Possible to avoid Google's future open source ban on Android devices? (m.economictimes.com)

submitted 2 months ago by emotional_soup_88@programming.dev to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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If I am already using a rooted but proprietary smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S23), downloading my apps from other sources than Google Play, how would Google be able to control what I do with it? If necessary, I could just stay on my current OS build as well. All in all, while politically and philosophically, Google's new policy is bad, I don't feel threatened by it with my current understand of the situation and technology...

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[-] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 months ago

I don't necessarily disagree, but the fact they walked back the original policy because it was so unpopular leads me to believe they are trying to save face by implementing a PITA way of enabling unknown sources, such as through ADB.

The reason why I suspect that is because even with the original policy change, they were still going to allow unsigned apps to be installed via ADB.

But I guess we'll just have to wait and find out.

[-] INeedMana@piefed.zip 3 points 2 months ago

I think they got afraid such strict policy would put wind in the sails of Linux Phone initiatives

But I might be jaded

[-] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 months ago

I don't think so, shareholder driven companies don't think long term

[-] ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago

I think you're more overly optimistic regarding the amount of concern and knowledge of the general public. I have never met a single person that cares about privacy and alternative phone issues, and I've been complaining nonstop.

[-] INeedMana@piefed.zip 2 points 1 month ago

But the opposite would mean some point did make them go about their sense. And for me that is even more unrealistically optimistic

Hence "I might be jaded"

[-] bl4kers@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

I'd argue it's already a small minority of users. Any change is very likely to be negative

this post was submitted on 28 Nov 2025

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