Earlier quoted context omitted.
All web browsers that are not Chrome, beware. You're next.
I wonder why this hasn't been escalated to an anti-trust case yet.
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Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
551–560 of 988 posts
Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
#552Earlier quoted context omitted.
We received a generic update at 05:31 UTC confirming that the app had been suspended due to abusive content (Sexual Content and Profanity: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ... ); we're following up to explain how Matrix and Element works and get this resolved.
This is insane. This jeopardizes every email, xmpp, matrix, etc; basically any 3rd party application.
> This jeopardizes every email, xmpp, matrix, etc; basically any 3rd party application.
Except of course Google's own applications. Gmail, Hangouts/Meet/whatever-it-currently-is, Chrome.
Luckily it's not possible to display illegal content with Google's own apps /s
I remember when my nephew got groomed on Google Plus, I was way to naive to think that this would not be occurring in Google's walled gardens. But in there, it turned out to be quasi-public.
Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
#553Earlier quoted context omitted.
You, like Parler, have been targeted by the powers that be. You may have nothing else in common other than that but, you're in the same boat it seems.
People will surely point out the obvious differences between the takedown of Parler and Element and I'd agree that it's not exactly the same thing, since Parler is its own platform and Element is just a client. However, when looking on a bigger picture of the recent takedowns and trying to make sense of it, it does indeed seem to be connected. The only conclusion that seems rational to me is as follows: Everyone trie…
>the only solution as far as I see it, is to extend the First Amendment to social media
I would love this, personally.
Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
#554Earlier quoted context omitted.
You, like Parler, have been targeted by the powers that be. You may have nothing else in common other than that but, you're in the same boat it seems.
Parler curated the content on their platform for months including shadowbanning new accounts until they had been approved by volunteer moderators. Accounts on Parler called for and planned violence against elected officials for months. Executives at the company spoke often and publicly supporting that content. If your going to argue with a straight face the this new situation is the same as Parler, your putting Eleme…
Do you have any sources supporting your statements here? This feels like fake news to me.
A large portion of these protests were planned on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/13/faceboo...
...should they be removed and silenced because of it? Or should all of these gigantic tech companies with the checkbooks to provide exhaustive moderation enjoy their 230 powers while denying the right to all of the little guys?
Parlor and Gab are fairly harrowing examples of what happens when censorship occurs. People leave platforms with diverse views and head to echo chambers. Those folks end up having stronger, more radical opinions because they were forced into a corner.
No one has ever given me any compelling reason for censorship. Hate is defeated in the open, it is fairly impossible to deal with in private channels. Censors also cannot censor everything, so content always slips through the cracks.
Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
#555Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well maybe, but even Ubuntu / Debian aren't workable for most people. I've used Linux and FreeBSD since the 90s and I'm still pleasantly surprised when my printer works out of the box. They're great for developers, but they've been unable to provide a usable and simple alternative for most people. Imo, partly because a lack of incentives since developers tend to create for themselves. Partly due to fragmentation lead…
Actually Ubuntu is not less usable than Windows 10. Ex on intel NUC - wifi on Ubuntu : out of box - wifi on windows : plug ethernet, install driver manually. Old printers works better on Linux, eg when driver do not work on windows 10. Libre Office outof box, Office : where is my key ? ...
- Can I install my "favourite program" on Linux?
Well sure, it's supported on X, Y and Z!
- Oh but I'm on distro A.
Oh sorry, that's not supported. But here's a post by some guy on some forum who says he made it work by doing a bunch of complicated things no one understands.
Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
#556Earlier quoted context omitted.
> What people and authorities? - Make bank account. - Bank forces you to use their app for obtaining TANs. - App refuses to run because "your phone is rooted", i.e. because you removed Google's crap. - No bank account for you, sorry bro. I have personally been through this shit. Sure, some banks offer using a physical TAN generator - but not all!
Fair point. That is a situation where I'd move bank, use an iPhone or just allow GServices on my device. There is certainly a point where you just need to be pragmatic above all else. Otherwise, you can still reduce your interactions with their other services as much as possible.
Have you considered just making your own bank?
Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
#557Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
You can use FDroid though.
How are you going to explain that to your manager?
Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
#558Earlier quoted context omitted.
The main hurdle is that (without rooting) there doesn't seem to be a way for alternative app stores to silently update software. That's bearable though unpleasant when you have one or two pieces of software that rarely get updated, that's absolutely impossible when you have 10+ pieces of software - you'll sit there for 5 minutes just approving install prompts every week, which isn't something a normal human is going…
> there doesn't seem to be a way for alternative app stores to silently update software Yes — because that's something reserved for privileged system apps. You have to root your device to take advantage of that, or make a custom ROM with the alternative store in it. Having that ability as a permission you could grant to any app is an immense security risk. But then there are "device administrator" apps that can liter…
If you root your device, doesn't that mean you will no longer be able receive Android OS software updates from the phone manufacturer?
> Unpopular opinion: well-made software that serves its user doesn't need to be updated very often. Remember how you bought a program on a CD and used the exact same build for years?
Sure, I'm even old enough to remember this but on cassettes and floppy disks! But - software now is much more complex than it used to be - most software has dependencies on other libraries/frameworks, and has to deal with communication and encryption (where it is all to easy to make subtle mistakes). IMO, for security reasons alone, it's no longer realistic to expect software without at least occasional updates.
Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
#559This is basically the last straw for me. The past week has made it perfectly clear that Big Tech will close the circle and protect their own. Anything that appears to be censorship resistant, that allows the little guy to get ahead and compete, or that allows individuals to have greater levels of privacy and freedom, will be shut down and de-platformed. As was predicted in 1948, "hate speech" has just become a smoke…
From Alex Carey in 1995:
"The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy”
Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store
#560Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
There aren't that many hurdles. 1. You download the apk 2. When you try to install it, it tells you it's from an unknown source and the installation was blocked to protect you 3. You tap "settings" and flip a switch to allow installing apps from your browser 4. You go back and tap "install". That's it. It's done. And you won't need to go to the settings the next time, it'll just work.
Sadly, you lost the 90% of users who are not tech experts by point 2.