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Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

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Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#371

Post by einpoklum »

j_barbossa wrote: post #275

While we have found a way to establish and execute rules in the real world (legislature and jurisdiction) we have completely forgotten that we need something like that in the digital world as well. And now a few VPs of Google and Apple dictate who's allowed to bring in their apps into their holy app store.

> While we have found a way to establish and execute rules in the real world

You are assuming that states legislate primarily in the public interest. I disagree. Public pressure can influence legislation, but fundamental interests of ruling classes usually take precedent.

> we have completely forgotten that we need something like that in the digital world as well.

We have not "forgotten" something which is a claim, or opinion (and which I do not share).

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#372

Post by eternalban »

mrec wrote: post #228
swiley wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People on here think that most "normal" people are going to figure out how to sideload apps. No. I visited my parents church at the beginning of this year and very few people were talking about that. What they were talking about is giving up on smartphones and social media altogether which is probably not a bad idea.

> What they were talking about is giving up on smartphones and social media altogether That's incredibly encouraging to hear. It seems to be a common feature of "I quit Facebook/Twitter/whatever" accounts that once you break the immediate addiction there's no real urge to go back, so if this does happen it should have a decent chance of sticking. (And as a mobile refusenik I sometimes feel like the last holdout left,…

(LOL), you're not alone.

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#373

Post by einpoklum »

garmaine wrote: post #85
blhack wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is matrix? Like the movie? Or the math thing? ( https://matrix.org/ )

It's basically (IRC + XMMP) 2.0.

... but in which typical client sessions look like Slack sessions, and the clients are typically heavy and slow and you would not enjoy running them on weak hardware :-(

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#374

Post by brettwilcox »

Arathorn wrote: post #3

So we got notified by the developer console at 21:45 UTC that the app had been suspended, but still haven’t had an email to explain why - it’s 02:24 now. Our assumption that this is due to someone reporting abusive content in Matrix to Google, and Element catching the blame — although this is currently speculation. To be clear: Element is a Matrix client just as Chrome is a Web browser, and just as it’s possible to v…

I'm testing Element and Matrix at American Airlines.

There are big players with clout that take issue to instability such as this. How can I rely on my company using Element when it gets pulled? Not cool Google...

To the element team, reach out to me if you can't get the support you are looking for.

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#375

Post by posguy »

rstuart4133 wrote: post #320
walrus01 wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how is this handled for SIP softphones that can run persistently in the background, in a direct SIP or SIP-over-TLS connection to a server? for instance: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.linphone&h... that's just a random example I thought of since I use it, but I can also think of a lot of other Android apps that I'm fairly sure aren't using any client-server communications mediated through google f…

Android has it's own SIP stack. It's even exposed in the standard Android phone dialler from Google. In the settings for that app look under "calling accounts". https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/sip I haven't looked, but I'm sure just like Firebase, services get a special exemption to receive SIP notifications.

The Android SIP stack is pretty crummy. Last I tried to use it there was no support for TLS registration (leaving your calls unencrypted, barebacking the web) or for push notifications.

Linphone, Zoiper, etc can show a badge in your notifications menu/top bar at all times and get semi-reliable access to run in the background, but expect to miss 5% to 20% of all incoming calls. Firebase push notifications are mandatory if you care about battery life or reliable inbound calling :c

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#376

Post by Vinnl »

ArcVRArthur wrote: post #106

This is very disruptive to me. Our business chose to use Element because of the privacy and interoperability functions it afforded us through end-to-end encryption and the bridges feature (matrix.org/bridges).

Does this also affect existing installs, or only (attempted) new ones?

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#377

Post by rangoon626 »

swiley wrote: post #211
rangoon626 wrote: post #14

Bookmarking this one for when my friends chide me for “still” using iOS.

If you think this isn't coming to iOS next you've got another thing coming. If you actually do care about privacy and free speech and aren't using an iPhone because they're fashionable in your country then you should check out purism and pine64. They're the only phones I know of that are designed not to run "mobile OSes".

It’s not that iOS is safe from this, it’s that in all practicality, Google is not really that different as what my friends popularly suggest. Android is not a free, open OS. Well, it is to a point, but realistically that point is not much further than ios for most users.

As for an alternative mobile OS, I would love to get my hands on Sailfish, but it’s not available for the US.

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#378

Post by edrxty »

kitkat_new wrote: post #335
edrxty wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My comment elsewhere got buried but it might be useful to you. Pattle also appears to have been removed. Ditto and FluffyChat at the moment appear to still be up on the store though. For those unaware, these are all Matrix clients.

Afaik Pattle is discontinued

Dunno, it's still listed as an official app and links to the play store.

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#379

Post by Shared404 »

Yoric wrote: post #330
avereveard wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

should have built your own phone with your own store - hn hivemind

We tried. - The FirefoxOS team. - The Jolia team. - The UbuntuPhone team. - ...

I'm optimistic that PinePhone may finally be the one to do it, at least to an extent that it's usable if you're willing to hack on it.

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#380

Post by yorwba »

brettwilcox wrote: post #374
Arathorn wrote: post #3

So we got notified by the developer console at 21:45 UTC that the app had been suspended, but still haven’t had an email to explain why - it’s 02:24 now. Our assumption that this is due to someone reporting abusive content in Matrix to Google, and Element catching the blame — although this is currently speculation. To be clear: Element is a Matrix client just as Chrome is a Web browser, and just as it’s possible to v…

I'm testing Element and Matrix at American Airlines. There are big players with clout that take issue to instability such as this. How can I rely on my company using Element when it gets pulled? Not cool Google... To the element team, reach out to me if you can't get the support you are looking for.

Reach out how? You have no public contact information in your HN profile.
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