TL;DR
- - CHATONS: A collective of alternative hosting providers launched by Framasoft in 2016 to offer free, ethical, privacy-friendly online services.
- - FACiL, founded in Quebec in 2003, advocates for collective ownership of free computing. Member of the CHATONS collective since 2016.
- - The project aims to create Québec alternatives to Big Tech (GAFAM) based on ethics, transparency and digital sovereignty.
- - A great opportunity to regain control over our data while supporting the local economy.
1. CHATONS: Digital services that promote respect
The Collectif des Hébergeurs Alternatifs, Transparents, Ouverts, Neutres et Solidaires (CHATONS) — yes, that really is the name. And yet, it’s very serious. Launched in 2016 by Framasoft, this network of local organizations offers a feline (and clever) alternative to the services of the web giants.
Objective: to free users from dependence on Big Tech without sacrificing friendliness or security.
CHATONS’s commitments are as clear as their whiskers are well groomed:
- - Zero tracking, zero ads, zero proprietary software
- - Free/libre software only
- - Human connections and personalized support
Their model is inspired by small-scale farming cooperatives (AMAPs), but in a digital version: artisanal, local, trustworthy technology.
2. FACiL: When Quebec meows (or roars!) for its digital freedom
FACiL is like the Quebecois big brother of the CHATONS movement. Since 2003, this organization has championed free, inclusive and sovereign computing.
In 2016, it joined the CHATONS collective, strengthening ties between France and Quebec in the struggle for a more human digital world.
And because every good project needs a memorable name, FACiL launched… Minou. 🐱
This project aims to develop around ten free and sovereign services, hosted locally, to meet the needs of citizens, nonprofits and small businesses.
Minou isn’t just cute:
- - It’s a counter-offensive against the omnipresence of American giants
- - It’s a trusted infrastructure, co-built by committed volunteers and partners
- - It’s an invitation to take back power, one service at a time
3. Why adopt these services?
Switching to ethical services isn’t just a symbolic gesture. It is:
- - 🛡️ Protecting your privacy
- - 💬 Using transparent tools, without advertising or data exploitation
- - 🌱 Supporting a local and resilient economy
- - 🤝 Fostering mutual aid and digital autonomy
And proof that it works? During the 2020 lockdowns, the CHATONS network set up a portal to access their services without registration in just a few days, to support families, associations and small businesses. All this without selling a single piece of data.
🔵 A word from Blue Fox
At Blue Fox, we support organizations in their digital transition with ethics, sovereignty and not a single byte sold or handed over to Silicon Valley.
We believe that projects like Minou (and the rest of the CHATONS litter) represent the future of a free, resilient and human digital Quebec.
Want to scratch the Big Tech giants out of your tools? That’s what we’re here for.
🔖 #EthicalDigital #CHATONS #FACiL #Minou #DigitalSovereignty #Privacy #FreeSoftware #Quebec #ResponsibleTransition
Sources:
- - Collectif CHATONS – Official site (chatons.org)
- - CHATONS Presentation – English version (chatons.org)
- - FACiL – Official partners (facil.qc.ca)
- - FACiL and the CHATONS Collective – 2016 partnership announcement (facil.qc.ca)