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March 29, 2005
What's happening in Brazil?
On the Open Source in government topic, one of the biggest Open Source fans is Brazillian president President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He has embarked on a new program "PC Conectado" to help low-income Brazillians get their first computer.
Thanks to Peter Norton, for the link.
Brazil appeared in the news last year when Microsoft threatened a defamation suit because of statements made by Sergio Amadeu, President of the National Institute of Information Technology for statements he made .
"accusing the company of a 'drug-dealer practice' for offering the operational system Windows to some governments and city administration for digital inclusion programs. 'This is a trojan horse, a form of securing critical mass to continue constraining the country'." Additionally, "To Amadeu, this will be a decisive year to win the 'strategy of fear, uncertainty and doubt', as he classifies the business model of Microsoft." Microsoft's complaint claims that this is "an excess in freedom of speech and freedom of thought, by means of the dissemination of information."
Indeed. Read details, and find additional links in this Slashdot article.
Posted by admin at March 29, 2005 04:16 PM