Lauren Weinstein

***** Google's plans to restrict sideloading on Android are an authoritarian wet dream come true *****

Let me be really clear about how horrifically dangerous #Google's plans are to restrict #Android sideloading to "verified developers" (that is, entities for which Google has full verified identity and associated information that they could hand over to authorities on demand).

This means that even though you own your Android device, you cannot install apps obtained from ANY source (except perhaps apps you build yourself that will only be permitted to run on your own device) unless Google knows pretty much everything about who created that app.

The ways that this could be abused are so numerous I won't even start listing them here, other than to note that it is absolutely horrific overreach by Google and at least appears to be Google bending over for abusive government demands, and could put already vulnerable individuals and groups at even more risk.

Absolutely disgusting.

L

Aug 25, 2025 at 8:04pmWeb
Show threadyou're all idiotsAug 25, 2025
@lauren most obvious for blocking secure messaging apps which many governments are dreaming of banning.
Show threadCryptGoatAug 25, 2025
@lauren Source?
Show threadLauren WeinsteinAug 25, 2025
@cryptgoat I provided a link in an earlier post. Please just look it up. Easy to find.
Show threadCryptGoatAug 25, 2025
@lauren Ye sorry, found it. Ughhhhhhhh....
Show threadBrian SwetlandAug 25, 2025

@lauren I suspect that it's primarily driven by malware complaints (and ensuing customer service costs) rather than government demands (though it certainly makes those much easier to fulfill).

It's still horrible overreach and combined with the killing off of AOSP build support for Pixel devices it's a bad sign for the health of the Android platform and ecosystem.

We (early Android team) fought hard for open app installation and replaceable OS images. Sad to see that finally dying.

Show threadmike805Aug 25, 2025

@swetland @lauren I can't buy a laptop because of Windows 11, and am trying to move over to Linux for everything.

I looked into buying a new car and gave up. There is nothing out there without an embedded cellular modem, forced updates, and cloud dependency.

Now I can't buy a phone either. Hopefully something open will come along before old phones become unmaintainable.

Show threadLauren WeinsteinAug 25, 2025
@swetland The timing on this suggests massive pressure from governments. Trust me on this.
Show threadDan GoodinAug 25, 2025

@lauren

Saving people the hassle of looking for a link not included in this thread:

https://developer.android.com/developer-verification

Android developer verification  |  Android Developers

Get started building your Android apps.

Android Developers
Show threadDaniel BohrerAug 26, 2025
@dangoodin @lauren this reads a bit ambiguous and unclear what it all means, but https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/08/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-starting-next-year/ confirms the original statement in this thread.
Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year

Google says it's no different than checking IDs at the airport.

Ars Technica
Show threadslashAug 25, 2025

@lauren I'm hopeful that the non-Google Android ROMs (like LineageOS or Graphene) will drop that code from the AOSP base sources.

To be honest, Google is the most obvious example of a "lateral arabesque" in software. Start a FOSS project, get everyone to contribute and ensure alternatives die off. Then, slowly, move code to non-FOSS licensing.

I think TIVO did something similar, years ago.

I do wonder if we have what it takes to fork Android.

Show threadLauren WeinsteinAug 25, 2025
@agreeable_landfall None of that is useful for ordinary nontechies, and they are the ones most at risk.
Show threadBredrollAug 25, 2025
@lauren when my current phone dies, i think ill just go to my old feature phone.
Show threadSpaceLifeFormAug 25, 2025

@lauren

Got root? It not, avoid the device.

Show threadLauren WeinsteinAug 25, 2025
@SpaceLifeForm Root is not a solution for 99.999% of users. I don't really care about techies (like you or me) in this regard. I care about ordinary people who use what they're given by Big Tech. Also, you can anticipate root becoming harder and harder to obtain, under orders from governments.
Show threadSpaceLifeFormAug 26, 2025

@lauren

The alternative is what happened in the olden daze. Talk offline face-to-face.

Show threadWhisprAug 25, 2025
@lauren You’re right to be sounding the alarm on this — it’s a big deal for privacy and control over our own devices. Have you ever listened to Rob Braxman (he’s known as the ‘Internet Privacy Guy’)? He’s been covering Google’s tightening grip on Android and sideloading for a while now. I think you’d appreciate his perspective — he breaks it down in a way that makes sense for both the technical and everyday user. Worth a listen if you haven’t run across him yet.
Show threadLuna chanAug 26, 2025
@lauren Oh hell no if I can't use F-Droid they can go to hell.
Show threadMaddie Posts About KeyboardsAug 26, 2025
@lauren if this were to happen i might genuinely consider just throwing out my phone and giving up on having a mobile device altogether
Show threadꓤɔᴉʇɐʇSAug 26, 2025

@lauren the term "sideloading" in of itself is complete whack, it's just downloading and installing software. Imagine you were calling shopping from somewhere other than amazon "sideshopping". same energy.

Don't legitimaze their practices by legitimizing their terminology.

Show threadM. GrégoireAug 26, 2025
@StaticR @lispi314 @lauren
Who do they think owns my phone anyway? Is it me, or is it Google? I should be able to install any software I damned well want to.
Show threadKlarnameAug 26, 2025
@lauren @arstechnica says, user without Play Services are not affected.
Show threadLisPiAug 26, 2025
@lauren It's anticompetitive by the standards of a number of nations (somehow not all, since clearly the USA is doing nothing here).
Show threadSimon PooleAug 26, 2025

@lauren I would note that this wouldn't actually effect apps built and distributed via @fdroidorg as they build and sign them themselves (it does sabotage their drive for reproducible builds a bit though).

F-Droid would have to register but the individual devs not. I'm not a particularly big fan of the undertaking for a couple of reasons but this change by google would clearly work for them.

Show threadZem 🇪🇹 🇪🇺Aug 26, 2025
@lauren how is this impacting the #fdroid project? @fdroidorg ?
Show threadGytis RepečkaAug 26, 2025

@lauren Not gonna fly in EU 

Like with Apple:

If you’re based in the European Union, you can install apps from sources other than the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.

Installing apps through alternative app distribution in the European Union - Apple Support (IS)

If you’re based in the European Union, you can install apps from sources other than the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.

Apple Support
Show threadLixou 🏝️Aug 26, 2025
@gytisrepecka @lauren note however that this still requires the app to be signed. So you need a apple developer account either free and repatching your app every week or pay 15 bucks or so to apple to have it stay signed for a full year. And they theoretically could still ban your apple dev account.
Show threaddummzeuchAug 26, 2025
@lauren Google is planning to do, what Apple has been doing all along and what Microsoft has been trying to do too: Be the gate keeper to their walled garden, keep those pesky independent software developers out or at least charge them dearly for the privilege.
Show threadFabos (not an OS)Aug 26, 2025
@lauren heard about it hear first. Got some source links for further reading?
Show threadViSzKeAug 26, 2025
@lauren
So there will be no difference between Android and iOS
Show threadgeorgiaAug 26, 2025
@lauren I hope I can still use magisk
Show threadloptaAug 26, 2025
@lauren Time for non-Android Linux to step up?
Show threadReid Aug 26, 2025
@lauren so tl;dr: Google is locking Android way the fuck down in every way...

can we, like, finally get Linux and BSD phones, please? We need them now more than ever
Show threadLisPiAug 26, 2025
@Reiddragon @lauren Smalltalk phones plz
Show threadEmber is so tired of people. ​Aug 26, 2025

@lauren the inevitable next part of the stricter and stricter requirements for the ""integrity"" api

used to be that you just needed a magisk plugin to get it to work, now you need a custom kernel

fuck google. they deserve a luigi

Show threadOptimistic MoronAug 29, 2025
@lauren
Welcome to Apple Universe, people.
Wait for Google to start creaming off 25 percent of all transactions.
Show threadAdrian MoralesSep 1, 2025
@lauren Sadly, billions of people will comply with this change because it's not that easy to install an alternative OS or find a phone that supports it.