Firmware Freedom

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have released a paper titled 'Firmware Freedom: A Study of the Firmware Update Ecosystem' that explores the concept of firmware freedom, which refers to the ability of users to modify and control the firmware of their devices. The study found that the majority of devices have restrictive firmware update policies, with only 15% of devices allowing users to update their firmware. The researchers also found that the percentage of devices that allow users to modify their firmware is even lower, at around 5%. The study suggests that the lack of firmware freedom has significant implications for users' ability to control their devices and make informed decisions about their digital lives.