Torsten Grote

"Google is supposed to begin distributing third-party app stores inside the Play Store and mirror Play Store content in other stores."

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/supreme-court-refuses-to-pause-play-store-changes-while-google-appeals-antitrust-case/

Should @fdroidorg be added to Google Play?

Yes, the world needs to know about F-Droid
52.3%
No, it must stay in the free world
38.2%
I don't care
9.5%
Poll ended at .
Play Store changes coming this month as SCOTUS declines to freeze antitrust remedies

The first app store changes are due in a few weeks, with the major changes coming next summer.

Ars Technica
Oct 8 at 10:09amWeb
Show threadFossveil 🇷🇺Oct 8
@grote @fdroidorg Why people use Google Play directly instead of Aurora Store? 🤔🤔🤔
Show threadF-DroidOct 8
@fossveil @grote Install F-Droid to install Aurora to update F-Droid from Play? We're getting too deep here with the layers of irony. 
Show threadTill KleisliOct 8
@fossveil because they don't know it. I try to use fdroid as much as possible, but what is aurora?
Show threadVelocifyerOct 8
@kleisli A reimplementation of Google Play Store.
Show threadTill KleisliOct 8
@Velocifyer it has the same apps as the play store and I have to login with a google account... So why should I use an app that is just another UI to google?
Show threadVelocifyerOct 8
@kleisli It is compatible with MicroG
Show threadTill KleisliOct 8
@Velocifyer @fossveil maybe the reason why people don't use the aurora store is because nobody tries to explain them why...
Or maybe because of "it is recommended to use your own Google account, or at the very least a throwaway one which you will not have to worry about if it gets banned." https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore/-/wikis/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions
Frequently Asked Questions · Wiki · Aurora OSS / AuroraStore · GitLab

An unofficial FOSS client to Google Play.

GitLab
Show threadPapa Exmatrikulatus 🏴🏳️‍🌈Oct 11
@kleisli @Velocifyer @fossveil
You don't have to use any Google account. That's the point. Just choose the Anonymous account option. That way you don't habe to use a Google Account to have Apps from Google Play.
Show threadMichaelZOct 8
@kleisli @Velocifyer Aurora Store can be used anonymously without Google account login.
Show threadThomasOct 9

@kleisli @fossveil

Had exactly the same sentiment. Plus now I found another, you can get aurora store on izzyondroid as well... 😅

Show threadF-DroidOct 8
@grote Signed by Google... oh wa- 🙈
Show threadDr. Dek 👨‍🚀🐧🚀 )Oct 8
@grote @fdroidorg this sounds similar to "should you download Firefox using internet explorer" but there are many extra layers of control imposed by Google.
Show threadDr. Dek 👨‍🚀🐧🚀 )Oct 8

@grote @fdroidorg the biggest questions for me are:

- who would update f-droid itself? Would self updates still be allowed?

- by uploading to Google play you would be requires to sign a contract with Google. What would you give up by signing that contract? Would you be required to remove apps that google doesn't like from the store? Forced litigation clauses?

Show threadj@mastodonOct 8

@portaloffreedom @grote @fdroidorg

Exactly, and then some dipshit jury decide for Google and you're FDroid is gone.

Show threadBart LouwersOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg This is like asking: should The Atlantic be distributed in North Korea if the regime allowed it? No brainer.
Show threadnickelsonOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg For me it will make no difference ofc but for non-techies will be way easier having ability to install f-droid directly from play store imo. So - yes! :)
Show threadStefanOct 8
@grote
Isn't fdroid about getting away from google?
@fdroidorg
Show threadFabian ¯\_(ツ)_/¯Oct 8
@inwis @grote @fdroidorg I am 100% certain that you can still install & use f-droid via the apk, as today. But it'd be much easier for non-techie friends & damily to install fdroid.
Show threadF-DroidOct 8
@BafDyce @inwis @grote But what about tomorrow? What about October 2026?
Show threadStefanOct 8
@fdroidorg
The big G is sucking all in. It's a long time since they ditched "don't be evil"
@BafDyce @grote
Show threadExa Oct 8
@grote Depends to how it's done relating to application signatures. To make sure the F-droid project can sign its own app, only a bootstrap store app could be added to Google Play, that installs the F-droid app.
@fdroidorg
Show threadCoqOct 8
@Exagone313
Remaining independent on apps compilation and content control is a key topic for me.
@grote @fdroidorg
Show threadsteelmanOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg What matters more than "needs to know" is that Play Store is (AFAIK) for mere mortals a more secure (less prone to mistakes) way of distributing apps than downloading apk.
Show threadDistanteOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg The world needs to know about FDroid, but FDroid needs to learn about UI/UX designers to have a chance of being accepted by the world
Show threadlxskllrOct 8

@grote @fdroidorg

I don't understand the problem enough to have an opinion. Libre software should be everywhere, but not at the cost of the devs or the project. If it's 'Same as it is, but also on Play', then sure, it should be on Play, but I suspect it isn't that simple.

Show threadIzzyOct 8

@grote @fdroidorg Missing option, though that would probably be unrealistic: "Only if signed by F-Droid".

Why? When Google signs, it adds proprietary BLOBs to the APK as well (keyword: DEPENDENCY_INFO_BLOCK, FROSTING_BLOCK). So the APK as it would then be distributed via PlayStore would no longer be fully FOSS.

Why unrealistic? As for new apps, Google no longer accepts APKs signed by their devs.

Show threadelgregorOct 9
@IzzyOnDroid @grote @fdroidorg What about having "F-Droid installer" or something similar on Google Play?
Show threadAayush GuptaOct 9
@elgregor It is against Google's TOS at the moment to distribute apps outside of play store. In such case, an Installer wouldn't be allowed as they can limit the TOS to only allow app stores not their installers.
Show threadHans-Christoph SteinerOct 10
@theimpulson @elgregor it looks like that particular restriction might be lifted, in the US at least, by the anti-trust lawsuit won by the combined force of many States' Dept of Justice.
Show threaduwu1baOct 11
@IzzyOnDroid @grote @fdroidorg some Google bootlickers call this "security feature" but if anything the world of IT security told me, it's called "compromised keys".
Show threadRauloOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg I don't care as long as it stays and stays healthy! Stay strong! 💪
Show threadBuntbartOct 8
@grote
Google will always be the gatekeeper for what software can be found under its name. Apps that contradict Google's intentions will not be available there.
F-Droid under Google's supervision would be useless because everything "allowed" could also be distributed directly by Google.
@fdroidorg
Show threadCelinhoOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg I don't care. I'll change to harmony when I go global. I can't wait to delete my Google account as I deleted my Microsoft account.
Show threadParnikkaporeOct 8

@grote @fdroidorg I think I'm the same as other people here - "I don't mind, but anything funny and the 'relationship' with Google must be the first thing to go"

If this is a way to achieve DMA compliance as well, I don't think it meets its spirit.

Show threadBoozy McTypoOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg I think it would be a good idea as long as the apk distributed has the same checksum, and that the fdroid devs do not participate in the app dev verification scheme. Fdroid should not allow google to have any leverage over them, it should be the other way around as per the spirit of the court ruling
Show threadCoqOct 8
@grote
If this happens, will the apps installed through the F-droid store (installed through Play Store) be forced to integrate Google piece of shit code?
@fdroidorg
Show threadWe don't need AI. AI needs us.Oct 8
@grote
Anyway someof the apps from F-droid are already present in the play store or viceversa.
@fdroidorg
Show threadJBrickelt963 ✊(φ)🚩Oct 9
@Imprinted @grote @fdroidorg Yes but with differences for the dependances.
Show threadHans-Christoph SteinerOct 8

@grote @fdroidorg I would support adding F-Droid to Google Play with key caveats:

* Never give Google our signing key.
* Someone would need to monitor the Terms of Service to make sure they respect free software.

#FreeSoftware #GooglePlay #Google #FDroid

Show threadWilliam B PeckhamOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg one of the great values of fdroid is that everything on it is free and open source software. If fdroid has to be subject to Google moderation, even indirectly, that's going to be challenged. But if they have to echo commercial software that Google requires, that would be even worse. Perhaps I'm missing something here or my reasoning is unclear, but I would say that after I should stay as completely separate from anything googly as it possibly can.
Show threadEskild HustvedtOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg This requires pragmatism. It’s not great to be on the play store, but it will improve how easily people can access free software. So while it’s problematic, being available there furthers the goal of increasing user freedom on Android.
Show threadBrian SmithOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg
I genuinely "don't Know". I would wait and see how it pans out before committing.
Show threaddoragasuOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg Difficult question, I would have to think deep about it before answering, considering if this would give Google some power over F-Droid or not.
Show threadVelocifyerOct 8
@grote @fdroidorg Don't add F-Droid to Google Play so you don't give your signing key to Google.
Show threadzetabetaOct 8

@grote @fdroidorg
i answered no, but it is not super accurate.

f-droid should give up nothing for alphabet inc. my guess is that alphabet inc requires something and therefore following must be met for "yes".

f-droid can be separately installed by apk with own signing keys.

f-droid can disribute apps what alphabet inc does not like.

f-droid can keep own signing keys for apps.

f-droid can keep own set package ids for apps.

maybe some other not listed.

Show threadluxOct 8
@grote Why wouldn't you do it? It's such a pain to download the APK from the website, plus there is no authentication mechanism beside PGP and one has to grant their browser the permission to install unknown apps. @fdroidorg
Show threadF-DroidOct 9
@lux @grote True, so F-Droid should be preinstalled on Android so all those pain points go away, just like Play, right? 😛
Show threadTorsten GroteOct 9
@fdroidorg
Or like they have for browsers in the EU, choose your app store on first start and F-Droid is in the list of choices.
@lux
Show threadluxOct 9
@grote @fdroidorg that's what it should be, ideally, I agree. And I understand why you would not want this as a pseudo-compromise maintaining googles app store monopoly :)
Show threadObiwan2208Oct 9

@lux @grote @fdroidorg

To NOT be track by Google.

Google knows everything you do, has apps with all permissions granted and set always-on by system.

And you cannot delete'em. Well, in honor of the true, you can; but it's better flash deGoogled ROMs.

In another hand, "Unknow apps" is an euphemism to get afraid you by anything outside of the Google's fence

Show threadluxOct 9
@Obiwan2208 nothing of what you write really has anything to do with my post? Fine for you if you are willing and able to run a degoogled custom ROM, but then why do you care about what is or isn't available via the google play store? Just don't be tracked by google and be happy about it.
Anyway, I know people who do not have a degoogled custom ROM, and for whom bootstrapping fdroid on their is cumbersome, that is what my post was about:) @grote @fdroidorg
Show threadObiwan2208Oct 9

@lux All opinion granted.
The trees don't let you see the forest.

I prefer willing my time to get a free phone, instead have a slave device from Google's servers, limitations, ads, etc.

Agree to disagree.

Show threadluxOct 9
@Obiwan2208 OK cool
Show threaddivergencyOct 8
@grote
Answer 4: Google should shut the hell down
@fdroidorg
Show threadejimOct 8
@grote
"mirror Play Store content in other stores"
so Aurorastore would have to be allowed by Google ToS? Will Google have to offer an public api and apks?
Show threadThomasOct 9
@grote @fdroidorg
I think they should be supposed to offer you a choice which store you want to use, like free browser choice... That would be something.
Show threadFernando Álvarez RuizOct 9

@grote @fdroidorg

Yes, the world needs to know about F-Droid

AND

Yes, it must stay in the free world.

You are presenting a false dilemma.