I’m seeing a bunch of posts about how Google has decided to stop allowing side loading on Android phones. But the EU relatively recently forced Apple to do the exact opposite. Won’t they just do the same thing for Android phones? Sure, people outside the EU market will lose this ability as a default, but presumably you can just order a Euro phone on ebay if you are outside the EU.

So why is everyone panicking? I think Google is definitely being shitty by trying to do this, and I support the development of other open source alternatives. I like the fact that this could be a big wakeup call for that effort. But I am wondering if this is also not as big of a deal as everyone is making out.

  • Zak@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    23
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    11 days ago

    This is absolutely not fine, but it’s probably not illegal under the EU DMA.

    • Addv4@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      11 days ago

      The theory I’ve heard is that is exactly why they are doing it now, as apple has set the “side loading” precedent in the EU.