09.09.11
Cablegate: US Diplomats and Microsoft Fight GNU/Linux in Venezuela, Insist Open Source is Not Commercial, Label Advocates ‘Conspiracy Theorists’
Summary: A lot of FUD is being spread by Microsoft along with the US government in order to suppress adoption of Free software in Venezuela’s government
A FAMOUS fallacy, one which seeks to portray Open Source as the opposite of “commercial” (rather than proprietary), has been spread by Microsoft and we are finding this pattern of FUD even in diplomatic cables that say open source is “a “revolutionary” alternative to profit-driven commercial software”. Well, at least they said “revolutionary” and not “terrorist”. The cable seeks to daemonise nations that don’t want to depend on the United States digitally. How dare they?
Further down in this Cablegate cable there is a long FUD section about “Commercial v. Open-Source”. It starts by saying that “Tascon recently attended the Global Leadership Forum in Washington, DC as a guest of Microsoft, where he met Bill Gates.”
The section titled “Conspiracy Theories” says: “Microsoft’s General Manager, Gonzalo Fernandez (protect), showed EconOff an internal PDVSA memo which claimed that all U.S. software companies had a “back door” mechanism whereby the U.S. government could at any time access information, citing the supposed CALEA Law (United States Law of Assistance in Communications for Security Systems). The memo made a claim that the USG simultaneously shut down all Microsoft operating systems in Iraq before attacking, and then detailed various NSA and CIA hacker programs. The memo concludes that the BRV should not contract any services from American providers.”
Watch how much FUD the cable ends with (lies mixed with distortion of facts): “If the law passes in current form, the provisions for mandatory use of OSS will have grave repercussions for BRV operations. By nature, OSS requires code sharing, and could pose security concerns for important BRV institutions, such as PDVSA, EDELCA (the electric company), or CADIVI (the Foreign Exchange Control Authority). Though OSS software has only a one-time license fee — and therefore seems more cost-effective — critics claim the system can be less-user friendly and requires frequent technical support (which can often be costlier than licensing). According to Microsoft, no government in the world has successfully used Linux for large operations (Brazil and Cuba reportedly attempted this, but then abandoned the effort). The issue of BRV software has become political — with PQrez trying to bill OSS as a “revolutionary” software that would promote endogenous development, and Tasc”n siding with commercial software providers by promoting “neutrality” in selection of operating systems. Most National Assembly deputies are uninformed on the issue and though the law was to be presented in second session in early May, there has been no news as of yet.”
“[P]romoting “neutrality” in selection of operating systems,” eh? That’s rich. It’s like Microsoft’s misuse of the word “choice”.
VZCZCXRO1794 RR RUEHAO DE RUEHCV #1778/01 1671618 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 161618Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5084 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6655 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1295 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 2110 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0355 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 3598 RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0872 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 0518 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0026 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0295 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0796 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001778 SIPDIS SIPDIS USDOC FOR ITA MARGARET KESHISHIAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON [Economic Conditions], KIPR [Intellectual Property Rights], VE [Venezuela] SUBJECT: BRV INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DRAFT LAW AND THE OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE DEBATE This message is sensitive but unclassified, please treat accordingly. ------- Summary ------- ¶1. (U) As part of an ongoing effort by the BRV to promote open-source software (OSS) as a "revolutionary" alternative to profit-driven commercial software, the National Assembly has proposed a draft Information Technology Law. The legislation would require government entitites at all levels (plus their contractors and anyone receiving public funds) to use OSS. Currently, most of the BRV uses commercial software, whose largest provider in Venezuela is Microsoft. IBM is the country's largest provider of OSS. Deputy Luis Tascon, who was hosted by Microsoft in the U.S. earlier this year, is fighting the mandatory OSS provisions in the law. Felipe Perez, an influential Chavista ex-minister (and owner of a Linux distribution company) is one of the main proponents of the law. Fighting between the two factions has stalled the drafting of the final version. End summary. ------------------------ "Revolutionary" Software ------------------------ ¶2. (U) The BRV began a trend years ago to favor open-source software (OSS) over commercial software. The rationales for the move are the perception that intellectual property rights are against the "revolution," that open-source software is better for the consumer, and that it would lower costs for the BRV. In 2004, President Chavez issued a decree requiring all executive-branch agencies to migrate their operating systems to OSS. However, implementation has been lackluster, and often users violate the terms of the software (such as making open modifications or using without license). Microsoft is the top provider of commercial software (Windows) in Venezuela, while IBM is the main provider of OSS (Linux). ¶3. (U) The Information Technology draft law (Ley de Infogobierno) was passed in first discussion in the National Assembly on August 2005. It mandates exclusive use of OSS in all government entities (from the executive to municipal government), the Central Bank, public universities, companies who receive public funds or are directed by a government employee (at any level), and companies or persons who provide temporary services or goods to the government or to government employees. It also requires migration of existing platforms to OSS, establishes criminal sanctions for non-compliance, and creates a National Commission for Information Technology (CONATI) that would have confidentiality agreements with software providers. SIPDIS ------------------------- Commercial v. Open-Source ------------------------- ¶4. (U) In April 2006, the National Assembly established a working group, led by Deputy Luis Tascon, to review the draft law. The group was comprised of private sector companies, business chambers, labor groups, PDVSA, OSS groups, and universities. Two camps emerged. One group, under Tascon, has pushed to amend the law to allow each government entity to choose between OSS and commercial software according to their needs. Tascon recently attended the Global Leadership Forum in Washington, DC as a guest of Microsoft, where he met Bill Gates. (Comment: It is ironic that Tascon, who is infamous for publicly disseminating personal information on those who voted against Chavez, would champion licensed software. End Comment). ¶5. (U) The other group is comprised of proponents of OSS, led by Felipe Perez Marti, President of the Venezuelan Association of Open-Source Software (and former Minister of Planning). They strongly favor using OSS exclusively, as stipulated by the draft law. Perez, the original drafter of CARACAS 00001778 002 OF 002 the pro-OSS 2004 decree, is the owner of SOLVE (Free Software of Venezuela), a Linux distributor, whose board (known as "Los Felipillos") is composed of many BRV leaders, reportedly including the Minister of Education. According to Microsoft, Perez's company is positioned to provide the BRV with Linux and all the technical support. His company would exponentially benefit from mandated government use of OSS, which is currently minimal. IBM's Venezuela operations manager noted that they have great relations with the public sector (their largest client), but expressed concern that the BRV wants to buy the software but not agree to maintenance contracts with IBM. ¶6. (U) During a May 5 working group meeting, Perez publicly called Tascon a "traitor." Tascon expelled him from the room and then declared he would finish drafting the law behind closed doors due to the "impossibility of consensus" between commercial software providers and OSS groups. The media has largely portrayed this as Tascon barring Perez for personal reasons. ------------------- Conspiracy Theories ------------------- ¶7. (SBU) Microsoft's General Manager, Gonzalo Fernandez (protect), showed EconOff an internal PDVSA memo which claimed that all U.S. software companies had a "back door" mechanism whereby the U.S. government could at any time access information, citing the supposed CALEA Law (United States Law of Assistance in Communications for Security Systems). The memo made a claim that the USG simultaneously shut down all Microsoft operating systems in Iraq before attacking, and then detailed various NSA and CIA hacker programs. The memo concludes that the BRV should not contract any services from American providers. ------- Comment ------- ¶8. (SBU) If the law passes in current form, the provisions for mandatory use of OSS will have grave repercussions for BRV operations. By nature, OSS requires code sharing, and could pose security concerns for important BRV institutions, such as PDVSA, EDELCA (the electric company), or CADIVI (the Foreign Exchange Control Authority). Though OSS software has only a one-time license fee -- and therefore seems more cost-effective -- critics claim the system can be less-user friendly and requires frequent technical support (which can often be costlier than licensing). According to Microsoft, no government in the world has successfully used Linux for large operations (Brazil and Cuba reportedly attempted this, but then abandoned the effort). The issue of BRV software has become political -- with PQrez trying to bill OSS as a "revolutionary" software that would promote endogenous development, and Tasc"n siding with commercial software providers by promoting "neutrality" in selection of operating systems. Most National Assembly deputies are uninformed on the issue and though the law was to be presented in second session in early May, there has been no news as of yet. END COMMENT. WHITAKER
Microsoft is just trying to associate GNU/Linux with AK-47s, “conspiracy theorists”, and an attack on corporation. Why is the government playing along with this? Does it use Microsoft for colonisation (digital) of south America? █
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Needs Sunlight said,
September 9, 2011 at 4:04 am
What does the acronym “BRV” expand to?
Dr. Roy Schestowitz Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 4:19 am
I think it’s the Central Bank of Venezuela. In Brazil, the banks use FOSS.
Metztli Reply:
September 10th, 2011 at 5:52 am
BRV (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)
Dr. Roy Schestowitz Reply:
September 10th, 2011 at 8:01 am
Thank you.