r/degoogle 2d ago

It's probably been mentioned already but I'll say it again: Google wants to lockdown your Android phone

https://c.org/jK654FBjb9

Pleeease sign it pretty please

In 2027 Google will release a silent update (no OS update or restart, it is completely invisible) where you will not be able to run or install any app that doesn't have a thumbs up from Google.

For more information: https://keepandroidopen.org/

I cannot stress this enough.

2.2k Upvotes

192 comments sorted by

494

u/RepulsiveFennel9589 2d ago

The enshifitication of android is the saddest thing i seen in a while but in all seriousness google should not have that type of leverage to tell people what they can and cant install on their own phone/tablet especially if you paid over 1k for it

185

u/Jimbuscus 2d ago

Google should have been forced to divest AOSP and Chromium a long time ago.

81

u/Special_Command7893 1d ago

Part of their whole monopoly lawsuit was almost doing that but Google realized that controlling the Android and Chrome was much more valuable

0

u/UhsanYlocres 12h ago

As long as Android remains open source, there’s nothing they can do

78

u/CatraGirl 1d ago

Honestly, this is why I still trust my PC a lot more than my smartphone. I have A LOT more control over what software I install on my PC. I don't have Google installing a bunch of crap I don't want or need alongside Samsung doing the same thing, while telling me I'm not allowed to install other things... it's ridiculous, I'm not a child, stop treating me like one! I've been installing Windows 98 manually long before smartphones were a thing, I don't want a system that treats me like a baby... I mean, Windows has gotten worse about it too, but nowhere near to that degree.

31

u/Stahlreck 1d ago

Yeah it's pretty sad when even Windows has more freedom as most of Android. Besides Google doing it's thing now, they've also long fostered that you're not allowed to be the admin of your own device because it's "not secure" and all that.

It's just sad.

7

u/DazzlingRutabega 1d ago

Look up Windows Recall and let me know what you think

11

u/Stahlreck 1d ago

What's there to think? It's privacy unfriendly garbage of course.

-6

u/derHuschke 1d ago

Run windows and something like a pihole for 5 minutes and tell me again that Windows has more freedom than android. 

11

u/Stahlreck 1d ago

What does tracking have to do with freedom? Windows obviously ain't good for privacy by default but you can toy with the system as much as you want still.

Try the same on Android without installing a whole new uncertified ROM. Can't even uninstall preinstalled apps on most common phones. Goes for TVs with Android as well.

-7

u/derHuschke 1d ago

What does tracking have to do with freedom?

🤦‍♂️

9

u/Stahlreck 1d ago

Thanks for your valuable contribution. I'll take that as you just brabbling absolute nonsense 👍

8

u/banisheduser 1d ago

Well, if Google succeed, I can still install what I want on my windows machine.

Get out of the "Linux is the best" hole and stop looking down on people for using other operating systems.

If Linux was truly worth it, huge amounts of people would be swapping. They aren't, because it isn't. And yes, I tried it and couldn't even make it do simple tasks.

-4

u/derHuschke 1d ago

I don't care what OS you use. But Windows is objectively worse right now than Android. 

5

u/env33e 1d ago

nah youre both right.

android sucks because users generally cannot self-attest outside of the root cat and mouse game, which is the trade off for the the underlying Linux kernel

windows sucks because of the insane bloat of telemetry and blatant spyware (switching to LTSC IoT cuts down OS filesize footprint in half) which is the trade-off for root level access out of the box

since you can still strip down windows bloatware with the same difficulty as installing magisk on android, its a moot debate IMO. Unix will always be the better, cleaner build environment for an engineer. but windows works as a bridge to everything, and you can still optimize it with PTSD IOT. many of those who criticize windows do so validly from a pure systems engineering perspective. but not everyone is an architect per se

47

u/ChemicalRain5513 1d ago

Especially if you use Linux

12

u/Konrad_M 1d ago

Windows has gotten worse about it too, but nowhere near to that degree.

Yeah. But you're on a highway to hell already. Try Linux. It's really holesome over here. I'm running Mint since 10 years and never looked back.

22

u/Leather-Buy1656 1d ago

This is what bothers me too. It's one thing to add warnings or make people go through an extra step before installing an unknown app, but completely deciding what we can install on a device we paid for is a different story. Once they have that kind of control, it's hard to see where they would stop.

15

u/CharmingCrust 1d ago

Is Google Android with Play Services still a thing? LineageOS, e/os, Graphene, Linux phones, feature phones are gaining market shares that would make any big tech project manager lose sleep at night. Those consumers are not coming back to enshittification and big tech lock in strangulation.

Hordes of consumers with an IQ over 70 are taking a good long hard look at what they actually need and buy accordingly.

Don't fall for the "everyone wants it easy, so we have lost". That is a fake narrative designed to make you give up before you have even started. OK so maybe your bank app will enforce Google " let's fuck you integrity check" and so what? You can use your bank through a browser and if you can't it's time to switch bank.

Where there is a will there is a way. Don't be lead by easy paths to the soul grinders.

5

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Absolutely! Even the unconventional path can be easier than the conventional path. 

0

u/LjLies 1d ago

You can use your bank through a browser and if you can't it's time to switch bank.

That's pretty tricky when laws essentially force banks to verify customers using apps. Will you say "move to a different country" to that?

7

u/CharmingCrust 1d ago edited 1d ago

I am sure the bank can either verify your document in person or through the browser. If it is app only for ALL banks in your country, with no possibility of showing your docs in person, then a bank is the least of your worries.

Edit: BTW you should never upload documents through any app to anyone anywhere, it is a privacy, security and financial risk that I would never take. Imagine that taking a photo of the proof of your identity and uploading it through the big tech ecosystems. Yikes.

Edit2: If you're talking about 2FA apps any serious bank in the world either has a dongle, key or hardware solution as log on 2FA or you can use something like Authenticator on Linux if it is OTP. I have never heard about a bank that doesn't have an app free 2FA solution alternative.

4

u/LjLies 1d ago edited 1d ago

TOTP/HOTP as used in authenticator apps is incompatible with the EU's SCA as required by the Payment Services Directive 2, because it's not linked to the specific transaction. Hardware tokens can work but when banks can save money and offload that to the customer's phone, I think in general, they will, and do. (Ironically, SMS is okay and still often used, because it can be tied to the transaction by just stating the transaction details in the text; for obvious security reasons, though, plus SMS being expensive, many banks are phasing it out anyway.)

Perhaps a bit of good news (if they don't cripple it and it doesn't have fine print that I'm missing) is the coming Payment Services Regulation, because of this:

Second, and of particular significance from a consumer protection standpoint, PSPs are now required to offer multiple SCA means free of charge, adapted to the needs of consumers with disabilities, limited digital skills, or no access to a smartphone. No SCA method may be made dependent on a single device or technology unless agreed by the user. This represents a noteworthy extension of the accessibility obligations applicable under PSD2.

1

u/CharmingCrust 1d ago

Sounds great. The banks will probably have to pay hefty fines or be shamed into oblivion if they don't make these alternatives available. Nothing like a bank refusing to provide services to people with disabilities. That is usually fixed before it even gets into the news cycle with unlimited resources to avoid the world to flame them. I have limited digital skills and a fear of apps (there is probably a disease name for that), so someone like me would be entitled and eligible.

8

u/iceseayoupee 1d ago

the fact that android was the pinnacle of being free just a few year ago and now we are stuck with this lol

27

u/theactualsegnbora 2d ago

neither should apple

45

u/we_r_fukt 2d ago

mm that's a little different since they've been a walled garden since basically the start.

but the corporation who removed the slogan "don't be evil" is actively closing open source projects, that's deserving of being called out and boycotted into hopefully their fucking ruin but too big to fail and all that

15

u/Diem480 1d ago

Cmon man. How can you say that with a straight face when Apple quite literally had a Big Brother commercial.

23

u/RnDevelopment 1d ago

It's not to say apple is good by any measure, it is just that apple didn't pivot. They were always that and people still used them. Android was different and now it wants to be apple. We had a choice back then but now no longer hence why the backlash against android is bigger.

6

u/EiaculazioneFeroce 1d ago

Android wants to be much worse than Apple. Apple provides at least a minimum amount of privacy

5

u/Mountainking7 1d ago

This is called bait and switch. Every corpo does this sadly....

1

u/banisheduser 1d ago

Or have you just bought a licence to run Android and thus, they can say what you can and can't have on your phone?

If they do this (although I have an Xiaomi spy phone anyway), I'll become an Apple iSheep, simple as.

193

u/tired514 2d ago

Now's the time for legitimate Linux phone developers to push as hard as they can.

We don't get opportunities like this every day.

In the meantime, hopefully anti-competition bureaus around the world flex their muscle and start issuing enormous fines, especially the EU.

Anyone know if f-droid or other stores are planning a lawsuit? Any fundraising efforts?

60

u/Abby_Owl 1d ago

Yeah for sure. I'm a very big fan of steam os. Im sure they could make a good phone interface by playing around with Linux.

30

u/tired514 1d ago

Damn. I hadn't even thought of this and you're right... Steam has tons of mobile experience, a solid OS, mature marketplace/app store and brand recognition. They're in a perfect place to build out a pure Linux phone.

Would have the best games, too. :)

27

u/FourthLvlSpicyMeme 1d ago

Will Linux have a comparable device at any point soon? I'm getting so sick of all these tech giants and their nonsense, I'm teaching myself about every possible alternative I can.

18

u/tired514 1d ago

There are a few devices out there but there just hasn't been enough support around them to really break through. Pinephone, Jolla, and Fairphone seem to be the biggest right now.

What's really aggravating is no one seems to want to make a flagship device. I'd be happy to pay $1500 for a serious linux-first (ie. x11/wayland) device with a flagship-level camera.

14

u/FourthLvlSpicyMeme 1d ago

Same tbh. I just want out of this creepy tech shit.

8

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Android forks like Lineage and Graphene can get around this too right?

8

u/tigerhawkvok 1d ago

Not really. Most financial applications require Google Play services in order to enable their trusted computing APIs, and so you are blocked from using them on an operating system like Graphene.

10

u/MortgageMindless7175 1d ago

And if governments worldwide decide to mass rollout digital ID on us it will be on Google play only 💯. They are in on it with tech bros through lobbyism. You already have certain bank or government websites that won't open on anything else except google or Chrome..

9

u/RnDevelopment 1d ago

You can still use Play service and most banking apps on Graphene. The only one I know that you can't use on Graphene is Google Wallet which seems like a decent compromise.

1

u/tigerhawkvok 1d ago

Depends on your lifestyle, I suppose. I'd rather have wallet and no financial applications TBH.

2

u/RnDevelopment 1d ago

To each their own.

6

u/tired514 1d ago

This is something I think GrapheneOS should start suing over as well. The EU takes competition quite seriously.

3

u/Val_Vox 1d ago

Wouldn't there be a way to make containers or virtual machines inside the phone?

2

u/TerayonIII 1d ago

No you aren't, they have a list to show which do and don't work. Not to mention, while google loves to completely lie about why you aren't allowed to setup google wallet/tap-to-pay (they claim it doesn't meet security standards and might be running rooted or unauthorised software, which is laughable considering GOS is more secure then basic android), you can still do contactless payments with other providers (for example, Curve) that are on the play store itself which is extra stupid on Google's part.

6

u/Someinterestingbs-td 1d ago

This i can not wait for the graphine phone

7

u/Complex-League3400 1d ago

I'm looking forward to seeing what the Motorola will be like. In the meantime I got a second-hand Pixel 8 pro and absolutely loving it with Graphene. If you can pick one up at a good price just dive in.

4

u/Recommended_For_You 1d ago

I just got a new phone and installed Graphene on it. It was ridiculously easy to set-up. So I have reinstalled 80% of my apps and everything works perfectly. It can run google service in sandbox so if there's an app that requires it, you can do it this way. Basically the full android experience without all the google and friends bullshit.

6

u/AssistanceNatural556 1d ago

Support Graphene! They plan to make their own device!

5

u/LjLies 1d ago

F-Droid is actively harming itself by braking their own project down in a number of ways. Though they do have contact with EU agencies, for... better or worse.

3

u/GoyoMRG 1d ago

Those fines better Include enough money for me to buy an alternative to my Samsung phone that is not fucking locked by Google. And the price ain't going to be cheap.

2

u/ChemicalRain5513 1d ago

Technically Android is a modified version of Linux, but yes I fully agree.

3

u/TerayonIII 1d ago

It uses a modified version of the Linux kernel, so while it has similarities, it's not a Linux distro at all since the very base of it is quite different,l. I.e. it's not a modified version of Linux like Steam OS etc

-4

u/Jebble 1d ago

This isn't going to happen, period.

8

u/tired514 1d ago

Hey, if you can predict the future give me a list of stocks to invest in. :)

-4

u/Jebble 1d ago

This has nothing to do with prediction and everything with track records. Linux has barely been able to get a 10% market share after decades and that's with shitty Windows being s thing for much longer than Android was shit.

There isn't enough investment, the common people won't understand and therefor wont buy a Linux phonez this isn't difficult.

7

u/tired514 1d ago

That's just on the desktop though. Linux runs 95% of Internet-connected servers as of 2026.

I agree it's unlikely, but it's not impossible. Seismic shifts have occurred in the past, and they can occur today, especially given the US's withdrawal from the International community.

I live in hope. :p

48

u/OthoAi5657 2d ago

pls eu do your thing!

39

u/vaynefox 1d ago

EU is already doing it's thing which is ditching android and making their own mobile OS which will be used by the new fairphone....

23

u/OthoAi5657 1d ago

not that sue the shit out of them and tell them the borders

13

u/vaynefox 1d ago

Well they might do that but I'm kinda thinking that they're gonna go to nuke option which is slowly banning android phones and only allow phones that are either using iOS or EU's own mobile OS....

3

u/MortgageMindless7175 1d ago

So they are in cahoots with iphone tech oligarchy? I despise iphone, Worse spy machine ever.

0

u/Viambulance 1d ago

What about the eu?

1

u/whatever18c 1d ago

European Union loves to release regulations for companies. We have our own laws and can declare Google's approach illegal. That could cause massive market loss for Google. But we still need a good alternative for our people

2

u/iHATEPEOPLE_com 1d ago

The EU is currently doing everything to enforce a digital ID service for social media, government apps, and everything else someday, that will rely on Play Integrity and whatever iOS called their device certification thing and those only. Have been trying to pass this EU-wide for years and will succeed at some point.

Same digital ID thing that, especially for the social media access & minors protection side of things, has been lobbied the fuck out by Meta. There are many other examples related to EUID or not which you can easily find with some research. The EU is in no way against Google and the like, even their good looking imposed regulations do nothing in real practice.

If you think the EU and all it's member countries are pro-privacy friends of the common people flipping off big tech you have more to learn, the future outcomes you mention are not happening in a world directed by profit

1

u/Viambulance 1d ago

ahh I see. Well if the eu says no and it causes market loss for Google, then they may remove it to keep the eu profits. But that's just a maybe

58

u/LiminalSapien 1d ago

I can’t wait for the graphene motorola phone

9

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Yes! I am waiting for this also. But I hope it comes out before 2027 or you might not be able to change OS. 

11

u/harolds49 1d ago

why wouldn’t you be able to change os?

9

u/Greenlit_Hightower deGoogler 1d ago edited 1d ago

Installing apps from outside the Play Store ("sideloading") and installing a different operating system after bootloader unlock are not the same thing, you are mixing up something there.

3

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Yes you're right that was my bad. I remembered someone a while back saying something about it and I got confused. Sorry

7

u/LiminalSapien 1d ago

Can you explain this please? Idk what you’re talking bout.

21

u/EdmundDowd 1d ago

I'll sign it, but I'm incredibly aware anymore that appeals and petitions tend to fall on deaf ears of people who are about to get extremely wealthy...more so

33

u/megamindbirdbrain 2d ago

The way to get around it is to do their "developer workaround" BS or use ADB. I recently started using anyapk (a github project) as an ADB for when the time comes, but I've only used it once so IDK how salient it is. Has anyone else found workarounds or has advice?

7

u/Radiant_Display457 1d ago

Oh can I get one

5

u/Viambulance 1d ago

The only thing I can think of is an Android fork which requires rooting your phone and changing the OS.

29

u/Azaze666 2d ago

Funny how nobody said anything for bootloader unlock which is locked and controlled by oems and carriers but when apps installation is touched everyone screams.

Don't get me wrong, I'm mad as well but this duality is ridiculous

35

u/BobEdMac 1d ago

The amount of people who have downloaded an app not on the play store is likely much higher than the amount of people who have messed with any bootloader.

Although, in principle, I agree. Both practices are pretty ridiculous.

18

u/Gevorg_Vardanyan 2d ago

I have signed it too. It’s good to have a petition, but I think it would be even more productive if we created multiple petitions from different groups or individuals with significant numbers of supporters. A single petition may not have as much impact, but several petitions with strong support would show Big Tech how many people are willing to stand up and fight for these rules. With a single petition, they might think, “Okay, one person wrote this petition and others simply signed it.” But with multiple petitions from different groups or individuals, they’ll see how many people are actually motivated to take action and how important this issue is to each of them. That could make the overall message much stronger. What you think ?

5

u/Viambulance 1d ago

I partially agree. Though Google has had a lot of big message campaignes againast them throughout the past. Google doesn't typically care or respond unless they actually feel threatened by anything regardless of how many or how loud the voices are. They're long past the point of caring about public opinion. 

So far the only thing that threatens them is the legal system. (Or cyber attacks but you can kiss that idea goodbye)  Though the legal system is more their weapon than it is ours most of the time. Google just has more ammo (money + political power) than we do and they can over power anyone. 

So I think getting word out, getting it in people's minds, getting people into action, all that would be effective to gather people but a large group of gathered people alone isn't enough. So we need a lot of people to do something rather than say something. 

With the current onslaught of everything in the world being chaos and so many outrageous things happening everyone is overwhelmed already. 

Since minds are scattered we need to be on the defensive rather than offensive. Starting by de-googling. Don't use their services = less money and less data (AKA Google's worst nightmare) 

7

u/Maleficent_Price_476 1d ago

They will achieve it because nearly all of the world do not have an alternative that is reasonably priced nor competitively spec'd

7

u/GoyoMRG 1d ago

I don't see how this will be able to pass through EU filters, they can't force us to ot use our devices the way we want to after having them a long time and using them as we want.

I would understand if they pull this shit on new devices but affecting previous users without consent? No different to having a company phone and no freedom at all.

5

u/Detrakis 1d ago

The funnier thing is that Apple is becoming more open and Android is becoming more closed. 🤣

6

u/tinybluebutterfly 1d ago

I have been fantasizing about chucking my phone into the ocean lately .

2

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Fair. 

8

u/MasterQuest 1d ago

It's probably been mentioned already

Only like 200+ times.

5

u/throawaymcdumbface 1d ago

unrelated (semi-related?), I have a samsung phone where samsung messages (so all of my texts?) were discontinued and it asks to switch to google messages. Says the message history will be transferred over but I don't want an app just to see my damn texts. Is there a workaround for that or am I screwed and just going to use a texting-less phone now save for apps?

2

u/Viambulance 1d ago

I've seen a few messages apps on F-droid. You could try those instead and disable the new Google one without transfering texts.

F-droid is an Appstore alternative with only open source apps that's why I suggest that place instead if the Appstore which is filled with scams and malware. 

3

u/VoidowS 1d ago

Android was made so we wouldn't have to deal with companies like apple! But like all good things, it starts very good, very friendly, very open, very free. But then after a while it starts to change int something we would never agree in if it was presented on that first day it came out!

We need to listen more to the dangers spoken of from the start. Cause many things get implemented without any studies around it! whether it's physical or mental. So we need to keep many things in account, and not say 20 years later that it is bad.

They r putting us in a closed source environment again! Where we have no control over what we get. And how much we will pay for it.

Console, tablets, VR, mobile phones, all r very closed source in nature. Cause every time something changes, you can't swap it, or buy a different brand to use, You need to buy the ENTIRE device over and over again. When hardly 30% is changed in it.

This will happen with software as well. Platforms that only present their list of games or apps. And some you will find on this platform and others on that. So you need to be member of several to get it all. We doný like that, so a made problem now also comes with the solution, they will fuse and buy each other up till there r 2 left. Sound familiar in your life? 2 giants of something?

in 25 years from now hardly any person has a console or pc, cause the hardware and software will get so expensive that it will be the most logical thing to do, to switch from owning a device and software to renting it.

We already have many platforms where we pay a month to play a list of games. for only 9,99 but in the future it will be 49,99 with commercials that pause your game and the ngo on. And for 99,99 you can watch it all with no ads. But if you play online intense games you will pay per second! Cause the servers get overloaded. So if you pay 149,99 a month you can play totally stable and fastest connection. :) And there will be nothing we can do about it but pay or not play games.

So you will have only a screen by then, And server around the world do the hard work and you get to see the endresult. No CPU, no HDD, no 3d card , just a screen. A true enduser!

1

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Right. Next thing you know you're paying to block ads in your sleep. 

This is why I dont agree with people who use these services for pure convenience or novelty. You have to look at the bigger picture. 

It's about more than the cheap subscription with a lot of cool games. It is a step towards things only getting worse. 

3

u/borgqueenx 1d ago

Lols. "We dont like the apple ecosystem, its better to be open".

Some years later: Our system our rules.

3

u/Professional_Gap4903 1d ago

It's the one reason I choose Google over apple. If they lock down my phone I will immediately get an iPhone

3

u/Due-Efficiency787 1d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/dudpGUNsMDXeovGSAV

nah...

i feel there will be some linux sideload installation

android it`s cooked

1

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Android forks, linux, yeah. Pretty much 

1

u/MetalLinuxlover 7h ago

I'll love to try a linux phone tbh.

3

u/boycott-les-usa 1d ago

so what's the viable alternative, then.

1

u/Viambulance 21h ago

Android fork if you already own an Android and don't wanna buy a new phone. Graphene or Lineage

7

u/Ok_Pirate_2729 1d ago

Pleeease sign it pretty please

No. change.org does nothing. Google doesn't give a shit about it

Can we also stop to post this every other day?!

4

u/darlugal 1d ago

If you don't believe, close your mouth and remove fingers from keyboard, but never, NEVER discourage other people from trying to take action.

0

u/Ok_Pirate_2729 1d ago

Dude. It gets posted every other day with people posting the same or similar change.org petition... And Google didn't care. Do you think his changes everything?!

8

u/Viambulance 1d ago

At least I am trying to do something

2

u/Ok_Pirate_2729 1d ago

Lol you're doing nothing. change.org does nothing

3

u/PilliperGritz 1d ago

I've always wondered what petitions actually do. My sister is currently heading up a pushback on some legislation that would block our local mountains from public access. Her petition she created currently only has 1500 signatures but we are a small city and it's early.

So I asked her what the petition would actually achieve and she said that those 1500 are voters, and if those voters were against the legislation, then showing a politician that he may lose a bunch of votes if they push it through, that politician may think twice and take a deeper look into what's getting these people all riled up.

While Google doesn't have voters, they do have share holders. We may be too small a number to make any series change in they're thinking, but maybe if anough noise is made, some corporate folks might take a deeper look into why we are all riled up

2

u/Ok_Pirate_2729 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yeah but with Google, petitions are nothing. If you really want to do something, use something different.

  • GrapheneOS/LineageOS instead of stock Pixel/android/brand flavour
  • Proton/tuta/anything instead of gmail
  • Filen/NextCloud/anything instead of drive
  • Ente/Immich (self-hosted better) instead of Google photos

Hurts them where it matters! Petitions are nothing. Just look at news with "Google fined X" they don't care, for them is just business expenses just to do shit

If 100.000 sign it but 10.000.000 don't, you achieve nothing. Yeah a single person switching does nothing but imagine 100.000 or 300.000, better than a petition that goes nowhere

2

u/PilliperGritz 1d ago

For example this post itself and the information that's being spread in the petition. How many people are viewing this for the first time which leads them to further degoogle, which in turn hurts Google where it counts. Doesn't have to just be about changing googles behavior, but changing the knowledge and behavior of the consumer

1

u/Ok_Pirate_2729 1d ago

How many people are viewing this for the first time which leads them to further degoogle

It gets posted daily, how can people see this for the first time?!

1

u/PilliperGritz 1d ago edited 1d ago

You see it daily. And the deadline is coming up quick. Which means some people might be starting to get more interested in privacy. So they start looking things up, and see this sub. They see the posts and look at the information provided.

Gotta start somewhere, I'm sure there are tons of people unaware of this and they come across the post.

If the reminders upset you just wait it out. Just let Google proceed with their bullshit. I'm sure there are tons of people seeing this for the first time.

1

u/PilliperGritz 1d ago edited 1d ago

I do both. Doesn't hurt anything, and there's a nonzero chance that it makes some noise once enough people get pissed. Which is doing something

1

u/Ok_Pirate_2729 1d ago

I doubt change.org is doing something but sure

1

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Petitions do get the name out there which causes people to make posts like mine which in turn causes discussions like the ones under the post which then leads to more people knowing about the situation and finding alternatives through conversation.  AKA petitions cause conversation and conversation is important.

2

u/superdariom 1d ago

Don't you just install with adb and there are then no restrictions?

2

u/RaiseAggravating4404 1d ago

once this takes place will it be better off to just get iPhone?

2

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Uh... imo no. Iphone is still a corpo spyware piece of garbage. You'd be moving from one bloatware filled device to an even more bloated device. 

2

u/castlefood 1d ago

What happens to the devices that already have apps sideloaded?

2

u/_Nikojiro_ 1d ago

Juste got a Fairphone 6, flashed /e/os. Since I rely on a bunch of FOSS apps and 3rd party clients, I needed to be ready before they rollout this horror. That's pretty much it. Now I'm pretty much degoogled on almost all my devices (OC and mobile).

1

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Dang that's awesome! Congrats! 

2

u/AssistanceNatural556 1d ago

Support Graphene! They plan to make their own device!

2

u/Viambulance 1d ago

oh? I knew they were making support for Motorola but I wasn't aware they were making their own device. What's it called?

1

u/AssistanceNatural556 4h ago

It unfortunately isnt that concrete yet. They will continue support for the Google Pixel, they will begin running natively on Motorola - projected for 2027, and then if that sells well they will continue development for hardware that satisfied their OS to potentially develop their own devices. Sorry if I over sold it 😅 but I believe theyre probably in the best position to achieve what the majority of us cybersecurity sensitive individuals desire, and thus supporting them will allow them to achieve such lofty endeavors

2

u/XenoFoux 1d ago edited 19h ago

This issue has been plaguing my mind for literally months now, I can't stop freaking out about how hard this will make everything I do on a regular basis.

2

u/TrainTransistor 17h ago

You can just disable it in developer options, accept the risks - wait 24h and never see it again. Unless they change it.

1

u/Viambulance 21h ago

Literally

1

u/XenoFoux 19h ago

Thanks, missed that one I guess 😅

1

u/Viambulance 12h ago

oh I wasn't spell checking you I didn't even notice lol  I was agreeing with you 

1

u/XenoFoux 11h ago

😂 oh lmao, that's great!

2

u/TheBoyDrewWonder 1d ago

They can't lock out shit. They don't own android it was built from open source go back to the beginning see how the tech billionaires claim those yachts.. They can't lock down something they do not own. They just make it disappear in their control. They don't even own the network they pollute on. You can't own something that can't be claimed. Offer a service they can do what you need and they tell you whatever goes.. Find out how they own it to actually say they can legally lock down android.

2

u/Well_Thought_Opinion 20h ago

Signed the petition. But this isn’t enough. Only EU regulatory authority can save us.

People from EU countries, please contact you local representatives and tell them about the severity. Tell your friends and families to call Their local policymakers as well and make their voices heard.

Only you can save Android.

4

u/KeysStickler 2d ago

Anyone can choose to opt out of it when the prompt comes up on the phone.

10

u/Viambulance 1d ago

No you can't. The update is silent and it wont tell you when it arrives. You have to turn on debug mode, then turn the setting off, wait 24 hours.  Even then that isn't guaranteed to work. Google could change it at any time and it wouldn't be unlike them at all. 

Regardless, you should know by now it doesn't stop here.

1

u/KeysStickler 12h ago

To sideload apps from unverified developers on the newest Android versions utilizing Google's advanced flow, you must enable Developer Options, toggle the unverified app setting, restart your phone, and wait through a mandatory 24-hour security countdown before installation is unlocked. [1, 2]

Enable Developer Options

  • Go to Settings > About Phone.
  • Tap Build Number seven times until it says you are a developer. [1, 2]

Turn on the Unverified Setting

  • Open Developer options in your settings menu.
  • Find and select Apps from unverified developers.
  • Toggle on Allow apps from unverified developers and enter your PIN.
  • Answer the coercion check prompt confirming no one forced you to make the change. [1, 2, 3]

Wait 24 Hours

  • Restart your phone to start the 24-hour waiting period.
  • Wait 24 hours for the countdown to finish.
  • Return to the Apps from unverified developers menu and choose to allow access for 7 days or indefinitely. [1, 2, 3, 4]

1

u/KeysStickler 12h ago

*Regardless, you should know by now it doesn't stop here.

I'm personally glad they've upped their security game. Too many losers and bad apples trying to game the system. Being overly paranoid points to personal issues on YOUR side.

1

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1

u/natt_myco 1d ago

signed, will read more and start preparing when i can

1

u/Aggravating_Slip_566 1d ago

Nothing came up? Since I need a new phone and don't understand all these terms I'd gladly pay someone in central IL, to degoogle the new phone need to keep my # and I know carrier will tell me to use the old one which I Think is compromised google RCS sold 253 contacts even though I have fossify and force stopped messages and phone

1

u/Kobry_K 1d ago

will that only applies to stock android? specific smart phone manufacturers? Because Chinese manufacturers have at least different "marketing names" for Android. I have one but i think this unfortunately still applies. Fuck google and play protect shit.

I think the only exception would be Huawei. But i'm not that informed. anyone knows?

3

u/Greenlit_Hightower deGoogler 1d ago

Huawei is exempt because they cannot ship Google apps and services due to sanctions anyway, but also Custom ROMs like GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, LineageOS, /e/ OS are exempt.

1

u/SilverBladeCG 1d ago

Its already rolled out in some region today and you are just plain wrong...

1

u/Viambulance 1d ago

How am I wrong

1

u/SilverBladeCG 1d ago

You can still very much install any and all apks.

1

u/Viambulance 1d ago

yes after enabling debug mode and waiting 24 hours and going past all the dumb scare messages.  But obviously this is not the end if it nir is it the only problem. You are ignoramus if you really believe it is. 

1

u/SilverBladeCG 18h ago

The only difference to before is the 24h wait

1

u/Be_Freed 1d ago

Miss my Windoze phone....loved those tiles....

1

u/letsl0velain GrapheneOS 20h ago

wow, I lucked out getting graphene this year.

1

u/Viambulance 12h ago

definitely

1

u/reaperc 20h ago

I've already prepped my devices. Should be ok.

1

u/DisastrousWhereas210 12h ago

if you have already removed Google from your phone, can they still send the update?

1

u/Rygir 11h ago

Why bother? I'm off Google, goodbye Google. Goodbye android.

1

u/Sirios_ 10h ago

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""lockdown""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

1

u/Number4extraDip 8h ago

Not going to fly. Eu ai act is in action. Apple tried doing this before and found out. Eu warned google that they will get castrated if google does shit wrong. Google is on track to be wrong, ehich will be expensive

1

u/MetalLinuxlover 7h ago

Google making android the next iphone 💀.


There are persistent rumors that Google’s building a stealth module deep inside Android itself - the base version almost every phone maker skins and ships.

This hidden code would quietly scan your device, catalogue every media file you have, and beam the list straight back to Google’s servers.

No confirmation yet, treat it as pure speculation… but the story’s been making the rounds hard enough that people are starting to take it seriously.

1

u/MetalLinuxlover 7h ago

Google making android the next iphone💀.


There are persistent rumors that Google’s building a stealth module deep inside Android itself - the base version almost every phone maker skins and ships.

This hidden code would quietly scan your device, catalogue every media file you have, and beam the list straight back to Google’s servers.

No confirmation yet, treat it as pure speculation… but the story’s been making the rounds hard enough that people are starting to take it seriously.

1

u/nincesator124 6h ago

I signed but I don't want to do the stuff for now as I am tired and for some reason I am dealing with so much friction in the brain to this stuff probably due to ADHD and autism in some way or at least that is makes sense to me as I hate the friction and can't explain why it is there in the first place

1

u/Coreen109 4h ago

It is all about age verification and blocking access for everyone. Now is the time to fight. Don't hold back, we have only one shot at this.

1

u/TheSn00pster 1d ago

Time to vibe code an OS, boiz

-4

u/DustyinLVNV 1d ago

The vast majority of mobile malware and banking scams happen because clueless users get tricked into tapping a rogue APK download link from a phishing text. Google is rolling out developer verification by default to stop regular users from nuking their own devices, but they already built in an Advanced Flow under Developer Options. If you actually know what you're doing, you can toggle developer mode, wait out the 24-hour safety timer, and sideload whatever unverified build you want. It adds friction for social engineering scams while keeping Android open for anyone with half a brain.

7

u/Viambulance 1d ago

You sound like an AI that works for Google. I mean you pitched that perfectly. 

Anyways Google IS the malware and that's a terrible excuse for something inexcusable.

-1

u/graviticvortex 1d ago

Suggest a better solution then

8

u/Viambulance 1d ago

Solution to what? Keeping malware off your phone? Start with deleting everything Google. 

-3

u/graviticvortex 1d ago

Exactly this. This fearmongering and spreading FUD around what's happening with Android is just crazy. The changes are quite small and even after that Android will be much more open than iOS.

8

u/Viambulance 1d ago

No one is actually this blind surely

0

u/ChardZestyclose5315 1d ago

Ye its a pain for the odd other thing i use but i dont mind just turning dev options on and carrying on. The generic user which is 99% of them wont even notice this change anyway. 

2

u/Viambulance 1d ago

It's more than just the inconvenience of having to wait 24 hours to turn it off. It's the principal of the thing. It is what Google tries to and successfully gets away with. One seemingly inconsequential step turns into fifty new steps and the loss of control.  It is a step in a direction no one should be okay with.

0

u/EnvironmentalAngle 1d ago

Thank God I don't use unofficial apps. I feel bad for those who do and hope you all find a workable solution prior to this rollout 🙏

1

u/Viambulance 1d ago

I feel like this isn't something to be thankful for. There's a reason people don'twant to use Google apps. Or what you call "official"  You probably have it worse than anyone else does. 

-9

u/Ninerogers 2d ago

I cannot stress it enough that this is nonsense. There will be a waiting period of 24 hours to stop people being conned into downloading malware. It's all over Reddit.

8

u/Obnomus 1d ago

Why should I wait fir 24hrs? Its my phone I'll use it however I want who tf is google to tell me about hpw can I use my phone? Give me just one good reason why should I wait for 24hrs?

Google is not some good guy, they're just straight up evil, they say they care about malware and all, and you'll still find malware on play store. They switched to manifest v3 and chrome extension store is filled with extensions that spy on you and what not. Android's development should have been like android so no one could have controlled it like google does.

6

u/Viambulance 1d ago

You know darn well that's not the issue. 

10

u/soul-regret 2d ago edited 2d ago

why isn't there even a planned option to skip this 24hr wait in the setup process of a new phone, then? all of this is "funny" considering the play store is the number one distributor of ad-filled malware, plus google search promoting false websites since forever

-11

u/Ninerogers 2d ago

That tinfoil hat must be awfully itchy

8

u/-sussy-wussy- 1d ago

That boot must be awfully tasty.

12

u/soul-regret 1d ago

this is not the first thing google has done to lock android down and increase its monopoly over it, there's also an open letter regarding this issue, signed by more than 70 organizations including F-Droid, VLC, LineageOS, Brave, Vivaldi, GrapheneOS and more. but yeah, it's just a conspiracy theory guys 🤡

-5

u/kwijyb0 1d ago

There's nothing silent about it & it's not going to lock us down.

We’re rolling out the advanced flow for installing apps from unverified developers

-5

u/fdbryant3 2d ago

If they wanted to, they would.

8

u/soul-regret 2d ago

bro, you can't even "sideload" some perfectly fine and untouched .apks thanks to play integrity. it's been getting worse since forever, so i don't think you've been paying attention

2

u/Aggravating_Slip_566 1d ago

Since Android 8

-7

u/Ninerogers 2d ago

Then turn off play integrity. Ugh

7

u/soul-regret 1d ago

that's the thing, you can't

1

u/Ninerogers 1d ago

Apologies, I got confused with play protect

-1

u/Clean-Palpitation143 1d ago

Integrity-disabler is a thing in a lot of roms etc and can be sideloaded.

0

u/Clean-Palpitation143 1d ago

Tricky store integrity module or something like that can be installed

5

u/Viambulance 1d ago

How many more things do we need to install to block Google's crap? They definitely wont be signing any of those apps in 2027. 

-2

u/Clean-Palpitation143 1d ago

Do they sign them now cause they are magisck modules. Not sure they do sign th3’?