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Their reasoning for having it Play Store only is that Google does not require app developers to provide their signing keys/sign the APK themselves. Now this is
by rany_ 3y ago
Their reasoning for having it Play Store only is that Google does not require app developers to provide their signing keys/sign the APK themselves. Now this is no longer the case as Google changed their policies.
NOTE: F-Droid does not require app developers to share their keys, instead they build the application themselves and sign it with their keys -- something Signal is not a fan of.
tl;dr their rationale no longer applies.
- OfSanguineFire 3y agoI have also seen the preference for installing from Play Store explained as being that users are safer if they use default setups and do what everyone else is doing. For users who are not savvy, going the sideloading route can expose them to risk.
- rany_ 3y agoFor me this line of thinking doesn't make a lot of sense. The Google Play option will always exist as it is a prerequisite for widespread adoption on Android. Also arguably, you're safer on F-Droid due to the level of vetting on that platform; so providing Signal on it is a good endorsement for general user safety and privacy. Either way, this isn't about only offering the application on Google Play or only on F-Droid; but providing the option for both. Non-tech savvy users will always pick the more familiar and easy option on average, Google Play.