APC Press release: Global Information Society Watch --
First report looks at ICT policy's impact

Discussion of how to "make the information revolution reality for all"
tend to assume that such an outcome is desirable. Whether that is
true depends on whether the revolution's outcome good or bad. As we
make plans to extend ICT to the rest of the world, the plan should
assure that we give them freedom-respecting ICT, using free/libre
software.

Most users of information technology use proprietary software, which
means, software that the users don't control. Most of this software
is controlled by large companies, and serves to impose their power
over the users. If this is what the "information revolution" means,
we should try to help people stay out of it.

The announcement does not hint at this issue; it takes "inclusion" as
the goal, and "exclusion" as bad. Does the report address the
question of how to ensure that the information revolution follows the
path to free software and freedom, rather than subjugating users to
companies such as Microsoft and Apple?