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The EU requires Apple to allow direct installation of apps, but tolerates Apple requiring the apps to be signed with an Apple-approved key, which makes it possible for Apple to ban developers.
Google's plan seems to be similar.
I mean, sure. If you want to actually read and understand the details then I suppose this is fine. But what if you just want to circle jerk on the internet? Eh? What do you have say about that? 🙃
This is absolutely not fine, but it's probably not illegal under the EU DMA.
The theory I've heard is that is exactly why they are doing it now, as apple has set the "side loading" precedent in the EU.
You see, that's the fun thing.
Android will still technically allow sideloading, they'll just make it difficult and scary for average user, and annoying for devs.
If Android still follows the letter of the law, the courts can't order any fines.
The law is very broad though, and can still be changed and amended.
Despite what your favorite tech blog might’ve said, the EU hasn’t forced Apple to allow sideloading (more than is already allowed in the US and most of the rest of the world).
They forced Apple to allow third-party app stores (apps where you DOWNload other apps). Google is planning on doing exactly what Apple is doing in the EU, but globally.
For most of Android's existance you have been able to sideload apps, now if that won't be possible any more, I'd expect that the EU will implement the same demand against Alphabet as they did against Apple:
Yup. The only issue is that Apple got this slap in the face after years of locking down their hardware. If android movies in a similar direction, we can probably expect years before any action against it is taken.
Android, iOS and Windows all fall under the same regulation. It wouldn't take years - the law (Digital Market Act - DMA) is already in place.
Android will still allow sideloading in future. They are making it harder, but compared to Apple (even in the EU), their new policies are still more open.
For example, you will still be able to download an APK from github (as long as it is signed, which generally is the case when the app is available on google play) - but you can't do this with an iPhone.
Edit: Everyone is panicking because nobody knows Google's next move. Maybe they will restrict which apps are allowed, maybe block some apps they don't like (like unofficial youtube clients), or block sideloading completely in a future release.
most open source apps are not available on the play store, most developers will not accept having to hand over their government ID to google, and this will stop most future open source developers from creating anything for android
people are panicking because what we know so far is bad enough already
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.
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.
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.
this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2025
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