আপনার ফোন আর আপনার থাকছে না।

115 দিন বাকি লকডাউন হতে

২০২৭* সাল থেকে গুগল আপনার অনুমতি ছাড়াই একটি সাইলেন্ট আপডেট পুশ করবে, যা সেই সব অ্যান্ড্রয়েড অ্যাপকে ব্লক করে দেবে যাদের ডেভেলপার গুগলের কাছে রেজিস্টার করেনি, তাদের কন্ট্রাক্টে সাইন করেনি, টাকা দেয়নি এবং নিজের সরকারি আইডি জমা দেয়নি।

বিশ্বের প্রতিটি অ্যাপ এবং ডিভাইসে এটি কার্যকর হবে, আর এর থেকে বের হওয়ার কোনো উপায় রাখা হয়নি।

গুগল কী করছে?

২০২৫ সালের আগস্টে গুগল একটি নতুন নিয়ম ঘোষণা করেছে ↗: ২০২৭ সাল থেকে, যেকোনো ডিভাইসে সফটওয়্যার ইন্সটল করার আগে প্রতিটি অ্যান্ড্রয়েড অ্যাপ ডেভেলপারকে গুগলের কাছে কেন্দ্রীয়ভাবে রেজিস্টার করতে হবে। শুধু প্লে-স্টোরের অ্যাপ নয়, সব অ্যাপের জন্য এটি প্রযোজ্য। এমনকি বন্ধুদের মধ্যে শেয়ার করা অ্যাপ, F-Droid ↗ এর মাধ্যমে ডিস্ট্রিবিউট করা অ্যাপ, বা শখের বসে নিজের ব্যবহারের জন্য বানানো অ্যাপও এর আওতাভুক্ত। ফলে শৌখিন ডেভেলপার, চার্চ বা কমিউনিটি গ্রুপ—সবাই তাদের সফটওয়্যার তৈরি ও ডিস্ট্রিবিউশন করার ক্ষমতা হারিয়ে ফেলবে।

রেজিস্ট্রেশনের জন্য যা যা লাগবে:

যদি কোনো ডেভেলপার এই নিয়ম না মানে, তবে তাদের অ্যাপগুলো সারা বিশ্বের প্রতিটি অ্যান্ড্রয়েড ডিভাইসে সাইলেন্টলি ব্লক করে দেওয়া হবে।

ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হবে কারা?

আপনি নিজে

আপনি অ্যান্ড্রয়েড ফোন কিনেছিলেন কারণ গুগল বলেছিল এটি একটি 'ওপেন' প্ল্যাটফর্ম। আপনি যা খুশি ইন্সটল করতে পারতেন, এটাই ছিল শর্ত।

গুগল এখন সেই শর্ত পাল্টে দিচ্ছে আপনার কেনা হার্ডওয়্যারের ওপর। আপডেটটি আসার পর, আপনি কেবল গুগলের অনুমোদিত সফটওয়্যারই চালাতে পারবেন। আপনার ফোন: যেটা আপনার সম্পত্তি, যার জন্য টাকা আপনি দিয়েছেন।

স্বতন্ত্র ডেভেলপাররা

একজন কিশোরের বানানো প্রথম অ্যাপ হোক, কোনো ভলান্টিয়ারের বানানো প্রাইভেসী টুল হোক, কিংবা কোনো কোম্পানির গোপন ইন্টারনাল বেটা অ্যাপ—গুগলের অনুমতি ছাড়া ২০২৭ সালে এর কোনোটিই ইন্সটল করা যাবে না।

হাজার হাজার ফ্রি এবং ওপেন-সোর্স অ্যাপের ভাণ্ডার F-Droid ↗ একে একটি "অস্তিত্বের হুমকি" ↗ হিসেবে বর্ণনা করেছে। কোরি ডক্টরো একে বলছেন "ডার্থ অ্যান্ড্রয়েড" ↗

সরকার এবং সুশীল সমাজ

স্বৈরাচারী শাসকরা অ্যাপ সরিয়ে ফেলার দাবি জানালে গুগলের তা মেনে নেওয়ার প্রমাণিত রেকর্ড ↗ আছে। এই প্রোগ্রামের ফলে একটি দেশের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর সফটওয়্যার চলবে কি না, তা নির্ভর করবে একটি জবাবদিহিহীন বিদেশি কর্পোরেশনের মর্জির ওপর।

EFF-এর মতে ↗ অ্যাপ গেটকিপিং হলো "ইন্টারনেট সেন্সরশিপের একটি ক্রমবর্ধমান পথ।"

গুগলের তথাকথিত 'এস্কেপ হ্যাচ' আসলে একটি ফাঁদ

গুগল বলছে যে "পাওয়ার ইউজাররা" চাইলে এখনো আনভেরিফাইড অ্যাপ "ইন্সটল করতে পারবে"। কিন্তু কাজটা আসলে কতটা কঠিন, দেখুন:

  1. সিস্টেম সেটিংসের গভীরে গিয়ে ডেভেলপার অপশন খুঁজুন
  2. ডেভেলপার মোড চালু করতে বিল্ড নাম্বারে সাতবার ট্যাপ করুন
  3. ভয় দেখানো সব ওয়ার্নিং স্ক্রিন এড়িয়ে যান
  4. আপনার পিন (PIN) দিন
  5. ডিভাইস রিস্টার্ট দিন
  6. ২৪ ঘণ্টা অপেক্ষা করুন
  7. আবার ফিরে এসে আরও ভয়ংকর সব স্ক্রিন বাতিল করুন
  8. অস্থায়ীভাবে অনুমতি দিন" (৭ দিন) অথবা "স্থায়ীভাবে অনুমতি দিন" অপশনটি বেছে নিন
  9. আপনি যে "ঝুঁকি" বুঝতে পারছেন তা আবারও নিশ্চিত করুন

নয়টি ধাপ। বাধ্যতামূলক ২৪ ঘণ্টার ওয়েটিং পিরিয়ড। শুধুমাত্র আপনার নিজের ডিভাইসে সফটওয়্যার ইন্সটল করার জন্য।

আরও খারাপ বিষয় হলো: এই পুরো প্রক্রিয়াটি চলে গুগল প্লে সার্ভিস (Google Play Services)-এর মাধ্যমে, অ্যান্ড্রয়েড ওএস (Android OS)-এর মাধ্যমে নয়। গুগল যেকোনো সময় ওএস (OS) আপডেট ছাড়াই আপনার অনুমতি ছাড়াই এটি পরিবর্তন করতে বা বন্ধ করে দিতে পারে।

এটি কেবল অ্যান্ড্রয়েডের বিষয় নয়

গুগল যদি বিলিয়ন বিলিয়ন ডিভাইসকে এভাবে লকডাউন করে দিতে পারে যা আগে ওপেন হিসেবে বিক্রি হয়েছিল, তবে বিশ্বের প্রতিটি হার্ডওয়্যার নির্মাতা কোম্পানি সেদিকেই নজর দেবে।

এখানে যে মূলনীতিটি তৈরি হচ্ছে তা হলো: ডিভাইস নির্মাতা কোম্পানি আপনার কেনা জিনিসের ওপর সিদ্ধান্ত নেবে যে আপনি কোন সফটওয়্যার চালাতে পারবেন। সফটওয়্যারের ভাষায় একে বলা হয় "রাগ পুল" (Rug pull); কিন্তু আগে অন্তত আপনি বিকল্প সফটওয়্যার ইন্সটল করতে পারতেন। হার্ডওয়্যারের ক্ষেত্রে এটি আপনাকে ক্ষমতাহীন করে তুলবে এবং আপনাকে একজন জবাবদিহিহীন গেটকিপার ও দণ্ডিত একচেটিয়া ব্যবসায়ীর মর্জির ওপর ছেড়ে দেবে।

অ্যান্ড্রয়েডের উন্মুক্ততা কেবল একটি ফিচার ছিল না; এটি ছিল সেই প্রতিশ্রুতি যা একে আইফোন থেকে আলাদা করেছিল। লাখ লাখ মানুষ ঠিক এই কারণেই অ্যান্ড্রয়েড বেছে নিয়েছিলেন। গুগল এখন একতরফাভাবে সেই প্রতিশ্রুতি কেড়ে নিচ্ছে, কারণ তারা মনে করছে বাজারে তাদের একচেটিয়া আধিপত্য আছে এবং কেউ তাদের আটকাতে পারবে না।

Ars Technica-এর মতে ↗: "গুগলের অ্যাপল হওয়ার আকাঙ্ক্ষা অ্যান্ড্রয়েডের উন্মুক্ত ঐতিহ্যকে ধ্বংস করার হুমকি দিচ্ছে।"

কিন্তু দাঁড়ান, এটি কি...

"...নিরাপত্তার জন্য নয়?"

নিরাপত্তার দোহাই আসলে একটি ধোঁকাবাজি। গুগল প্লে প্রোটেক্ট (Google Play Protect) অলরেডি ম্যালওয়্যার স্ক্যান করতে পারে, তার জন্য ডেভেলপার রেজিস্ট্রেশনের প্রয়োজন নেই। সরকারি আইডি নিলেই কোড নিরাপদ হয় না; বরং এতে ডেভেলপারদের নিয়ন্ত্রণ করা সহজ হয়। ম্যালওয়্যার নির্মাতারাও রেজিস্টার করতে পারে, কিন্তু ছোট ডেভেলপার বা ভিন্নমতাবলম্বীরা প্রায়ই তা পারে না। EFF ↗ পরিষ্কারভাবে বলেছে: আইডেন্টিটি-ভিত্তিক গেটকিপিং হলো সেন্সরশিপের হাতিয়ার, নিরাপত্তার নয়।

"...অ্যাডভান্সড ফ্লো ব্যবহার করলে কি সাইডলোডিং করা যাবে না?"

নয়টি ধাপ, ২৪ ঘণ্টার অপেক্ষা, ডেভেলপার অপশনে লুকিয়ে রাখা এবং গুগলের ইচ্ছামতো বাতিলযোগ্য একটি সার্ভিস—একে সাইডলোডিং বলা যায় না। এটি একটি প্রতিরোধমূলক ব্যবস্থা যা তৈরি করা হয়েছে যাতে কেউ এই প্রক্রিয়া শেষ করতে না পারে। আর যেহেতু এটি প্লে সার্ভিসের মাধ্যমে চলে, গুগল যেকোনো সময় এটি আরও কঠিন বা বন্ধ করে দিতে পারে।

"...লুকানোর কিছু না থাকলে কি সমস্যা আছে?"

স্বৈরাচারী সরকারের অধীনে থাকা হুইসেলব্লোয়ার, সাংবাদিক এবং অ্যাক্টিভিস্টরাই হবেন এর প্রথম শিকার। এরপর ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হবেন পারিবারিক সহিংসতার শিকার মানুষগুলো। এই সব গ্রুপের মানুষের গুগলের ডেটাবেজে নিজেদের আইনি পরিচয় না দিয়ে সফটওয়্যার ব্যবহার করার বৈধ কারণ আছে। বেনামে ওপেন-সোর্স অবদান রাখা গুগলের চেয়েও পুরনো একটি ঐতিহ্য। গুগলের এই নীতি অ্যান্ড্রয়েডে সেই ঐতিহ্যের ইতি টানবে।

"...অ্যাপল যা করে গুগলও কি তাই করছে না?"

অ্যাপল শুরু থেকেই একটি ক্লোজড সিস্টেম বা 'ওয়াল্ড গার্ডেন' ছিল। মানুষ অ্যান্ড্রয়েড বেছে নিয়েছিল কারণ এটি আলাদা ছিল। "অ্যাপলও এটা করে"—এই যুক্তি দিয়ে নিজেদের ভুল ঢাকতে চাওয়াটা একটা রেস টু দ্য বটম। তাছাড়া রেগুলেটরি চাপের কারণে (ইইউ-এর ডিজিটাল মার্কেটস অ্যাক্ট) এখন অ্যাপলও সিস্টেম ওপেন করতে বাধ্য হচ্ছে। অথচ গুগল ঠিক উল্টো পথে হাঁটছে।

"...মাত্র ২৫ ডলার আর কিছু কাগজপত্রই তো?"

হয়তো আপনার জন্য সহজ, যদি আপনি আমেরিকার ডেভেলপার হন যার ক্রেডিট কার্ড আর ড্রাইভিং লাইসেন্স আছে। কিন্তু সাব-সাহারান আফ্রিকার একজন ছাত্র, বা মিয়ানমারের একজন ভিন্নমতাবলম্বী, অথবা কমিউনিটি হেলথ অ্যাপ চালানো কোনো ভলান্টিয়ারের কথা ভাবুন। এর খরচ শুধু আর্থিক নয়: আপনি আপনার সরকারি আইডি এবং সাইনিং কী এমন একটি কোম্পানির হাতে তুলে দিচ্ছেন যারা অহরহ ↗ সরকারের কথা শুনে অ্যাপ সরিয়ে ফেলে এবং ডেভেলপারদের তথ্য ফাঁস করে দেয়।

প্রতিরোধ গড়ে তুলুন

সবার জন্য

ডেভেলপারদের জন্য

রেজিস্ট্রেশন করবেন না। অ্যান্ড্রয়েড ডেভেলপার কনসোলে সাইন-আপ করে গুগলের এই অন্যায় শর্তাবলীতে রাজি হবেন না। আপনার পরিচয় ভেরিফাই করবেন না। তাদের এই খেলায় পা দেবেন না।

গুগলের পরিকল্পনা কেবল তখনই সফল হবে যদি ডেভেলপাররা তা মেনে নেয়। তাই মানবেন না।

গুগল কর্মীদের জন্য

আপনি যদি এই প্রোগ্রামের কারিগরি বাস্তবায়ন বা অভ্যন্তরীণ উদ্দেশ্য সম্পর্কে কিছু জানেন, তবে একটি অফিসিয়াল নয় এমন কম্পিউটার এবং নন-জিমেইল অ্যাকাউন্ট থেকে [email protected]-এ যোগাযোগ করুন। আপনার গোপনীয়তা রক্ষা করা হবে।

যারা বিপক্ষে দাঁড়িয়েছেন…

23টি দেশের 71টি সংস্থা সই করেছে এই খোলা চিঠিতে

Aurora Store auroraoss.com UnifiedPush unifiedpush.org Vivaldi Technologies AS vivaldi.com ARTICLE 19 article19.org Molly molly.im Brave brave.com Nextcloud nextcloud.com KDE e.V. kde.org The Free Software Foundation (FSF) fsf.org microG microg.org The App Fair Project appfair.org Open Rights Group (ORG) openrightsgroup.org Tuta Mail tuta.com Fundación Karisma karisma.org.co GNOME Foundation gnome.org Software Liberty Association of Taiwan slat.org.tw April april.org FULU Foundation fulu.org GNU/Linux València gnulinuxvalencia.org The Tor Project torproject.org Forbrukerrådet forbrukerradet.no Techlore techlore.tech XMPP Standards Foundation xmpp.org AdGuard adguard.com GrapheneOS Foundation grapheneos.org Rocky Linux rockylinux.org Digitale Gesellschaft digitale-gesellschaft.ch FACiL facil.qc.ca MetaBrainz Foundation metabrainz.org Technopolice Bruxelles technopolice.be Open Web Advocacy open-web-advocacy.org VideoLAN videolan.org F-Droid f-droid.org CryptPad cryptpad.org Cryptee crypt.ee Associação Nacional para o Software Livre (ANSOL) ansol.org Proton AG proton.me The OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF) osmfoundation.org La Quadrature du Net laquadrature.net The Guardian Project guardianproject.info The Chaos Computer Club (CCC) ccc.de The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) fsfe.org GitHub Store github-store.org Fastmail fastmail.com Data Rights datarights.ngo LineageOS lineageos.org The Calyx Institute calyx.org FOSDEM fosdem.org Digital Rights Watch digitalrightswatch.org.au The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) beuc.eu Fedimedia fedimedia.it Italian Linux Society ils.org European Digital Rights (EDRi) edri.org Obtainium obtainium.imranr.dev Privacy Guides privacyguides.org The Digital Rights Foundation digitalrightsfoundation.pk Rossmann Group rossmanngroup.com OpenMedia openmedia.org /e/ Foundation e.foundation The Center for Digital Progress (D64) d-64.org Software Freedom Conservancy sfconservancy.org OW2 ow2.org iodé iode.tech epicenter.works – for digital rights epicenter.works IzzyOnDroid izzyondroid.org Codeberg e.V. codeberg.org Ghostery ghostery.com Osservatorio Nessuno OdV osservatorionessuno.org The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) eff.org FUTO futo.org JMP.chat jmp.chat

পুরো চিঠিটি পড়ুন এবং সইকারীদের ধন্যবাদ জানান →

অন্যরা কী বলছেন

টেক মিডিয়া

"Android app store provider Aptoide hits Google with fresh lawsuit alleging monopoly and anticompetitive chokehold"

Benzinga

"Sideloading on Android? Soon It'll Be Like a TSA Check for Apps"

Android Headlines

"Google's developer registration 'decree' means the end for alternative app stores"

Cybernews

"Sideloading is dead for all intents and purposes. The Android you know and love is slowly disappearing."

Android Police

"Google's New Developer ID Rule Could Harm F-Droid"

Reclaim The Net

"Google is restricting one of Android's most important features, and users are outraged"

SlashGear

"Open-Source Android Apps at Risk Under Google's New Decree"

TechRepublic

"Open letter warns mandatory registration 'threatens innovation, competition, privacy and user freedom'"

Infosecurity Magazine

"Google kneecaps indie Android devs, forces them to register"

The Register

"I've been an Android user for almost 15 years -- and Google's sideloading changes are pushing me back to iPhone"

Tom's Guide

"F-Droid says Google's new sideloading restrictions will kill the project"

Ars Technica

"Android Security or Vendor Lock-In? Google's New Sideloading Rules Smell Fishy"

It's FOSS News

"Google's new developer rules could threaten sideloading and F-Droid's future"

Gizmochina

"F-Droid project threatened by Google's new dev registration rules"

Bleeping Computer

"Google's Attack on Sideloading Will Rob Android of One of Its Best Features"

How-To Geek

"Google will verify Android developers distributing apps outside the Play store"

The Verge

"Over 67 groups urge the company to drop ID checks for apps distributed outside Play"

The Register

"'Keep Android Open' Movement Challenges Google's Developer Verification Rule"

Open Source For U

"Google Clamps down On Android's Openness"

Internet Freedom Foundation (India)

"Google's New Developer Rules Threaten to End the F-Droid Open-Source App Store"

How-To Geek

"Google's new ID requirements could destroy independent app stores"

TechSpot

"Google says it's making Android sideloading 'high-friction' to better warn users about potential risks"

XDA Developers

"Resistance to Google's Android verification grows among developers"

Techzine EU

"Android, Epic, and What's Really Behind Google's 'Existential' Threat to F-Droid"

Slashdot

"This will wipe out Android as an actual alternative to Apple's mobile OS offerings."

Hackaday

"F-Droid Says Google Is Lying About the Future of Sideloading on Android"

How-To Geek

"It effectively makes the Play Store a monopoly without actually mandating that it is a monopoly."

I-Programmer

"Google will make you wait 24 hours to sideload Android apps"

How-To Geek

"Google's Android developer verification program draws pushback"

InfoWorld

"Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store"

TechCrunch

"Google's Attack on Sideloading Will Rob Android of One of Its Best Features"

How-To Geek

"Open-Source Android Apps Threatened by Google's New Policy"

Datamation

"F-Droid Says Google Is Lying About the Future of Sideloading on Android"

How-To Geek

"An 'existential' threat to alternative app stores"

The New Stack

"Google plans to block side-loading like Apple, declaring war on Android freedom"

Tuta Blog

"Android's sideloading limits are its most anti-consumer move yet"

MakeUseOf

"Keep Android Open"

Linux Magazine

"F-Droid Slams Google for Misleading Users About Android's App Verification"

Android Headlines

"Google's dev registration plan 'will end the F-Droid project'"

The Register

"Google will require developer verification to install Android apps, including sideloading"

9to5Google

"Sideloading on Android? Soon It'll Be Like a TSA Check for Apps"

Android Headlines

"We all know that's a load of bullshit. Adding a goddamn 24-hour waiting period is batshit insanity."

Thom Holwerda, OSnews

"Google's Apple envy threatens to dismantle Android's open legacy"

Ars Technica

"Keep Android Open – Abwehr gegen Verbot anonymer Apps von Google"

heise online

"Google's Requirement For All Android Developers To Register And Be Verified Threatens To Close Down Open Source App Store F-Droid"

Techdirt

"I've been an Android user for almost 15 years -- and Google's sideloading changes are pushing me back to iPhone"

Tom's Guide

সম্পাদকীয় ও বিশ্লেষণ

সংস্থা ও খোলা চিঠি

"Ultimately, Google's plan will stop you from owning your Android phone."

Tuta

"This extends Google's gatekeeping authority beyond its own marketplace into distribution channels where it has no legitimate operational role."

Open letter, over 67 signatory organizations

"We are running out of time until Google becomes the gate-keeper of all users devices."

F-Droid

"Google's developer verification policy creates a centralized database, controlled by a single corporation, containing the real-world identity of every person who writes software for Android."

Brave

"A policy that forces every Android developer to hand their identity to Google, regardless of whether they use Google's services, makes Android a less-open and less-private platform."

Brave

"Google's abusive approach to the Android operating system has only gotten worse in recent years. Software freedom is sorely lacking in the 'computers in our pockets' we call cell phones."

Free Software Foundation

"Changes would impose barriers to entry for individual developers, small teams and volunteer projects by imposing fees, identity checks and terms that may not align with the principles of an open ecosystem."

Infosecurity Magazine

"Developers who choose not to use Google's services should not be forced to register with, and submit to the judgement of, Google."

Open letter, over 67 signatory organizations

"Your Smartphone, Their Rules: How App Stores Enable Corporate-Government Censorship."

ACLU

"Remember: It's your phone, your data, your freedom. Don't let Google take it away."

Tuta

"We unequivocally advise against signing up for this program, now or ever."

F-Droid Open Letter

"This invasion of privacy of developers is not just an overreach of Google's authority over Android, but also jeopardizes developer safety."

Software Freedom Conservancy

"A centralized global registration system for Android will inevitably chill this work. Those communities are likely to drop out of developing for Android altogether."

Electronic Frontier Foundation

"Android's biggest strength has always been its openness. That's what attracted developers and users in the first place."

AdGuard

"MEP Christel Schaldemose formally questioned whether Google's mandatory central registration is compatible with the Digital Markets Act."

European Parliament

"Unilaterally consolidating power to approve software into the hands of a single unaccountable corporation is a threat to digital sovereignty everywhere."

Nextcloud

"While Android used to be praised for its freedom and independence, it will become a closed shop just like Apple."

Tuta

"Independent software distribution on Android will now require Google's explicit permission."

AdGuard

"There are governments who might very much like to know the names of the developers of those applications so that they can go after them."

Electronic Frontier Foundation

"If it were to be put into effect, the developer registration decree will end the F-Droid project and other free/open source app distribution sources as we know them today."

F-Droid

"Forcing software creators into a centralized registration scheme is as egregious as forcing writers and artists to register with a central authority."

F-Droid

"Google Play itself has repeatedly hosted malware, proving that corporate gatekeeping doesn't guarantee user protection."

F-Droid

"This is a profound change, one that shatters the entire premise of the Android ecosystem, long regarded as the antithesis of the closed Apple ecosystem."

AdGuard

"For developers building tools specifically designed to protect user privacy, being forced to surrender their own personal data as a precondition for distribution is deeply contradictory."

AdGuard

"When you set up a gate, you invite authorities to use it to block things they don't like. And when you build a database, you invite governments to try to get access."

Electronic Frontier Foundation

"Developers who build privacy-first browsers, encrypted messaging apps, VPNs, Tor-based software or tools for journalists and activists would be required to upload government ID to Google. These developers are unlikely to trust Google and might stop developing for Android."

Brave

"Google will cut off independent developers to Android if they do not register with Google first. This will kill independent platforms like F-Droid and severely impede FLOSS devs from creating apps for Android."

KDE

"Nearly 50 organizations published an open letter opposing what they characterize as a 'kill switch for the open ecosystem.'"

Tech-ish Kenya

"The European Pirate Party called for proportionate and transparent measures that ensure security without restricting innovation, limiting anonymity, or distorting competition."

European Pirate Party

"Centralised, intransparent security architectures certainly help secure monetization and the market by locking out competitors."

Nextcloud

"Verification just confirms who's behind the app, it doesn't guarantee clean code or rule out malicious behavior."

AdGuard

"Google is turning Android into a walled garden monopoly. We must prevent it."

Osservatorio Nessuno

ইউটিউবার ও কনটেন্ট ক্রিয়েটর

"Google is removing the one key advantage Android has over iOS."

SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – YouTube

"Google has been carefully watching from the sidelines to see what exactly it is that Apple can get away with."

Linus Sebastian, LMG Clips – YouTube

"Every single time a company takes away your ability to do what you want with what you bought and paid for, every single time they twist a knife, we have to point it out."

Louis Rossmann – YouTube

"That's not openness. That is control."

ChiefGyk3D – YouTube

"I have really no more strong reason to not recommend you all get iPhones, because this just is pretty much an iPhone with a Google logo on it at this point."

Techlore – YouTube

"Follow the money. Google makes money when apps are downloaded from its store. Google has completely forgotten about its earlier company motto: Don't be evil."

Tuta Blog – Blog

"Google keeps getting in as much trouble as Apple when Google is half evil and Apple is full evil. So there are probably people inside Google saying, 'Why not just go full evil?'"

Louis Rossmann – YouTube

"Google decides what's safe for you, and you don't get a say."

fireborn – Blog

"Developers of privacy-focused tools and emulators will have to dox themselves, making them vulnerable to government agencies or legal action."

SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – YouTube

"Android has become what they set out to destroy."

Linus Sebastian, LMG Clips – YouTube

"If I'm going to be trapped in a walled garden anyway, I'll take the one that's built properly."

fireborn – Blog

"This means you can't sideload an app from an unofficial source. But it could also be used to lock the ecosystem so we're forced to install only Google apps on approved Google OS versions."

Rob Braxman Tech – Locals

"Google is setting a requirement that only they can fulfill, forcing developers to go through Google and killing off thousands of apps. Countless users stranded."

Techlore – YouTube

"Your device, their rules. The phone you bought and paid for is no longer really yours."

Tuta Blog – Blog

"The widely-circulated narrative that Google already backed down from this is false. They didn't, and that misunderstanding may be the most dangerous part of the story right now."

Techlore – YouTube

"F-Droid is basically saying that the new Google developer registration process will likely kill the open-source app store entirely."

The Linux Experiment – YouTube

"I'm not using the word 'phone.' I'm using the word 'computer.' This has over 8 GB of RAM, a terabyte of storage. It's a computer. And I'm also not going to be using words like 'sideload.' When you download an exe file onto your Windows computer, you've installed an application. You haven't 'sideloaded' something."

Louis Rossmann – YouTube

"This is an iPhone now. I didn't want to buy an iPhone. I use Android because it gives me freedom. If you are not going to give me freedom with my computer, then why would I buy your stuff anymore?"

Louis Rossmann – YouTube

"Google isn't testing this in the US or Europe first. They're starting in countries like Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. Why? Because these are massive growth markets where regulation is weaker. By the time regulators catch up, the damage will already be done."

ChiefGyk3D – YouTube

"A world where two tech companies from the same city that dominate all of our mobile devices both require centralized developer registration is a world with one more lever for surveillance, one more checkpoint for censorship."

Techlore – YouTube

"When you download applications, you've simply installed an application. I don't want to use words like 'sideload.'"

SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – YouTube

"Google already can disable malware that they find on your device. It's already a built-in feature. So what is developer registration actually adding here? Is it security or control? You decide."

Techlore – YouTube

"The fact of the matter is, this is my device. I paid a lot of money for it. I should be able to do with it what I want."

Switched to Linux – YouTube

"This represents the last real safe place for free and open-source software in the entire mobile ecosystem. Once it's gone, it's gone. And we're going to spend the next decade trying to claw it back."

Techlore – YouTube

"Google is doing to Android what Microsoft once tried to do to the web. Embrace, extend, extinguish. Just wrapped in a shinier open-source package."

ChiefGyk3D – YouTube

"Imagine Dell told you that you could no longer install any operating system other than Windows on your laptop. That's what Google is doing to your phone."

SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – YouTube

ডেভেলপার ও কমিউনিটি

"Social engineering is destroyed with education, not with restriction and control. Trading freedom for safety eliminates both."

survirtual, Hacker News

"We are talking about something categorically worse than vendor lock-in: Collective vendor lock-in."

anordal, Lobsters

"Some time in the future, we will look back to this era and ask ourselves what went wrong."

BenjaminRi, Lobsters

"I buy a device with my own money, which I supposedly then own, but then I need to ask some corporation permission to use it."

askonomm, Hacker News

"It's not cyclic. It's a ratchet and it gets tighter and tighter."

BenjaminRi, Lobsters

"'Sideload' is like 'jaywalking'; seeks to stigmatize humans being human."

tejtm, Hacker News

"You have no right telling me what I can and cannot run on my own devices."

MrZander, Hacker News

"Making it harder makes it harder to treat ourselves. Software like AndroidAPS is unique. It's hard to find or very expensive and inferior in the proprietary market."

pimeys (diabetic user on life-critical medical software), Lobsters

"I hate this so much. More and more I get the feeling I have no control over the devices I own. My fear is that Windows will eventually follow. For security reasons of course. It's the path we're on now."

cheesyvoetjes, Reddit

"If Android's sandbox and permission systems actually worked, then the mere act of installing an app from an arbitrary source would be as harmless as visiting an arbitrary website."

mwcampbell, Lobsters

"Signal, VPNs -- they'll have a list of everyone opting out of government-mandated backdoors."

Max-P, Lemmy

"Brazil government app refuses to operate with developer mode on."

flykespice (developer in Brazil), Hacker News

"My Pixel 6 just broke, and after 15 years of using Android, I've finally been convinced to move to iOS. If I must live in a walled garden, I suppose I'll choose the one with nicer flowers."

yonato, Hacker News

"Give me liberty or give me Symbian."

masterofn001, Lemmy

"This is a war on users that want to keep control of their phones and when it's done, you will not be able to escape the enshittification."

ikidd, Lemmy

"If the likes of Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and others have their way, you will not own your computer; those companies will effectively own your computers."

RUs1729, Slashdot

"It took them 17 years to finally pull the cage all the way shut."

Apocryphon, Hacker News

"Google has no right to be my parent. As long as I can't reject paternalism, I don't believe for a second this is done with the well-being of scam victims as the main priority."

gspr, Lobsters

"Google seems to actively hate people who develop for their platforms."

hbn, Hacker News

"They're boiling the frog -- slowly removing features until all choice is gone."

hn92726819, Hacker News

"Google wants the authority of a gatekeeper without the overhead of human accountability."

afferi300rina, Hacker News

"Google's plan to require developer verification would give Google and governments the ability to ban any app."

Zak, Hacker News

"Computing is infrastructure. Personal computers are a means of expressing agency. This is like banning people from moving furniture around their house without approval from mortgage lenders."

wervenyt, Tildes

"If your country is ever in the crosshairs of 'American interests' and bears the brunt of its sanctions, it is possible that you cannot install apps from your fellow citizens. Your own local government, bank, and store apps."

devsda, Hacker News

"Software gatekeeping is a threat to human rights. Just recently an app to track ICE was banned from the iOS app store even though this should clearly be protected first amendment speech."

gthing, Reddit

"Google's own Play Store had over 600 million malware downloads. They keep talking about 'security' but their own store is crawling with fake apps and straight up malware while actual useful stuff gets buried or rejected."

Historical-Employ129 (324 upvotes), Reddit

"We need to start treating phones differently. We're entering a world where we can't choose what we run on them. Their primary purpose is to gather data on us and serve us advertising, they're engineered for addiction, yet engaging in the world is immensely difficult without one."

specproc, Hacker News

"There's an entire genre of scamming where the scammers spend months building rapport with their victims before cashing out. One day is nothing."

free_bip (on the 24-hour wait defeating scammers), Hacker News

"Google now has a flag on my phone they can control remotely to keep me from accessing the apps I want."

vala, Lemmy

"Play store is full of scam apps, F-Droid isn't, but Play Store is considered secure. It's all theatre."

gcupc, Lobsters

"All the banking and payment apps in India refuse to open if you have developer mode on."

nibbleyou (developer in India), Hacker News

"I still remember how in the early days of Android vs iOS discussions, the main point was 'but it's OPEN!' The word 'open' was used as a comma by Google people. It was The Thing. The Difference. Good vs Evil and all that."

jwr, Hacker News

"I want to deploy apps on my device. They are my apps, it's my device, and I should not be required to ask for permission to do so."

fsniper, Hacker News

"This isn't just a competition between app stores; it's a struggle for choice and dignity. Your phone shouldn't be a cage carefully constructed by others, but an extension of your own will."

renshijian, Hacker News

"The phrase 'sideload' is psychological propaganda we are all best off rejecting."

WaffleMonster, Slashdot

"The open Android I knew and loved is long gone."

girvo, Hacker News

"It is a disgrace how Google has managed this situation. The promised 'advanced flow' hasn't appeared in any Android 16 or 17 betas. Google is quietly proceeding with the original lockdown."

fermigier, Hacker News

"If I go down this path, I will stop all development on Android. I implore all other developers to resist this. This will completely lock down the platform forever, there will be no going back."

BatteryMountain, Hacker News

"You are essentially a child to them. The difference is society has decided not to step in to protect you from your abusive parents."

globular-toast, Hacker News

"Don't beg. Don't get in a position that freedoms depend on the whims of a corporation or willingness of a government to regulate them. Build."

jzb, Lobsters

"The war on General Purpose Computing is the death of innovation and a direct attack on digital freedom."

layfellow, Hacker News

"Whatever Google is doing kind of scares me. We have a big DIY community of diabetics in Germany running tools like AndroidAPS that cannot ever be distributed through official channels."

pimeys (Type 1 diabetic, DIY medical software), Lobsters

"Years ago, I wondered how Google would try to get away with locking down Android and shutting the cage door after capturing such a large dependent user base. Now I see how they are trying to get away with it."

chaznabin, Reddit

"Modern life practically forces you to put all your eggs into a phone controlled by one of two profit-seeking companies."

koala, Lobsters

"Any time someone puts a lock on something that belongs to you, and won't give you a key, they're not doing it for your benefit."

vord (quoting Cory Doctorow), Tildes

"I teach digital literacy and 99% of unsavory software I encounter on people's phones come from the Play Store or App Store. I will believe they're serious about protecting users when I see them do something about the crap ton of borderline scam apps infesting their stores."

1995ToyotaCorolla, Lemmy

"Once deployed, there's a near 100% chance of such a mechanism being used for evil."

Zak, Lemmy

"After 15 years of professional development on Android I too am now thinking about switching my focus to something different. And it sucks."

MrDresden, Hacker News

"Can't come at a worse time. People are just learning to make things through vibe coding, and they're gonna want to put their own apps on their phones. And now Google says no."

Serinus, Lemmy

"They have stolen a free product and are now actively locking out the people who built it."

TheTearMiser, Lemmy

"Requiring a government ID to distribute software. Holy shit. If you are a kid and want to create a game for your friends, you better get that birth certificate ready!"

llitz, Reddit

"The fundamental problem is that we are relying on the good graces of Google to keep Android open, despite the fact that it often runs contrary to their goals as a $4T for-profit behemoth. The 'don't be evil' days are very far behind us."

paxys, Hacker News

"Google selling Android as both open source and open to running any software you like in order to quickly gain market share, only to break those promises after driving competing platforms out of the market is nothing more than fraud."

GeekyBear, Hacker News

"Twice I have had to deal with Google silently disabling my drone app to the point I had to buy an older phone to perform work. When I purchase a device that works with another device, under no circumstances should I be at the mercy of any updates they make."

cbrophoto (drone professional), Reddit

"For 'security' -- always security with these assholes. They're just building the walls of the walled garden higher."

lynxy, Tildes

"Android is for everyone, provided they submit to Google exclusively."

gumby271, Hacker News

"Android was never actually open and now they are abandoning even the thin pretense."

Tiraon, Tildes

"Antitrust action is badly needed. It is ridiculous that I need permission from my device manufacturer to install software on hardware I own."

jim201, Hacker News

"Anyone else thinking this looks like a precursor to banning Signal and similar? 1) Put Google in control of what you can install. 2) Get Google to block it."

harry8, Hacker News

পিটিশন থেকে আসা মতামত

"As a life long android user who is also part of open source communities, I have to speak my voice on how this goes against everything about why the people love Android. I've always shared how amazing Android is specifically being able to sideload apps outside of Google Play unlike Apple. I love being able to use my device the way I please in comparison of it being "locked down." The whole sole purpose of Android is for it to have an it open source approach for developers and consumers. I am not a developer, but as a open/close source consumer I cannot express enough how much I truly appreciate have open source applications as an option besides Google Play store. I really hope Google can find a way that we can all be one big happy family and continue what is already great. LET US KEEP OUR ANDROID FREEDOM! "

Justin, change.org

"The reason I went with Android at all was its openness, every major release seemed to wear down at that, and now the recently announced lockdown of all apps needing some paid license? That's Google unfairly abusing its monopoly position. "

Adpocalyptic, change.org

"Sick and tired of Google's garbage. "

Gabriel, change.org

"Please, allow for users to make exceptions or some other control, keep Android flexible. "

Boris, change.org

"if this goes ahead I will simply refuse to use Android and move to a linux 'phone. "

Graham, change.org

"I do not like doing this to Google but if I have to I will format my phone and I will switch it over to Kiley "

Jonathan, change.org

"Android has always stood for user choice that’s what made it different. Taking away freedoms like sideloading apps goes directly against that foundation. Not every developer wants to go through approval processes just to create or use their own apps. Many of us build things for personal use, experimentation, or learning not for distribution under strict control. These changes don’t just limit developers they set a dangerous precedent. This is how censorship and platform control begin, slowly turning an open ecosystem into a closed one. Android was meant to be open. What made it powerful was the freedom it gave its users. Stripping that away doesn’t protect people it restricts them. If Android continues down this path, it risks losing what made it great in the first place. "

Jared, change.org

"Google is definitely overreaching in it's attempt to lock down users' ability to install apps via sideloading. There are many valid reasons for users to sideload apps, and many have already been stated, so I won't beat a dead horse. If people aren't smart enough to protect themselves from bricking their phones when they sideload a potentially harmful app, them they deserve what they get. It's not Google's place to be Guardian of the Galaxies (see what I did there?) or Pixels. "

Michael, change.org

"Android gives users choice and that is literally the reason why I use Android. For people in places like Iran, China, Russia, and others who want to use apps that can get them unbias news media, but cannot install western news media apps from the Google Play Store how do you think they get their apps. If Google really cared about the security of their users they would actually fix stock Android's issues with permissions management and lack of zero trust architecture. Instead of fighting the symptoms (third part apps) Google should be finding the cure which is fixing the first lines of user's defense browers and OS. Google isn't coming for third party browser extentions, but they are coming for our apps. This makes no sense. It is clearly a ploy to give Google more Apple like control of OUR devices and wants to stop users who do not want to go as far as installing a more secure Android ROM (*cough* *cough* install GrapheneOS *cough*), but who still want a DeGoogled phone. "

Jannet, change.org

"I love making apps for my self on appinventor but when I heard this news I couldn't believe it. I don't want to be an approved developer because I only make these apps for myself, my friends and my family. This would make android feel less open source and is a horrible thing from Google to do this. This doesn't benefit anyone and only crushes creativity. #DONTBELIKEAPPLE "

Justin, change.org

"Google shouldn’t have the power to take away choice from users and developers "

Job, change.org

"Removing the ability to side load apps is taking away owners right to their own devices. As one of the best phones I've owned this is disheartening. I might as well buy an iPhone "

Kamau, change.org

"Android is built on the Linux kernel and draws much of its foundation from the GNU/Linux ecosystem. The spirit of that ecosystem is openness, transparency, and user freedom. Limiting APK installation beyond reasonable security safeguards risks shifting Android toward a controlled ecosystem rather than keeping it an open platform. Security improvements are important, but they should not come at the expense of developer independence, open-source distribution, and users’ freedom to install software responsibly. Instead of restricting APK usage, a better approach would be to improve user education, provide clearer warnings, and offer optional security layers that protect users without limiting their freedom. "

Alireza, change.org

"Apenas apoio "

Immer, change.org

"When I purchase a device I have the right to own it. Otherwise why pay for it. We already disclose ID and pay Google for apks. We chose android over apple only due to the freedom that used to be. If you do not back off all of us will ditch our androids and apple as we do not need more stalking in our lives. People have been creative you know. 🫥 "

S, change.org

"Fight for internet freedom/anonymity! "

m, change.org

"Keep android free. "

Jansen, change.org

"one of the best advantages of Android over iOS "

Anderson, change.org

"Let open software environments stay open! Android has something unique that iOS does not, and it would be a shame to pursue the same locked-down “streamlined” experience. Personally, this change will stop me from purchasing an Android or Google device in the future, which is a shame because the open-environment nature of Android was the main appeal for me, and I know for many others. I believe this decision will alienate a large population of current, and potential future Android users. "

Ryan, change.org

"Freedom is the reason we all choose android. Android was my gateway into learning how to interact with software, running custom firmware. I now have a great job as a technician and plan to continue growing my career in the technical field. Android played a huge role in my development and it would be such a massive loss to future generations with people like me trying to learn. There is no reason to support android anymore if we are restricted. The only one that stands to gain is Google (and they won't win if they do this, we WILL cut support). We the people, the users, the creators, the developers, only stand to lose if this change goes into effect. "

Mason, change.org

"The device that you bought that you own should not have any restrictions added after the purchase of what you can or cannot download onto said device. What (Google) is trying to do is going directly against that. "

Emilie, change.org

"Enough is enough google! I am already swapping back over to iOS for more than a few reasons other than oh i dont know, YOUR OWN PHONES CATCHING FIRE ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE! As a developer, This makes it really hard to want to make an app cross-compatible with your OS! First you flatten the bugdroid, then you make unsafe phones, now this?! Sorry, but even I, a hardcore android fan am taking Apple's stance on this. "

Shibe, change.org

"Tudo e todos vamossss "

Renato, change.org

"Keep the Android ecosystem free. "

Gabriel, change.org

"I value Android OS as the one alternative we have to the walled garden that is the Apple and its iPhone. Android phones have always been the phones of freedom--the phones you could do anything with, the phones you could customize and tailor to your exact needs. I depend daily on open source android projects run by dedicated volunteers. I'm not a programmer by any means, but even I've written a few small custom programs to run just on my own phone, something I could never do with iOS. To have all this taken away and to make Android as much of a prison as iOS would be a massive blow to consumer freedom, consumer privacy, and, by extension, our ability to communicate freely with those whom we love. "

Daniel, change.org

"Android must remain a free platform. Google isn't doing this for security reasons. They want to control us, but we can't let that happen. "

Luciano, change.org

"Ridiculous. Android always has been open source, and by restricting access to downloading APK files, you're removing the freedom that comes with android. You say it's for safety but if that was the case, you would be removing a bunch of terrible apps on YOUR store filled to the brim with viruses and malware. We know this isn't about protection, it's about control and monopolyzing the phone industry. This decision clearly shows how little you understand your own customers, nor actually care about them "

Aiden, change.org

"Hello, I have been using Android my whole life, and I have always disliked iOS because of how locked down its operating system is. Recently, I have heard that Google may want to lock down Android and restrict third-party creators, and that is very concerning. Android’s openness is one of its biggest strengths. Not everyone can afford the cost and requirements to publish apps on the Google Play Store, and many independent developers rely on the ability to distribute apps outside of it. Android is also the largest operating system worldwide, and many devices such as the Meta Quest depend on Android and their own app stores. Locking down Android could create major problems for these platforms and users. As someone who plans to create and upload Android applications in the near future, this kind of change would be very limiting and would hurt creativity and development. Please keep Android open, and do not turn it into a system like iOS. Thank you for your time. "

charlie, change.org

"The openness of the platform is one of the determining factors when choosing in favor of Android. "

Pavel, change.org

"The main reason I bought a Pixel was for the freedom of installing whatever I want, but If this is taken away, they would be taking the only reason many people buy their devices. "

Jjr, change.org

"Android, please do not become like Apple os, doing that, you are changing the best thing you have, thats the user having Freedom to do whatever they want "

Pedro, change.org

"This is very anti trust and google is doubling down in the form of 'safety and security'. Do not let this happen! "

JASON, change.org

"Why would you change what is by far the most appealing aspect of your operating system? Why would you choose to take the thing that set Google apart from Apple and imitate them? A locked down, dumbed down, "My way or the highway" approach to your user base is insulting, and now people will be desperately trying to find out create a new option, and you'll have no way to compare favorably even against your biggest competitor because you're choosing to be in the same boat. "

Michael, change.org

"Every time you centralise something, you are adding a point of failure that used to not exist. And you can not trust those who care only for money to care for anything else. "

Andrew, change.org

"Google was created OPEN to everyone, and should stay open source, and not be locked down or limited to creators and developers! "

Robbie, change.org

"The main reason I've always preferred android over apple is the freedom of app development and usage. What's the point of using an android phone when I have to rely on an app store that limits what's available? This decision is gonna affect an already undesirable Google "

Mychal, change.org

"I am a long-time Android user that heavily relies on sideloaded apps for my everyday phone usage. I ask that you reconsider the decision to make app sideloading impossible as it would be a slap in the face to everything Android has represented for all these years. Freedom to use apps from varying sources has always been a huge selling point for Android -- and it's a big reason why many don't involve themselves in Apple's ecosystem. In addition, forcing developers to lose their anonymity for the promise of greater security does not seem to be an appropriate tradeoff. I ask that you consider an alternative course of action for the sake of your user base. "

Chris, change.org

"I am in a restricted area (which happens to be the area cited in the petition). Presumably I don't need to explain what this means to me anymore. "

Wings, change.org

"The end for digital freedom is already nearing, with all the new social media and age verification laws. The whole point of a computer is to store and process data, allowing you to do various tasks. You should be able to use a device without having to verify 50 million things and give up your identity, it's all just an excuse for the government to track you, create more censorship, and for the companies to sell more of your data. Android is an open mobile operating system, and it should stay that way. One of the main reasons I strongly prefer Android over iOS is how open Android is. This action Google is doing will not protect anything or anyone, it will just cause more drama. "

Angus, change.org

"Freedom to think and develop without cynicism. "

David, change.org

"I support Signature verification for security, but centralised verification is harmful for open Android ecosystem. "

Wenyi, change.org

"Dear Google, As a life-long Android user, the perspective of this program ever coming into place is simply devastating. The Android Project was built with the promise of open-source software, community-driven development and digital freedom at its core. This promise has been a vital part of its success, from its humble beginnings to the widely popular and prolific ecosystem we have today. Any measure that does not fully respect these core values is a direct threat to the Android Project as a whole and a betrayal of its community. I believe the "Android developer verification requirements" program as it stands is such a measure. Therefore, I urge everybody involved at Google to seriously reconsider this program to the benefit of the Android Project and its community. Sincerely- "

Yoann, change.org

"This it’s important to all and Google shouldn’t be doing this our company overlords can’t take more from us we need to stand up "

James, change.org

"I bought the whole phone, i'll use the whole phone, whatever way I want. Openness of Android is the only reason I choose android, if I wanted a "Locked Down" phone, i'll just go with Apple at that point. Make these censorship at least optional to block, LET ME DECIDE, but dont force it onto blocking of APK installs all together FOR EVERYONE, let the user decide for themselves. I don't want Google to decide what I can or cannot do with the phone I BOUGHT. If I bought a phone, with the expectation and the capacity of doing X,Y,Z with it, don't take away the Z AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I'll just refuse to update my phone if it get's pushed that way. There's more malware on the ADS you promote, rather than anywhere else, im sure. "

Bryan, change.org

"How can this be about security when the vast majority of people installing 3rd party apps are accepting that risk. Your anti virus services should be more than enough to prevent malicious applications but babying a population won't go well for you. I for one will get a huawei phone immediately after the change is officialized, privacy be damned, it's less authoritarian than what you're planning on doing. "

D, change.org

"Need to stop Google from controlling us! "

Carmen, change.org

"Side loading is one of the biggest reasons I used an Android device. I’ll be using an IPhone for the foreseeable future. "

Joey, change.org

"It's simple. No one else should have the right or the power to control any aspect of your life, not even when it comes to software and information sharing. Of course, security is important, but so are privacy and freedom. What they're trying to do is nothing more than a political ploy, a quest for surveillance and control. "

Gonzalo, change.org

"I like to have a choice to choose and I understand the risks, that is why I check, Google should not have monopoly over it. "

Rosalie, change.org

"Intelectual property is a disgrace! If what Google is trying to do is normalized it will eventually reach other OSes and it could kill game preservation via emulation. Not only that, they are also trying to normalize putting ridiculous restrictions to the freedom of the developers which could eventually kill open-source or at least make it unimaginably worst! "

Guilherme, change.org

"You have to ask yourself. What is google's motivation and it's simple power ingredient "

D., change.org

"I cannot count the amount of times a sideloaded application has provided me with a much needed service or feature! Removing the ability to install such applications would be a massive blow not only to the users of android, but the operating system as a whole, and what it has and should still stand for. Which is the "your device your choice" mentality. The choice by Google to implement this change is nothing more than corporate greed. This decision should be reversed and an apology issued as soon as possible. "

Josh, change.org

"As a developer, stop! This is the only reason I used Android and didn't have to jailbreak and root it. Making this change under the guise of security amounts to manipulation, lying, deceiving your customers, and taking away their rights to use their device in their way. Mark my words, rooting will become popular again and I will personally be at the forefront of actively working against you and your goals. I cannot agree with such blatant bad faith arguments and poor reasoning. You assume most people aren't developers and too stupid to see through this. You want more money by any means necessary no matter how angry people get. Android was supposed to be an open ecosystem and now you're actively anti-consumer. It's disgusting. "

CARLOS, change.org

"I like Android because it feels like a computer. I can administrate my own files, download niche little hobby projects made freely by others off of GitHub. I don't want it to become a walled corporate garden like iOS. If it does, well, might as well switch to the higher-quality walled garden, huh? No point in using a droid anymore. "

Maxima, change.org

"This change would defeat the core purpose at the heart of what the Android platform is. Remember when Google used to use the slogan "Don't be Evil"? Well this is about as evil as it gets. "

Justin, change.org

"Google shouldn't be able to restrict something that made us purchase the phones in the first place! "

Yousef, change.org

"Why are these changes a necessity? What scary changes are happening in the technological realm that's causing Google to take these ecosystem changing moves? It appears as if you're ignoring a large section of your fan base. I hope freedom wins, but I think with the ever quickening development of A. I. that this measure may be the new necessity with mobile technology try to keep had actors at bay. "

Gene, change.org

"Google. Seriously. Stop. You're becoming the definition of the "don't be evil" slogan that you've buried. You're making Android even worse than iOS "

Karkan, change.org

"I've been a long Android user, and I learned so much due to being able to sideload programs; even being able to manually install google play services on some devices where it doesn't come by default. I believe that Google should not lock this change so we can have our own choices to do what we want with out programs and apps; unlike Apple who locks down their ecosystem, and (more so unrelated) Amazon picking out and stopping jailbreaks, which is the reason I have an android phone. For that freedom promised. Google, make the right decision. "

Brandon, change.org

"Smh users should be allowed to install whatever they want "

Challen, change.org

"Google wants developers to pay them a fee even though it has nothing to do with them. Also I own my phone I get to decide what's on it not Google. I'm also cancelling all Google subscriptions because I don't want to support this company anymore. "

alex, change.org

"I have always preferred Android phones over Apple phones, just for the freedom that Android gave to download applications without having to limit and control you all the time, but now Android wants to become an APPLE 2.0, if that happens I will throw away my Android phone and directly buy an iPhone, if it is going to have restrictions too, all bad Android 👎 "

Mauricio, change.org

"Yeah let's remove the one thing keeping people on Android 🤨 "

Bobby, change.org

"As user and developer, this is surely concerning and, obviously, unwanted. For a period in my life I've used iOS, but didn't think twice before abandoning it completely, just as I did when moving from Windows to Linux. Again, as user and dev., I treasure having (maximum) control and privacy over my very own devices. To s##t with these ridiculous policies. "

Anthony L., change.org

"The entire reason I have stuck with Android phones until now was my ability to INSTALL apps outside of the play store—key word install, not sideload. Even using that term is brainwashed lingo. A phone is just as much of a computer as a PC is, and I should be allowed to download whatever I want on a device a pay for. Especially when, in some cases, a laptop can be cheaper than a phone these days. This has always been a meaningful feature to me. Then there is the fact of censorship & creating a hostile environment for smaller dev teams. Having to pay a fee to Google, having to disclose IDs (this is also counterproductive to privacy focused apps). Any application that Google deems unfit, they can rip from the store. The 3rd party stores that Google will "let us" download from are no different from the Play Store. All those developers will still be subject to what Google is doing. If Android is going to become reskinned IOS, I would rather move to Apple. It's better optimized with many apps that absolutely DO NOT function near as well on Android or get updates way later than Apple. It's a smoother, cleaner product. Though, truly, I want to go to Motorola as they are planning to work with GrapheneOS which is privacy & security focused (which Google isn't! And this move is not making Android more secure!) These practices are anti-consumer AND anti-competition. Monopolistic, dirty practices. It's shameful that Google is still trying to act like they are an "open" system in the slightest while they actively shut out our ability to—again, INSTALL applications on our phone, which is essentially just a computer in our hands. Imagine if Windows did this, or even a Macbook. The free world is about having free choice, and this isn't that. I will absolutely be moving away from Android if this changes take effect. In the meantime, I'll take my in-app purchases to the actual websites behind them, use F-Droid & various places to download APKs to update in place of the Play Store. This is abhorent. TL;DR: Google is awful, hates consumer and developer freedoms, & yearns for censorship and growing it's monopolistic empire. I will be moving to any other phone if this happens. "

Jaden, change.org

"They literally block sideloading with this and always using "security" as an excuse, they never will accept all dev, and also who give they the right to get ID of dev. Put in you place, you are a company in a democratic country, we give you power The solution for this is stop using google services, give they a prove of power, they depend of us because we give them money, stop using google service, and fight against this injustice Google is evil, and right now they are shown they craws "

Juan, change.org

"This does not protect anybody. All it does is restrict an OS that was supposed to be open. This was one of the main benefits of Android over iOS, and now it's being removed. This also kills the open source ecosystem, since alternative app stores cannot function if all developers are required to pay Google and pay a fee. Ordinary users are already protected from malware with Google Play Protect, and app sideloading disabled by default. This does not help anyone. Even calling it sideloading is misleading, since we own the device NOT Google. On a computer, this is called installing software. It shouldn't be different on a phone. This will also allow government censorship of apps that protect privacy. Overall a terrible idea. "

Daniel, change.org

"The people will ask if they feel they need to be represented. "

Catherine, change.org

"This is the entire point of many people using Android in the first place, you take this away and something new will come along and replace you. "

Jacob, change.org

"We ned open source application PLEASE "

french, change.org

"I've always chosen to use Android because I want to have control of how I use my phone. I know installing something might cause problems, but after all it's my decision and my phone too! If I wanted to be "more safe" I'd buy a phone with iOS. Let the users decide how they want to use their phones at their own risk. "

Nicky, change.org

"Many of the apps I use daily are FOSS. I would lose a very large portion of the functionality of my phone without them. Some have alternatives available in the Play Store, and some do not. Even for the ones that do have available alternatives, they are measurably worse - crowded with advertisements that make them unusable until you pay (usually a subscription) for the "Pro" version. Then, when the developer stops making enough money, the app breaks and/or disappears from the store. Many of the FOSS apps I use also do exactly what I need, where their alternatives require workarounds or focus on some additional "feature" that I couldn't care less about. There are also several apps that I acquired outside the Play Store that legitimately don't have alternatives, either because they have to violate the rules of the Play Store to function properly, or because the developer believes, as I do, that good software doesn't rely on the existence of a market to function. "

Zachery, change.org

"Android having access to custom software is a main thing that separates it from iOS. Don't destroy this amazing feature. "

Henry, change.org

"Google always voiced themselves as the "Open Platform" in direct competition with Apple. With the lockdown happening, there is no more competition. It's either "isolated OS" or "fellow isolated OS". In today's day and age, especially, the people value and are drawn to the ability to make their own choices without the difficulties and frustrations of being restricted and banned from doing something. It's *why* so many people switched to Android/ Google devices, and *why* so many Android/Google users *refuse* to use Apple products. The lockdown is just creating another Apple under a different company. "

Amelia, change.org

"Hands off the APK! I left Russia for Freedom in 2022 and now you trying to restrict our Freedom like a criminal Putin. "

Alex, change.org

"We need spaces where independents can still create and choose freely based on their own values and needs. Kindly leave us that! "

m, change.org

"One of the main reasons I use Android is the ability to sideload applications—downloading APKs from trusted third-party developers. Now Google wants to limit that? Please don’t leave Android alone and don't take away the freedom it was built on. "

Suyaib, change.org

"Screw Google... That's all. "

Michael, change.org

"I'm not even an Android app developer, but I've always wanted to be. Now, I'm not sure that I do. Making this change will mean that all apps will funnel through Google Play, which gives Google exclusive control and a censorship chokehold on the entire Android ecosystem. I shouldn't have to explain why that would not be good. The whole thing that made Android different from iOS is that it was OPEN. Now Google's just throwing that out of the window. At this point, I might just switch to iOS because Android has lost all of its character. "

Ethan, change.org

"This feels like bait and switch. Android has been the open alternative to iOS and that's a primary reason why I've chosen to support Android over the years. We don't have a viable truly free alternative like on the desktop, but Android is the best we've got. "

Sol, change.org

"Because Android will become IOS but worse if this goes into effect. "

Dominick, change.org

"The whole reason I use an Android based device is for the freedom that comes with the phone. If I wanted to be governed by my cellphone manufacturer I would use an iPhone. "

Zachary, change.org

"Google can not be allowed its voracious devouring of apps and data. Every move builds on its frightening monopoly, quashing any freedom and privacy. "

Kristi, change.org

"One of the reasons that people want to use Android is because of its freedom in installing apps. Locking it is like shooting your feet. "

John, change.org

"I use many open source apps, and I do not want to lose any of them! "

Jayden, change.org

"Android being "open" is what draws a lot of people to it from the others. This effectively makes it more closed. "

Glenn, change.org

"The whole reason Android is popular is because it's open source. This undermines both user freedom and the open spirit that originally defined Android. Making this change under the guise of security amounts to manipulation, lying, deceiving your customers, and taking away their rights to use their device in their way. By doing this you are killing what make android great, the fact that everyone can make an app and load it on his phone. Google should not be able to say what apps we can and can’t download on a device we purchased. This change would remove the main reason I even purchase these phones, stop it google. As a developer I want to be able to use and test my own apps. Having a monopoly over the eccosystem is going to hurt developers and create move forced overreaching and breaching of constitutional rights. You are not protecting anyone from forcing them to use the googleplaystore, in fact all the spyware and malware I ever came in contact with was from Google Play itself. Calling it "sideloading" is just villianizing what a normal download is, removing basic freedoms to use my device as I so choose is a far overreaching tactic that shouldn't be even an option let alone seriously implimented. If this does happen, I won't be using andriod, And will also stop using any other google services. I can't support a company that is anti-consumer. Dealing with the amount of bloat and spyware that comes preinstalled on these phones is bad enough, pushing user to have to deal with these orwellian nightmares is completely unethical. Where did your company statement of" don't be evil" go? "

Kaleb, change.org

"Stop Google censorship "

André, change.org

"The entire reason I chose android over apple was the freedom I had to do what I wanted on the device I paid for. Google enforcing this "lock-down" is just shooting themselves in the foot and giving people more reason to give apple a shot. "

Riley, change.org

"Google should be ashamed of itself and give users the freedom to install any app they want. Why don't they remove those apps from their store where thousands of people suffer from viruses? Bunch of scoundrels! "

Jorge, change.org

"Just another step big tech is taking to take away our rights and freedoms. "

Martin, change.org

"https://keepandroidopen.org/ "

Shrewd, change.org

"Don't become Apple!!! "

Yahya, change.org

"Google’s success with Android has always been built on the foundation of an open ecosystem. I am signing this petition to urge Google to preserve the right to sideload applications and install APKs. Restricting this functionality would significantly limit user autonomy, stifle innovation from independent developers, and consolidate control in a way that goes against the spirit of the platform. Android should remain a tool that gives power to its users, not one that restricts their ability to choose where their software comes from. Please keep Android open "

Pablo, change.org

"First step to digital Gulag "

Sergio, change.org

"This policy is the antithesis of what makes Android the best on the market. The policy infringes on our freedoms as American people. I should not have to share who I am or what I look like or where I live to a company that I don't care about. The government needs to know who I am, but a company doesn't. The moment the company gets hacked from anywhere/anyone, they have all my information. That is dumb and should not happen, ever! "

Ayden, change.org

"As a regular user and consumer, I am frightened by this direction. Android has historically differentiated itself by being an open platform that users can customize to their liking - this is THE main reason I continue to purchase Android phones. I am a developer as a hobby, and will occasionally create my own apps to support my unique projects and requirements. I have no interest in becoming an authorized developer - that wouldn't make sense for me. In addition, I benefit STRONGLY from the community of existing open-source apps. I am an avid F-Droid user, and find the apps there to be of equal or better quality than those in the Play Store. If Android is to become as locked-down as iOS, then my next phone purchase will be from Apple to benefit from their increased privacy protections. The main differentiator drawing me.to Android will be gone. "

Patrick, change.org

"I think the freedom to have a choice on this matter is important, not just because there is a case to make regarding unsupported products let alone possible monopoly concerns, but also because there is a major issue regarding the freedom of choice on this matter that I think should not be taken away as an option for consumers. "

Ronald, change.org

"Android's open platform is the only counter positioning left before it's just a shittier iPhone. Please don't hand the market to Apple. "

Jesse, change.org

"I switched from IOS to Android because I value my freedom to choose as a customer. Taking that away is incredibly short-sighted on Google's part. To remove such a huge part of my choice to use my device as I wish, is to remove my reason for going with Android in the first place. Google, if you value your customers, GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT. No one is asking for this. Let customers make their own choice. If people want a locked down ecosystem, they can go to IOS. It has been that way from the beginning. Do not take away the thing that brings people to your ecosystem in the first place. "

Katie, change.org

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