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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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The GPU, not the TPM, is the root of hardware DRM (mjg59.dreamwidth.org)

submitted 4 weeks ago by jokeyrhyme@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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As part of their "Defective by Design" anti-DRM campaign, the FSF recently made the following claim:

Today, most of the major streaming media platforms utilize the TPM to decrypt media streams, forcefully placing the decryption out of the user's control (from here).

This is part of an overall argument that Microsoft's insistence that only hardware with a TPM can run Windows 11 is with the goal of aiding streaming companies in their attempt to ensure media can only be played in tightly constrained environments.

I'm going to be honest here and say that I don't know what Microsoft's actual motivation for requiring a TPM in Windows 11 is. I've been talking about TPM stuff for a long time. My job involves writing a lot of TPM code. I think having a TPM enables a number of worthwhile security features. Given the choice, I'd certainly pick a computer with a TPM. But in terms of whether it's of sufficient value to lock out Windows 11 on hardware with no TPM that would otherwise be able to run it? I'm not sure that's a worthwhile tradeoff.

What I can say is that the FSF's claim is just 100% wrong, and since this seems to be the sole basis of their overall claim about Microsoft's strategy here, the argument is pretty significantly undermined. I'm not aware of any streaming media platforms making use of TPMs in any way whatsoever. There is hardware DRM that the media companies use to restrict users, but it's not in the TPM - it's in the GPU.

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[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

limited by intelligence agencies, corporations like John Deere, Apple, and the entire entertainment industry

What do you think of commercial platforms like CrowdSupply with e.g. https://www.crowdsupply.com/search?q=tpm where OSHW solutions can be sold to individual and companies?

[–] jokeyrhyme@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

seems good?

I bought my Precursor on CrowdSupply :)

I'll probably buy more stuff in future there

and I'm also a big fan of https://mntre.com/ although I'm waiting for the next model that's currently in development

[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Neat, also got my Precursor there, but then are you saying that projects there are limited then and if so how?

[–] jokeyrhyme@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

oh, sorry, now I understand the question

yes, devices available in CrowdSupply tend to philosophically align with my values: owner is in charge, no subscriptions, cloud connectivity is not a thing or completely optional, schematics are open, drivers are open, etc

so they aren't usually interfered with at a functionality or technological level

but they're popularity and availability are subject to interference: we've already had multiple governments ban or consider banning the Flipper Zero for various reasons

and we have various media codec patents and DRM requirements that prevent truly open devices from being able to be used for popular purposes like streaming video content which pretty much guarantees that only industry-approved devices will ever gain wide distribution and popularity

I don't think it's too tin-foil hat to suggest that if a truly open device did gain popularity somehow, that we'd see IP lawsuits or import restrictions or mandatory modifications (e.g. countries attempting to mandate a government-operated surveillance app preinstalled on over smartphone)

[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I think that's an important distinction here :

there can be NO genuinely open devices

versus

open devices can't be popular

So when you say "what’s frustrating is that we can’t really vote with our wallets, and any right-to-repair or consumer-is-in-charge movement is going to be limited by intelligence agencies, corporations like John Deere, Apple, and the entire entertainment industry" I disagree.

We CAN really vote with our wallets precisely by purchasing things like Precursor, MNT, NitroKey, etc while at the same time expecting, sadly, that it won't become the most popular devices in the market. I believe allowing creators and maintainers of such system, and even distributors like CrowdSupply, to exist even though they are and might always remain niche, is already empowering. So I'd argue both of us already voted with our wallets on this topic and our acquaintances too.

I'd also be cautious about preemptive pessimism. Sure it's important to be mindful of worrisome examples like the FlipperZero (which AFAICT is only banned for purchase in Brazil due to lack of Anatel's certification for wireless, I believe it's possible to legally bring and use a FlipperZero in the country but I'm not a lawyer) or DRM for streaming (which I thought was a huge deal until I disabled DRM support in my browser and basically nothing changed in my browsing habits) precisely to learn from them. Also FWIW I did gather some ideas on the topic at https://fabien.benetou.fr/Content/SwappingPartsOfTheRestrictionStack so I'd be curious about your opinion on the topic, suggestions welcomed.

[–] jokeyrhyme@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 weeks ago

it's a good point about pessimism, I should try harder to not spread it

you've put together a pretty useful table there!

RE voting with our wallets, I was mostly referring to this: https://doctorow.medium.com/https-pluralistic-net-2025-09-13-consumption-choices-marginal-benefits-66edd5d9a82e