Freedom in Android is fading, but we can still reverse the course
Lucas Lasota Android became the world’s most-used mobile system because it was Free Software. Step by step, Google is closing it. But we can change this.
Do you remember your first Android phone? I do – and it was fascinating. In 2009, I experienced the power of Free Software in a mobile device. My earlier "feature phones" were limited and proprietary, whereas Android gave me a glimpse on what software freedom means. Friends of mine even began their IT careers by tweaking Android phones.
Google profoundly changed the market of smartphones by releasing its mobile operating system as Free Software under the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Apple, Google’s main competitor, kept the proprietary model to full extent, negating everyone the possibility to flash their phones.
Because of the freedoms it granted, a large community of developers flourished, and Android became the world's most widely used mobile operating system. It was a fair deal: Google benefited from strong network effects, while developers and users enjoyed software freedom in their mobiles.
For almost two decades, Android offered a model which Free Software apps, browsers, app stores and operating systems could operate and compete against the proprietary ones. By contrast, Apple was the sole ruler over its devices: even installing software requires the company’s permission.
Until now. Recent changes in Android are waning the differences between the two models. Google is enclosing the development of AOSP by a developer verification scheme and the app store registration program. These changes endanger Android as an open platform.
Google states that all these measures “strength security” – but the question is: what is the price of abandoning Free Software? Android has been serving billions of users and developers. It proved Free Software as the most successful model. Moving away from it will jeopardise Google’s own triumph.
We must correct this course. Society cannot afford two Apples!
Security and trust of your device should not be decided by one or two big tech.
Become an FSFE Supporter today!
Apple and Google are not the same. Is this about to change?
Android offered something Apple was never willing to offer: unfettered software installation.
Although Google has moved functionality from AOSP into their proprietary app layer, Google Play, developers and users were still able to run any software they wanted. In contrast, the mere fact of flashing iPhones could be considered crime in some countries.
More recently, however, Google moved the development of Android behind closed doors. Source code is still being published in batches, but the public branch of AOSP was deprecated. This was a severe setback for Android developers who are not employed by Google. Still, it is not comparable to how opaque the development of iOS is.
Then a harsh blow came: the measures to verify the identity of the developers and to register app stores hit unfettered software installation directly. These schemes impose on “non-verified developers” a lengthy and complex procedure, consisted of with many steps, including a “24h waiting period” before their apps can be installed!
Is Google is turning itself towards Apple’s business model? Many of us are currently wondering.
Security and fraud are real problems. But does the way to solve them really involve a global identity register of developers? Does it require to force Free Software app stores to pay fees up to 16.000 USD annually?
What is the FSFE doing about it?
We envision a world in which everyone should have the right to install any software on any of their devices. Neither the manufacturer nor the platform owner should decide what runs on your device. This applies to Google, too.
- Many developers working with Android are concerned. Google’s employees included. We listen to them and engage with relevant teams.
- We ensure more people understand all those changes, and supported the global campaign “Keep Android Open”.
- Regulators constantly reach out to us. The European Union, the UK, Japan and Brazil are regulating Android. We educate them on why keeping Android open is key for fair competition, security and freedom of choice. We are helping the knowledge transfer between developers and decision makers.
- Lastly, we won a court case against Apple. We believe EU legislation should be developer friendly. Innovation and long term benefits for society should not be hampered by lawyers in the interest of maximising short term profits.
My previous experience with Android taught me what software freedom feels like. Now, more than ever, we should repeal proprietary business model over devices. Society will loose in the long run if Android abandons its main advantage: Free Software on its core.