| > I believe it's possible to keep an app's data on uninstall. It's not the default behavior, but that doesn't really matter in this case. It's not and it does matter. > And what does "legally mandating them" even mean? Not sure how what's unclear about "legal mandate". If the law says, Google complies. > The "security issues" exist regardless of this policy change - as I've already said. They don't exist to the same extent, you repeating them doesn't make them more universal or true. Other vendors and forks exist, the simple existence of Google Play didn't mean every app is compromised by Google, now it will. > Google could easily do whatever they want with your phone anyway due to control over system apps and the OS Google doesn't control every vendor, controlling all signing keys is much easier than quite literally backdooring the OS for simply Google. There's a large difference in how visible any such malicious actions would be. > As for "forced monetization", that's just reaching Are YouTube's forced midroll ads "reaching" as well? There's no fundamental difference, they monetized someone else's content. Controlling signing keys allows to simply patch the ads in. I'm not entirely sure why you don't see how it makes it easier for them. |
I was mistaken - you're right that you can't keep app data. It still doesn't matter because they already have easier ways of running whatever code they want on phones with Google play.
> Not sure how what's unclear about "legal mandate". If the law says, Google complies.
I mean that I don't understand what your original statement was. Is it that governments can force google to hand over your signing keys? I agree that it is a concern, it just isn't the issue I was commenting on. I didn't mean to bring that into this - I just didn't understand your meaning.
> Google doesn't control every vendor
They don't need to. They already have system apps on every phone running Google play, which is the exact same list of devices that will be affected by this change. You're right that they don't control every (or even most) OS vendors for Android, but they don't need to.
> Are YouTube's forced midroll ads "reaching" as well? There's no fundamental difference, they monetized someone else's content.
I'm not debating whether midroll ads are right or wrong, I'm debating the technical merits of this incredibly roundabout method.
"Patching ads in" on an app-by-app basis is nonsense - why not just add it to some hooks in Google play services? Not to mention they'd have to make sure it doesn't break the apps themselves. Why waste the time and money? Hell, force app developers to insert code into their own apps by changing the policies on the store. I bet it's result in a lesser outcry than if they did it secretly. Signing keys as a conspiracy to show more ads is ridiculous when they have better vectors elsewhere.