Google will ask all Android developers to verify their identity starting next year.

all 24 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 33 points 1 year ago (7 children)

Sounds to me like this is a workaround so that Google can maintain control over who gets to release apps now that they can't do it by locking the apps behind Google Play. I wouldn't be surprised if being verified also includes some kind of fee.

  • source
  • hideshow 7 child comments
  • [–] 25 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    I doubt its about a few dollars from developers. They'll say it's about contacting devepers. But I think it's really about control over who can publish apps, force them to agree to weird T&Cs and allow Google to exclude people.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [+] 21 points 1 year ago
    [removed by mod]
  • source
  • [–] 18 points 1 year ago

    I will be purchasing a phone that runs free open source Linux. This whole Android thing sucks ass.

  • source
  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (7 children)
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (6 children)
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (5 children)
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    The way I understand what /e/OS is, it sounds like it should be able to not include this check

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Unfortunately, as I still type, there’s no liberated deblobbed ROM. /e/OS, like every custom AOSP fork, is dependent on leaks &/manufacturer provided ROMs. After Google silos AOSP ROMs, all forks will not be able to acquire updates downstream.

    Linux Phones, are not alternatives.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    But if the forks are able to tear out the gapps, shouldn't this "cert" check go with it? I understand that the check would have to be in the installer app. Even if it's a part of launching mechanism, it should also be possible to tear it out

    Linux Phones, are not alternatives.

    I'm sorry, I don't follow. AFAIK GRUB did not need to get some blessing to get installed on UEFI. So Linux Phones should be free of big tech gatekeeping. This exchange we are having here is on technology community, not privacy (where I would get your point)

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago

    The fascist US obviously won't do shit, but Europe ought to outlaw this blatant anti-trust violation.

  • source
  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Will just F-Droid have to do this or any app developer? If it's the latter, I guess might as well go with an unofficial OS...

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] [S] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    If the phone ships with Play Store, Play Services, and other Google Mobile Services (GMS) apps the requirement will be enforced, it doesn't matter which source you use to get your apps. They claim to provide an exception for "student projects", but per their post, it's yet to be created.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    If this goes through, I'll move from my S23 Ultra to a flipphone the moment it gets outdated, and also build some portable computing device from a Raspberry Pi CM.

  • source
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago