Google mocks Epic’s proposed reforms to end Android app market monopoly - eviltoast
Google should be barred from “treating Epic differently,” Epic Games says.
  • ozymandias117@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    9 months ago

    Huh. That’s a weird restriction that definitely gives credence to their case

    Are accessibility services only part of Google Play and not AOSP…?

    Edit: FalseMyrmidon pointed out an article about the restriction below

    https://www.androidpolice.com/android-13-blocks-accessibility-services-sideloaded-apps/

    Which states it’s only for side loaded applications, not for applications downloaded through a separate app store, so this wouldn’t affect Epic

    It’s also important to note that Google is only restricting sideloaded apps. If you use an alternative app distribution platform like F-Droid or the Amazon app store, you won’t run into the accessibility services restrictions

    • FalseMyrmidon@kbin.run
      3·
      9 months ago

      Things like screen reader access have huge potential uses by malware. Generally it should not be trivial for a program to get that level of access to everything you do.

      • ozymandias117@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        The restriction of being limited to Google Play and not other app stores implies the implementation is part of Google Play Services, and not included in AOSP

        So I was curious if that’s how it’s implemented on Android - I know Google loves moving features out of AOSP

        However, things like Android-Password-Store used Accessibility services through F-Droid for autotyping back when I used it

        So, trying to understand what has been locked down, since I’m planning on going back to GrapheneOS

        • FalseMyrmidon@kbin.run
          4·
          9 months ago

          https://www.androidpolice.com/android-13-blocks-accessibility-services-sideloaded-apps/

          It just takes an additional warning acknowledgement.

          Google isn’t fully stopping sideloaded apps from using accessibility services, though. Once you’ve run into the dialog saying that accessibility services are restricted for the app in question, you can activate access under the app info screen in the top right corner via the “allow restricted settings” menu entry, so if you’re a power user interested in augmenting your phone with a legitimate app, you can still do that. This seems like a loophole that nefarious apps could circumvent by instructing users to enable restricted settings. Thus, it’s possible that Google will still change this behavior before going live with stable Android 13.

          • ozymandias117@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            9 months ago

            Thanks!

            It’s also important to note that Google is only restricting sideloaded apps. If you use an alternative app distribution platform like F-Droid or the Amazon app store, you won’t run into the accessibility services restrictions, with Google probably reasoning that applications in app stores are screened, at least to a degree.