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by strofcon 1555 days ago
Seems to me that banning encryption would thoroughly limit software freedoms. Ie:can't use anything secure, thus can't freely choose your toolset.
2 comments

That is probably why the FSF has published an article with the title "EARN-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom".

But the point that the FSF needs to focus on is that EARN-IT is bad because it limits user freedom. The fact that users may choose to use that freedom to protect themselves from criminals isn't the issue. There might be an obvious and compelling reason users need freedom or there might not be. The FSF doesn't need to care and should be against the bill regardless.

Much like how the FSF doesn't care about whether the GPL is economic or not - they think software projects should all be licensed under it (or an equivalently free license). The point isn't whether freedom is good or necessary. That is taken as a priori truth. The point the FSF advocates is whether users have it.