Understanding Open-washing and its Impact on the FOSS Ecosystem

Open-washing is the process of claiming that software is open source (or FOSS) when it isn't.

Open-washing could be accidental, because of ignorance of the involved parties. But more often, it is very intentional

For example, the popular llama model from Meta claims to be open source but they are not.

Open-washing is a growing concern as FOSS gains prominence. It is vitally important to ensure that civil society as a whole, not just the FOSS community, can address and rebuke open-washing.

I will be also elaborating about:

⁠Why Open-washing happens ( with the context of the EU Act’s reduced restrictions on open-source models ) / ⁠How to evaluate the open-source project differ from the Open-washing project

⁠How Open-washing Affects Open Source Ecosystem & what wrong may happen if this happens in DPI/DGP ( Vendor Lock in & Privacy violation )

*Considering the Chennai Chapter crowd has good amount of new foss folks from diverse departments.

Extending the above point - Open-washing is not only a concern for the FOSS Community/ Developer it also affects civil society and everyone should care about this.

⁠Stating that we need developers and civil society to work together to call out and stop open-washing.

• What is open washing

• Why open washing is a concern for the FOSS Ecosystem

• how to find whether the project is FOSS or Not

• Why Open washing happens and how does that affects the FOSS/ Civil Society

• How to solve these by creating awareness