EU is banning bootloaders unlock?

KitsuneNoBaka

argante Ad to EU: they don't belief that snail is a fish. They belief that paper takes all bullshit as long as powerful want's it and there are money to make.

other8026

Posted this in another thread, but figure it is relevant here too. The project account said this in response to someone asking about the news.

We don't think there's going to be any issue for us from this.

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GrapheneOS

cdflasdkesalkjfkdfkjsdajfd

It seems that this directive indirectly prohibits the unlocking of bootloaders.

It does not do that and we do not expect any issues for GrapheneOS based on this.

argante

GrapheneOS https://www.dday.it/redazione/53894/la-fine-delle-custom-rom-e-dei-bootloader-sbloccati-in-europa-samsung-la-prima-gli-altri-seguiranno

Translated:

Why RED impacts custom ROMs even if installed aftermarket

Today, systems like GrapheneOS, but this also applies to custom ROMs, are not distributed in Europe as operating systems for finished devices. Instead, they are promoted for use as operating systems for devices already on the market.

This means they are not directly subject to the RED Directive; they simply must be careful not to alter the behavior of the radio module in a way that violates RED requirements and must preserve the original device's compliance mechanisms. If a ROM introduces modifications to the radio drivers, its developer could be held jointly responsible for the device's non-compliance.

The real problem is that if GrapheneOS, or another ROM, enables the illicit use of radio frequencies or has the potential to alter the radio component in any way, the device manufacturer or the importer into the EU could also be held liable. This is why bootloaders are blocked by manufacturers: if third-party software can modify the radio component, they are responsible.

de0u

argante the potential to alter the radio component in any way?

Is the suggestion that Linux on laptops is over in the EU, because it's easy to replace the upper-level Bluetooth software, and potentially tweak power levels?

monogram

argante GrapheneOS https://www.dday.it/redazione/53894/la-fine-delle-custom-rom-e-dei-bootloader-sbloccati-in-europa-samsung-la-prima-gli-altri-seguiranno

argante similarly interesting point - somehow I keep coming across Italian articles: https://www.smartworld.it/news/android-bootloader-rom-bloccati-direttiva-europa.html

Those "articles" are just braindead translations of a groundless and likely AI-generated text from Xiaomitime.com which is making up connections between unrelated facts.
I'd simply disregard them.

GrapheneOS

argante It's not accurate. GrapheneOS is not a ROM and this law doesn't have an impact on GrapheneOS which it wouldn't have on a laptop/desktop where there are also radio drivers and the OS setting the regulation region. They're not thinking or writing about this logically. It's not what the law does. Contrary to common misconceptions, smartphones are also not the only personal computers with radios...

argante This is not accurate either. It's not known what's going to happen with the age verification stuff yet and whether GrapheneOS will be permitted.

mttc

de0u im my opinion locking Firmware or looking complete operating systems esse completly different thing. If the law would really prohibit getting root permissions on my PC, that would be a disaster and should not be accepted by any owner or company. On mobile devices it seems to go in this direction, which would mean passing root permissions to big companies in the US or China.
First manufacturers start dropping the possibility to Unlock bootloaders such as Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi.

argante

similarly interesting point - somehow I keep coming across Italian articles: https://www.smartworld.it/news/android-bootloader-rom-bloccati-direttiva-europa.html

The news comes just days after another European initiative: the new age verification app, which for security reasons excludes uncertified Android devices. Here too, the result is the same: less freedom for users who choose alternatives to the official system.

Graphene1

GrapheneOS we don't know whether GrapeneOS will be permitted. What a crazy dystopian time line we are entering.

argante

GrapheneOS This is not accurate either. It's not known what's going to happen with the age verification stuff yet and whether GrapheneOS will be permitted.

US congress.gov - It's just a project, but look at the direction they're going and clearly point to the device and operating system.

SEC. 107. Age verification study and report.

(a) Study.—The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, shall conduct a study evaluating the most technologically feasible methods and options for developing systems to verify age at the device or operating system level.

(b) Contents.—Such study shall consider—

(1) the benefits of creating a device or operating system level age verification system;

Eirikr70

Graphene1 I really thought that de0u had closed this absurd debate, but it seems like some of us like to frighten themselves for no reason...

Graphene1

Eirikr70 read GrapheneOS's above reply.

"It's not known what's going to happen with the age verification stuff yet and whether GrapheneOS will be permitted."

Eirikr70

Graphene1 You are mentioning a different point. This thread is about the EU regulation of the firmwares. We can wait and see what happens for the age verification, to which another thread is dedicated.

Graphene1

Eirikr70 sorry bud, my response was in response to GrapheneOS's point on the IDs, you then responded about the bootloader topic.

Probably9857

Graphene1

Yeah, I was tempted to make that observation yesterday. I don't understand the harsh reaction to your comment.

Titan_M2

Can someone verify they are still able to unlock the bootloader on August security patch level?

Eirikr70

Titan_M2 Yes you can. Will this joke get to an end?

cdflasdkesalkjfkdfkjsdajfd

Titan_M2 Not checked, but I'm pretty sure these changes, if affect, will affect future devices

Titan_M2

Eirikr70 Just wanted to be sure.

Divby0

https://xiaomitime.com/dont-panic-eu-isnt-ending-bootloader-unlocks-soon-59697/

de0u

Divby0 LOL. If actual journalism were operating there, that would have been a retraction.

Instead now the site contains two contradictory articles by the same author about the same eyeball-attractant rumor. So, twice as many ad impressions, FTW!

Murcielago

Divby0 de0u

It’s worth noting that the initial wave of concern originated not from official EU sources or reputable technology outlets, but from an AI-generated content site. This is a critical distinction

LOL. You have to have (AI-generated) balls to write something like that if at the same time you're responsible for the article that has been quoted the most in this whole discussion about EU banning bootloader unock.

It would have been even funnier if so many people (including from GrapheneOS project) hadn't had to waste their time debunking these rumors.