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How long before having root access to your own computer will be deemed a crime?
@aral
geohotz would like a word
@aral It's already kind of illegal to get root access to iDevices on some countries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_jailbreaking#Legality
It's closer to being a crime on Android devices (voids warranty).
In desktop it's still ok, but who knows, maybe some day Apple says they'll remove root access from their desktops too. Then MS will follow along and do the same. Linux will be the last one to do this, if it has to do so.
@aral < 10 years for ‘your own phone’, 10-15 years for ‘your phone’ to become ‘your computer’.
@aral How long before devices NOT giving you root access will be deemed illegal? ... the glass-half-full perspective :)
@rsolva I’m not entirely sure that’s how it works :) It’s kind of like asking how long before our habitat is optimal when all the evidence around you points to the fact that we’re actively engaged in destroying it.
@aral it's not going to happen within our life time I'm afraid, if ever. But I'll keep it as an ideal, a vision for a possible future, to stay sane.
@aral It won't be a crime everywhere, but some countries it probably will be quite soon.
Hopefully the countries that remain free to do your own computing will do better than those that aren't and out compete them.
Hopefully.
@aral Intel Management Engine means we already don't have root access?
@aral @shapr Sudo and Doas allow for more than one user to have access as root priviledges, as does a shared root password.
This is a common situation.
We could also bring up that a device on the internet is already insecure, and that exploits and bugs mean that you don't have any privacy. That's outside the scope of your question... you asked about illegality of having root, not illegality of having privacy. Any argument that you make in terms of "sole access/privacy" becomes moot when access to others is given, which is done by putting a device on the internet - or in a public space.
Privacy and Root are different, altogether.
But yes, it is increasingly more difficult to avoid having devices that are not connected to the internet, and therefore, not secure and not private. That's a _similar_ problem, but NOT the one you asked about.
@aral I'm pretty sure Microsoft has root access to my computer :/
@aral unauthorized bread with assorted prohibited root vegetable salad
@aral Felony, or misdemeanor?
@aral A crime in the sense of the law, I have a hard time imagining that happening. In the sense of Apple / Google, it is already the case, but rumour has it it is for our own good :)