[5][6] FSFE believes that access to (and control of) software determines who may participate in a digital society.

A democratic and representative-democratic model functions as a fallback when the consensus-based approach accomplishes no results, or when a quick decision is needed.

As well as being in regular contact with other FSFs — Free Software Foundation India (FSFI), Free Software Foundation Latin America (FSFLA) — FSFE has a structure of organizations which are official associates.

In 2010, FSFE received the Theodor Heuss Medal in recognition of its work for freedom in the information society.

[33] The medal is awarded once a year in Stuttgart by a non-partisan foundation named after West Germany's first president.