It seems to me that part of the problem is overreliance on phones as computing devices. A lot of things, like banking, are best done on an actual computer. We have become too dependent on phones.
Google's shocking developer decree struggles to justify the urgent threat to F-Droid
Submitted 11 hours ago by ardi60@reddthat.com to technology@lemmy.world
Comments
leastaction@lemmy.ca 1 hour ago
DarkSideOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Open source community keeps trusting Google and they keep using the Embrace, Extend, Extinguish …wikipedia.org/…/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguish
goatinspace@feddit.org 4 hours ago
Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 3 hours ago
Yea… I’m really disappointed with the timing of FuriLabs new phone which is mostly a downgrade over the previous one. I’ve been window shopping phones for a couple of months and am at a loss for what to do. Even spent some time considering a dumb flip phone that can work as a wifi-hotspot and use a small linux tablet or something for the more involved stuff, but couldn’t find a good tablet option that wasn’t huge (would still want it to fit in my pocket) or come with the same problems.
supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 5 hours ago
I will literally go without a smartphone if Google does this, this is insane I would have bought an iphone if I wanted a junk device I don’t actually own.
Jinni@sh.itjust.works 4 hours ago
If this effects de-googled android, I will probably start investing in Linux phones.
I would rather have a limited phone than has full freedom than one that makes everyone go through Google.
lazynooblet@lazysoci.al 1 hour ago
It won’t. This is for 99% of users with their Google enabled devices. It’s still shit and it will effect the 1% indirectly by the reduction of available software outside the play store
Flatfire@lemmy.ca 5 hours ago
The crazy part is this may make iOS the better alternative when considering the emergence of third-party app stores and Apple’s loosening grip on their ecosystem.
LineageOS is still a good option too, for anyone who would prefer to keep the phone they have
pirate2377@lemmy.zip 5 hours ago
iOS would be the better alternative, if it wasn’t for the hardware they run on. After all, Apple is infamous for their blatant planned obsolescence on their iPhones since the iPhone 6. Unfortunately, Google seems to be following Apple in this way as well since they launched an update that made the Pixel 6a’s battery so much worse than before. Therefore, we must all have a dumb phone + Linux phone set up…or something
PinkiePieYay2707@pawb.social 4 hours ago
LineageOS is not really an alternative though, as it will still be hit by this. Please see the comment here: lemmy.world/post/36621884/19652276
cley_faye@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
They both go for the least open option. If asking for all devs registration and validation from google is viable and legally sound, apple will do the same if that’s not already in the pipe.
Both “stores” are targeted for the same issues.
barnaclebutt@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
Isn’t this illegal in Europe? Was that the whole point of forcing apple to allow alternative app stores?
progandy@feddit.org 4 hours ago
Technically, third party app stores are allowed. Developers “only” register with google to receive a developer certificate. Isn’t apple doing the same thing in response to the EU regulations and that has been allowed?
Jason2357@lemmy.ca 3 hours ago
Seems like a weasel around the requirement to get rid of the actual benefit of 3rd party stores.
bigFab@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
I can’t believe how useless the EU regulations are.
octopus_ink@slrpnk.net 10 hours ago
Have we ever lived in a more stallmanwasright.jpg time?
primrosepathspeedrun@anarchist.nexus 9 hours ago
Ah. Well. About software.
umbrella@lemmy.ml 3 hours ago
that’s what we generally mean. he has some ideas about things other than software we are best not to give too much attention.
manxu@piefed.social 10 hours ago
I never wanted him to be wrong more than right now. Except for tomorrow, it’s probably going to bé worse, tomorrow
kami@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 hours ago
Stillman has never been and never will be wrong.
damon@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
Except when it comes to women and girls, he’s absolutely wrong
yetAnotherUser@discuss.tchncs.de 9 hours ago
I sometimes like to read his political posts:
www.stallman.org/archives/2025-jul-oct.html
And honestly? I mostly agree with them? Like this:
ABC ordered to pay Antoinette Lattouf another $150,000 for unlawful termination over Gaza Instagram post.
But a company faced with enormous threats wielded by fascist officials who demand that certain views be suppressed will treat such penalties as the normal cost of sucking up.
The [Israeli] army says that HAMAS is using apartment buildings for “surveillance”, and has bombed some of those buildings to destroy them. Based on this logic, the army might bomb every tall building in Gaza City with the large bombs that the US is providing
He has some questionable beliefs as well, though for unusual reasons. He accepts non-binary people but refuses to use they/them pronouns because he doesn’t like the ambiguity of singular/plural pronouns. So he has invented the neopronouns per/pers to refer to singular non-binary persons. I genuinely think no other person on this planet could hold this opinion.
TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
Unless he’s championing paedophilia and bestiality, which he has done on a number of occasions. Or being an absolute creep with women, which he’s also done.
blueworld@piefed.world 7 hours ago
For those in Europe, write your representatives.
Fro me f-droid's post:
https://f-droid.org/2025/09/29/google-developer-registration-decree.htmlWhat do we propose?
Regulatory and competition authorities should look carefully at Google’s proposed activities, and ensure that policies designed to improve security are not abused to consolidate monopoly control. We urge regulators to safeguard the ability of alternative app stores and open-source projects to operate freely, and to protect developers who cannot or will not comply with exclusionary registration schemes and demands for personal information.
If you are a developer or user who values digital freedom, you can help. Write to your Member of Parliament, Congressperson or other representative, sign petitions in defense of sideloading, and contact the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) team to express why preserving open distribution matters. By making your voice heard, you help defend not only F-Droid, but the principle that software should remain a commons, accessible and free from unnecessary corporate gatekeeping.
https://f-droid.org/2025/09/04/twif.html [^antifeatures]: F-Droid Anti-Features overview: https://f-droid.org/docs/Anti-Features/ [^howmanyusers]: How many F-Droid users are there, exactly? We don’t know, because we don’t track users or have any registration. “No user accounts, by design”: https://f-droid.org/2022/02/28/no-user-accounts-by-design.html [^sideloading]: ‘“Sideload” is a weird euphemism that the mobile duopoly came up with; it means “installing software without our permission,” which we used to just call “installing software” (because you don’t need a manufacturer’s permission to install software on your computer).’ — Pluralistic: Darth Android: <https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/01/fulu/> [^playprotect]: “Google Play Protect checks your apps and devices for harmful behavior”: <https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2812853>
ook@discuss.tchncs.de 10 hours ago
I am really glad to see these articles popping up now. Since the news broke a week back or so it was suspiciously quiet about this, despite lots of negative comments here.
scarabic@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
I’m frustrated that the article didn’t link to the “decree.” Do you know where it is?
cronenthal@discuss.tchncs.de 9 hours ago
There’s never been a more urgent time to switch to Linux on pretty much every device.
rumba@lemmy.zip 6 hours ago
The mobile options for Linux are years out from being ready and the hardware vendors are locking them out as fast as possible.
tomenzgg@midwest.social 5 hours ago
There’s generally been positive reviews for FuriLab’s FLX1 model:
- clehaxze.tw/…/07-20-flx1-actually-usable-linux-ph…
- news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41839326
- www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/…/furilabs_flx1/
- www.reddit.com/r/…/flx1_linux_phone_display_out/
- www.theregister.com/2025/02/03/furiphone_flx1/
Their new one, the FLX1s has 2GiB more RAM (for 8GiB, in total). I’ve heard battery gets 2 days without charge even with Android emulation.
cronenthal@discuss.tchncs.de 5 hours ago
So it would seem.
pHr34kY@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
The stepping-stone would be de-googled Android like LineageOS or GrapheneOS. I think Linux is the end-game though.
Photuris@lemmy.ml 8 hours ago
What’s the best Linux phone setup these days?
SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.org 8 hours ago
Ubuntu Touch works well on my fairphone.
cronenthal@discuss.tchncs.de 8 hours ago
Beats me! I’m in the process of moving banking and payment off my phone in preparation for a Linux one. These things will very likely not work on non-proprietary devices.
damon@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
Hopefully they go to court to get an injunction. Hopefully, they also go to the powers that be in the EU, those same powers have been so focused on the Apple App Store they failed to take into account Google can do something like this with the Play Store. It would be a shame for the F-Droid project to end but it is completely avoidable.
primrosepathspeedrun@anarchist.nexus 9 hours ago
What we can do is complain. Loudly.
Degoogle where possible. Fuck these assholes.
And i guess prepare.
ripcord@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
We can also do that.
Complain without doing something is worse than doing something like the other person suggested, though.
unknownuserunknownlocation@kbin.earth 8 hours ago
To be fair, up until recently, there was no clear indication that Google would do this. Google made it so that installing non-play store apps was slightly more difficult, Apple made it pretty much impossible. So Apple was a pretty logical target at that point (and honestly, up until then, they had pretty much gotten a free ride - think of the default browser issue in Windows, no one every bothered with Apple).
WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
This is why I didn’t bother switching to GOS, Lineage, Calyx etc despite being sick of Apple’s anti-foss monopoly — marketed as Privacy™️ and Security™️ — for years.
The late stage capitalism of western oligarchies indicated that Google’s rug pull of AOSP was an imminent inevitability. After already having to change my services and workflows multiple times over the last 2 decades — despite careful analysis and forethought — due to services ever changing value propositions, acquisitions, and all other forms of enshittification, I’m at the point where I won’t bother wasting energy on 99% of digital products unless they’re open source and I can run them indefinitely on my own Linux server.
The more dependent you grow on digital products, the more interdependent they become, and the more time and effort is required to replace or substitute them.
Tetsuo@jlai.lu 8 hours ago
This is why I didn’t bother switching to GOS, Lineage, Calyx etc despite being sick of Apple’s anti-foss monopoly — marketed as Privacy™️ and Security™️ — for years.
Bullshit. If you liked so much your freedom and privacy you would have many opportunities to use open source ROMs. You chose to stay on your iPhone because it was easy.
After already having to change my services and workflows multiple times over the last 2 decades
I can’t believe someone who has been for years on an iPhone would pretend they are an ardent defender of freedom and open source.
feinstruktur@lemmy.ml 4 hours ago
Nice nick!
WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 4 hours ago
This is why I didn’t bother switching to GOS, Lineage, Calyx etc despite being sick of Apple’s anti-foss monopoly — marketed as Privacy™️ and Security™️ — for years.
I’m at the point where I won’t bother wasting energy on 99% of digital products unless they’re open source and I can run them indefinitely on my own Linux server.
but… this doesn’t make any sense. the roms you brought up can be still used indefinitely, they will still be able to install any apps. maybe except when they have installed the official google suite, but that’s always a user choice in the popular android rom world, none of these preinstall it, and microg users are not affected
yistdaj@pawb.social 7 hours ago
What stops those open source projects having that same rugpull? AOSP was open source and for a long time could be installed on one’s phone indefinitely.
You could argue ownership, but if Audacity can be bought then so can nearly anything.
notfromhere@lemmy.ml 5 hours ago
I’m out of the loop, what’s that about Audacity? Looks like they still have a github repo with very recent activity and Wikipedia says their trademark was acquired by a company in 2021.
klobuerschtler@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
EU be like: Really? Didn’t you learn from Apple?
EonNShadow@pawb.social 8 hours ago
My job doesn’t allow me to use a jailbroken/rooted device
So if/when this goes through I’ll be switching to iOS.
Given the choice between two closed platforms, I’ll pick the one that ostensibly says they’re privacy focused instead of the one actively enshittifying their product.
kamen@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
I obviously don’t know your situation, but using your own phone for work is a bit of a red light. If you’re required to use a phone for work, ideally the job should provide you one that meets their requirements.
Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
Yeah, a mandatory work phone (where the employer can define requirements) should be purchased and funded by the employer.
snoons@lemmy.ca 6 hours ago
I must assume they mean no use it for their business that they own. Otherwise I’ll just be sad.
DarkAri@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 hours ago
You should just get a cheap phone to use for work. No reason to have their software on your own device. That will undoubtedly be used for creepy purposes.
cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 6 hours ago
And the obvious annoyance of having two phones
sexy_peach@feddit.org 6 hours ago
Your job can say what phone you have? I don’t get it
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 3 hours ago
The moment my work says what phone I need is the moment I demand they provide a phone for me.
AlteredEgo@lemmy.ml 8 hours ago
How does google plan to enforce this? Will they disable side-loading for any app that isn’t registered with google?
_cryptagion@anarchist.nexus 8 hours ago
that’s exactly what they are going to do. on every device released by certified partners.
https://www.android.com/certified/partners/
unless they change their mind on this, android will soon be a walled garden like the iphone is.
Maven@lemmy.sdf.org 8 hours ago
That is their intent, yes. arstechnica.com/…/google-will-block-sideloading-o…
AmericanEconomicThinkTank@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Best part: the better names in the alt os and device scenes don’t sell in us markets.
Unless you do the legwork of flashing your own device, most of us are out of luck.
I just love a good market stranglehold.
Tiger_Man_@szmer.info 6 hours ago
Would this be possible to bypass by bulding an app from source and convincing android that you are a developer who is testing his program?
WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 4 hours ago
theoretically installing through ADB will still work. but that’s very impractical, and f-droid cannot do that.
InnerScientist@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
Theoretically, google could keep that workaround in the code, yes.
Tap for spoiler
Practically it will be gone in 3…2…1…
ZombieMantis@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
“Year of the Linux Phone” has a nice ring to it.