As we prepare to begin the new academic year, we find ourselves navigating national and international issues that have a profound and personal impact on many members of our university community. Free speech and academic freedom are cornerstone values of UC Riverside and the University of California system.

Technology companies, including big corporations like Microsoft and Google, are changing the global digital landscape with new policies and service limitations. Higher education has been especially affected by changes to licenses, application access, and device operating system requirements, as well as the net-new implementation of storage...