Google's new developer verification requirements starting September 2026 will force ALL Android app developers to register with Google - even those avoiding the Play Store entirely. F-Droid, the tr...

Fuck Google with a stiff wire brush.

  • Arghblarg@lemmy.ca
    0·
    14 days ago

    I read somewhere that GrapheneOS devs have a strategy which they believe will work – they strip out something or other about app/device attestation (?) from APK files before installing occurs, or the enforcement code itself from their spin of the OS, so sideloading (ie., user-controlled installation) can still work.

    I sure hope so… I think everyone in their respective country needs to scream at their local regulators about this.

    Of course, this will only help those whose devices GrapheneOS can run on.

    • other8026@lemmy.mlEnglish
      0·
      14 days ago

      Google has already shared how apps’ developers will be verified. They’re adding another app that will have access to block installing apps or disable them. That won’t work on GrapheneOS because 1. the app won’t be installed and 2. the app won’t have that kind of privileged access.

    • Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      0·
      14 days ago

      The GrapheneOS team is already in communications with an Android OEM to see if they can make a device that meets their specs, hopefully that bears fruit in a year or two.

      • rumba@lemmy.zipEnglish
        0·
        13 days ago

        Shouldn’t they be keeping bypass strategies a secret right now?

        They’re up against a company with more money and developers than they know what to do with. This is, at most, a game of cat and mouse. Secrecy will buy them a sprint or so.

        If Google wants to go nuclear, they can do some rolling encryption bullshit or put a million calls all over the OS to check app validity and stop open source altogether.

  • nicgentile@lemmy.world
    0·
    14 days ago

    This will face legal hurdles, especially in the EU and China. It reminds me of the time Microsoft played shell games with Chrome and Firefox and then lost eventually. That being said, it will kickstart a new mobile OS arms race, not necessarily to beat Android but for choices.

    • ISOmorph@feddit.org
      0·
      14 days ago

      This will definitely not be challenged in the EU. It’s the whole basis that makes chat control possible on a technical level.

      • porous_grey_matter@lemmy.ml
        0·
        14 days ago

        The markets authority and antitrust offices are different people than the chat control people, they aren’t a unified organisation, they will probably argue about it.

      • JBrickelt963@jlai.lu
        0·
        13 days ago

        Above all, the organisation behind it must be or become sufficiently robust, like GNU/Linux, in order to take up the torch, but that requires a lot of financial backing.

        It’s not impossible, but in my opinion it won’t happen right away and is likely to take time to implement. Once that’s done, the only issue left will be installation (for users, that is).

        • Corridor8031@lemmy.ml
          0·
          13 days ago

          I am not really sure, but i think i have read that google and android has to split up because of cartel laws at some point,

          and i hope this might make things better (considering that like a lot of different companys do rely on android after all), but it is a fragile hope

  • NeedyPlatter@lemmy.caEnglish
    0·
    14 days ago

    sigh and here I was looking forward to switching back to Android since I missed being able to install APKS…

  • Flax@feddit.ukEnglish
    0·
    14 days ago

    Couldn’t f droid in theory request their own key?

    This is a terrible situation, but surviving for a few more years isn’t a bad idea