The UK Post Office should at least have considered open source software for Horizon to enhance transparency, empower users, and avoid vendor lock-in, which could have prevented or mitigated the scandal’s impact. People like Richard Moorhead, Christopher Hodges, Alan Bates, and the long running Computer Weekly coverage all underscore the need for transparency and accountability, indirectly supporting open source principles, although direct advocacy is rare. For future systems, the Post Office and similar organizations should prioritize open source to prevent such injustices.
The establishment narrative often focuses on individual accountability rather than systemic issues like software design. But this overlooks how proprietary systems enabled the Post Office to deflect responsibility.
Open source software aligns with ethical principles of justice, autonomy, and resource stewardship, making it a compelling alternative for future public sector IT projects.
Thoughts?!
Very likely that the people involved in the deal were corrupt. It wouldn’t surprise anybody if they got a nice sum deposited into an offshore account, a free house, expensive art, or whatever else is used to hide corruption.
Unfortunately the opensource community is heavily disorganised. We don’t have a group to represent us, market opensource, push for its use in public office, fight for compensation for maintainers and developers, and so much more. A concerted effort could possibly accelerate adoption and make it possible for more people to earn a living from opensource, not just the lucky few who can do it in their free time and transition to a paid/funded position.
It doesn’t even have to be offshore accounts. Just a fat long-term maintenance contract would be enough to hide a lot of corrupt costs.