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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

#462

Post by MaxBarraclough »

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…

Update posted on Twitter:

> Morning all. We've had contact from Google confirming that the suspension is due to abusive content somewhere on Matrix; we're working with them to explain how Element works and get the situation resolved.

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

#463

Post by akvadrako »

oji0hub wrote: post #415
unethical_ban wrote: post #399

Don't forget that F-Droid is a thing, and Android still has at least that much freedom - to install your own software. Who would have thought 30 years ago someone would be saying "People can run any code they want on their computer" as a shocking thing.

Installing software outside of play store is technically possible, but if something contains enough hurdles, most people won't do it, which results in no users and a meaningless platform.

Only if your users are really lazy. It's certainly easier to install Element from an Apk then it is to set element up from then on.

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

#464

Post by justaj »

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.

There are debug version apks available here: https://buildkite.com/matrix-dot-org/element-android/builds/...

Click on "Assemble GPlay Debug version" (or "Assemble FDroid Debug version" if you don't have Google Play Services), then click on "Artifacts" and then choose your apk from there.

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

#465

Post by DyslexicAtheist »

walrus01 wrote: post #289
Shorel wrote: post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Newsflash: there is a chat system so secure, Google doesn't want you to know it exists.

I don't think that can be the full rationale behind whatever got it removed, if that were the case, they'd absolutely have removed Signal quite some time ago.

haven't followed matrix implementation for a while. Last time I checked their e2ee was still not quite ready to deserve that name[1]. is it a solved problem now and is crypto used in matrix now truly e2ee so that it can be comparaed to Signal. Maybe I've missed the research papers suggesting otherwise but it seems comparing Signal w. Matrix is apples and oranges (even when just talking about e2ee and ignoring the centralized/federated aspects of the 2 technologies)

what is the actual state of matrix e2ee today? (or is that question silly because it depends what the individual matrix clients chooses to implement).

I'm extremely excited about having a federated e2ee messenger, however as a "Lawful-Intercept" realist, I don't have a lot of hope that it will not get forced to comply with current EU regulation proposals, that prevents Matrix from fulfilling its promise as fully e2ee. (e.g. the future that we're heading to in the EU is the same as 5/9-eye countries: there will be a "legal" way of encryption and another one that is illegal, all depending if access can be given to 3rd parties / LE...)

[1] (Sad) state of E2EE in Matrix clients (from 2018): https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/9avyen/sad_state_o...

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

#467

Post by volta83 »

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.

Can't you just use a web app or any other matrix client if this happens?

If Google were to "ban" slack from their store, their browsers, etc. then you would be quite in trouble.

But with matrix, just pick a different client and move on.

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

#468

Post by ath92 »

jgtrosh wrote: post #351
okso wrote: post #339

Doing this just a week before FOSDEM [1], a very large conference that will run online using Matrix, is scandalous. https://fosdem.org/2021/

https://fosdem.org/2021/about/sponsors/#google Uh oh

It's almost as if Google is not one person but consists of many people with different opinions/interests

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

#469

Post by hiq »

onethought wrote: post #171
young_unixer wrote: post #160

I hope more apps start allowing to directly download an .apk file from their website. I don't have Google Play Services or the Play store installed on my phone nor do I want to install them. Yes, it's my responsibility to update the app, whatever, just give me the file.

Is there a standard that could verify an apk against a certificate? ... or an I just describing building an alternative play store?

Where do you get the certificate from? If you get the APK and certificate from the same source, there's no security benefit of verifying the certificate on top of having a proper TLS connection.

If you update the application, Android will check that the certificate of the current version matches the one from the update before allowing you to install it.

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

#470

Post by matbatt38 »

simonkafan wrote: post #256
joshbuddy wrote: post #31

I wonder if there is a way we place these App Store decisions into the hands of a third party. Either that or break Android away from Google and forbid them from colluding.

It would already help if the rules of the app stores were decided by a parliament. And kicking a provider out of the store requires a court ruling.

That would make legit ban very slow and ineffective tho
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