How am I supposed to refuse signing contracts with Google or Apple while still having a normal life (including with online services)?

[Secret-chest]

Since this app requires Android (not AOSP) or iOS, it does not allow for this. Please don't get me started with the "member states can choose" speak, because no member state would allow other platforms unless they are mandated to.

[Secret-chest]

In a sane policy it would not be required to run any nonfree software to stay compliant.

[NettiNiko]

It seems that the EU has just accepted to completely rely on Google / Apple and we won't have a choice. This is already the case for all banking / government apps at least here in Finland.

Google is pushing the Play Integrity API to mobile apps and planning to add it to their reCAPTCHA solutions so you won't be able to use a large portion of the web even on desktop without owning a Google / Apple - verified device.

It seems like the EU would like to help them in this regard instead of pushing back. I hope the people behind these decisions at least got some nice compensation from the lobbyists and they didn't sell our freedom and rights away too cheaply.

[0xDE57]

It really is odd that they are only supporting crApple & Goolag, when this conflicts with the EU's own goals on digital sovereignty.

As various EU countries like Germany, Denmark, France are considering moving away from Microslop in favor of Linux: https://tech-insider.org/france-ditches-windows-linux-2-5-million-devices-digital-sovereignty-2026/

Data sovereignty concerns have intensified as well. The U.S. CLOUD Act, which allows American authorities to compel U.S.-based companies to hand over data stored anywhere in the world, has long troubled European officials.

How does relying on the illegal gatekeeper duopoly of American megacorps (crApple and Goolag) bring EU closer to digital sovereignty?

Also, where is anti-trust this stuff?

Tangentially also the DMA (Digital Market Act), that aims to ensure a higher degree of competition in European digital markets by preventing large companies from abusing their market power and by allowing new players to enter the market.

By relying on Google, or things like Play Integrity (#19), they only further cement the gatekeeper into the very infrastructure, such that no one can compete.

[Secret-chest]

I just have to hope that this digital sovereignity is a sincere movement for libre software and will not just be a push to have an EU-controlled immutable distribution be mandatory.

[0xDE57]

The original issue that was closed and probably shouldn't have been as it is a legitimate technical issue:

eu-digital-identity-wallet/av-app-android-wallet-ui#104

Linking for context for future readers and quick reference.

[0xDE57]

One comment from that thread:

I wonder how many people refuse to own phones.

Quite frankly if citizens are forced to install government malware on their phones, I will happily stop owning a phone.

If you are required to have these invasive garbage apps in order to participate in society, then you are functionally forced to own a phone. Just like we are seeing with banking apps, if you run a non-OEM non-"certified" android without Play Integrity, then you are debanked.

It's funny, when I grew up owning a phone was a privilege. Now it is mandatory. This is absurd...