If the EU forced Apple to allow side loading on iPhones, shouldn't the same rule apply to Android phones? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 week ago by blarghly@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I'm seeing a bunch of posts about how Google has decided to stop allowing side loading on Android phones. But the EU relatively recently forced Apple to do the exact opposite. Won't they just do the same thing for Android phones? Sure, people outside the EU market will lose this ability as a default, but presumably you can just order a Euro phone on ebay if you are outside the EU.

So why is everyone panicking? I think Google is definitely being shitty by trying to do this, and I support the development of other open source alternatives. I like the fact that this could be a big wakeup call for that effort. But I am wondering if this is also not as big of a deal as everyone is making out.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 week ago

You seem to not know what you're talking about. I trust F-Droid and their interpretation of what Google is doing and what I have read from Google about what they're doing, and you aren't quite grasping it.

[-] ChairmanMeow@programming.dev 1 points 1 week ago

No, this is correct. What F-Droid worries about is that a lot of open source apps aren't signed and that the developers don't want to verify their id with Google, which would prevent distribution.

[-] cron@feddit.org 1 points 1 week ago

I trust f-droid too. Their approach to building apps is truly at risk. But as of the Google blog article, installing apks is not affected as long as they are signed.

this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2025

16 points (94.4% liked)

Ask Lemmy

35033 readers

142 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions

Rules: (interactive)

1) Be nice and; have fun

Doxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them

2) All posts must end with a '?'

This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?

3) No spam

Please do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.

4) NSFW is okay, within reason

Just remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].

5) This is not a support community.

It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.

6) No US Politics.

Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world or !askusa@discuss.online

Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.