In the modern world of software development, professionals do not create their products from scratch, but use ready-made components, similar to the process of car manufacturing, where parts are borrowed from various manufacturers. This rule applies to both open-source software and products developed for commercial purposes. Developers often reassign elements created by other specialists.
However, in the ecosystem of open-source software, with millions of individual components, the question of security arises. What if someone introduces harmful code into their component in protest against certain world events? Such cases have already occurred, leading to hacking user computers in some countries. Due to the close relationship in the software ecosystem, even a small contribution or change may have significant consequences.
Sometimes the main developer of an open-source project can accidentally make a mistake. However, recently, against the backdrop of world conflicts, some developers turn their projects into cyber test tools aimed at attracting attention to certain problems, through a focused attack on devices in certain regions.
Other developers prefer less radical measures, introducing messages or documents into their programs with calls for supporting their ideas and positions.
In research dedicated to the influence of world policy on the software ecosystem, three main types of the so-called “protest” Software are identified: malicious software, which causes damage or controls devices without a user’s knowledge; harmless software, the purpose of which is to increase awareness of political or social issues; and sanctions of developers that affect the ecosystem in general, for example, restriction of product sale or blocking accounts.
The role of open-source software in the world of software engineering has changed over the past decade. Large companies that previously opposed open-source software are now actively contributing to its development. However, the emergence of “protest” in software has caused a loss of confidence in open-source software, which may demand the introduction of a certification process to confirm its origin.
Education plays a key role in overcoming these challenges. Many curricula in computer science and software engineering do not pay due attention to ethics, but examples related to “protest” software can become clear material for learning. The importance of studying social and human aspects in the context of the rapid development of technology and AI, as well as the need for the correct interaction between people and artificial intelligence, is emphasized.