Proprietary Software Is Often Hostile to Users

AREPONIAN Editorial – 2026

Why Proprietary Software Is Often Hostile to Users

Proprietary software—also called nonfree software—is software that the user is forbidden to study, modify, or share. These restrictions are not accidental; they are deliberate mechanisms of control. When a developer withholds the source code, the user is placed in a position of dependence, unable to verify what the program truly does.

This imbalance of power is the root of the problem. When one party controls the software and the other merely “uses” it, the user becomes vulnerable to abuse. And in practice, this abuse is widespread.

Common Malicious Behaviors in Proprietary Software

These behaviors are not rare exceptions—they are the business model. When the user cannot inspect or modify the software, the developer is free to prioritize profit over the user's autonomy, privacy, or safety.

Power invites misuse. Once a developer has the unilateral ability to change the software on your device, the temptation to exploit that power becomes strong. Whether the motive is profit, analytics, or control, the result is the same: the user is mistreated.

Online Services Amplify the Problem

Although a service is not “software” in the traditional sense, it can still impose the same injustices:

Many services require the user to run a proprietary app merely to access them. These apps often contain the same harmful features as traditional proprietary programs, and sometimes more.

Mobile Devices: A Perfect Surveillance Platform

Mobile devices introduce yet another layer of surveillance. Even when the software is free, the underlying radio systems track location as a matter of design. Proprietary mobile operating systems add additional tracking, analytics, and restrictions on top of that.

Predators in Free Software

Turning free software into proprietary software, especially for a fee, is seen as predatory in the free software community, as many people rely on it. They wake up one day and then find out it’s proprietary and costs “$4.99” (i.e.).

As of 2026, the number of documented cases of proprietary software engaging in harmful behavior is enormous—and growing. The pattern is clear: when users lack control, developers exploit that lack of control.

What You Can Do

If you encounter a proprietary program or service that mistreats users, we encourage you to document it and share your findings publicly. Only by exposing these practices can we help others understand the risks.

Freedom in computing is not a luxury. It is a requirement for a healthy, trustworthy digital society. Software should serve its users—not the other way around.

— AREPONIAN Project Editorial Board