Application Gatekeeping: An Ever-Expanding Pathway to Internet Censorship
9 hours ago
- #Tech Governance
- #Digital Rights
- #App Stores
- Apple and Google removed ICEBlock app due to US government pressure.
- Google introduces a global registration system requiring developers to provide ID and pay a fee for Android app distribution.
- The registration lacks clear ties to app security and raises privacy concerns.
- Volunteer, small teams, and privacy-conscious developers may abandon Android development.
- Centralized registration could enable government access to developer data and chill innovation.
- Google's move may reinforce its app store monopoly amid ongoing antitrust litigation.
- Support for decentralized technologies is crucial to counter centralized control.
- EFF endorses F-Droid's open letter opposing Google's registration system.