <E1wUKYS-0003y2-BF@crmserver2p.fsf.org> |
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*Read and share online:
<https://www.fsf.org/free-software-supporter/2026/june>.*
Welcome to the *Free Software Supporter*, the Free Software
Foundation's (FSF) monthly news digest and action update — being read
by you and 237,483 other activists.
## TABLE OF CONTENTS
* Forty-six free software meetups on six continents
* Time travel without borders
* DMA: The FSFE intervenes against Apple before European Court of Justice for the second time
* Comprehensive response to Bambu's AGPLv3 violations
* California moves to exempt GNU/Linux from its upcoming age-verification law after backlash
* Lost version of Amiga Unix suddenly reappears
* Yearslong fight over users’ right to tweak smart TV software heads to trial
* May GNU Emacs news
* Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory
* LibrePlanet featured resource: LibrePlanet wiki pages that need work
* May GNU Spotlight with Amin Bandali featuring eleven new GNU releases: GnuPG, G-Golf, and more!
* FSF and other free software events
* Thank GNUs!
* GNU copyright contributions
* Translations of the *Free Software Supporter*
* Take action with the FSF!
View this issue online here:
<https://www.fsf.org/free-software-supporter/2026/june>.
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Want to read this newsletter translated into another language? Scroll
to the end to read the *Supporter* in French, Portuguese, or Spanish.
***
### Forty-six free software meetups on six continents
*From May 22*
The FSF invited free software supporters to organize in-person
community meetups in their area during May 2026, or LibreLocal month,
to bring people together to swap ideas, learn from each other, and
celebrate free software. People were encouraged to organize events
grounded in freedom to help spread the free software philosophy.
Forty-six free software meetups have been organized on six continents
and more continue to be scheduled past May. If you enjoyed attending a
LibreLocal meetup, or missed the opportunity to attend one, you don't
have to wait for LibreLocal 2027: organize a meetup today!
* <https://www.fsf.org/news/2026-librelocal-meetup-update>
### Time travel without borders
*From May 12 Ludovic Courtès*
GNU Guix, a package manager for GNU/Linux systems, is designed to give
users more control over their computing environments, including in
matters of security. While much progress has been made in support of
rapid deployment, the security implications of quick deployments,
especially when running other people's code, are often overlooked. In
this post, GNU Guix takes a look at a new feature of guix time-machine
and guix pull in support of one-line deployment commands: the ability
to download channel files without compromising security. Check out the
new guix time-machine feature for yourself!
* <https://guix.gnu.org/en/blog/2026/time-travel-without-bor...>
* <https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/fsf-announces-support...>
### DMA: The FSFE intervenes against Apple before European Court of Justice for the second time
*From May 19 by the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)*
The FSFE has been granted permission to intervene at the Court of
Justice of the European Union in the Apple against the European
Commission case, with the FSFE's goal being to defend interoperability
and software freedom in Europe. In this case, Apple is challenging the
European Commission's decision that sets requirements on how the
company provides software and hardware interoperability for its mobile
devices. The Commission's original decision includes obligations for
Apple to provide increased transparency and access for developers
seeking interoperability with Apple's operating system features,
access to technical information and communication channels, and
clearer procedures for interoperability requests. The outcome of this
case is expected to impact both the supply of free software and
greater interoperability with Apple's operating systems. Apple will
never care about your freedom, and you can read more about how it
seeks to take your rights away below.
* <https://fsfe.org/news/2026/news-20260519-01.en.html>
* <https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/apple>
### Comprehensive response to Bambu's AGPLv3 violations
*From May 18 by Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC)*
After recent news of violations of the Affero General Public License,
version 3 ("AGPLv3"), SFC staff began a comprehensive AGPLv3
compliance investigation of both the userspace software and firmware
on Bambu's devices. While the investigation is ongoing, two specific
AGPLv3 violations have been confirmed. You can read more about the
AGPLv3 violations, as well as recent aggressive actions taken by Bambu
Lab.
* <https://sfconservancy.org/news/2026/may/18/bambu-studio-3...>
* <https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2026/may/17/incomplete-cor...>
### California moves to exempt GNU/Linux from its upcoming age-verification law after backlash
*From May 25 by Etiido Uko*
Pushback against the draconian Assembly Bill 1043, or Digital Age
Assurance Act (DAAA), a law passed in late 2025 that requires every OS
provider in California to collect age information from users at
account setup, may be resulting in some positive movement. Assembly
Bill 1856, should it pass successfully through the California
legislature, would amend the DAAA by excluding software distributed
under licenses that allow users to "copy, redistribute, and modify the
software." AB 1856 narrows the definition of who qualifies as an
"operating system provider" under the law, but does not guarantee
continued freedom for users. As laws like these pop up worldwide, it
is vital that you be vocal about how dangerous *any* restrictions
against software use are, as it will be just a matter of time before
legislators write laws that attempt to control you, too.
*
<https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/california-mo...>
* <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xh...>
### Lost version of Amiga Unix suddenly reappears
*From May 25 by Julian Scheffers*
A lost version of UNIX 2.02 was recently found on an Amiga 3000UX,
which was used by FSF staff programmers at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT) to help further early development of the GNU
operating system. The winner of the FSF fortieth anniversary auction
for this particular Amiga was rewarded with the magic 2.02c version
number upon booting the historical computer (after making several
copies of the hard drive, of course). You can learn more about Amiga
Unix, the discovery process, and everything on the disk — including
FSF staples like GCC, G++, and core utilities like GNU less in the
video attached to the article below (nonfree JavaScript required).
* <https://hackaday.com/2026/05/25/lost-version-of-amiga-uni...>
* <https://www.fsf.org/news/2025-auction-recap>
### Yearslong fight over users’ right to tweak smart TV software heads to trial
*From May 20 by Scharon Harding*
For years, owners of Vizio smart TVs have had little control over the
software running on their sets — software that can track viewing
habits, push ads, and generally shape the experience of using the
device. After multiple years of back and forth with Vizio, SFC knew
the only way Vizio would comply with the license and give SFC the CCS
was to sue Vizio. So, in October 2021 SFC sued Vizio in California
state court. Now, in August they will finally be able to appear before
a Californian jury and make their case. The FSF will be there to
support and is set to be a witness. You can read more about this case
in the articles below.
*
<https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/05/inside-the-fight-...>
* <https://sfconservancy.org/copyleft-compliance/vizio.html>
* <https://www.fsf.org/news/fsf-to-be-deposed-in-sfc-v-vizio...>
### May GNU Emacs news
*From May 31 by Sacha Chua*
In these issues: must-have Emacs packages, help wanted for a demo
site, and more!
* [2026-05-04](https://sachachua.com/blog/2026/05/2026-05-04-emacs-news/)
* [2026-05-11](https://sachachua.com/blog/2026/05/2026-05-11-emacs-news/)
* [2026-05-18](https://sachachua.com/blog/2026/05/2026-05-18-emacs-news/)
* [2026-05-25](https://sachachua.com/blog/2026/05/2026-05-25-emacs-news/)
### Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory
Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to
discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth
of useful information, from basic category and descriptions to version
control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing. The Free Software
Directory has been a great resource to software users over the past
decade, but it needs your help staying up-to-date with new and
exciting free software projects.
To help, join our weekly IRC meetings on Fridays. Meetings take place
in the #fsf channel on Libera.Chat and usually include a handful of
regulars as well as newcomers. Libera.Chat is accessible from any IRC
client — everyone's welcome!
The next meeting is next Friday, June 5 from 12:00 to 15:00 ESD
(16:00 to 19:00 UTC). Details here:
<https://www.fsf.org/events/fsd-2026-06-05-irc>
* <https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Main_Page>
### LibrePlanet featured resource: LibrePlanet wiki pages that need work
Every month on the LibrePlanet wiki, we highlight one resource that is
interesting and useful — often one that could use your help. For this
month, we are highlighting LibrePlanet wiki pages that need work.
These are pages that we know need work: feel free to add to them or
work on them. You are invited to help update, adopt, spread, and
improve this important resource.
* <https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Participate/libr...>
Do you have a suggestion for next month's featured resource? Let us
know at <campaigns@fsf.org>.
### May GNU Spotlight with Amin Bandali featuring eleven new GNU releases: GnuPG, G-Golf, and
more!
Eleven new GNU releases in the last month (as of May 31, 2026):
* [anastasis-0.7.0](https://www.gnu.org/software/anastasis/)
* [g-golf-0.8.7](https://www.gnu.org/software/g-golf/)
* [gdb-17.2](https://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/)
* [gnupg-2.5.20](https://www.gnu.org/software/gnupg/)
* [gsasl-2.2.3](https://www.gnu.org/software/gsasl/)
* [less-702](https://www.gnu.org/software/less/)
* [libextractor-1.14](https://www.gnu.org/software/libextractor/)
* [octave-11.2.0](https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/)
* [parallel-20260522](https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/)
* [which-2.25](https://www.gnu.org/software/which/)
* [xorriso-1.5.8.pl02](https://www.gnu.org/software/xorriso/)
*For a full list with descriptions, please see:
<https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/2026-may-gnu-spotlight>*
For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu>.
To download: nearly all GNU software is available most reliably from
<https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/>. Optionally, you may find faster download
speeds at a mirror located geographically closer to you by choosing
from the list of mirrors published at
<https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html>, or you may use
<https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.
A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance. Please see
<https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint> if you'd like to
help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
<https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html>.
If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html>.
As always, please feel free to write to me, <bandali@gnu.org>,
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.
### FSF and other free software events
* June 7, 2026, Kyiv, Ukraine [LibreLocal
meetup](https://www.fsf.org/events/meetup-2026-05-kyiv-ukraine)
* June 14-16, 2026, Prague, Czech Republic, [Flock to
Fedora](https://fedoraproject.org/flock/2026/)
* July 16-18, 2026, Porto, Portugal,
[SECRYPT](https://secrypt.scitevents.org/)
* August 14-16, 2026, Manhattan, New York, United States,
[HOPE](https://hope.net/)
### Thank GNUs!
We appreciate everyone who donates to the Free Software Foundation,
and we'd like to give special recognition to the folks who have
donated $500 or more in the last month.
* <https://www.gnu.org/thankgnus/2026supporters.html>
This month, a big Thank GNU to:
* Arthur Gleckler
* David Klann
* Howard Pan
* Reynaldo Cordero
* Ron Hume
You can add your name to this list by donating at
<https://donate.fsf.org/>.
### GNU copyright contributions
Assigning your copyright to the FSF helps us defend the GNU GPL and
keep software free. The following individuals have assigned their
copyright to the FSF (and allowed public appreciation) in the past
month:
* Andrea Alberti (GNU Emacs)
* Hanwen Guo (GNU Emacs)
Want to see your name on this list? Contribute to GNU and assign your
copyright to the FSF.
* <https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#dev>
### Translations of the *Free Software Supporter*
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versión en español haz click aquí:
<https://www.fsf.org/free-software-supporter/2026/junio>
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Le *Free Software Supporter* est disponible en français. Pour voir la
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versão em português, clique aqui:
<https://www.fsf.org/free-software-supporter/2026/junho>
**Para alterar as preferências do usuário e receber as próximas
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If you no longer wish to receive the *Free Software Supporter* in
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[7]: https://my.fsf.org/node/75
### Take action with the FSF!
Contributions from thousands of individual associate members enable
the FSF's work. You can contribute by joining at
<https://my.fsf.org/join>. If you're already an associate member, you
can help refer new members by adding a line with your associate member
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> I'm an FSF associate member — Help us support software freedom!
> <https://my.fsf.org/join>
The FSF is always looking for
[volunteers](https://www.fsf.org/volunteer). From rabble-rousing to
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software adoption](https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Freedom_Ladder),
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for translators for the *Free Software Supporter*. Please send an
email to <campaigns@fsf.org> with your interest and a list of your
experience and qualifications.
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