Gina2d ago

🚨 Say that I were to give a talk to EU policy makers and OSS communities at a very big conference tomorrow..

and that I want to spend half of my talk on how Google is locking down #Android through:
1. Device attestation
2. Developer registration
3. Age/identity verification

What should I absolutely include? 👀

Input is welcome, sorry for the short notice. Plain language + realistic calls to action pls.

@fdroidorg @GrapheneOS @postmarketOS @Fairphone @appfair @fsfe @murena @volla @IzzyOnDroid

Show threadGina2d ago

Boosting and tagging is appreciated, DM's are welcome too.

I really want to get this right, so please only use verified information. And yes, I'll be mentioning https://keepandroidopen.org/ extensively.

(And yes I will also mention Apple and the role of the DMA, but only briefly. More info: https://mastodon.social/@kirschner/116440678455335985)

Keep Android Open

Your phone is about to stop being yours. In September 2026, Google will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with them.

Show threadGina2d ago

I'll start with the #opensource strategy and EU tech sovereignty package, and good things happening and alternatives being build etc.

Then mention how the mobile ecosystem is one of the last frontiers left critically assessed.

I'll share how Google is closing down Android (input welcome!). 

And that we need to promote, fund, regulate and perhaps even build open (EU) alternatives in the mobile ecosystem if we don't want to increasingly become captured by 2 US big tech companies.

Show threadJan Lehnardt 2d ago
@Gina I would appreciate the not-everything-needs-an-app angle and focussing more on the web as a true open platform. Good luck with it all 🫶🙌🤞
Show threadGina2d ago
@janl I really like apps though. They just need to be open source and not reliant on Google's Play Integrity API.
Show threadJan Lehnardt 2d ago
@Gina My angle is certain necessities of life requiring an app (banking, medical, parking, etc) all of that should be possible without an app. That’s not saying no-apps, just apps-not-mandatory.
Show threadAlexandre Oliva2d ago
publishing apps as free software, and not making them mandatory by offering alternate access to services, would go a long way in weakening the dominance and lock-in of the mobile operating system duopoly

governments should go a step further and actively promote the adoption of a sovereign platform, instead of further entrenching the dependency on this duopoly

CC: @[email protected]
Show threadAlexandre Oliva
you may also argue that it is absolutely unreasonable for foreign companies to be entitled to decide who can or cannot get government services, by allowing or refusing accounts that enable the installation of the apps required to get those services, or even to get information about the services. promoting and favoring platforms that enable foreign companies to decide who gets to be a full citizen, and who gets marginalized, and to set the terms and conditions for the enjoyment of digital citizenship, is a disservice to the citizenship, and an unacceptable subjugation.

CC: @[email protected] @[email protected]
Jun 7 at 1:21pmWeb