Looks like the Apple Store has a similar policy https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/106658813153945020
FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
11–20 of 293 posts
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#12This is outrageous. Google definitely lived long enough to become a villain. It is incredible how much goodwill they've lost in the past decade. When was the last time they did anything good ?
I was glad they walked back on Dragonfly and (effectively) killed AMP.
In the process they did lose me as a user of their free products though. And they lost me as a developer, I no longer opt for building with their tools, including Chrome, Android, Angular, GCloud, etc.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#13This is sad, but I do think I see the issue here. You are loading the website in your own app so it is considered part of the app experience. If you load the website externally using the mobile browser it shouldn't be an issue.
> You are loading the website in your own app
I don't think they are.
> If you load the website externally using the mobile browser it shouldn't be an issue.
The screenshots look like browser and not some in-app website view.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#14This is sad, but I do think I see the issue here. You are loading the website in your own app so it is considered part of the app experience. If you load the website externally using the mobile browser it shouldn't be an issue.
[deleted]
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#15There is an obvious internal conflict of interest in Google. Donation based app being banned are a result of that conflict of interest.
But this is just a tip of an iceberg.
While sometimes Google does something to patch the issue, it can not on itself fix it. Because it is caused by a core flaw of the company business model.
It supports two competing platforms where only one earns money and gives control. It renders Google to be incapable of supporting both app creators and open web properly.
I wrote about it lately:
https://tomaszs2.medium.com/ups-we-broke-the-web-again-sorry...
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#16Is there a specific reason the app is not available via F-Droid? My guess is lack of time, but maybe it's something else?
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#17This is absolutely outrageous and disgusting from Google. I cannot believe how at the rate the world is changing (pace wise, with each new technological breakthrough) the law simply cannot keep pace. We've allowed AI systems unfettered, unrestricted access to our lives. AI is being deployed with absolutely no oversight (Apple's CSAM comes to mind), I'm not even sure there are any laws at all. How can apple just deplo…
Why are you assuming this is an AI-driven decision? It looks like human intervention to me.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#18Tell Google how you feel about that by searching "google app store alternatives", then installing Aurora Store.
From the Aurora Store FAQ:
What is the difference between Aurora Store and Google's Play store?
Unlike Google's Play Store, Aurora Store doesn't track your downloads or the apps you use. We respect your privacy. Aurora Store is also unaffected by Google marking your device as uncertified or lacking of necessary Google apps. Play Protect is not present, as this is a Play Store only feature.
Do I need Google Play Services to use Aurora Store?
No. Aurora Store was built to access the Google Play store without any kind of Google services. It doesn't matter if you use it with or without Google Play Services/MicroG.
Is it safe to use Aurora store?
Aurora Store is fully open-source and verified by F-Droid. If you're asking about the safety of the apps in the store, those are the exact same ones the Play Store would load and display. A lot of dangerous stuff seems to sneak past Google though, so as a rule of thumb, don't download anything which you're unsure about.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#19This is outrageous. Google definitely lived long enough to become a villain. It is incredible how much goodwill they've lost in the past decade. When was the last time they did anything good ?
I was glad they walked back on Dragonfly and (effectively) killed AMP. In the process they did lose me as a user of their free products though. And they lost me as a developer, I no longer opt for building with their tools, including Chrome, Android, Angular, GCloud, etc.
> and (effectively) killed AMP
err, what? I still regularly get AMP links from news.google.com
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#20This is sad, but I do think I see the issue here. You are loading the website in your own app so it is considered part of the app experience. If you load the website externally using the mobile browser it shouldn't be an issue.
Nope, it's an external link and even it wasn't it would be a lame excuse.
What if a webpage links to google.com, does that count as providing access to violence and pornography?