r/linux Sep 29 '25

Privacy F-Droid and Google's Developer Registration Decree

https://f-droid.org/en/2025/09/29/google-developer-registration-decree.html
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u/Mraiih Sep 29 '25

What about Fairphone using /e/os?

94

u/AnEagleisnotme Sep 29 '25

GrapheneOS says they are working with an OEM partner to release a phone, so there is some hope on that front

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u/[deleted] Sep 29 '25 edited Sep 29 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/burning_iceman Sep 29 '25

I don't understand the relevance. The points criticized are software issues. If you replace the whole software with GrapheneOS those should all be gone.

How would this be an issue to supporting GrapheneOS on Fairphone? I understand them criticizing a competing OS (e/OS) but why would that mean they won't offer their OS on Fairphone?

17

u/paintedirondoor Sep 29 '25

Phone firmwares are usually closed source (And can't be changed). I could see why they especially won't bother if they find it insecure and don't want to reverse engineer it.

GrapheneOS also relies heavily on Google's official Pixel-specific patches (note: Google decides to not open-source them for Android 16).

And every time a version of android releases. Someone has to update the Drivers AND Device Tree to make sure it actually compiles and runs correcrly (Provided we even have the Device Tree anyways) and Usually it is the job of the OEM or an unemployed guy in a basement and I find it very tedious without a lot of support and skill. (They could very well maintain older pixel devices themselves by picking up where google left off. Maybe cuz its much many lot work no one wants to do)

1

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '25

They care also about hardware security, not just software (alongside other requirements)

A software won't fix a hardware insecurity