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Don't be so optimistic. Apple and Google are a duopoly to control mobile messaging (outside of China). Not for me, I use a Linux phone (Sailfish OS) with no Go

Don't be so optimistic. Apple and Google are a duopoly to control mobile messaging (outside of China). Not for me, I use a Linux phone (Sailfish OS) with no Google. Not for real activists (criminals in the eyes es of oppressive governments like Chaina, Belarus, Russia, Iran, Turkey, ...) who will always find their way. But for 98% of any population.

xiphias2 6y ago
Allowing sideloading for Android makes Google much harder to control the platform. I’d not be surprised though if sideloading would be not allowed in the future.
- f1refly 6y ago
  Not really. Normal people don't sideload. The people who do know how to sideload aren't in danger of getting forced by the monopolies anyways because they're tech-savyy enough.
- Yetanfou 6y ago
  I don't see them disallowing side-loading soon but what I do expect is an expansion of the SafetyNet [1] test which will flag devices with any side-loaded software as 'suspicious', upon which banking and electronic ID apps will refuse to run. Since this will render the device all but useless for many people it will either force them to carry two devices - one for such 'official' stuff, the other for the rest - or to try to find a way around SafetyNet. This is a cat-and-mouse game which has been going on for a number of years and will continue to do so until either Google goes full Apple by locking down the platform or some sort of 'safe enclave' is created which can run on any device no matter its status. Google clamping down too hard will give extra impetus to the further development of alternative mobile operating systems, the viability of which increases with the rise of web-based alternatives for native apps. [1] https://www.xda-developers.com/safetynet-hardware-attestation-hide-root-magisk/ https://www.xda-developers.com/safetynet-hardware-attestatio...
intricatedetail 6y ago
It is interesting that people don't think that their western governments are oppressive too. In fact they are slowly adopting techniques used in China and other countries who try them first. People are the same everywhere. They want power and those who take pleasure from harming others get to find their way into governments.
paulcarroty 6y ago
> I use a Linux phone (Sailfish OS) Seems funny: proprietary OS plus the company cooperate with Russian government.
- usr1106 6y ago
  Well, I know, it's far from ideal in many senses. But not in a sense that Google or Apple would directly decide what I cannot see. Indirectly they already do, because a lot of public and commercial services, banking, public transport tickets, corona tracking are available only via those. But that's because the general public does not understand the threats of being dependent on the duopoly.

xiphias2 6y ago

Allowing sideloading for Android makes Google much harder to control the platform. I’d not be surprised though if sideloading would be not allowed in the future.

f1refly 6y ago
Not really. Normal people don't sideload. The people who do know how to sideload aren't in danger of getting forced by the monopolies anyways because they're tech-savyy enough.
Yetanfou 6y ago
I don't see them disallowing side-loading soon but what I do expect is an expansion of the SafetyNet [1] test which will flag devices with any side-loaded software as 'suspicious', upon which banking and electronic ID apps will refuse to run. Since this will render the device all but useless for many people it will either force them to carry two devices - one for such 'official' stuff, the other for the rest - or to try to find a way around SafetyNet. This is a cat-and-mouse game which has been going on for a number of years and will continue to do so until either Google goes full Apple by locking down the platform or some sort of 'safe enclave' is created which can run on any device no matter its status. Google clamping down too hard will give extra impetus to the further development of alternative mobile operating systems, the viability of which increases with the rise of web-based alternatives for native apps. [1] https://www.xda-developers.com/safetynet-hardware-attestation-hide-root-magisk/ https://www.xda-developers.com/safetynet-hardware-attestatio...

intricatedetail 6y ago

It is interesting that people don't think that their western governments are oppressive too. In fact they are slowly adopting techniques used in China and other countries who try them first. People are the same everywhere. They want power and those who take pleasure from harming others get to find their way into governments.

paulcarroty 6y ago

> I use a Linux phone (Sailfish OS) Seems funny: proprietary OS plus the company cooperate with Russian government.

usr1106 6y ago
Well, I know, it's far from ideal in many senses. But not in a sense that Google or Apple would directly decide what I cannot see. Indirectly they already do, because a lot of public and commercial services, banking, public transport tickets, corona tracking are available only via those. But that's because the general public does not understand the threats of being dependent on the duopoly.