Android developer verification: Early access starts

I actually think you might be wrong about this? Imagine if Google forced you to solve a logic puzzle before sideloading. The puzzle could be very visual in nature, so even if a scammer asked the victim to describe the puzzle over the phone, this usually wouldn't allow the scammer to solve it on the victim's behalf. The puzzle could be presented in a special OS mode to prevent screenshots, with phone camera disabled so the puzzle can't be photographed in a mirror, and phone call functionality disabled so a scammer can't talk you through it as easily. Scammers would tell the victim to go find a friend, have the friend photograph the puzzle, and send the photo to the scammer. At which point the friend hopefully says "wait, wtf is going on here?" (Especially if the puzzle has big text at the top like "IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS, THEY ARE LIKELY VICTIM OF AN ONGOING SCAM, YOU SHOULD REFUSE", and consists of multiple stages which need to be solved sequentially.)

In addition to logic puzzles, Google could also make you pass a scam awareness quiz =) You could interleave the quiz questions with logic puzzle stages, to help the friend who's photographing the puzzle figure out what's going on.

I guess this could fail for users who have two devices, e.g. a laptop plus a phone, but presumably those users tend to have a little more technical sophistication. Maybe display a QR code in the middle of the puzzle which opens up scam awareness materials if photographed?

Or, instead of a "scam awareness quiz" you could could give the user an "ongoing scam check", e.g.: "Did a stranger recently call you on the phone and tell you to navigate to this functionality?" If the user answers yes, disable sideloading for the next 48 hours and show them scam education materials.

I beg to differ:

> In early discussions about this initiative, we've been encouraged by the supportive initial feedback we've received.

> the Brazilian Federation of Banks (FEBRABAN) sees it as a “significant advancement in protecting users and encouraging accountability.” This support extends to governments as well

> We believe this is how an open system should work

Google isn't "hinting" that they're doing this under pressure, that announcement makes it quite clear that this is Google's initiative which the governments are supportive of because it's another step on a ratcheting mechanism that centralizes power.

> because the governments of countries where such scams are widespread will hold Google responsible

Your comment is normalizing highly problematic behavior. Can we agree that vague "pressure from the government" shouldn't be how policies and laws are enacted? They should make and enforce laws in a constitutional manner.

If you believe that it's normal for these companies and government officials to make shadow deals that bypass the rule of law, legal procedures, separation of powers and the entire constitutional system of governance that our countries have, then please drop the pretense that you stand for democracy and the rule of law (assuming that you haven't already).

Otherwise we need to be treating it for what it is - a dangerous, corrupt, undemocratic shift in our system of governance.

Sorry, *allow*? ALLOW?

I'm sorry. My device. My software. My customer or friend. You don't have the right to insert yourself into the process. Very kind of you to ALLOW me to do something you have no involvement in whatsoever.

Like everything google do the real reason for the plan is to let google insert themselves unwanted into someone elses business so they can extract money from other people's work.

I would bin my android phone now if the alternatives weren't even worse,