Remember back in 2000 when Steve Ballmer called Linux communist? Turns out it’s not that far from the truth.
Russia plans to break it’s dependence on Microsoft technology and revamp its computer services with a Windows rival, to better monitor computer security. According to Russian lawmaker Ilia Ponomarev, the state has committed 150 million rubles (3.5 million euros, 4.9 million dollars) to develop a new operating system based on Linux.
By monitoring computer security, maybe what they mean is better monitor all the Russian anti-government groups who recently got a free pass by Microsoft to use as much of their software as they want. The government had been arresting members and shutting down these groups for “anti-piracy enforcement” but Microsoft reaffirmed it’s commitment to provide non-profit NGOs in Russia with it for free.