In first, Japan issues cease-and-desist order against Google (www.japantimes.co.jp)
from cm0002@lemmy.world to world@lemmy.world on 15 Apr 20:40
https://lemmy.world/post/28274077

#world

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unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de on 15 Apr 21:06 next collapse

Damn Japan, good stuff.

huppakee@lemm.ee on 15 Apr 21:07 next collapse

In an unprecedented move, the Japan Fair Trade Commission on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order against Google for violating the country’s anti-monopoly law by forcing manufacturers to preinstall the company’s apps on their Android smartphones.

This is the first time that Japan has issued such an order against any of the major U.S. technology companies referred to collectively as GAFAM — Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft.

engene@lemmy.ca on 16 Apr 02:11 next collapse

MAGAM sounds more appropriate - Meta Apple Google Amazon Microsoft 😉

huppakee@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 11:18 collapse

Totally should suggest that to Japan time. Maybe also suggest l AMGAM or MAGMA, I like those too.

dickalan@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 04:09 collapse

I guess this is the new one and FAANG is out??

huppakee@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 11:48 collapse

N for nvidea and no Microsoft?

WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works on 16 Apr 14:37 collapse

I think N is netflix

DjMeas@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 15:26 collapse

In Japan it should have been Meta, Apple, Netflix, Google/Alphabet: MANGA.

toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world on 15 Apr 21:26 next collapse

reminder: if you have anything saved with google, you should probably move it to somewhere that’s not tied to the US govt. mark my words: it’s just a matter of time before they weaponize Google.

Scrollone@feddit.it on 15 Apr 23:28 next collapse

Yes. Backup everything and move away.

I’ve started using Qwant as my search engine and it’s not bad at all

toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world on 15 Apr 23:50 next collapse

that’s awesome! this is the first time in decades that i’ve even heard the name of a search alternative. i’m from the hotbot days. do you know if or how much it’s rooted in google’s search? i know that’s wording it poorly, but i hope you still know what i’m asking

ISOmorph@feddit.org on 16 Apr 05:12 collapse

Qwant uses Bing search results AFAIK.

toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 06:21 next collapse

jesus fucking christ

paschko_mato@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 16 Apr 07:42 next collapse

I heard they are working on their own search engine

Vanilla_PuddinFudge@infosec.pub on 16 Apr 13:21 next collapse

Might as well use a SearX instance.

Scrollone@feddit.it on 17 Apr 07:05 collapse

But they’re working to create an independent and European search index together with Ecosia.

peaceful_world_view@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 04:36 next collapse

Thanks, I’ve switched as well.

gabbath@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 05:17 collapse

Ecosia for me. I still find myself asking Google for stock prices and such, but other than that it’s ok. Berlin based apparently, plus I like that they plant trees for every search you do. I don’t like that they have sponsored links at the top but I suppose that’s how it goes.

calisti@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 16 Apr 07:11 collapse

Don’t they also use Bing search in the background?

feddinand@feddit.org on 16 Apr 12:41 next collapse

Bing and / or Google (you can choose).

But their working together with QWANT on their own search engine.

And from a privacy perspective I’d argue, that it’s still better to use Ecosia / QWANT.

gabbath@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 17:08 collapse

Not sure, I have to look into it more. When I switched last year, it was just because I liked the green initiative. It wasn’t really that serious for me beyond that.

DishonestBirb@lemmy.world on 15 Apr 23:31 next collapse

This applies to Apple as well.

ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net on 16 Apr 01:14 collapse

And Microsoft.

aceshigh@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 01:27 next collapse

Which email provider to use?

kooks_only@lemmy.ca on 16 Apr 01:52 next collapse

Was just going to say “host your own on AWS” and then remembered who owns aws.

Might have to literally host my own now.

CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 02:52 collapse

Good luck. I’ve heard that it’s almost impossible to host your own email now because companies like Google will blacklist it and send all your emails to your recipient’s trash instead of their inbox.

brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 16 Apr 03:22 collapse

Residential IPs are generally gray listed. Same with any cloud provider IP pools. You can get a mail relay for sending email if you want an easy way. Or find a local colo who has their own IP block where you can host a small server. It might take a little time to warm up and build that reputation, but not impossible.

lefaucet@slrpnk.net on 16 Apr 03:54 next collapse

Posteo.net is a buck a month

toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 06:16 next collapse

i’ve switched over to proton for now. that’s not advice, though. look them up before you decide to try them.

huppakee@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 16:33 collapse

I’m very happy with proton’s service and products (email/calender/drive) so even with the asshole CEO it still feels like good choice. Maybe not as good as some other options out there, most likely would have chosen Tuta if I would switch now.

toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world on 18 Apr 00:46 collapse

ugh, this is exhausting. what’s asshole about this CEO?

edit - techstory.in/proton-mail-faces-backlash-over-clai…

any other alternatives that aren’t pretty much guaranteed to turn reich? edit - yeah, that last sentence i didn’t read. thanks.

blueeggsandyam@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 12:36 next collapse

I use fastmail. I have used it for couple of years now and it has been working well. It was a calendar, notes and file functions too. Tried proton. The app was always slow to open and refresh. It is also easier for people to understand fastmail.com when you are giving them your email.

biofaust@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 15:45 next collapse

Tuta.com

European, not Swiss, privacy-focused.

huppakee@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 16:42 collapse

Not an email provider but I’ve been using addy.io (addy.io) for a few weeks now and I feel it deserves a shout out. They let you use email aliases to protect your real email. There is a good free option which I use.

I had been using DuckDuckGo’s version (duckduckgo.com/email/) but they require you to use their browser on mobile or their extension on desktop. Also free.

MellowYellow13@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 02:46 next collapse

Why dont you think its weaponized yet? Thats crazy

toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 06:20 collapse

you’re ahead of the class, my friend. sometimes one must remove the tinfoil hat before addressing the crowd.

Vanilla_PuddinFudge@infosec.pub on 16 Apr 13:20 next collapse

I’ve been putting off reflashing my custom rom without gapps… I have the necessary self hosted infrastructure in place where I wouldn’t need Google. I just needed the extra push.

Thanks for the push.

a9249@lemmy.ca on 16 Apr 14:42 collapse

I have a ton of pinned map points for both my work and travel all over the world from the last decade or so… does anyone know of a way to export these from google in a format that will easily plug into openmaps or some other app? There are thousands and manually doing this is not really an option…

nixigaj@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 15:17 collapse

I don’t know about being easy to plug in, but Google Takeout lets you request an order of all data they have tied to your account across all services, in compliance with EU rules.

towelie@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 17:37 collapse

I’m not sure what the google maps export looks like, but no matter how it’s formatted I’m sure that a simple Python script will be able to transfer the map markers over to openmaps. I’ll look into making this if it doesn’t already exist on GitHub. I’d like to transfer my stuff over too.

aramova@infosec.pub on 15 Apr 21:28 next collapse

Not going to do much. If they actually wanted changes and not fines, they’d do something truly novel like order the manufactures to use GrapheneOS or some other actual open source OS that doesn’t depend on financing provided by the app stores and ads.

Otherwise, you’re just making a show for the sake of showmanship, empty gestures.

turmacar@lemmy.world on 15 Apr 23:23 next collapse

GrapheneOS

The phone OS that only runs on Pixel devices. That’ll teach Google.

[deleted] on 15 Apr 23:48 next collapse
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BeNotAfraid@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 01:21 collapse

Room Temperature IQ vibes

aramova@infosec.pub on 16 Apr 00:11 collapse

It works on some Samsung devices. The entire reason it doesn’t work on more devices is because the manufacturers don’t release the kernel source. Or did you miss that in the docs?

Better question is, why would the courts not order the kernels to be open for open firmwares?

“Let’s order a for-profit company to eliminate their profit method, and ignore the actual problem” is a specialty of ignorant courts… And commenters.

So the courts, instead of addressing the real problem of phone makers only making hardware that for-profit partners can write software for, they just order the for-profit software makers to… remove the profit?

The fuck kind of ass-backwards thinking is that?

turmacar@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 02:20 collapse

The last supported Samsung device was the S4.

Because ordering someone to develop something is more complicated and nuanced than saying what they’re currently doing is unacceptable and they need to do something else. Courts are a reactive body. Legislature is who would need to push for open kernels/hardware/firmware.

aramova@infosec.pub on 16 Apr 03:16 collapse

And so we won’t fix the real problem and just react.

turmacar@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 03:35 collapse

When watching the plumber work it’s unhelpful to complain that they aren’t fixing the electrical.

If you want to be part of a team attempting vast sweeping changes with no oversight or nuance maybe DOGE is still hiring.

Granted that’s not in Japan.

Lightor@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 13:45 collapse

This guy knows better than all of the professionals in the Japanese government, impressive. I mean he called out an OS that only runs on Google phones, but he’s figured it out guys!

aramova@infosec.pub on 16 Apr 13:57 collapse

Ah yes, because unless you’re on a government payroll, you’re clearly unqualified to point out superficial policymaking. Must be nice to believe that calling out performative regulation is the same as claiming omniscience.

GrapheneOS does primarily run on Pixel phones—because those are the only phones where the hardware allows verifiable, secure boot processes and full control over firmware. Samsung and most others lock down key components and make it impossible to truly sandbox or audit the system at the level GrapheneOS demands. That’s not a limitation of the OS—that’s a limitation of the closed, proprietary design of most Android OEMs.

Which, funnily enough, is exactly the problem.

The Japanese ruling is essentially: “Hey, stop forcing your apps, but keep the same Google-dependent infrastructure, monetization model, and walled-garden app stores.” It’s like demanding Coke remove the label from the bottle but still sell it in the same vending machines—still Coke, still their turf.

If they actually wanted to disrupt the monopoly, they’d be mandating real platform openness—allowing non-Google OS installs, pushing for hardware-level access standards, and ensuring devices don’t lock out third-party operating systems or app ecosystems.

But yeah, let’s all clap for another fine and pretend something changed.

Lightor@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 15:01 collapse

Ah yes, because unless you’re on a government payroll, you’re clearly unqualified to point out superficial policymaking. Must be nice to believe that calling out performative regulation is the same as claiming omniscience.

Must be huh? The combination of assumptions and ignorance is awesome. I mean lets ignore that the people making these decisions went to school for these things. What is your educational background to be making these claims? Or do you just know things and learned on Google, so you know how a country should handle these things.

GrapheneOS does primarily run on Pixel phones—because those are the only phones where the hardware allows verifiable, secure boot processes and full control over firmware. Samsung and most others lock down key components and make it impossible to truly sandbox or audit the system at the level GrapheneOS demands. That’s not a limitation of the OS—that’s a limitation of the closed, proprietary design of most Android OEMs.

Cool story bro, still makes your suggestion a garbage one.

If they actually wanted to disrupt the monopoly, they’d be mandating real platform openness—allowing non-Google OS installs, pushing for hardware-level access standards, and ensuring devices don’t lock out third-party operating systems or app ecosystems.

Yah, Japan should be pushing to control the specifics of how a company based in another country. That’s the right move. This guy is big brain. Clearly.

But yeah, let’s all clap for another fine and pretend something changed.

No one is clapping about anything, they are just laughing at your nonsensical ranting.

aramova@infosec.pub on 16 Apr 16:03 collapse

Yah, Japan should be pushing to control the specifics of how a company based in another country. That’s the right move. This guy is big brain. Clearly.

So, your argument is Japan should be pushing to control the specifics of how app stores work against a company based in another country, because pushing specifics of how to control kernels on the same devices which actually enforces the closed ecosystems on a company based in another country isn’t the right move. Got it.

Cognitive dissonance at its finest.

Lightor@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 16:07 collapse

I never said what Japan should be doing. Never once, that’s you just auguring with yourself man lol. You don’t even need me, you can just make up stuff I say and get mad about it all by yourself.

avidamoeba@lemmy.ca on 15 Apr 22:11 next collapse

Tariffs incoming in 3, 2…

Geobloke@lemm.ee on 15 Apr 22:26 collapse

This is push back against the tariffs. Japan got hit hard

avidamoeba@lemmy.ca on 15 Apr 23:07 collapse

Yeah but the orange thumb isn’t known for rationality so joke aside, I wouldn’t put it past him to escalate.

_____@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 01:36 next collapse

How do you move it ?

goldenquetzal@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 03:02 next collapse

You love to see it.

Mustakrakish@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 14:03 collapse

Anyone know of a good android fork to switch to? I’m sick of using the google bullshit

IndustryStandard@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 14:42 next collapse

GrapheneOS. However it only installs on Google phones as only those have their bootloader unlocked.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 16:51 next collapse

I’ve seen the word so much lately I read “bootloader” as “bootlicker” at first.

fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net on 17 Apr 17:11 collapse

A phone with a locked bootloader is a bootlicker phone

towelie@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 17:34 collapse

LineageOS works as well and you can get it running on more phones than Graphene; however, GrapheneOS is superior in terms of security

Jotunn@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 15:14 next collapse

I’ve switched to CalyxOS. It supports some more manufacturer and models than GrapheneOS. Got no idea how their user experience compares. It’s a bit of tinkering to do, so it’s not for the untechnically inclined. Also, make sure you got a way to log on to things without using an authenticator or make sure it won’t get lost when the phone gets wiped.

etuomaala@sopuli.xyz on 18 Apr 06:57 collapse

There is no good android fork. Android is garbage. You wouldn’t believe how difficult it is to contribute to the OS or port a fork like lineageOS to a new phone. Even just compiling android is a massive pain in the ass. Mobile linux, like postmarketOS, is the clear way forward. And not on former android phones, but on phones with open hardware specs, specifically designed to work with mobile linux.