[birdsongs]

It's not Linux phones that we need. We already have alternatives, like graphene and other AOSP forks.

We need corporations and governments to stop locking down and gatekeeping vital software to closed ecosystems.

A Linux phone doesn't help me when my government's 2FA system (BankID) only runs on Android and IOS phones and can only be acquired with an app store account.

[Avicebron]

> We need corporations and governments to stop locking down and gatekeeping vital software to closed ecosystems.

If you can't get the government to do this for you in Norway the US has very little hope currently.

We need some standard of minimal digital accessibility. Too much of our lives mediated by digital interactions with capricious systems.

[hparadiz]

The irony is none of this is a problem in the US. We still have a ton of banks that you can use without a smartphone. Even my bank's app works fine on a rooted Android or GrapheneOS.

Europeans are doing this to themselves.

[ryukafalz]

I just recently, in the US, got bounced through a bank authentication system (Wells Fargo's) when trying to order something from Amazon that required me to use their mobile app. I don't use an Android or iOS phone; as best I can tell there is no way to successfully complete that authentication. I even have a hardware TOTP token from the bank now, but even that they won't accept.

Now, my card info did in fact get compromised recently, and that's probably why I ended up needing that stronger auth flow. But the fact that I literally can't complete that stronger bank authentication without Google or Apple is... yeah. No.

I have since signed up for a different credit card that I plan to use from here on out.

[birdsongs]

> Europeans are doing this to themselves.

I mean, tbf the situation was fine until the US transitioned to an autocracy, and the companies went full surveillance state evil, completely supporting the autocracy. Which is a relatively recent development.

But sure.

Most places here are working as fast as possible to decouple from any reliance on the US, and I would expect Norway to switch to the new EU digital ID system currently in development.

[hparadiz]

> US transitioned to an autocracy

this is too funny coming from a continent constantly at war with itself

[birdsongs]

Cope all you want, the broad spectrum opinion by most experts and independent research groups holds it to be true.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_backsliding_in_the_...

[hparadiz]

As a natively Russian speaking Jew born in Crimea I really don't need any lectures on democracy from someone who ran away to Europe at the height of it's American enforced century of stability. My childhood was listening to stories from my great grandmother (born in Moldova) losing her entire childhood and several family members to European savagery. European so called Democracy isn't even one lifetime old. It's hilarious that you think Europeans have any moral high ground here whatsoever. It took the US to save Ukraine from the Russians and while the entire EU was waffling and talking about "escalation" we were actually doing something about it.

[eMPee584]

which as of now seems to depend on google/apple services being in control of your device and thus gets us half a tiny step closer to freedom at most..

[vintermann]

Competing to be best in class at US loyalty, more like it.

[vintermann]

You say that as if Norway is somehow super civilized and enlightened when it comes to these things, that's not the case. Norway is best in class when it comes to compliance.

The new base agreement with the US, for instance, for practical purposes declares several areas in Norway to be US territory. It's rampantly against the Norwegian constitution of course, but that doesn't matter because the parliament seems to have agreed to just unanimously consent and not talk about it further.

Sea bed mining was a farce. Everyone said it was a terrible idea, including Equinor itself. Approved anyway. My assumption is that someone from US/NATO whispered "strategic minerals" into some party leader ears, and they suddenly decided to fast-track it without further discussion.

It would surprise me a lot if there weren't similar fast-tracked, no discussion, "it has been decided" deals about digital sovereignty. Norwegian politicians may not like the guy currently in charge over the Atlantic, but they view him as a temporary aberration and an occasion to prove their loyalty (to the crown, rather than the guy currently wearing it).

[type0]

Speaking from experience, it's not only ID systems but if you run non-Android (some AOSP) they might still require you to install an App only available with Play Services or on iOS to do business with government agencies or even apply for funds in some European states. In other words if you are using GrapheneOS, from gov. agencies point of view you might as well be a criminal. Actually given how frequent ID-theft is nowadays, it's actually easier for criminals to launder their money than privacy preserving individuals or companies to pay taxes in EEA.

[troyvit]

I'm not familiar with that system. Here in the US I can go to the bank and do anything I need personally with an ID. Is that not doable where you are?

[Telaneo]

My bank doesn't have any physical locations. Those that do have worse rates, and I've had bad experiences with several of them anyway.

[someplaceguy]

One of the most popular banks in Brazil doesn't have physical branches. It doesn't even have a functional website. App only.