The use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) reflects an alternative strategy for managing information flows. Governments, organizations and individuals all over the world are moving toward FOSS in order to reduce the costs associated with proprietary licensing and updates, to cut their dependency on software companies, and to be able to adapt software to their specific needs, thus increasing its efficiency and effectiveness.

The culture of collaboration behind FOSS has proved effective in ICT4D projects, not only by reducing software costs, but also by addressing localization problems – the need to adapt to local languages, cultures and preferences – and by offering friendly end-user interfaces tailored to indigenous populations. Through FOSS, software innovations can be produced in developing countries, empowering local technology users to create their own set of tools.

Codebreakers (BBC Documentary) 

The Codebreakers (2006) is a global documentary that investigates how developing countries are using FOSS applications to address problems in sectors such as agriculture, education, health care, nature conservation, and disaster management. Case studies have come from Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe.

The film features FOSS users and advocates and several key persons in the ICT sector -- founders of the free software movement, as well as managers of leading IT companies producing proprietary software. In talking to individuals and organizations across the IT and development spectrum, the filmmakers probe the ways in which the adoption of FOSS presents opportunities for industry and capacity development, software piracy reduction, and localization and customization for diverse cultural and development needs.