Great news today the French government have launched their own Visio video conferencing tool #digitalsovereignty
But the PR stories, while explaining it is French built, don't mention it is Open Source and based on LiveKit - so any government can reuse what they have done.
@gemlog @jim We've not taken a look at that yet. So I can't say how compatible it would be.
We're trying to build from the idea of a multicast Internet, which is not the same design principle that this is being built on. They need to build an alternative for now with the internet that we currently have. Which isn't designed for multicast.
I do welcome having alternatives to zoom for our governmental infrastructure to use.
@jim one of the groups behind it is doing a talk at #fosdem this week https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/THRG3E-la_suite_coop_model_for_digital_commons/
@jim Interesting, but a little confusing. They created an open source meeting application that requires the use of a proprietary service (one promoting "AI" agents at that)?
https://livekit.io/contact-sales
It seem they replaced one proprietary solution (Zoom) with another (LiveKit). I'm trying to figure out where LiveKit is based and who owns it.
But it is interesting news...
@cstanhope @jim Livekit is an open source project with Apache license
Why does a Zoom alternative need AI?
if LiveKit has US AI dependencies, that defeats the whole purpose of using it.
@Phosphenes They developped French AI, placed in France, using them for subtitles and transscripts of conferences. If you know the amount of papers in French administration, this can be a help. https://www.numerique.gouv.fr/sinformer/espace-presse/souverainete-numerique-etat-visio-solution-visioconference-agents-publics/
@NatureMC That is nice! Thanks for the link.
@Phosphenes "Why does a Zoom alternative need AI?"
Those automated and infuriating animated Emoji reactions? 😆
(I'm joking, but I have the same question and concern.)
