I’m seeing a bunch of posts about how Google has decided to stop allowing side loading on Android phones. But the EU relatively recently forced Apple to do the exact opposite. Won’t they just do the same thing for Android phones? Sure, people outside the EU market will lose this ability as a default, but presumably you can just order a Euro phone on ebay if you are outside the EU.
So why is everyone panicking? I think Google is definitely being shitty by trying to do this, and I support the development of other open source alternatives. I like the fact that this could be a big wakeup call for that effort. But I am wondering if this is also not as big of a deal as everyone is making out.
The EU requires Apple to allow direct installation of apps, but tolerates Apple requiring the apps to be signed with an Apple-approved key, which makes it possible for Apple to ban developers.
Google’s plan seems to be similar.
I mean, sure. If you want to actually read and understand the details then I suppose this is fine. But what if you just want to circle jerk on the internet? Eh? What do you have say about that? 🙃
This is absolutely not fine, but it’s probably not illegal under the EU DMA.
The theory I’ve heard is that is exactly why they are doing it now, as apple has set the “side loading” precedent in the EU.
I don’t see how it’s fine because it’s basically just a loophole that makes the law useless isn’t it? If they have ultimate authority over what is and isn’t allowed on your phone, and the owner of the phone has no say in that, what do the details of how it happens matter?
The EU’s goal is to increase competition. They want businesses, especially EU-based businesses to be more able to compete with established tech firms.
The EU does not particularly care about your ownership of your device or your right to create or install whatever software you want. The EU may even be a bit opposed to that and prefer a situation where it can pressure Apple and Google to ban things it doesn’t like.
EU regulators are no more on your side than Apple is when it says its app store monopoly is for your protection.
Now what we really need is for the EU close this obvious loophole and take on Google too while they’re at it