SkypeEthics

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== Why YOU should not use Skype ==
If you use Skype, you create an incentive for your friends to use Skype to contact you. This so called network effect increases Skype's clout and power, that could be used against its competitors (keeping them out of the lucrative business of paid long-distance calls and ad-financed telecom services) and against you (e.g. by granting backdoor access to government spy agencies).

If Skype was an open, competitive player, your choice to use it would not be a problem because your friends could use alternative, interoperable software to contact you. Competition is to the advantage of Skype users as well, because Skype would have to face the competition and improve its software and services to stay relevant. But Skype is closed and anti-competitive. It keeps you locked in a walled garden and uses you as a hostage to attract your friends into the same walled garden. It stays relevant by keeping its competitors out of the walled garden, preventing innovation and ultimatively preventing better service to you.

Next time you contact a friend, don't use Skype. If they can only be reached by Skype, encourage them to install a more open alternative such as those listed below.

Why is Skype not part of Ubuntu?

Skype is not part of the Ubuntu distribution because it does not conform to the requirements of the Ubuntu Charter. This is primarily because source code is not available. A consequence of this is that it is impossible to understand the Skype communication protocol, which prevents competition and fractures the VoIP market, making it harder for people to communicate. As an example, Skype users can only talk with other Skype users because the Skype protocol is closed. But people using SIP clients like Ekiga can talk with anyone else using a SIP client (such as Wengophone or Twinkle) since SIP is a free protocol.

Earlier versions of Skype (1.2 and older) might have issues with basic sound cards that do not support hardware mixing due to using the Open Sound System (OSS).

VoIP soft-phones included in Ubuntu

There are several alternative software based VoIP phones, that are 'free libre open', use 'open' protocols, and are included in the Ubuntu repositories. Among others, there are:

Ethics of Skype

Free Software

Ubuntu supports free software, which anyone can use, modify and improve, and open protocols, so that different software can interoperate. Skype's software and the Skype protocol are both entirely secret. Users may choose to avoid Skype because:

  • They will be forced to use Skype software as no alternatives will be available
  • Once they develop a Skype network of contacts, it will be harder to move to a free network
  • Skype could begin charging for their service at any time they choose

  • Skype has deliberately limited capabilities of Skype for non-Intel users (details here)

  • Skype is provided and runs natively only on the x86 and x86_64 (32 and 64 bit), ARM (iPhone, Android phones) and Power PC (Mac with G4 or G5 processor) architectures, excluding people using other architectures

Free speech

Users may choose to avoid Skype because they have been engaged in censorship in China. Chinese users and users in certain countries may fear that along with censorship, they will suffer disclosure of their private conversations to other people, authorities or governments. Please see the following links for more information:

Note that while open VoIP protocols such as SIP may offer confidentiality and may offer encryption, they do not have to. Similarly, VoIP providers may be mandated to provide wiretap access anyway.

See also

CategoryEthics

SkypeEthics (last edited 2014-10-25 20:02:13 by 99-92-79-24)