Torsten GroteOct 8

"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
vax_Oct 11
Show threadIzzy

@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.

Oct 8 at 10:55amWeb
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".