In our today’s interview edition we are honored to welcome and present an influential Free Software advocate and speaker: Alexander Sander.
Alex is an EU public policy program manager for the Free Software Foundation Europe. He has studied politics in Marburg, Germany and later has been an MEP Assistant in Brussels, Belgium for three years and the General Manager of Digitale Gesellschaft e.V. in Berlin for four years. He is aslo the founder of NoPNR!, a campaign against the retention of travel data. He is also a Member of the Advisory Board of the ZMI Gießen and the Initiative against mass surveillance.
Who are you?
I am FSFEs Policy Manager. I studied politics in Marburg and later I have been an MEP Assistant in Brussels for three years and the General Manager of Digitale Gesellschaft e.V. in Berlin for four years. Furthermore I am the founder of NoPNR!, a campaign against the retention of travel data. I am also a Member of the Advisory Board of the ZMI Gießen and the Initiative against mass surveillance.
Why did you decide to join the speaker’s lineup of LibertyBits conference?
Free Software Foundation Europe helps individuals and organisations to understand how Free Software contributes to freedom, transparency, and self-determination. We enhance users’ rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption, encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe. I think our approach fits perfectly to LibertyBits.
What is your understanding of “liberty” (freedom) and what are the most underestimated threats to our modern society?
Free Software gives everybody the rights to use, understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
What would you say to people who do not really care whether the software they are using is free or proprietary as long as they can get the job done?
Free Software gives you the power to control technology. Proprietary Software frequently works against the interest of the users, spy on them, and sometimes cannot even be removed. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use, understand, adapt and share software.
What is the most easy way to protect our privacy if we are not so tech-savvy people?
Start with small steps: Consider to use Browser-Addons and look for alternative Software which protects your privacy. Check out tutorials and ask people who know about privacy protection. You can also visit a crypto party, people are friendly and always willing to help you no matter if you are a newbie or an expert.
What are your expectations from the conference?
I hope I will learn a lot of new things, gather a lot of new experiences and get to know great people.
Thanks a lot, Alex! Your topic title is “Public Money? Public Code!” Sounds logical, huh? Whoever is paying is dictating the rules. Is there any way out and how could we possibly fight business logic and the status quo? Join us to find out at #LibertyBits2019. Looks like Alex has an idea or two and is ready to share them with our guests.
Tickets are quickly selling out so you’d better hurry up to get yours!
Take the chance and reserve your seat A.S.A.P. for the second edition of LibertyBits Conference here:
#LibertyBits2019 is taking place on 4th May 2019 at Sofia Tech Park