Group:Free Javascript Action Team

Currently, web applications like Google Docs are transmitting programs written in Javascript and other languages to users, without unobfuscated source code and without any ability for users to modify them. This means that even in free software web browsers, users are running nonfree programs. Richard Stallman wrote about this in The JavaScript Trap.

The FSF is starting a campaign to get important Web sites working without proprietary JavaScript. Learn more and take action!

We're putting pressure on webmasters to make their sites work without proprietary JavaScript. They can do this by switching to free JavaScript libraries, or by modifying their sites so they don't need JavaScript at all to run. Our tactic is to organize lots of people to contact the webmasters and request the change. The first target Web site is Regulations.gov, which the American government uses to take feedback on proposed regulatory changes.

If you'd like to stay involved with the campaign, join the low-volume JavaScript Action Team mailing list.

Sample message to Greenpeace.org

To: supporter.services.int@greenpeace.org

CC: campaigns@fsf.org

Subject: Please make greenpeace.org run without proprietary Javascript

To whom it may concern,

It has come to my attention that to work completely, the official Greenpeace Web site requires the user to run JavaScript which is licensed as nonfree software, rather than free "as in freedom" software.

Free software is software that respects users' freedom (not necessarily software that is available free of charge); its license grants users the freedom to run, copy, study, and improve the software. Without these freedoms, only the organization who "owns" the software has these freedoms, and they can use that power to exert control over users (in this case Greenpeace and visitors to the site). Since users can't see the source code of the JavaScript, there is no way for them to know what it is and isn't doing. For example, it could be compromising privacy by sharing visitors' browsing habits with others.

I expect that Greenpeace, as a high-profile activist organization often campaigning against corporate misbehavior, has a strong interest in maintaining freedom and autonomy from corporations both for itself and for its supporters.

Because of this, I request that you replace Greenpeace.org's proprietary JavaScript with free software or at least make the site work without JavaScript at all. This should not be very time-consuming for an experienced Web developer.

You can read more about free software at https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html. More details and background information on this critical issue can be found in Dr. Richard Stallman's article "The JavaScript Trap" (https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html).

Wishing you continued success in your work,

SIGNATURE

List of ideas for target websites

When adding sites to the list below, if you know how best we can reach the site's decision maker(s), please mention that also.

Popular websites and JavaScript libraries

• Indiegogo
• Wix
• Reddit
• NASA
• Twitter (no public email ID, but can be contacted via https://support.twitter.com/forms/feedback, will be easy to put public pressure by the use of hashtag and tagging @twitter in tweets)
• Gandi (Gandi.net provides Domain names and Servers to freedom-promoting projects but uses some non-free JS on their website)
• Disqus
• Eventbrite
• LinkedIn
• GitHub
• Reddit
• LastFm
• Fronter (Pearson LMS)
• DuckDuckGo
• moveon.org
• Slashdot
• Gmail
• Google Maps
• YouTube
• Google Docs
• reCAPTCHA

Other things you can do

Here is a basic outline for things that need to be done. Please edit and add your suggestions, and discuss ideas on the Talk page.

• Install GNU LibreJS, a plug-in for Firefox-based browsers that detects and blocks nonfree JavaScript.
• Modify browsers to allow users to run their own modified Javascript programs for particular sites that they visit.
• Write browser extensions that notify users about nonfree Javascript.
• If you write Javascript, follow the suggestions in Stallman's article, The JavaScript Trap, for clearly and freely licensing your code.
• Build community repositories of free Javascript programs useful for popular sites.
• Raise awareness of this issue by publicizing Stallman's article, writing about the problem yourself, and talking to friends and colleagues about it. Watch this wiki page and help organize the effort.
• If you see mention of JS freedom, add a link to the Promotion section of this page.

Promotion

List places where discussion about this issue is happening, and join in, calling for free JavaScript.

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/mar/25/cloud-free-software-stallman

Resources

• Noscript - Filter javascript based on domain white/blacklists.
  • Script surrogates are designed to replace undesirable scripts with user-specified alternatives.
• Greasefire - Firefox-compatible addon to search userscripts.org and install userscripts, displays userscripts which can be used on the currently viewed page
• Greasemonkey - Firefox-compatible addon to execute user-supplied javascript on certain pages
• openJSAN.org - JavaScript Archive Network is a comprehensive resource for JavaScript libraries and software.

References

• The Javascript Trap by Richard Stallman. Richard announced the initial plan for addressing this problem at the LibrePlanet2009 conference.

"issue" is not in the list (interest, location, project, school) of allowed values for the "Organized around" property.