Some Clarity on Linux Kernel "Compliance Requirements" Around Russian Sanctions

phoronix.com

Not surprising to anyone who had to consider these sanctions. But not everyone does. By not explaining from the beginning, they left the field wide open to drama and Russian trolls.

> all of the Linux infrastructure and a lot of its maintainers are in the US and we can't ignore the requirements of US law.

> If your company is on the U.S. OFAC SDN lists, subject to an OFAC sanctions program, or owned/controlled by a company on the list, our ability to collaborate with you will be subject to restrictions, and you cannot be in the MAINTAINERS file.

I'm also surprised at how poorly it was communicated at first.

No one is actually arguing about why it was done. It's the apparent secrecy and denial to reveal the details that should worry anyone in the world-wide Linux community. They aren't idiots, they knew this would happen. So there must be some reason.

In simple terms, people want a clear statement whether Linux is independent, or US-controlled, and to what extent. Just so they can cross some check-boxes in their heads.

There's a wave of actual trolls emerging. Ones who justify that nasty Linux move

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