3 ms·

Google Play bans open-source Matrix client Element, citing “abusive content”

32 points by stoicanalyst 6y ago

boojums 6y ago
It is really easy to setup your own matrix server on something like Linode. https://linuxhandbook.com/install-matrix-synapse-docker/ https://linuxhandbook.com/install-matrix-synapse-docker/
- paraknight 6y ago
  Yes but that's pretty irrelevant here, Google Play banned Element, a Matrix _client_.
  - acct776 6y ago
    If we used company's webapps, or our own local webapps or selfhosted webapps, everyone wouldn't need the app stores... They could use GrapheneOS, and be safer.
    - timothyduong 6y ago
      Assuming people know how to host a webapp or save a safe webapp or companies are not releasing malware laced webapps... Happy to let you teach my mum how to run/host a webapp and her whole network of friends then I'll jump onboard so I can converse with her then. /s We currently need app stores because we're talking about consumer based Operating Systems. Not everyone in the world is up to speed on computing, and currently it is up to the OS developers to create a bridge to step over the technical knowledge insufficiency; thus app stores. To say that webapps are the end game to address the issues in the current state of consumer application lifecycles, I personally feel is a developer's/prosumer's view of apps. Although if you have a link/happy to explain to me why WebApps are better than an AppStore for general consumers, I'm all ears.
suizi 6y ago
It's scary how Google can automatically ban a client for a network with millions of users like this without even batting an eye.
- schoolornot 6y ago
  Scarier that it was probably a single person/reviewer involved.
- m-p-3 6y ago
  To me it feels more like a single reviewer who didn't get an entire view of the big picture and lacked judgement.
villgax 6y ago
By that logic they should ban Chrome for allowing people to be able access all sorts of content hosted on someone else's server/deployment.
apayan 6y ago
Looks like the app will be restored on Google Play. https://mobile.twitter.com/element_hq/status/1355663753380032512 https://mobile.twitter.com/element_hq/status/135566375338003...

32 points by stoicanalyst 6y ago

It is really easy to setup your own matrix server on something like Linode. https://linuxhandbook.com/install-matrix-synapse-docker/ https://linuxhandbook.com/install-matrix-synapse-docker/

paraknight 6y ago
Yes but that's pretty irrelevant here, Google Play banned Element, a Matrix _client_.
- acct776 6y ago
  If we used company's webapps, or our own local webapps or selfhosted webapps, everyone wouldn't need the app stores... They could use GrapheneOS, and be safer.
  - timothyduong 6y ago
    Assuming people know how to host a webapp or save a safe webapp or companies are not releasing malware laced webapps... Happy to let you teach my mum how to run/host a webapp and her whole network of friends then I'll jump onboard so I can converse with her then. /s We currently need app stores because we're talking about consumer based Operating Systems. Not everyone in the world is up to speed on computing, and currently it is up to the OS developers to create a bridge to step over the technical knowledge insufficiency; thus app stores. To say that webapps are the end game to address the issues in the current state of consumer application lifecycles, I personally feel is a developer's/prosumer's view of apps. Although if you have a link/happy to explain to me why WebApps are better than an AppStore for general consumers, I'm all ears.

suizi 6y ago

It's scary how Google can automatically ban a client for a network with millions of users like this without even batting an eye.

schoolornot 6y ago
Scarier that it was probably a single person/reviewer involved.
m-p-3 6y ago
To me it feels more like a single reviewer who didn't get an entire view of the big picture and lacked judgement.

villgax 6y ago

By that logic they should ban Chrome for allowing people to be able access all sorts of content hosted on someone else's server/deployment.

apayan 6y ago

Looks like the app will be restored on Google Play. https://mobile.twitter.com/element_hq/status/1355663753380032512 https://mobile.twitter.com/element_hq/status/135566375338003...