Big Tech’s disregard for privacy laws and individuals’ personal data has become a matter of national security. As news of willful mismanagement fill the headlines on an almost daily basis, the world is beginning to turn away from expensive and insecure spyware-riddled software imposed by the likes of Microsoft, Google, Meta, Apple, et al.

The investment will be used to strengthen the structural reliability and security of KDE’s core infrastructure, including Plasma, KDE Linux, and the frameworks underlying its communication services.

    • lime!@feddit.nu
      33·
      1 day ago

      since it’s a state fund, return on investment isn’t necessarily just money back. more jobs means more tax payers. better reputation means stronger currency. less dependence on foreign actors means lower import costs.

      • definitemaybe@lemmy.ca
        6·
        20 hours ago

        Right, like what’s the ROI of a million computers switching from US-based for-profit Windows to Linux?

        Funding open tools/tech/research is exactly the sort of thing that governments are best equipped to do, relative to private sector/individuals. Millions of dollars is a rounding error relative to government licensing costs to proprietary software alone, even ignoring the downstream benefits for the rest of the economy. And if we had lots of money in open software, it would attract a lot more talent to make it even better for the rest of us.

        • thingsiplay@lemmy.ml
          111·
          1 day ago

          With the Sovereign Tech Fund, we invest globally in the open software components that underpin Germany’s and Europe’s competitiveness and ability to innovate. By targeting core digital infrastructure, our investments scale across many sectors and benefit a broad range of users. Improving the security, stability, and reusability of open software components directly enhances the productivity, competitive edge, and capacity for innovation of startups and small and medium-sized businesses.

          - https://www.sovereign.tech/programs/fund