This just breaks legitimate downstream distros that target Pixel devices.
replyRansomware gangs, etc still get red carpet service.
So all the non-pixel-specific stuff is in a publicly accessible repo? So the pixel team just decided that they wanted to keep their kimono mostly closed?
replyYes, but that’s the only reference android device, so the whole ecosystem is getting pretty close to completely locked down. Google is going to require devs to register, pay and get permission to publish Android software sometime next year. Locking pixel owners out of third party operating systems means they get to force pixel owners to hand control over their devices and applications to Google.
replyThe motorola / GrapheneOS partnership gives me some hope though. Maybe when the pendulum swings back in 2028, the US will pass consumer protection laws, and we’ll have the right to import devices that allow open ROMs, and demand they be supported by cell networks.
(I doubt the moderate democrats would support this, but I’d guess the DSA candidates could be convinced to.)