In a world heavily reliant on technology, a single software error can create havoc on an unimaginable scale. This very incident unfolded on Friday, 19 July 2024, when a code malfunction in CrowdStrike's Falcon software caused millions of Windows machines worldwide to encounter the blue screen of death.

How did it happen? The software had Kernel access granted by Microsoft--in other words, Microsoft had handed CrowdStrike the keys to the innermost workings of the Windows operating system. As a result of this sudden malfunction, many sectors of society faced profound disruptions. For example, thousands of flights in the United States were grounded, causing massive inconvenience to passengers across the country. More troublingly, hospitals lost their ability to provide critical care to their patients. These disruptions are signs of a systemic risk that must be addressed. 

CrowdStrike's license to write software that operates at the Kernel level should be reserved for only the most reliable and trustworthy software. Given the severity of the Falcon software's malfunction, it raises the question of whether CrowdStrike should maintain this privilege.

It's essential to maintain a high level of confidence in the reliability and safety of our software systems, particularly when they guide key infrastructures. Today, we are urging Microsoft to reconsider. Our call is simple: Revoke CrowdStrike's license to write software with kernel-level access to Windows.

This is about preserving the integrity of our digital systems, ensuring industry continuity, safeguarding lives, and ultimately, preventing disruptions at this scale from ever occurring again. Please join our cause and sign this petition.

Watch these videos for more details on the CrowdStrike Falcon disaster: