Subject: riseup-vpn (was: Re: Bug#1136336: tech-ctte: Request for intervention on Bug #1135385 (gnome-control-center donation popup))



On 12/05/26 4:24 am, Nilesh Patra wrote:

Hi,

[ CCing a few relevant folks for my question ]

Reading this bug report made me realize, it is kind of similar for riseup-vpn package.
That displays a MOTD with a "please donate if you can" banner everytime one runs the app.

I've never got bug reports for it yet. Is that an actual problem? I'd feel really bad
to remove it, and personally would not want to do it.

To add more context: all other platforms where this is distributed - non-linux OS, and ubuntu PPA
(unlike gnome it is not specific to linux) does display the banner.

Also, it is a "service" (not just an app) so I feel it is fair for the banner to be displayed.

I'm looking for advice here.

Thanks!

On 12/05/26 2:35 am, anonreporter.debian.2026@nym.hush.com wrote:

To: submit@bugs.debian.org
Package: tech-ctte
Severity: serious
Followup-For: Bug #1135385
X-Debbugs-Cc: debian-project@lists.debian.org,
debian-ctte@lists.debian.org

I request the Debian Technical Committee intervene regarding Bug
#1135385, concerning the default-enabled donation notification in
gnome-control-center, currently dismissed as a duplicate of Bug
#1120511.

The maintainer, Jeremy B¡cha, has declined to address the core issue,
that a default-enabled fundraising notification violates Debian Social
Contract Clause 4: "We will be guided by the needs of our users and
free software community. We will place their interests first."

This feature imposes an external agenda (GNOME Foundation fundraising)
without user consent, undermining user autonomy and Debian?s ethical
foundation. It is not a minor usability concern, but a policy and
philosophical violation, analogous to Bug #964359 (SMPlayer donation
nag), which was patched out due to reputational risk.

The maintainer?s responses (closing as duplicate, telling users to
run commands to disable the notification, etc), fails to engage with
the ethical and policy dimensions. This constitutes a willful
disregard of Debian?s stewardship principles. The issue leaves no
remaining ambiguity and is a direct conflict between upstream agendas
and Debian?s values.

Per Debian Constitution ?6.1.4, I ask the TC to:
Overrule the maintainer?s decision to dismiss Bug #1135385 and
to discontinue ignoring Bug #1120511.
Require that the donation notification be either:
Patched out of the Debian package, or
Disabled by default with a clear, informed opt-in mechanism.
Clarify that maintainers must consider Debian Social Contract
violations as actionable, especially when upstream decisions conflict
with user interests.
Consider whether the maintainer?s continued refusal to address a
documented policy violation constitutes an unambiguous failure of
stewardship.

References:
Bug #1135385: https://bugs.debian.org/1135385
Bug #1120511: https://bugs.debian.org/1120511
Bug #964359 (SMPlayer): https://bugs.debian.org/964359

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