Google's new developer verification requirements starting September 2026 will force ALL Android app developers to register with Google - even those avoiding the Play Store entirely. F-Droid, the tr...
I’m with you on the misinformation bit. But while it wouldn’t be honest to report that Google is restricting developers now, I think it’s absolutely fair to criticise and react to them building the scaffolding for such abuse down the line.
Like the UK isn’t outright banning websites promoting trans rights or other “undesirable” political movements, but they now have the technical and legislative tools to easily expand on it.
I’m not equating the two, and I agree it’s important to differentiate between what’s currently happening and what could be.
It is absolutely fair to criticise them for the stuff they are actually doing, yes.
That’s why I wrote:
I mean, that’s all really bad. Why do we need the hyperbolic “Google is killing Open Source” framing? The real thing is bad enough and it doesn’t make me show up to argue about it. Plus you could have accurately stated “Google kills anonymous apps, threatening alternate app stores” and that would have been 100% accurate and just as horrifying.
Again, there is no need to slippery slope this crap, because it’s bad now. So why even point out how little you trust Google will do the bad thing they said they are doing for 100% real and imagine a worse thing they’ll do later, even if it’s likely that they will? All it does is invite pedants like me to argue with you, which can then be weaponized by Google to say you’re deliberately misrepresenting the issue.
FWIW, I don’t really care about downvotes either way. I am clearly not here to pander, with my “NUANCED POINT IS NUANCED, YOU NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY CHILDREN” persona.
I’m with you on the misinformation bit. But while it wouldn’t be honest to report that Google is restricting developers now, I think it’s absolutely fair to criticise and react to them building the scaffolding for such abuse down the line.
Like the UK isn’t outright banning websites promoting trans rights or other “undesirable” political movements, but they now have the technical and legislative tools to easily expand on it.
I’m not equating the two, and I agree it’s important to differentiate between what’s currently happening and what could be.
It is absolutely fair to criticise them for the stuff they are actually doing, yes.
That’s why I wrote:
Again, there is no need to slippery slope this crap, because it’s bad now. So why even point out how little you trust Google will do the bad thing they said they are doing for 100% real and imagine a worse thing they’ll do later, even if it’s likely that they will? All it does is invite pedants like me to argue with you, which can then be weaponized by Google to say you’re deliberately misrepresenting the issue.
I see you are getting some down votes, it’s not me, I swear! Your views on this are sound in my eyes.
I should have said I liked the rest of your post, it was only the bit I quoted I wanted to add in my opinion, but I kinda forgot to mention that :)
No worries, I appreciate that.
FWIW, I don’t really care about downvotes either way. I am clearly not here to pander, with my “NUANCED POINT IS NUANCED, YOU NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY CHILDREN” persona.