Google wants to verify all app developers’ identities

gosuserpx8pro

Well, I don't think what is coming is a secret. The exact form it will take remains to be seen, but everything points to something I read years ago, I think it was something from the WEF's goals for 2030, one of the bulletpoints was "Transparency of communications".

What I think that means is, if you try and communicate whether in the real world or the digital world, you will be under surveillance. If you send a message or post something online, they would ideally like to be able to attribute your communication to you as a person. Mass facial recognition systems. ID checks for social media, looming Digital IDs, the attack on FOSS software and custom ROMs for smart phones. Mass internet fingerprinting. Requirements to use big tech for public transport (closed source vendor apps that require google play services).

Are any of these things not happening? They all are.

From my earlier posts regarding the Multinational Investment Corporations that own the majority of Google and Apple et al ... well they're in the WEF too. Not a coincidence.

Pocketstar

gosuserpx8pro Well, I don't think what is coming is a secret. The exact form it will take remains to be seen, but everything points to something I read years ago, I think it was something from the WEF's goals for 2030, one of the bulletpoints was "Transparency of communications".

Well, that would be terrible indeed.
I've read something about it here;
https://assets.weforum.org/editor/7evFMfKW0fXMKYd8FmjYQKOJMQ2r3iNW2r2VMNy55rM.png
I can confirm there are indeed plans for it by the WEF. (This image comes from the WEF-website itself)
Where they want to tie a digital ID to all things, or at least within the European Union, I am not sure if it has anything to do with the current state of things, time will tell however.

Blastoidea

dc32f0cfe84def651e0e
I can’t see doing it half-assed.

If put to a vote, I would vote “no”.

graphuser

Perhaps one direction to explore, if not already, is to continue integrate WebApps as for a number of app, the mobile version of the website is not that different. So that would be different profile to store credentials (epiphany does this on linux), having the shortcut in the app drawer (from a quick test with this forum, we can only add a shortcut on home), etc.

Benjamasu

r134a

Wouldn't there be still a 'window' to 'circumvent' this? What about developers or students (not yet 'verified') that want to test their app on their device (pre-production). Will they have to be verified first by google aswell, just to test their own app which isn't yet distributed on any 'third-party' appstore? How does this work currently?

I believe they have stated their intention to verify everyone. That is, make separate certificates(?) for students/enthusiasts/developers. I assume they will display a warning or something when installing such apps.

gvprtskvni

Sorry if this is a laughably naïve question, but why would Google pulling out be the end of AOSP? Open source desktop OSs seem to be doing fine even without Megacorp backing, what makes it so different on mobile?

secrec

gvprtskvni Open source desktop OSs seem to be doing fine even without Megacorp backing

What open source desktop OS's are there that don't have Megacorp backing?

Murcielago

Note: If you are looking for technically detailed information on the subject, do not click on the link.

But if you like a humorous approach to the subject, it might be something for you:

SAMTIME - Google is Ruining Android

gvprtskvni

secrec Most Linux distros I would have assumed but I guess I'm wrong?

secrec

gvprtskvni Yes, very wrong actually. Even Gooble backs Linux at the kernel level as well as a number of associated libraries and packages. IBM owns Red Hat and therefore backs EL and all derivative distros. While the economics are different and not necessarily in your face the same way as some systems, the fingers of Megacorps are all through EVERY distro in existence.

Even Apple. Look into what is behind CUPS (the printing system used by most, if not ALL Linux distros).

schklom

secrec Debian is fairly free from megacorps funding if i read https://www.debian.org/partners/ well.
Most corporate sponsors just give hardware and network resources like CDN and webhosting and servers, devs are not paid by sponsor money.

secrec

schklom Debian is fairly free from megacorps funding

As a singular encompassing project maybe, but not even close when you look into the individual components that they are putting together. Without the kernel, there is no debian. Without cups, there is no printing from it. You can put your own distro together from all the various components and just because you aren't getting megacorp money being deposited straight into your bank account, you need to realize that you are using HUNDREDS or THOUSANDS of pieces that individually wouldn't exist without megacorp somewhere in the background.

schklom

secrec > you are using HUNDREDS or THOUSANDS of pieces that individually wouldn't exist without megacorp somewhere in the background

I am pretty sure that's not what anyone means here, or can reasonably expect. At least I don't. Redhat and others are partly funded by corporations like Berkshire Hathaway, and their devs are paid with it. That reasonably means influence.

Debian is not at all similar to a megacorp, and does not pay devs anyway.
In real life, how much closer than Debian can a big group get to being uninfluenced by megacorps? Would you expect a group of unpaid volunteers relying on donations to make their own kernel, OS, and every single piece of software they add? Even Google doesn't do that, although they half-do with Android kernel and OS.

The guy behind TempleOS did, and it now belongs in a museum.

LGgos

There's no escape from the megacorps. End of the day most people can't afford to work for free and so capitalism gets involved.

I think if things go as extreme as feared with online surveillance I'd be tempted to just sack it all off and "touch grass" so to speak. Have my government-mandated surveillance/ID device (to be used also for things like banking) and otherwise give up the internet, pop that thing in a corner preferably in a metal box and go catch some sunshine before it burns us all to death or read what books we're still allowed access to.

Anyway as for AOSP the cat is already out of the bag so it'd just be forked. I mean doesn't Huawei pretty much do that already?
Wouldn't it be ironic if the Western governments got so obsessed with spying on their own citizens that those citizens let the Chinese spy on them instead (because at least they're in a different country and can't as easily hurt us)? I suspect that would be classed as the domestic surveillance idea backfiring somewhat.

vlad

LGgos because at least they're in a different country and can't as easily hurt us

it doesn’t work this way, unfortunately.

DavidXanatos

When I read that news I was really really shocked! One more reason to finally move to GOS.

LGgos

vlad care to elaborate?

NetRunner88

dc32f0cfe84def651e0e
Not everything is libre neither.
I prefer security, libre is a plus

Ammako

traveller that would make sense, if the majority of smartphone users right now weren't using years-old phones that stopped receiving updates a long time ago. It's not like a switch gets flipped overnight and suddenly there aren't any users left for your app.

TranceSeven

traveller The developer(s) of WhisperIME and other useful apps has already stated that they won't be identifying themselves to Google, so their apps won't be available "on certified Android devices" in the future.

From that, we can only hope that they'll continue to develop the apps for the rest of us. However, I wonder about what incentive they will have when there's a fraction of the user base. A lot will depend on their motivation for writing the apps.

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