People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
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@neil I should add: even having said all that, I can at least acknowledge that there is a case for IDs being checked before permitting apps to ship via their own store. I wish it wasn't the same company that's harvesting so much other personal data, but I do think it is preferable that apps are not published with no verified responsible person.
Once again, I'd be a lot more comfortable if identity verification could be done by a provider of my choice with only a token being passed to the store.
@GerardThornley I am far less opinionated about whatever rules Google puts in place for Google's own app store.
My focus is really in ensuring that privacy respecting, alternatives exist, as this is good for both developers and users.
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@GerardThornley I am far less opinionated about whatever rules Google puts in place for Google's own app store.
My focus is really in ensuring that privacy respecting, alternatives exist, as this is good for both developers and users.
@neil Yes, quite. And that is what I thought your view would be.
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
Don't you have to agree to like 20 pages of terms and conditions before installing the sdks for android?
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil thanks; the CMA form for reporting this in the UK was simple and easy, like most of the gov.uk sites. Done.
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@neil thanks; the CMA form for reporting this in the UK was simple and easy, like most of the gov.uk sites. Done.
@kw217 Excellent!
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@GrapheneOS @illumniscate @neil Thank you for confirming that. I assume it's the same then for Murena? @gael
@j2 @GrapheneOS @illumniscate @neil @gael Please note that Murena is a scam, this is not an honest project and it's dangerous to use it. https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/24134-devices-lacking-standard-privacysecurity-patches-and-protections-arent-private
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@GrapheneOS @illumniscate @neil are you guys going to be adversely impacted by the updated semi-annual release schedule for AOSP, assuming Google's still planning that change?
@eigen @GrapheneOS @illumniscate @neil GrapheneOS is not affected by update issues, and thanks to their collaboration with a major Android OEM since June 2025, GrapheneOS can offer security preview releases. https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/27068-grapheneos-security-preview-releases
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil
Not saying i agree with Google. But how is the OS community going to fight the forces of evil trying to hijack our code?Between malware labs, ai slop and slop powered malware labs, i am worried. The idea of making sure real accountable humans are writing honest code seems appealing....
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R relay@relay.mycrowd.ca shared this topic
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@GrapheneOS @illumniscate @neil Thank you for confirming that. I assume it's the same then for Murena? @gael
@j2 @illumniscate @neil Gaël Duval has extensively spread misinformation about GrapheneOS and /e/ to falsely market his products for his for-profit company. He has engaged in extensive libel and harassment towards our team. Here's an example of him linking to harassment content based on fabrications on a blatant neo-nazi conspiracy website, which he has done repeatedly:
https://archive.is/SWXPJ
https://archive.is/n4yTOPlease don't mention him in replies to us or otherwise involve him.
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S stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe shared this topic
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil
I'm with you on this. The list of disabled ('cos I can't uninstall) Google apps on my phone is impressively long and includes play services and play store. I rely on F-Droid and, heaven help me APKpure - which has both the additional apps I can't get from F-Droid but also the worlds biggest collection of UX anti patterns for flinging ads in every conceivable way and at all times. Hate it but still prefer it to Google.I hate this new proposal from Google but don't know what to do. Polite suggestions welcome
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@ancientsounds F-Droid has been talking to various competition regulators, yes.
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@bamboombibbitybop It will not.
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@DaveMasonDotMe Quite possibly!
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil @linuzifer wäre das nicht auch was für @lnp ? liebe den podcasf btw
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@neil During the last five years, I spent a fairly significant amount of time developing an android app. I got a developer account and had an alpha release on the play store.
Unfortunately, personal circumstances took my focus away from it for some time, and by the time I got back to it, my account had been deleted after I hadn't responded to one of their requests.I found the sign up process unpleasant and intrusive, so the idea of going through it again is not appealing. Naturally, I thought about putting my app on another store. The idea of that company being in control of what I can provide to other people to run on their devices was enough to make me quit. I won't be releasing my work as long as this restriction is being held over us.
@GerardThornley @neil One reason I release small apps as free software, not to Google, is that I want to let anyone interested continue when I switch to working on something else. Proprietary apps are forced dead when the initial developer prioritizes life. Companies behind Netscape and StarOffice realized it in time for their apps to survive. I think any company soon to close should mimic them. At least so that oligopolies forcing them out of the market don't get away with it for free.
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@neil
Not saying i agree with Google. But how is the OS community going to fight the forces of evil trying to hijack our code?Between malware labs, ai slop and slop powered malware labs, i am worried. The idea of making sure real accountable humans are writing honest code seems appealing....
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil You can always get a phone with SailfishOS from Jolla and run android apps from F-Droid. Google cannot prevent that.
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@neil You can always get a phone with SailfishOS from Jolla and run android apps from F-Droid. Google cannot prevent that.
> You can always get a phone with SailfishOS from Jolla
This is not really a viable option for the many, many people in the world who have Android devices.
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@neil I'm sure you're already aware Epic Games have an ongoing legal battle with Google/Apple about putting their own store on Android/iOS based on the same principles.
@KeefJudge @neil Epic still wants 12% of everything on that store though.
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@KeefJudge @neil Epic still wants 12% of everything on that store though.
@drgroftehauge @neil True, but the point is people ought to be able to choose which store they have on their phone, not just the Google Play one.
