ABC4: Utah-led coalition finalizes $700 million settlement with Google; consumers to receive settlement funds. “A Utah-led coalition involving attorneys general for all U.S. states announced today that they have reached the final steps in a $700 million settlement with Google, with the majority of funds going to impacted consumers.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/01/abc4-utah-led-coalition-finalizes-700-million-settlement-with-google-consumers-to-receive-settlement-funds/
ABC4: Utah-led coalition finalizes $700 million settlement with Google; consumers to receive settlement funds

ABC4: Utah-led coalition finalizes $700 million settlement with Google; consumers to receive settlement funds. “A Utah-led coalition involving attorneys general for all U.S. states announced …

ResearchBuzz: Firehose

Engadget: Apple and Google are reportedly pointing users to ‘nudify’ apps. “Earlier this year it was revealed that Apple and Google were offering ‘nudify’ apps on their stores despite having clear policies barring such content. Nearly three months later, such apps are not only still available, but being actively promoted on the iOS App Store and Google Play, according to a new report from the […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/22/engadget-apple-and-google-are-reportedly-pointing-users-to-nudify-apps/
Engadget: Apple and Google are reportedly pointing users to ‘nudify’ apps

Engadget: Apple and Google are reportedly pointing users to ‘nudify’ apps. “Earlier this year it was revealed that Apple and Google were offering ‘nudify’ apps on thei…

ResearchBuzz: Firehose
Ctrl-Alt-Speech: The Silence Of The LLMs

Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast about the latest news in online speech, from Mike Masnick and Everything in Moderation’s Ben Whitelaw. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, …

Techdirt

TechSpot: Google adds search to Play Store reviews to improve app discovery. “Most Android users rely on Play Store reviews to decide which apps to install. But sifting through hundreds – or even thousands – of reviews has rarely been convenient. Google is addressing that with a new search function that lets users find specific information within app reviews, a small but meaningful […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/15/techspot-google-adds-search-to-play-store-reviews-to-improve-app-discovery/
TechSpot: Google adds search to Play Store reviews to improve app discovery

TechSpot: Google adds search to Play Store reviews to improve app discovery. “Most Android users rely on Play Store reviews to decide which apps to install. But sifting through hundreds – or …

ResearchBuzz: Firehose

Engadget: Fortnite will return to Google’s Play Store globally on March 19. “The game will return to the Play Store globally on March 19, the same day that the next Fortnite season goes live. It previously dropped back onto the Play Store in the US in December.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/21/engadget-fortnite-will-return-to-googles-play-store-globally-on-march-19/
Engadget: Fortnite will return to Google’s Play Store globally on March 19

Engadget: Fortnite will return to Google’s Play Store globally on March 19. “The game will return to the Play Store globally on March 19, the same day that the next Fortnite season goes…

ResearchBuzz: Firehose

Ars Technica: Apple can delist apps “with or without cause,” judge says in loss for Musi app . “Musi, a free music-streaming app that had tens of millions of iPhone downloads and garnered plenty of controversy over its method of acquiring music, has lost an attempt to get back on Apple’s App Store. A federal judge dismissed Musi’s lawsuit against Apple with prejudice and sanctioned […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/21/apple-can-delist-apps-with-or-without-cause-judge-says-in-loss-for-musi-app-ars-technica/
Apple can delist apps “with or without cause,” judge says in loss for Musi app (Ars Technica)

Ars Technica: Apple can delist apps “with or without cause,” judge says in loss for Musi app . “Musi, a free music-streaming app that had tens of millions of iPhone downloads and garnered ple…

ResearchBuzz: Firehose
#FDroid says #Google’s #Android #developer verification plan is an ‘existential’ threat to alternative #appstores
F-Droid fights Google's Android #developerverification plan that could kill alternative app stores used by millions. Here's what developers need to know.
Even developers distributing Android #apps on the web for #sideloading will be required to register, pay Google a $25 fee, and provide a government ID.
https://thenewstack.io/f-droid-says-googles-android-developer-verification-plan-is-an-existential-threat-to-alternative-app-stores/
F-Droid says Google's Android developer verification plan is an 'existential' threat to alternative app stores

F-Droid fights Google's Android developer verification plan that could kill alternative app stores used by millions. Here's what developers need to know.

The New Stack

GrapheneOS & Co.: Mehr Datenschutz mit Google-freien Custom-ROMs | c’t uplink

Das eigene #Smartphone ist eine keine Petze mehr sein? Wie man den #Datenschutz von #Android verbessert, erklären wir in c’t uplink. Ein Weg ist alternativen Android-Varianten, „#CustomROMs“ wie #GrapheneOS, /e/OS, LineageOS oder Iodé zu installieren.

In der Folge geht es insbesondere um die Alltagstauglichkeit: Welche #Banking-Apps funktionieren? Wie steht es um mobiles Bezahlen per #NFC? Und wie gut sind die Kameras ohne Googles Foto-Algorithmen?

Für alle, die kein Custom-ROM installieren wollen, geben die c’t-Redakteure konkrete Tipps, wie man mit einfachen Einstellungen den Datenschutz am Standard-Android verbessert. Etwa welche alternativen #AppStores es gibt oder wie man mit der Funktion Private Space kritische Apps isoliert.
@fdroidorg

https://peertube.heise.de/videos/watch/c9476646-54ed-40bd-b1ed-76f63bf73a7b


@GrapheneOS
@iode
@e_mydata
@ct_Magazin

GrapheneOS, /e/OS & Co.: Wie Custom-ROMs den Datenschutz von Android verbessern | c’t uplink

PeerTube

Good day all! Upcoming episode of Fireside Fedi!

The #livestream will be on: stream.firesidefedi.live

Special Guest: @[email protected] from @[email protected]

Building emulators and app stores for iPhone with shanegill.io

So don't miss it!

It will happen on 19 March 2026 at 15:00 US Eastern Time ( UTC-4 )

If by any ungodly chance you miss the show:

#PeerTube ( #VOD ): tubefree.org/@firesidefedi #firesidefedi #fediverse #fedi #interview #freesoftware #opensource #userfreedom #freedom #resistance #altStore #iOS #iPhone #appStores #phone #smartPhone