A message from FSF president Ian Kelling

posted by Rianne Schestowitz on Dec 31, 2025

Quoting: A message from FSF president Ian Kelling —

I have closely followed and been involved with the free software movement for twenty years now. I'm honored to be the new FSF president. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the presidents before me, and I would like to especially thank Geoff and RMS for the work that they did in this role, as well as all the people who have supported the FSF and the free software movement over the years.

The FSF turned forty this year and it was a big year for the organization. All this time, we have been working for the software freedom of all users, everywhere. We held a one day in-person event with a range of sessions including a panel of FSF board members and a panel of digital rights activists discussing topics like organizing tactics, privacy, and surveillance. We also launched Librephone, a highly technical project to directly advance freedom on phones by reverse-engineering key nonfree firmware. And we helped with the organization and promotion of thirty-plus events worldwide through our LibreLocal effort, and much more.

There is an article from 2013 outlining the different elements of why you should care about free software, called "Free software is even more important now." It makes a compelling case for freedom, opposing the unjust power inherent in proprietary software and Service as a Software Substitute (SaaSS). Today, twelve years later, I believe free software is even more important now than ever, so the title is also thought-provoking. I hear it asking: how can we sustain our commitment, grow our movement, and eventually turn the tide so that "free software isn't more important every day," so that it is no longer something we need to remind people of, but a core part of daily life?

Read on

Also:

• Eko K. A. Owen joins the FSF board as the union staff pick

  Union staff selected outreach and communications coordinator Eko K. A. Owen to the role. Owen follows Ian Kelling, current president, who held the staff seat since its creation in 2021. At the board meeting on the 20th of December, 2025, Owen was officially welcomed to both the board of directors and the FSF's voting member bodies.

  This board position was created to have staff participate via this designated seat in governance deliberations. It was an important step in the FSF's effort to recognize and support new leadership, to connect that leadership to the community, and to improve transparency and accountability through giving staff a seat at the table. "The union staff seat on the board enabled me to make many positive contributions to the FSF over the last 4 years," said Kelling. "I'm confident this role will enable Eko to help the FSF in wonderful and new ways. I'm excited to be a part of it and thankful that they volunteered for it."

  "I'm very optimistic about the freer future we can work towards together," Eko said when asked about joining the FSF board. "User freedom is a human right, and I am honored to take part in the legacy of fighting for it."