Sideloading, or the practice of installing apps directly onto your mobile device without going through an app store, has become a hot topic in the world of mobile app development. As technology continues to evolve and user preferences shift, it's essential to understand what sideloading means for you, as a developer, consumer, or regulatory agency.
Google recently aired an episode of their Android Developers Roundtable series, where they stated that "sideloading isn't going anywhere." However, this statement is false. The truth is that the developer verification decree effectively ends the ability for individuals to choose what software they run on the devices they own.
The term "sideload" has been coined to insinuate that there's something sinister about installing apps directly onto your device. However, in reality, it's simply a matter of putting software on your computer, regardless of whether it's in your pocket or on your desk. This process is often referred to as direct installing.
According to Wikipedia, sideloading refers to the transfer of apps from web sources that are not vendor-approved. By this definition, Google's statement about sideloading being a fundamental part of Android and not going away is simply false. The reality is that vendors like Google will approve or disapprove the source of the app.
What does this mean for your rights? Starting next year, Google will be pushing an update to your operating system that irrevocably blocks your right to run whatever software you choose on your device. This means that you'll no longer have the freedom to develop and share apps directly with your friends, family, and community without first seeking Google's approval.
As a state, you're ceding the rights of your citizens and your own digital sovereignty to a company with a track record of complying with extrajudicial demands from authoritarian regimes. This is not only a concern for consumers but also for businesses and governments that rely on software critical to their operations.
The impact goes beyond devices that exclusively use the Google Play Store, affecting over 95% of all Android devices outside of China. Regardless of whether you prefer to use a competing app store or a free and open-source repository like F-Droid, you'll be captive to the overarching policies dictated by a corporate entity.
In promoting their developer registration program, Google claims that they've found over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play. However, without seeing this recent analysis or any supporting evidence, it's difficult to take these claims at face value. Instead of casting vague disparagements against software development communities outside their walled garden, perhaps Google should focus on improving their own safeguards.
What can be done? The public outcry against Google's heavy-handed policies has accelerated recently. Last year, they crippled ad-blockers in Chrome and Chromium-based browsers by forcing through their unpopular manifest v3 requirement for plugins. It's time for a change, and it starts with understanding the truth about sideloading and mobile app development.
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