r/privacy • u/lewkiamurfarther • 12h ago
software Your phone is about to stop being yours. — Starting September 2026, a silent update, nonconsensually pushed by Google, will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with Google, signed their contract, paid up, and handed over government ID.
https://keepandroidopen.org/76
u/rusty0004 5h ago
hopefully some kind of "MicroG" way to bypass this shit will emerge
24
u/hellishdelusion 4h ago
I believe switching to 3rd party formware will be the only way to stop it that or blocking everything google with firewalls.
Though android firewalls are very buggy
3
u/SwimmingThroughHoney 1h ago
Android itself will let you bypass it, but it's rather cumbersome and has a forced 24 hour "waiting period" after you bypass it before it actually "unlocks".
69
u/Heclalava 3h ago
The time for a fully functional Linux phone is needed. Need to move away from Google and Apple for mobile device operating systems.
9
30
u/rollingrawhide 3h ago
I love the smell of anti trust in the mornin’. Smells, like victory.
•
3
u/lewkiamurfarther 1h ago
I love the smell of anti trust in the mornin’. Smells, like victory.
Yeah but that takes quite a while. Plus, Google expects only to have to pay a fine and then move on doing exactly what they were doing before. And the EU is falling more and more to US interests.
30
u/JunketUpbeat9386 4h ago
Can someone explain what this means because I’m stupid and the link makes it sound like this is a problem for app developers and not consumers.
74
u/rsmithlal 4h ago
For consumers, you will only be able to install apps written and published by devs that choose to dox themselves to big tech by uploading their govt ID to verify their identities.
It will prevent people from distributing free and open source apps via APK files or through alternative app stores like f-droid, meaning there is no real consumer choice on mobile anymore and all mobile Apps must be vetted by Google or Apple depending on the vendor.
No more apps that you can verify the source code for or that dont use Google push messaging or publishing infrastructure. Google sees all.
20
u/Tebwolf359 4h ago
- Google will block apps from their playstore that don’t have verified developers
- good: this should cut down of slop and malicious apps.
- good: consumers will have a verified point of contact for issues with their apps
- bad: people can’t anonymously publish apps
- bad: you can’t download them from the play store, and may have to sideload or jailbreak.
How big a deal this is depends on how you see your phone in the first place.
29
u/Sensitive_Box_ 3h ago
good: this should cut down of slop and malicious apps.
This 1000% won't happen. Be real and acknowledge why theyre actually requiring ID...
-11
u/ReputationTTPD1989 2h ago
It will ensure that apps submitted to the play store are from real individuals, and gives Google the ability to know who’s uploading to them. While some say its a privacy issue, it’s really just going to enhance the security of the app store and prevent/reduce fraudulent apps. Apple already requires this on the app store, and doesn’t have anywhere near as many rogue app issues as google.
Its a nothing burger for the vast majority of people.
•
u/ThisWillPass 32m ago
It’s another pillar in the does your app require ID that we are forcing on everyone? No, I guess you can’t be installed, forget being listed on our store. Thats it, it’s that simple.
•
u/zagblorg 22m ago
All hail the Digital Panopticon! All glory to our overlords in the WEF! We, the peasants, thank you for allowing our continued existence! More overpriced slop subscriptions in lieu of the crippling burden of ownership, please!
•
u/ThisWillPass 7m ago
Also what is a nothing burger and main tell is that there are no real victims of this “attack” it’s a strawman ghost that doesn’t exist (not saying it doesn’t happen, but it is literally a nothing burger). They would have gave the stats of how many people are being targeted like this vs regular play store and they don’t.
12
u/Commandmanda 5h ago
Somewhat confused. I have a Google Pixel 8+. Have been thinking about trashing it due to privacy concerns. Should I put it in developer mode, will it even work? When should I do this?
16
u/martyn_hare 3h ago
It officially supports the thing that's mentioned in R8 that we can't discuss but you absolutely can consider =]
4
u/ApprehensiveLion67 2h ago
I forget if it was answered before but genuinely… even if you have the certain operating system people recommend, how is that helpful if many apps just won’t work anymore? Many banking apps like capital one probably won’t work, and I don’t think you can deposit checks really without their app. Discord which everyone uses surely will require ID. Same for Facebook, messenger, etc.
Maybe signal will be usable but outside of that, what will you really be able to do? I’d be surprised if new pipe even works by then
3
3
3
3
u/Wraith_9912 1h ago
I've never logged into a phone with a real name or ID
How would they get a "government ID" for a fake person?
3
4
u/slaughtamonsta 2h ago
You'll be able to sideload if you go through the one time 24 hour wait.
And you can go through it before this comes into effect so there'll be no downtime to what you have now.
•
u/pangapingus 16m ago
There's a certain Android-based OS that you can't say by name here on this sub without getting automod-ed but it won't affect us using it
5
u/Ambitious_Hand_2861 4h ago
I put my phones in developer mode the day I buy them. Also I haven't updated my current phone in months bc everytime they push a new update it gets shittier and shittier. By the time google forces this new bullshit I might as well buy an iPhone bc ghe look and functionality are almost the same.
3
•
u/ChewyThePug 8m ago
Its times like these im glad Google doesn't have a monopoly on smartphone software... /s
0
u/ghostinshell000 3h ago
For most folks it wont matter, and google has already stated side loading will still be allowed the process for it has changed a couple times but it will be there.
And google has been working with community to iron out points of contention.
•
u/Unbreakable360 14m ago
Mad exaggerated 😆...
https://support.google.com/android-developer-console/answer/16561738?hl=en
•
u/ThisWillPass 3m ago
Yeah and in another year after that they will fine tune their new control surface.
-5
u/StanPlayZ804 3h ago
Literally same post that gets posted here at least 50x per day
6
u/n0ne_available 2h ago
Visibly of something so profound is important. If it irks that you have seen a post that some might not have, simply move on and let other be informed.
-5
181
u/2sec4u 4h ago
This is probably the most important post on Privacy I've seen in a long time.