Linus GasserMay 19

Today #EPFL made me a great present: making me understand that they don't give a SHIT about digital autonomy! So now:

- I uninstalled all MS software from my computer and smartphone:
- no mail on my phone anymore, as EPFL decided to block non-MS apps
- calendar barely working on my phone because of MS embrace, extend, extinguish
- I'll request to opt-out from WorkSpace One - why should I send all my data to the USA?

#DigitalAutonomy

Show threadLinus GasserMay 19

Now I need to update cryptpad, install a nextcloud instance, and tell Claude to go wild to create a web-service connecting to OUTLOOK.COM to fetch my emails.

It's not that I have nothing else to do, but running after shitty MS products (I just spent 1h fixing Word footers) is definitely not my idea of Digital Trust!

Show threadJanik   May 20

@ligasser Thunderbird already went wild to connect to OUTLOOK.COM.

Afaik the outlook api is undocumented and it requires reverse engineering.

Show threadLinus GasserMay 20
@janikvonrotz classic embrace, extend, extinguish protocol. Implemented at MS since the late 70's!
Show threadNicolas AspertMay 20
@ligasser @janikvonrotz Microsoft's behavior is well known. What I find infuriating is that EPFL rushes into vendor lock-in instead of staying clear from it. Experience taught us that this cannot end well...
Show threadLinus GasserMay 20

@aspert @janikvonrotz Well, the money is clear: paying 300k per year for all of MS' services at EPFL is unbeatable. How can you compete with that?

When EPFL searched for a new login provider, MS threw in Entra "for free". So of course other companies offers have not been retained.

Show threadDominique QuatravauxMay 20
@ligasser @aspert @janikvonrotz well, I feel that arguing that price is too much of a factor in our purchase decisions, could get some traction with upper management; it being an issue that is certainly not specific to IT procurement.
Show threadLinus Gasser

@quatrava @aspert @janikvonrotz I completely agree! However, if the signal from the Swiss government is: "we're cutting your budget", the argument: "digital self-determination is worth more than 3 million CHF" gets under a lot of pressure :)

So I think we need to get more pressure from above, so that this argument becomes more than a "yes" in some conference room.

Btw: what is your favorite term for "digital sovereignty"?

May 21 at 9:37amWeb
Show threadJanik   May 21
@ligasser @quatrava @aspert And what about paying a lot of money to a foreign company in an irish tax haven? If only we would talk about taxes!
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I do not have a fitting term. However, sovereignty requires a certain degree of competence. And in that respect, it is the opposite of outsourcing. I'd go as far as "a stance against digital globalization".
Show threadLinus GasserMay 22
@janikvonrotz @quatrava @aspert interesting, yes we should look at globalization. It brought us quite a lot of stuff, but the cost is very high for our dear planet.