Freedom in Android is fading, but we can still reverse the course
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.
Support FSFE