It is still happening. Although not as bad as it initially appeared.
What can we do? Use GrapheneOS and contact your representatives. That's pretty much it. But good luck, your reps are likely trying to actively promote locking down the OS.
this post was submitted on 14 May 2026
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Thanks. I will do those things.๐ช
In addition to GrapheneOS (Motorola/ Google Pixel), I was considering brands made in the EU: Jolla phone with Linux or FairPhone with eOS.
Note that you can also get the Fairphone with iodeOS installed, which may be preferred as e/OS's launcher is closer to iOS in appearance while iodeOS looks more like stock Android. Based on personal taste for that I think, but I would prefer iodeOS.
I got e/OS and just installed a different launcher, but I think it's great that there are more options for Fairphone.
Using graphene or lineage won't help. You will still need to avoid google services. Which means no banking apps, government apps, McDonald app, Whatsapp ... And the list goes on.
My google android device runs GrapheneOS, with which you can use sandboxed google play services. Yes, the google play services API will likely block nonconforming apps from functioning if they use play services, but apps don't have to use play services, and you'll still be able to install anything you want. As far as I'm concerned, any app that stops working when google pulls the plug in September will be replaced with a FOSS alternative.
I've already swapped to GrapheneOS and refuse to use anything from the Play store. Don't even have it installed.
Most of the apps I was already using day to day have GitHub repos with apks and Obtanium auto updates for me.
Yeah losing banking apps sucks, but oh well? I don't see the big loss there. I'll just use the desktop site and anything else I'll just go to my bank physically.
I'd rather deal with the inconvenience at this point.
I can't remember the last time i had a banking app. Are they so critical in your experience?
I use the web browser.
My bank (Capitalone) won't allow check deposits by the web browser and is closing their physical locations so you can't deposit in person either.
Damn. No local branches to visit is ass.
What do you do if you want to make a large withdrawal or deposit?
Time to switch to a local credit union.
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People need to start working on hacks to freeze or patch Google Play Services ASAP.
The cat-and-mouse game that will start once this is rolled out is only a temporary solution; legislation and making google roll back this decision is the only long-term solution. That, and real Linux phones running something other than Android.
I read on the keepandroidopen github that the "advanced flow" for "side-loading" is delivered through Google Play Services, not the Android OS, meaning Google can modify, restrict, or remove it at any time without an OS update and without any user consent.
So, yes, I think you're right, GrapheneOS, PostmarketOS, /e/OS and the likes would be safe (for now) since they don't have the "Google Play Services". I read MicroG is a way to get core functionalities of the Play Services API.
For Linux phone, the Jolla phone has peeked my interest. But I would be missing Android apps, unless there is virtualization to run those??
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Like Microsoft, Google seems to be forcing Power Users to Linux.
But, wouldn't we (or you) miss the Android apps? Interesting though if we could make that happen.
I think our best chance to have less influence from Google would be legislation from the EU. (Government of France ๐ซ๐ท is based: they're going Linux).
I dont know about all the Linux for phone. But I do know couple of them let you run Android apps. I think Valve might even be working on something for the Steam Frame. Which I assume could be ported to the phones.
And yeah I would miss apps. But Ill only be dicked around so much.
While I'm not going to say its over, it sure looks like Google is about to make it a whole lot harder for people to escape their influence.
And the worst part of this is it would seem even the most "privacy conscious" governments are on Google's side.
Because locking everything down and removing our privacy is good for the children... Just never mind the rich pedophile cabal that almost nothing was done about other than slapping the wrists a few very high profile scapegoats.
So, in this case a Linux phone would be best?
Anyway, I'll get a phone with a different OS than Google Android. But I'm not sure about Linux yet. I like my Android FOSS apps.
That is the thing iOS is better default but its FOSS apps are low, and I understand why 100 bucks a year thing. I whish iOS would allow 3rd party stores like really allow them not the bullshit they are doing in the EU,
I used to multi-boot a rooted android with whatever rom caught my fancy. Kali (pwnpad I think it was called) was a thing for a while. You know, when Android was fun and you could do such things. I wonder how viable that is these days.
Let's be honest it already isn't mine
I keep hearing this and I'm going to be honest this take sounds like hyperbole. All I see is it requires developers to send in identifying credentials. How does one turn into the other? Can someone explain that without catastrophizing?
Like, I'm with you, I just don't like bad arguments.
To add to what the other reply said, developer verification comes with the implication that Google reserves the right to refuse verification. There are also legitimate reasons a developer might not even want to attempt to verify with Google to begin with. Admittedly, the vast majority of Android users probably don't use software from outside the Google Play Store, but it's a right they've always had and one Google is about to make much harder to exercise or discover, hence a loss of true device ownership for everyone.
If you've only ever lived in ecosystems that only permit software installs via first-party means (think Apple or game consoles), this may not sound alarming. To those of us used to the software situation on PC, where you can freely run any software as long as it exists, this feels like a major hit to software freedom.
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People saying this believe you should be able to do whatever you like with the things you purchase without additional conditions. If that's not the case, in some sense, you don't own it.
It's possible that it doesn't matter to you. Apple is incredibly popular and tight controls on what you can do are their entire business model so clearly it's a model that works for companies.
But to the people that do care, they tend to care a lot. It's infuriating. They've been supporting, evangelizing, even developing the android ecosystem and this feels like a rug pull.
I've been getting into some games on itch.io.
Allll of those .apk files are going to turn into garbage in 100 days.
Its like the death of flash all over again.
And here there's a list of regulators to which you can complain: https://keepandroidopen.org/cta/#consumers
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Since this runs through the Play Store, what if the Play is disabled, Play Services are disabled but you are still on Android. They can't enable this on your device right?
Didn't they already try that? I switched to "arrrrgh" a long time ago. Find an old android phone and make the best.
I am using a couple of android devices that are rooted and pretty well de-googled. I am using F-droid and other repos and pretty much sticking with open source. Will this change hit any of the FOSS stuff? I understand we can still install those apk's as per usual.
Honestly, seeing how Linux has been exploding in growth thanks to the steam deck and copilot, I don't see how this doesn't do anything other than bring about a sort of streisand effect. Normies are gonna stick with their normie shit. They don't want to learn anything different. They likely are already giving up data and privacy. I hate to be this guy but.... fuck em?
It's always been an arms race. To one degree or another. And the so it continues. Just keep fighting.
It's the "Google Play Services" that will obligate the developers to identify with their national ID and pay a fee. Many developers already announced they will stop updating their FOSS apps, and others have warned that their app might stop working because they do not agree to Google's terms.
So, if Google Play Services is sandboxed or not installed on your device, you're device is safe from Google's mayhem.
(I chuckled at your "always been an ARMs race" ๐)
Heyooo I missed my own pun :)
I'll take a laugh wherever I can when everything sucks this hard.
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