Android has always stood for something important: 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺, 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹.
You could install apps outside the official store, use alternative repositories, and test your own software.
Google’s upcoming developer verification policy is presented as a way to improve security against malware and scams.
And yes, 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. Nobody serious should ignore that.
But the concern is simple: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴?
If apps outside the Play Store depend on centralized verification, this can affect independent developers and open-source projects.
It can also affect students, hobbyists, alternative app stores, and users who bought Android because it was not iOS.
A safer ecosystem should not mean turning Android into a more closed platform.
We need better security, yes.
But not at the cost of 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺.
This is why I think the Keep Android Open initiative is worth reading and discussing:
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I’ve said it before & got buried in down votes, but will say it again.
IMHO, this is a setup by Google to discredit activists. They’ve already said they’ll still allow side loading after a one-time 24hr wait. When they follow through on that, all the activism will be made to look like overblown paranoia.
Then, some time later (but likely while Trump is still in office), Google will actually lock the system down completely, but the large majority of average users won’t recognize the seriousness of it, or take those warning them of it seriously.
IMHO, that’s GOOG’s long-term plan - discredit those who speak out against them.
Most of people who use android phones, unfortunately don’t even know what a Android is, lol. So don’t surprise me they don’t care, even when they should.
