Cloud computing is a trap, warns GNU founder, Richard Stallman (2008)

Richard Stallman, the founder of GNU, criticizes cloud computing as a marketing hype campaign, labeling it as worse than stupidity. He argues that web-based programs like Google's Gmail are designed to lock users into costly proprietary systems over time. Stallman emphasizes the importance of keeping control of personal information rather than handing it over to third parties. He warns against the trend of storing data on internet-accessible servers, highlighting potential privacy and ownership issues. Stallman advocates for users to maintain control by doing their computing on their own machines with freedom-respecting programs. His stance aligns with concerns raised by others in the industry, such as Larry Ellison of Oracle, who dismiss cloud computing as fashion-driven gibberish. Despite the popularity of cloud computing among tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, Stallman urges users to prioritize privacy and autonomy by avoiding reliance on external web applications.