Gina1d 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 threadGina1d 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 threadGina1d 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 threadGina1d ago

About age/identity verification through the new EU ID wallets, I'll mention something about the necessity of offering this through open apps / app stores. Google is all too eager to become a middleman for these services:

https://reclaimthenet.org/google-wants-to-be-the-id-checkpoint-for-europes-internet

Show threadGina1d ago
One of the final slides in my presentation:
Show threadRobert Zondervan
@Gina 100% agreed, although I think there are challenges in getting an open ecosystem adopted. In regards to that a question: I seem to remember that few years ago there was a EU resolution to force Meta (and the rest) to open API's to their messaging apps so that other messaging apps could communicate with them. Have you got any idea what the status of that is?
Jun 7 at 4:12pmWeb
Show threadRobert Zondervan1d ago
@Gina Because if we can use an open messaging app like Nextcloud Talk to communicate with those glued to their WhatsApp (I'm guessing there is no way that we get WA on such an ecosystem), the chances of success are way higher.
Show threadZash1d ago
@rjzondervan @Gina As I understand, this already exists but everyone who wants to use it (each and every single _instance_) must sign an agreement with Meta to get access
https://xmpp.org/announcements/open-letter-meta-dma/
Open Letter to Meta: Support True Messaging Interoperability with XMPP | XMPP - The universal messaging standard

The European Digital Markets Act (DMA) is designed to break down walled gardens and enforce messaging interoperability. As a designated gatekeeper, Meta—controlling WhatsApp and Messenger—must comply. However, its current proposal falls short, …

Show threadRobert Zondervan1d ago

@zash @Gina Ah, so, adhering to the letter of the act, but actively frustrating the idea behind the act. Where have we seen that before...

I think the trouble of communicating with people that are stuck on the 'old world' is one of the biggest issues with the adoption of a new mobile OS that is truly open. I would really like to throw WhatsApp out of the window, but I still have some contacts that are really unwilling to move, and I have little hope that a new OS will get WhatsApp.