Free Software Foundation Europe
We are happy to introduce closer our next charming lady speaker, Galia Mancheva, a Free Software Advocate at LibertyBits2019. Galia is project manager at Free Software Foundation Europe, working on the Legal Licensing Workshop, I Love Free Software Day, and FOSS4SMEs. Galia studied Communications and Internet Governance in Brussels and her professional background includes EU digital policy on Digital Single Market dossiers in the European Parliament, such as the digital chapters in International Trade Agreements like TTIP, CETA, and TiSA; Data Protection and e-Privacy; IoT; Big Data, Digital Copyright and IPR, Net Neutrality Electronic Identification and Verification, etc.
Take a minute to find out what Galia has shared with us in our exclusive interview with her.
Hello Galia! Would you share a few words about yourself please?
I am a project manager at Free Software Foundation Europe, working on the Legal Licensing Workshop, I Love Free Software Day, and I am involved with a project building an e-learn platform on how to migrate from a proprietary to a Free Software. I studied Communications with focus on Internet Governance in Brussels and my professional background includes EU digital policy work on Digital Single Market dossiers in the European Parliament, such as the digital chapters in International Trade Agreements like TTIP, CETA, and TiSA; Data Protection and e-Privacy; IoT; Big Data, Digital Copyright and IPR, Net Neutrality, Electronic Identification and Verification, etc.
Why did you decide to join the speaker’s lineup of LibertyBits conference?
As the topic of my talk is going to be digital copyright in the light of the most recent developments on European policy level (i.e. Articles 11 and 13), I believe copyright in the software field is crucial for the future of its development. Registering software solutions under a Free Software license ensures more transparency, informed decision-making and safeguards the liberty of our society, and this is where I believe my contribution as a speaker matches with Libertybits audience and purposes.
What is your understanding of “liberty” (freedom) and what are the most underestimated threats to our modern society?
The freedom to inform yourself and take independent decisions, gives you the opportunity to also control technology, rather than technology or someone behind it controlling you. In this context, the online filtering and censorship foreseen in the recently updated Copyright Directive is a huge threat to our freedom, especially if software facilitating filtering is proprietary.
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?
To never reconcile with someone else taking decisions on your behalf for the way you are going to do things and the way your future is going to look like.
What is the easiest way to protect our privacy if we are not so tech-savvy people?
To first start caring about your digital privacy. I often notice tech savvy people not caring about their online privacy, either. So, the first thing is to start caring. When that happens, you will quickly discover how the devices you are using on a daily basis work and affect your life, and easy to do solutions for protecting yourself, while still enjoying the advances technology has to offer for improving your life.
What are your expectations from the conference?
I do not have expectations, but I would be really happy if I manage to meet interesting and motivated people. The FSFE does not yet have supporters in Bulgaria and Libertybits can be a great opportunity to meet people with potential for future cooperation and joint projects.
Let’s thank Galia and wish her success in popularizing the Free Software Foundation in Bulgaria! That is exactly what LibertyBits is about: to inform, inspire and connect people who have never met before. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet Galia in person, learn more about the Free Software concept and how to eventually migrate from proprietary to free software if you decide to take that step. Limited tickets are still available and you can register right here below.
#LibertyBits2019 is taking place on 25th June 2019 at Sofia Tech Park
Take the chance and reserve your seat A.S.A.P. for the second edition of LibertyBits Conference here: