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Is it possible to allow sideloading and keep users safe?

(shkspr.mobi)
205 points ColinWright | 1 comments | 30 Aug 25 12:03 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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enriquto ◴[30 Aug 25 12:59 UTC] No.45074254[source]▶
> Are you allowed to run whatever computer program you want on the hardware you own?

Yes. It is a basic human right.

> This is a question where freedom, practicality, and reality all collide into a mess.

No; it isn't. The answer is clear and not messy. If you are not allowed to run programs of your choice, then it is not your hardware. Practicality and "reality" (whatever that means) are irrelevant issues here.

Maybe you prefer to use hardware that is not yours, but that is a different question.

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mathiaspoint ◴[30 Aug 25 13:01 UTC] No.45074265[source]▶
Or it's not a computer and really something more like a television. In that case these things should be thought of as a vice rather than a productivity tool.

The social structure of the smartphone app ecosystem is remarkably similar to the cable provider -> network -> show situation from before too.

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cwillu ◴[30 Aug 25 13:13 UTC] No.45074354[source]▶
Only because of sustained pressure from all the usual suspects to try to make that the social structure.
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mathiaspoint ◴[30 Aug 25 13:16 UTC] No.45074381[source]▶
I think it's always going to evolve that way when people are so concerned about "safety" (no matter how that's defined) that all the escape hatches are removed.
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1. gumby271 ◴[30 Aug 25 19:51 UTC] No.45077502[source]▶
Is it the people that are pushing for this though? Apple has long pushed privacy and security as a way to maintain their control over personal devices, the people just believe it and accept it. Google is just taking notes and seeing how profitable that approach is. Provided there's no push back, they'll succeed easily with no one actually asking for this.