this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2025
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Parental control apps are fundamentally malware
Which is why I only wanna use a FOSS one
I think what they're saying is that any app that exists to control how someone (even a child) uses a device is fundamentally at odds with the principles of FLOSS
Yes, exactly, well said
In addition to the correct summary from @Enjoyer_of_Games@hexbear.net I'd like to expand a bit more. Free Software (a term I prefer over "FOSS" because the latter suggests an inappropriate neutrality between Free Software and open source software) is software which preserves the user's four fundamental software freedoms. Those freedoms are (0) the freedom to run the software as and when the user desires, (1) the freedom to study how the program works, and change the program so it works the way the user desires, (2) the freedom to redistribute copies to help others, and (3) the freedom to distribute copies of modified versions of the software so everyone can benefit from changes.
Parental control software exists explicitly and specifically to prevent particular users from exercising freedoms (0) and (1) not only over the parental control software itself, but also over other pieces of software. Thus, parental control software axiomatically can never be Free Software.
Just buy a RAT from a sketchy darkweb site or something