Free & Open Source Software (FOSS) in India
On October 13, a report highlighted the migration of 12 lakh Union government employees' email accounts to Zoho's platform, moving away from a system based on the National Informatics Centre (NIC). This decision was met with backlash from the Indian FOSS community, raising concerns about the shift from open source to proprietary software.
Concerns Regarding FOSS
- Disparaging Comments: A senior official's remarks on FOSS were criticized as misinformed and dangerous. They suggested that FOSS tools might compromise file security.
- FOSS Policy: The 2014 "Policy on Adoption of Open Source Software for Government of India" aims to ensure strategic control and reduce the total cost of ownership by adopting FOSS.
- Security Misconceptions: A common myth is that FOSS is insecure. However, it allows for independent audits and security improvements, unlike proprietary software.
FOSS Adoption Globally and in India
- Global Trends: The German state of Schleswig-Holstein recently migrated its email system to FOSS alternatives.
- Indian Context: Since 2015, Indian government users have been using an email system developed by NIC based on open-source Zimbra software.
- Support for FOSS: Indian startups have been creating and maintaining FOSS projects, contributing significantly to the global community.
Implications of Moving Away from FOSS
- Digital Sovereignty: It is crucial for India to build its secure email platform using FOSS to strengthen digital sovereignty.
- Contradiction with Policies: The move away from FOSS contradicts existing government policies aimed at a self-reliant technology ecosystem.
- FOSS in Daily Life: FOSS is integral to modern software solutions, powering significant infrastructure like UPI transactions.
The importance of FOSS in achieving digital sovereignty and a transparent technology stack was emphasized. The senior official's views were seen as counterproductive to fostering a self-reliant software ecosystem in India.
