In a move that has sparked controversy, a recent patch to the Linux Kernel removed several Russian maintainers. The patch, submitted by Greg Kroah-Hartman, vaguely stated that the removals were due to "various compliance requirements" and that removed maintainers could be reinstated if "sufficient documentation" was provided. This vague explanation led to questions and concerns from other kernel developers. Geert Uytterhoeven, for example, requested clarification, asking what the specific compliance requirements were and what constituted "sufficient documentation".
The removal of these maintainers is likely related to ongoing sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The impact of these sanctions extend beyond government entities, impacting businesses and individuals as well. Failure to comply with these sanctions can result in serious legal and financial consequences.
"Read the News", Linus Torvalds Responded
Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, responded to the controversy in a strongly worded email.
Ok, lots of Russian trolls out and about.
It's entirely clear why the change was done, it's not getting
reverted, and using multiple random anonymous accounts to try to
"grass root" it by Russian troll factories isn't going to change
anything.
And FYI for the actual innocent bystanders who aren't troll farm
accounts - the "various compliance requirements" are not just a US
thing.
If you haven't heard of Russian sanctions yet, you should try to read
the news some day. And by "news", I don't mean Russian
state-sponsored spam.
As to sending me a revert patch - please use whatever mush you call
brains. I'm Finnish. Did you think I'd be *supporting* Russian
aggression? Apparently it's not just lack of real news, it's lack of
history knowledge too.
LinusHe dismissed those who questioned the removals as "Russian trolls" and refused to engage in a discussion about the legalities of the situation with "random internet people who I seriously suspect are paid actors".
He went on to state that the compliance requirements are not limited to the US, and pointedly reminded everyone that he, as a Finnish, would not be "supporting Russian aggression".
The Decision Stands
Based on the Linus Torvalds Email, the decision to remove the Russian maintainers seems to be final, at least for the time being.
Linus Torvalds, who has the final say in accepting or rejecting changes to the Linux Kernel, has made it clear that he supports the removals and has no intention of reverting the decision.
He attributes the removals to compliance requirements related to international sanctions against Russia.
The email don't indicate any plans to revisit the decision or provide a specific process for reinstatement.
While some users have expressed hope that the removals might be temporary, I couldn't find any evidence to support this claim.
It is important to note that Linus Torvalds' response focuses on the rationale behind the decision and his personal stance, but it does not definitively address whether there is a possibility for the removed maintainers to be reinstated in the future.
The patch submitted by Greg Kroah-Hartman mentions the possibility of reinstatement if "sufficient documentation" is provided, but neither he nor Torvalds have elaborated on what this documentation might entail.
Criteria for Removing Russian Maintainers Remains Unclear
The specific criteria used to determine which maintainers were removed remains unclear. Some users have noted that not all of the removed maintainers were working for sanctioned companies or even living in Russia. This lack of transparency has fuelled speculation and accusations of discrimination based on national origin.
It is also not clear whether the removed maintainers were notified in advance or given a chance to appeal the decision. Some users on Reddit have speculated that the removals might be temporary and that maintainers may be reinstated if they can provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate their compliance with relevant sanctions.
Linux Community Reaction
The removals have ignited a fierce debate within the Linux community. Some argue that the move is discriminatory and goes against the spirit of open-source software, which has traditionally valued inclusivity and collaboration. Others believe that compliance with international sanctions is paramount, even if it means excluding certain contributors.
The discussion around the removals also highlights the complex intersection of technology, politics, and international law. While the Linux kernel itself is open-source software, its development is overseen by the Linux Foundation, a US-based organization subject to US laws. Additionally, many kernel developers are employed by companies that operate internationally and are therefore bound by the laws of multiple jurisdictions.
Russia Proposes Forking Linux
The Russian Ministry of Digital Development has proposed the creation of a new Linux community, specifically for Russian developers and their allies, in response to the suspension of the Russian developers from the international Linux community.
While the Ministry's proposal is seen as ambitious and potentially problematic due to the lack of Russian developer expertise, it is considered a necessary step to maintain Russian developers' competencies and technological independence.
More details in the following link:
Open Source in a Politically Charged World: The Future of Collaboration
The removal of the Russian maintainers raises questions about the future of open-source software in an increasingly politically charged world.
Will compliance with international sanctions become a standard requirement for participation in open-source projects? How can open-source communities balance the principles of inclusivity and collaboration with the need to comply with complex and evolving legal frameworks?
The Linux Kernel controversy is likely just the beginning of a broader conversation about the role of open-source software in a world grappling with geopolitical tensions.
Read Next:
11 comments
It’s a sad day for the open source community. This move just signals further division and instability in the open source world. It’s like Pandora’s Box has been opened. The leader’s words are even more discouraging
Obeying the law is fine, the problem is the horrible communication and handling on the part of the kernelr maintainers.
I expected better from Greg and Linus, not this dismisive way to treat people with real concerns.
For example: will they also be removing all of the code contributed by the banned maintainers?
Otherwise this seems a pretty hypocritical decission, no?
Yes. Linus has always been like this. I also think Linus has nothing to do with sanctions. He simply is following the legal orders. Neither Linus nor Greg have any choice.
I understand that they might not have a choice, but why not just say: “We are legally requiered to remove these maintainers”?
Keeping silent or giving vague answers is bad.
Directly calling concerned people trolls, tell them to read the news or learn history is completely insulting.
Legal US order are legal only into the US, the UN don’t enforce them or the US unilateral sanctions, and most of the world countries stand with Russia. China and India are with Russia and they are becoming the world’s leading economies, including in the tech sector. Which imply they will made forks for their own use that will include drivers for their own tech solutions. The only solution:
Justice for ALL peoples !
James Bottomley, a veteran Kernel developer, has made it clear about the compliance requirements for contributing to Linux Kernel. You can read the details here -> https://ostechnix.com/linux-kernel-maintainer-removals-compliance-requirements-explained/. FYI, India doesn’t encourage war. India in fact maintains quite a neutral position.
So, James confirmed that developers were removed solely because of their passports. I know some of them personally — they haven’t even lived in Russia for years and don’t work for companies on the sanctions list. Meanwhile, those who actually work for such companies can easily create a new email and keep committing to projects critical for Russian rockets (or Chineese or whatever you are afraid of). As a proof. Has everyone forgotten the liblzma case? An unknown person maintained the library for three years, and who knows how many more such “maintainers” are currently active in open source projects. Instead of addressing real technical issues, Linus backed political games. This path leads to a dead end.
So we can collaborate with Russians in space, but not when it comes to linux kernel?
Linux is used in government, industry, and the military. Suppliers who use Linux in their products may be forced (by their customers or their governments) to certify that the product was not developed in Russia/by Russian nationals. Retaining the Russian developers would force some industrial Linux users to find another OS kernel. Very disruptive.
Some of these commercial Linux integrators already dealt with the problem by offering to move their developers out of Russia. I guess Linux Foundation doesn’t have the resources to do that.
Frankly I’m surprised it took so long. The software industry has been disconnecting from Russia for a couple of years now.
Cameron, all Linux development is transparent. If you have any concerns, you can verify exactly what the kernel does. If you require enhanced security, you can hire your own kernel developers to review everything. Please, don’t bring the issues of the corporate world into open-source projects.
I’m expecting anything from Linus but this was really bad, where were his hard feelings against Russians when the project was evolving and actively accepting contributions from them ?
He should’ve at least tried to hide his strong personal beliefs and blame it on sanctions, I mean, it’s bad to insult a person online (like he always did) but attacking and discriminating against a whole nationality is a whole new level and it’s disgusting to be honest.