Mastodawn

🚨 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

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Gina 2d 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.

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Jeroen Wiert Pluimers 2d ago

@Gina is their path to bind reCaptcha to phones via QR code, and the resulting privacy consequences, large enough for your talk?

https://tweakers.net/nieuws/247664/nieuwe-recaptcha-check-werkt-niet-op-android-telefoons-zonder-google-diensten.html

Nieuwe reCaptcha-check werkt niet op Android-telefoons zonder Google-diensten

Een nieuwe reCaptcha-verificatiecheck werkt niet op Android-telefoons zonder Google Play Services. Dit betekent dat de check niet zomaar zal werken op custom roms zoals GrapheneOS. Google kondigde de nieuwe reCaptcha-check vorige maand aan, die werkt met een QR-code en fraude met AI-bots tegen moet gaan.

Tweakers

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Gina 2d ago

@wiert I'll see if I can include it as an example of how Google is weaponizing it's Play Integrity API, but it's small compared to the other topics.

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Peter Bindels 2d ago

@Gina @wiert I have had two stores fail on invisible recaptcha already. Right now they lose some customers, but soon I will lose all ability to buy anything or having to get a new Google tether. Seems relevant.

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Gina 2d ago

@dascandy @wiert and there was no other option available, like audio and visual puzzles? I haven't seen any recaptcha's without them yet (not doubting your experience or Google's intentions btw)

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hackeryarn 2d ago

@Gina @dascandy @wiert I had the same experience. Tried to order online from a local restaurant and couldn’t get to the store page. Turns out, it was an invisible captcha because it worked just fine on a desktop.

Zero explanation or alternatives.

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Jeroen Wiert Pluimers

@hackeryarn @Gina @dascandy rendering to various media is still a pain for too many site.

I print anything to PDF that has to do with account sign up or with transactions. If I got one EURO for any page that renders incorrectly (hiding, clipping, overlaying, partial rendering of information, and refusing to print at all are the top problems but white on white and black on black are also annoying), I would be "rich".