4 ms·

Isn't the possibility of side-loading one of the main things protecting Google Play Store from being hammered by the Digital Markets Act?

croes 2y ago
It's the app developer's decision if their app can be side loaded. Doesn't change the possibility as such.
zaik 2y ago
The possibility of sideloading != the possibility to side load specific apps that their developers don't want to be side loaded
- Teever 2y ago
  If that's the case it's just a matter of time before the EU regulates away this anticonsumer choice by Google and the app developers.
  - type0 2y ago
    they won't, it was clear that Google would also embrace malicious compliance, it's just the first steps so far
    - Teever 2y ago
      Yes that's how the game goes. The regulator has to keep plugging holes that the non compliant corporate entity finds until there are no more holes worth exploiting by the corporate entity. It is an exhausting and practically unending task to defend consumers against malfeasant operators but it is one that governments can and must do.
  - buzzerbetrayed 2y ago
    What is anti consumer about an app developer only allowing their app to be installed through the play store? Genuinely wondering.
    - Teever 2y ago
      It restricts the users choice to use the device that they own in a way they want with the software that own in a way that they want.
      - MostlyStable 2y ago
        To be fair, a manufacturer also has a right to choose how they distribute their product. If one is philosophically ok with piracy, then you can choose to ignore that, but I don't think you should expect the developer to actively facilitate that.
        Teever 2y ago
        That is correct, they currently have that right. I am suggesting a scenario where a regulator decides that they no longer have that right because the regulator feels that the needs of the consumer outweigh the needs of the manufacturer. This would be similar to how regulations around interoperability and accessibility where the regulator decides that imposing such obligations on developers leads to a better society.
        Brian_K_White 2y ago
        Their rights stop at that border, how they choose to distribute. They have no rights after that beyond the copy right. Software is out of step with hardware at the moment but we do have principles that means "warranty void if removed" stickers are toothless decorations, and Keurig has no right to actually enforce their wishes about what coffee you brew in your machine. We don't currently have software analogs for those, but the principles hold the same.
      - dzaima 2y ago
        That's a completely different fight from what the DMA targets though. Referring to this as an Android/Google Play thing is a red herring here, this is just bog standard DRM, which just so happens to be made by Google (and maybe gets some special hardware support; so, if anything, DMA here would be an argument for allowing other app suppliers to be able to make equivalent DRM!).
- t-writescode 2y ago
  Isn’t that converting a block list to an allow list, which ends up with the same result?
  - rkagerer 2y ago
    I think a related, important question will be what is the default for apps compiled where the developer hasn't adjusted this knob?
  - kelnos 2y ago
    There's no block list or allow list; the app itself can detect (on startup) if it's been sideloaded, and display an error if they way.
threeseed 2y ago
No one knows because the DMA doesn’t explicitly define what is/is not permissible. It is largely up to the discretion of the EC.

croes 2y ago

It's the app developer's decision if their app can be side loaded. Doesn't change the possibility as such.

zaik 2y ago

The possibility of sideloading != the possibility to side load specific apps that their developers don't want to be side loaded

Teever 2y ago
If that's the case it's just a matter of time before the EU regulates away this anticonsumer choice by Google and the app developers.
- type0 2y ago
  they won't, it was clear that Google would also embrace malicious compliance, it's just the first steps so far
  - Teever 2y ago
    Yes that's how the game goes. The regulator has to keep plugging holes that the non compliant corporate entity finds until there are no more holes worth exploiting by the corporate entity. It is an exhausting and practically unending task to defend consumers against malfeasant operators but it is one that governments can and must do.
- buzzerbetrayed 2y ago
  What is anti consumer about an app developer only allowing their app to be installed through the play store? Genuinely wondering.
  - Teever 2y ago
    It restricts the users choice to use the device that they own in a way they want with the software that own in a way that they want.
    - MostlyStable 2y ago
      To be fair, a manufacturer also has a right to choose how they distribute their product. If one is philosophically ok with piracy, then you can choose to ignore that, but I don't think you should expect the developer to actively facilitate that.
      - Teever 2y ago
        That is correct, they currently have that right. I am suggesting a scenario where a regulator decides that they no longer have that right because the regulator feels that the needs of the consumer outweigh the needs of the manufacturer. This would be similar to how regulations around interoperability and accessibility where the regulator decides that imposing such obligations on developers leads to a better society.
      - Brian_K_White 2y ago
        Their rights stop at that border, how they choose to distribute. They have no rights after that beyond the copy right. Software is out of step with hardware at the moment but we do have principles that means "warranty void if removed" stickers are toothless decorations, and Keurig has no right to actually enforce their wishes about what coffee you brew in your machine. We don't currently have software analogs for those, but the principles hold the same.
    - dzaima 2y ago
      That's a completely different fight from what the DMA targets though. Referring to this as an Android/Google Play thing is a red herring here, this is just bog standard DRM, which just so happens to be made by Google (and maybe gets some special hardware support; so, if anything, DMA here would be an argument for allowing other app suppliers to be able to make equivalent DRM!).
t-writescode 2y ago
Isn’t that converting a block list to an allow list, which ends up with the same result?
- rkagerer 2y ago
  I think a related, important question will be what is the default for apps compiled where the developer hasn't adjusted this knob?
- kelnos 2y ago
  There's no block list or allow list; the app itself can detect (on startup) if it's been sideloaded, and display an error if they way.

threeseed 2y ago

No one knows because the DMA doesn’t explicitly define what is/is not permissible. It is largely up to the discretion of the EC.