It's not mentioned in the article, but services could differ between app stores if we head in this direction, not only for privacy terms. For instance if China

It's not mentioned in the article, but services could differ between app stores if we head in this direction, not only for privacy terms. For instance if China somehow get VPN apps off the shelves from HK's app store and people there couldn't associate their google accounts with regions other than HK, then that's a root/switch OS or no VPN scenario for them. Same could happen to Americans there - it's not based on citizenship or proof of residence, google just decides. Ultimately one can argue that even so it's not google's responsibility to fight against authoritarians or whatever, but imho android already has a closed eco system, this is getting worse.