GrapheneOS Claims Google, Apple Are Blocking Alternative Phone Operating Systems
The GrapheneOS Foundation has accused Google and Apple of using device verification to lock users into the hardware and software approved exclusively by either company. On Sunday, the organization behind the de-Googled Android alternative posted a long thread on X claiming that these verification methods are sold as security features but actually eliminate competition.
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The accusations mostly center on Google's Play Integrity API, which lets Android app developers check whether a device runs certified software. The GrapheneOS Foundation says this system prohibits its OS despite being "far more secure than anything [Google] permit[s]." For example, banking apps and authentication tools now use Google's checks to block devices that run modified versions of Android.
Google's reCAPTCHA system recently added mobile verification, requiring users to scan QR codes with their phones. This system requires Google Play Services version 25.41.30 or higher. But this automatically blocks ROMs that are advertised as privacy-focused—like...
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