Be Skype free: use XMPP

Microsoft will be discontinuing its Windows/MSN Messenger service on 8th April and all current users will be switched to Skype. The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is advising all Windows Messenger users to take this as an opportunity to embrace open standards such as XMMP (formerly known as Jabber) instead of switching to Skype.

“Crucial technology should not be controlled by a single entity, but instead rely on the sort of open standards that have made the Internet great,” says FSFE’s Matthias Kirschner. “MSN users should switch to open standard technologies, like the XMPP protocol, and free software chat programs.”

XMPP is widely deployed across the internet. This standard is not closed or secret, but is governed by an independent foundation with many stakeholders. It can be implemented in any software and not only gives users the choice of which client to use, but also which servers to trust. By switching all MSN Messenger users to Skype, Microsoft is replacing one locked down technology with another. Acquired by Microsoft in 2011, the proprietary Skype software is widely used for audio and video communication, as well as chatting. Its workings are secret and substantial efforts have been made to prevent reverse engineering.

“Microsoft and Skype have absolute control over all communications going through their network,” says FSFE’s Torsten Grote. “Once aggregated, the power given to Skype by each individual user endangers freedom on a global scale. Skype is already abusing this power with attacks on privacy, data retention, censorship and eavesdropping.”

The ability to communicate freely is vital and this is just what open standards communication methods such as XMPP provide. People that have the ability to run their own XMPP server are strongly encouraged to do so. The more distributed the XMPP network, the more resistant it is to censorship and failures.

People who prefer not to run their own server are invited to use an XMPP service provider that they trust. FSFE, for example, provides a XMPP server for all its Fellows. “The technology that we rely on should never be controlled by only one entity. Ideally we all control it together. We should be careful not to build new walled gardens,” says Grote. “Most companies already agree on XMPP. Only the companies that want to lock-in their users go their own way on this. Even Facebook uses XMPP, but unfortunately they still don’t allow their users to talk to people outside of Facebook.”