In response to the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) aimed at enhancing the cybersecurity of digital hardware and software products, WordPress, along with open source projects Drupal, Joomla!, and TYPO3, has expressed its endorsement of the initiative while raising concerns about its implications on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). A joint open letter has been penned to address these issues and seek clarification on terms and definitions to ensure that the Act’s objectives align with the needs of the FOSS community.

Link to Open Letter: Open Letter on the Significance of Free and Open Source Software in the EU’s Proposed Cyber Resilience Act (wordpress.org)

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The CRA, a crucial step towards countering the escalating threat of cyberattacks and fostering responsible usage of digital products, has been acknowledged and commended by WordPress and its fellow open-source partners. However, they have expressed apprehension over the potential impact on FOSS due to vague language and unclear definitions within the Act.

In the open letter, the collaborative effort emphasizes the substantial contributions of FOSS to the EU’s economy. It highlights how misinterpretation of the regulations may inadvertently undermine the values of freedom, democracy, and innovation intrinsic to the open source community and the EU’s core aims and values.

To address these concerns proactively, the letter invites the EU Commission and other interested parties to participate in a seminar to be held in Brussels. The seminar aims to facilitate a constructive dialogue where stakeholders from the open source community and the regulatory authorities can find common ground and align the objectives of the CRA with the realities and needs of the FOSS ecosystem.

In a statement, the representatives from WordPress and the other signatory projects expressed their optimism about achieving enhanced security measures for digital products without impeding the crucial contributions of open-source initiatives. They believe that through mutual understanding, cooperation, and shared efforts, it is possible to attain robust cybersecurity without limiting the growth and progress of the vibrant FOSS community.

As the FOSS community seeks to engage constructively with policymakers, the open letter stands as a testament to their commitment to support the objectives of the CRA while preserving the principles that have made open-source software a driving force behind innovation and inclusivity in the digital landscape.

The seminar in Brussels is scheduled for the coming month, and all parties involved are hopeful that the discussions will lead to a better understanding of the concerns and pave the way for a collaborative approach to cybersecurity that reinforces the strengths of both the open-source projects and the EU’s commitment to digital resilience.

Source of Information: Concerns over the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) – WordPress News