Will Russia's Shift to Linux Reinforce Cyber Anarchy?

Our American values are at stake. Last December, while competing Mac and Windows advertisements were airing on televisions throughout our great land (just in time for Christmas shopping), Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed an order mandating that the Russian government switch the entirety of its computer infrastructure from Microsoft Windows to Linux open-source software by 2015.

Photo from Treehugger

Linux is unique in that it is rooted in the ideology of "free software" and the free culture movement, which endorses the copying, modification and continued sharing of software (and other information).

This communistic/anarchistic view of the cyber-world rests on the premise that the internet inherently makes information non-rivalrous and non- excludable, thus making information a "public good". Treating it as such (rather than intentionally creating locks and compatibility errors to protect a given company's capital and intellectual property) theoretically maximizes creative productivity and innovation.

So why is the Russian government switching to Linux operating systems? Likely, part of it has to do with not wanting to depend upon "Western" software. But also, Russian schools have been switching over to Linux ever since 2007 because it made technology education significantly more affordable and accessible-- meaning there's a whole legion of Linux-indoctrinated young blood to pool tech support workers from. Good idea, Putin.

I do wonder (naively, i might add) if having the codes of government software openly available (part of the bargain price and "copyleft" agreement) will somehow increase the threat of security breaches and information tapping-- which would be ironic, considering the masterminds behind Wikileaks are a part the free culture movement heralding open-source.

What does seem certain to me, though, is that the expansion of Linux-based IT support and use in Russia is going to greatly expand the quality and viability of open-source software. I wouldn't be surprised if governments in developing countries around the world follow suit, narrowing the technology gap and reinforcing a paradigm shift in how we copyright and capitalize upon information.