Mastodawn

Google has news on what you will need to do for still being able to sideload apps:

* enable developer options
* confirm that you are not tricked
* restart phone and re-authenticate
* wait one day
* confirm with biometrics that you know what you are doing
* decide if you only want unrestricted installs for 1 week or forever
* confirm that you accept the risks
* enjoy the few apps that still have developers motivated to develop for a user-base willing to put up with this

https://goo.gle/advance-flow

§Feb 25

Keep Android Open Feb 24

We have published an open letter to Google opposing the Android Developer Verification Program with over 30 organizations as signatories: https://keepandroidopen.org/open-letter/

§Feb 21

KDE Feb 20

KDE has been selected to participate in Google Summer of Code 2026.

https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/programs/2026/organizations

Through GSoC, KDE seeks to encourage new contributors to join Free Software projects long term and ensure the continuity of FLOSS.

This year's proposed ideas cover improving Okular, Kdenlive, digiKam, and our localization infrastructures, among others.

https://community.kde.org/GSoC/2026/Ideas

The list is still open. If you would like to participate in GSoC 2026 with your own idea, check out

https://community.kde.org/GSoC#Instructions_for_potential_contributors

§Feb 20

@tehstu @Alonely0 @cy8aer @fdroidorg @marcprux

Agree. To all those who recommends Shizuku/Dhizuku/ADB/Root/GOS/custom-roms/linux-phones, as @techlore said in https://youtu.be/hfzf0t8ZCK4?t=6115 it's not about such custom/alternative solutions.

Why This Messenger Has No Accounts, Phone Numbers, or Usernames (SimpleX Interview)

YouTube

§Feb 19

IzzyOnDroidOrg Feb 18

You might have noticed a new banner at our website.

It's not just IzzyOnDroid that is threatened by #Google's upcoming "developer verification" rules – it's ALL OF YOU, ALL OF US, who live in the free #Android world, and want to decide ourselves what gets installed onto our devices.

If Google gets away with this, on the majority of Android devices, you will only be able to install what THEY allow. No more freedom of choice.

Join the resistance! Act for your freedom!

https://keepandroidopen.org/

Keep Android Open

Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.

§Feb 17

FLOSSbOxIN Feb 17

https://github.com/offa/android-foss/pull/606
@shuvashish76

Add Keep Android Open notice by offa · Pull Request #606 · offa/android-foss

A list of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) for Android – saving Freedom and Privacy. - Add Keep Android Open notice by offa · Pull Request #606 · offa/android-foss

GitHub

§Feb 17

F-Droid Feb 17

The #FDroid website has a new banner on top to remind visitors that #Google did not change course and #Android will be locked-down in under 200 days.

If you care about the freedom to control your devices and care about the privacy of you data, please contact your representative and make your voice heard.

https://keepandroidopen.org/ (thanks @marcprux) has the resources to guide you.

We know users will rarely visit the site so the Client(s) will get a banner soon too.

Thank you for your support!

Keep Android Open

Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.

§Feb 14

Freedom of the Press Feb 13

"Advanced data protection is really just protecting the data on the servers, and that’s it. But in this case, Lockdown Mode is just locking down the potential ways malware can get into your phone, including, as it turns out, hardware accessory connections," @huertanix told HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/apple-lockdown-mode-protect-privacy-fbi_l_6983893ae4b053ac3e16fc3d

This Little-Known iPhone Feature Safeguarded A Reporter’s Data From Feds — And It Could Save Yours, Too

Here’s exactly how to enable it and protect your data.

HuffPost

§Feb 14

Freedom of the Press Feb 13

Court documents detailing a recent FBI raid on a Washington Post reporter offer some important insights into risks to journalists and potential sources, and what can be done in response.

https://freedom.press/digisec/blog/wapo-raid-security-lessons/

Five security lessons from the FBI’s Washington Post raid

Court documents show how investigators can track digital activities, and reveal ways to harden journalists’ devices

Freedom of the Press

§Feb 10

Matthias Kirschner Jan 31

So great to again dedicated people from the European Commission's #DMA enforcement team, civil society and researchers on the #FOSDEM panel

"#Interoperability regulation in the EU: Opening #iOS and #Android for #FreeSoftware"
https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/TQS7LM-interoperability-dma-apple-google/