HACKER Q&A
📣 eth0up

Is it perfectly legal for Google to modify a user's android settings?


After being presented with an insurmountable 'agreement wall' for the Messages app (demanding I associate an account that was already associated), I forced the app to stop and uninstalled the update, which I suspect is RCS related. This allowed me to continue using Messages without succumbing to the new agreement. But every other day or so, it would occur again and I'd do the same.

Realizing that I couldn't be uninstalling this many updates, I checked Play Services and found 'my' settings had been altered to Auto Update - something I always explicitly deactivate with no exceptions. I don't want disruptive updates or stupid apps, at least half or more of which are unused, unwanted and non-removable. Unfortunately, the many such apps had now been auto updated.

There's no reason to pedantically remind me of encyclopedic user agreements and voluminous terms. I know. But is there any recourse in fighting this, beyond not using Android?

Regardless of technicalities, it's intrusive and plain wrong to invade and disrupt my personal workspace. It's pretty obvious that Google considered the legalities here by activating auto updates only over wifi. Otherwise it would be an FCC issue.


  👤 dogman1050 Accepted Answer ✓
In addition to disabling automatic updates, I disable the Play Store app except when I choose to update or download an app, then disable it again. It's a minor inconvenience, but it gives me a feeling of control over my device.

👤 solardev
Eh, uphill battle there. Google totally controls your phone on vanilla Android. If you don't want that, run an alternative distro that's de-Googlefied.

On Pixel there's GrapheneOS.