"Whatever the way the free drivers/firmware are obtained, the hardware is
then, according to rms, freedom respecting"
But, isn't there a (constant) concern, among Free Software adepts, with
security and privacy, also?
I mean, isn't that something that is implied in the concept of Free Software,
itself? (The need for security and privacy, that can only be obtained with
free and "open source" software?)
If so, you have to take into account the existence of "hardware trojans" that
can be possibly embedded into motherboards and microchips. (And, one way to
counter that would be the idea of documented/"free" hardware.)
I mean, shouldn't we take the concepts inherent to, and that are behind the
idea of, Free Software, and apply them also to the hardware?
(the following is the concern that I'm talking about:)
"'Elbit' flash memory chips, allegedly designed at Kir Yat-Gat south of Tel
Aviv. The unique feature of the Elbit chips was that they worked on ambient
electricity in a computer. In other words, they worked when the computer was
turned off. When combined with another newly developed chip, the 'Petrie,'
which was capable of storing up to six months worth of key strokes, it was
now possible to burst transmit all of a computer's activity in the middle of
the night to a nearby receiver - say in a passing truck or even a low flying
SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) satellite."
--- http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/pandora/052401_promis.html
"CELL PHONE (FBI can listen to you when phone is turned off)":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G1fNjK9SXg
