Re: Taking down the web app on privacy

From: Loganaden Velvindron <logan_at_afrinic.net>
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2016 23:24:09 +0400

On 1/8/16 10:46 PM, S Moonesamy wrote:
> Hi Logan,
> At 10:40 08-01-2016, Loganaden Velvindron wrote:
>> I noticed that you took down the web app on privacy. Personally, I am
>> skeptical under which ground can the government ask you to take down an
>> app which is not hosted by them.
>>
>> If you were hosting an app containing unappropriate images, or viruses,
>> then it would be legitimate request.
>>
>> Can you explain the reasons behind ?
>
> First of all, I would like to thank you for the comments which you
> sent to a mailing list.
>
> I was not provided any reason for the request to take down the app.
> It was discouraging that there wasn't any support from people who are
> supposed to be part of the Open Source Software community in
> Mauritius. It is up to developers who would like to use a GPLv2
> license to see how to solve the issues may might arise.

I believe that there is nothing wrong with hosting the web app on
another server, unless there are issues like I discussed above.

Is the request to take it down public ? I am curious as to the contents
of this mail.

I believe that the government sends the wrong signal, as it's preventing
developers from building apps around their policies which are public.
WIth the advent of Open data, this sets a bad precedent, and many
developers (open source or semi open source or closed source) will think
twice before trying to build a product around anything that the
government of mauritius makes public and claims to be "open".

Therefore, I believe that the GOC should reconsider their decision.
Received on Fri Jan 08 2016 - 19:11:06 PST