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An Open Letter to Google regarding Mandatory Developer Registration for Android App Distribution
(keepandroidopen.org)
this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2026
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Fairphone with Linage or e/OS, the best EU alternatives
i have a feeling android is not the best alternative to android
That is nonsense, Android is OpenSource, based on Linux, adapted to mobile, but with APIs controlled by Google, Linage, e/OS, Ubuntu Touch, etc...... are other distros of Linux for Mobile, compatible with Android apps. There Google can do nothing to avoid the use of not approved apps, like it can do it in Android due it's inbuild APIs and banning those from Google Play, which other OS don't have or use. Because of this I also don't like GrapheneOS, because it works only on Google Phones, which can block apps on HW base if Google want it. In other Phones, eg.FairPhone with own idependent OS, there Google see only the middle finger.
The entire android project is pushed forward by Google. Take a look at how helpless graphene is when Google hides patches for longer and longer each year. Android is always has been and always will be googles ultimate expression of control. Only Linux mobile will unshackle us
https://beehaw.org/post/25210600
Don't forget that Graphene OS is made to work exclusivly in a Google phones, that gives Google naturally the possibility to control what you can do with Graphene OS and what not. But Google didn't have any influence in independent Phones and other Linux forks than Android. It's like saying that MS has influences in Linux Mint or other distro on desktop. Google has influences in his products, OS and its apps, not in those of others.
Its OS underpins everything. There’s is no truly open source android
Android as such is FOSS, but as said + Google's added crap. Out there also exist an degoogled version without it. It's a modified Linux for Mobile, same as other mobil distros.
You’re misunderstanding the ecosystem. The degoogled ROMs like graphene and e/os still rely on the Google releases of AOSP, hence why Google is allowed to strangle them with biyearly releases. There’s aren’t any major android projects that use a completely open system because android is inherently closed.
There are Linux systems which use a translation layer to interop with android apps for example sailfish os however this is also closed
i get the feeling that both lineage and graphene are only temporary measures; locking down android is only the first step and google will push for further lockdown eventually.
They literally have no power over the ROMs lol