Hans-Christoph Steiner @eighthave@librem.one
Joined Aug 2019
@rene_mobile If #Android's "disabling" actually just left some read-only files on the system partition, and the presence of those files had no other effect besides taking up disk space, then it seems like it could be called equivalent to uninstalling.
@adbenitez @aleksandrayulia@floss.social @fdroidorg Both #Apple and #Google have been designated gatekeepers under the #DigitalMarketsAct, they both must open up. If we want the #EuropeanCommission to address our concerns, we must help them as much as possible. They are 20 working on #DMA vs #GAFAM/#Tiktok market cap of many trillions. Plus they have massive #monopoly profits.
It turns out that technical ground truth provides us with an amazing ability to pop their legal strategies.
Hans-Christoph Steiner
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“Try to minimize what you take with you across the border to only the essentials,” EFF’s @legind advises international travelers in @WIRED. “If you are taking a vacation, do you really need that work laptop with you?” https://www.wired.com/story/1password-travel-mode/
Hans-Christoph Steiner
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I was really hoping things might get better with GDPR enforcement at its Irish lead regulator, but this is Ireland giving the middle finger to EU data protection and to a democratically governed digital society.
https://noyb.eu/en/former-meta-lobbyist-named-dpc-commissioner-meta-now-officially-regulates-itself
@aleksandrayulia@floss.social @fdroidorg There are many organizations building a case against Google on this. Would you like to join in? Also, it would be helpful if you posted your argument publicly, like on the GrapheneOS blog.
@aleksandrayulia@floss.social @fdroidorg Could you point us to what you told the #EuropeanCommission? And could you share their actual response? We're working on building a case against it, that will require a lot of solid evidence and campaigning.
Hans-Christoph Steiner
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The intersection of the new #Google Developer Verification Policy and the #EU #DMA needs to be pondered.
Article 6.4? Yes, in need of an update, sooner rather than later.
#FDroid keeps showing the way forward: https://f-droid.org/2025/09/22/google-developer-verification-policy-and-the-dma.html
Hans-Christoph Steiner
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On 21 October the FSFE 
is participating as intervener in the hearing of the Apple vs.@EUCommission case at the Court of Justice of the EU 🇪🇺 .
This case is a milestone in the enforcement of the #DMA, and it will shape the future of #FreeSoftware and fair digital markets.
💪 Support us so we can keep defending user rights against big tech monopolies!
Hans-Christoph Steiner
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Hans-Christoph Steiner
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We're not only building #opensource, we're also using open source - whether it's Odoo, Nextcloud, Matrix, Drupal. What are your favorite open-source tools? 😎
The demo gods also really do not want more #glasshole tech in the world:
#italy #journalism
Free Software is the only way to ensure digital sovereignty and independence. Kudos to the Austrian Military for switching to #LibreOffice and perhaps more importantly, it is great that they are already set up to contribute back to the project, and doing so!
https://www.heise.de/en/news/Austria-s-armed-forces-switch-to-LibreOffice-10660761.html
#Austria #Österreich #FreeSoftware #FOSS #OpenSource #DigitalSovereignity
Hans-Christoph Steiner
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🇺🇦
@eighthave
Yes, that's true - I didn't consider replacing the disabled apps with something conflicting. That _could_ however potentially be added to the disabling function.
@cobratbq I'm missing the context to this thread, could you fill me in?
@rene_mobile Disabling also differs from uninstallation on Android because disabling blocks any other app from claiming the Application ID. And the Application ID is often used as part of an API. For example, if YouTube's Mobile Live Intent:
https://developers.google.com/youtube/android/live#intent-format
That means disabling is blocking exactly these kinds of things that YouTube competitors want to do.
#Google #DigitalMarketsAct #YouTube #Android #Intent #gatekeeper
#Google's competition lawyers claim that uninstalling is the same as "disabling" even though Android itself says they are not the same:
"If you disable this app, Android and other apps may no longer function as intended. Keep in mind, you can't delete this app since it came pre-installed on your device. By disabling, you turn this app off and hide it on your device."
There is no such warning when uninstalling:
"Do you want to uninstall this app?"
Hans-Christoph Steiner
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We've hinted before how the #EU #DMA discussions take place, anyone can see them on video from home, but it's a different thing to be able to roam there.
#FDroid's @eighthave was on the floor and brings us the lowdown.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll say "lawyers!!!", but don't turn your eyes away, this is how the sausage is made, raw, straight from the pipe: https://f-droid.org/2025/09/18/ec-dma-compliance-workshops.html
Don't forget to submit the DMA form! 😄
/PS: Yes, the subtitles grow as you read, we're making a point here!
Hans-Christoph Steiner
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@eighthave The two most adopted mobile operating systems are proprietary.
@EUCommission, #FreeSoftware is key for fairness and contestability of the #DMA.
Joined Aug 2019
