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We need a ban on checking the manufacturer/supplier of a device/os instead of checking for APIs.
Was literally looking at a new VW the other day while getting some warranty work done (non VW). This news dropped the same day on my Lemmy feed and I said that takes VW out of the running.
I will never use an app to interface with a car
Good news, you’ve not missed anything. It’s a shit app for the id4 at least.
Hahahaha
Fuck you VW, and your hypocrisy.
Remember Dieselgate anyone?
updated its mobile apps to no longer support GrapheneOS
This is not accurate. They updated the app to actively block GrapheneOS and other third-party Android builds.
The distinction is critical; unsupported combinations often work.
They updated the app to use the Play Integrity API, which GOS does not meet.
Not that it means anything, of course. GOS is far more secure than Google's laughable excuse of a certification.
They updated the app to use the "Play Integrity[sic] API," which actively blocks GOS.
"Does not meet" implies there is something reasonable GOS could do to "fix" it, which untrue and misleading. The malice on Google's and Volkswagen's part is an important part of the story.
Requiring a valid Play Integrity API response is a blanket enforcement on all custom ROMs, regardless of security measures.
This was not a targeted attack on Graphene. GOS users just tend to be more vocal and....paranoid.
“Does not meet” implies there is something reasonable GOS could do to “fix” it
"Does not meet" has more than one meaning. Don't play dumb.
I didn't say the attack was "targeted" only on GOS; you made that up yourself. But it is an attack, as opposed to something with a valid excuse.
Also: it's only paranoia if they aren't actually out to get you.
Big companies have been trying to lock out custom ROMs for years, it's a giant cat and mouse game. The integrity bullshit thing is just another move. And the fascists in charge have been stripping regulations which is allowing these companies to make such bold moves.
I think we're on the same page here. I apologize for coming off so harsh.
That is until the official Motorola partnership happens with GoS and Motorola. It's the missing piece for integrity verification as of current listed requirements on Google's documentation. They needed to have first class support from a major OEM. Looking forward to seeing how Google will change that maliciously. This includes attestation.
The pessimist in me thinks the GrapheneOS Motorola partnership won't happen, Google will put pressure on Motorola and make it fail. I really hope I'm wrong though.
That is until the official Motorola partnership happens with GoS and Motorola. It’s the missing piece for integrity verification as of current listed requirements on Google’s documentation. They needed to have first class support from a major OEM. Looking forward to seeing how Google will change that maliciously. This includes attestation.
Good point, I didn't think about that. It will be very interesting to see what happens.
Interesting indeed. I know I'll be buying one pretty much no matter what as long as reasonably priced.
This is very odd, agree with the devs. Seems like a very aggressive action and with no reasoning behind it?
I wonder what the real story is.. What had GrapheneOS enabled (or blocked) on user phones that got their executives so pissed they'd explicitly block GrapheneOS users from their apps?
It's just stupid oversight, they switched to the Play Store API, which naturally excludes Graphene OS. But mind you this is the same managerial incompetence that brought us the lack of a Volks-Wagen (an affordable car that is) from Volkswagen, withdrawing partially from BEVs just as they get fully embraced and the sales start to accelerate, and of course who could forget the let's be honest fully C-suite ordered Diesel exhaust cheating.
At this point, Volkswagen needs to be shut down and all middle~executive management needs to be prosecuted going back 20 or so years. They're all criminally incompetent and ruined thousands of livelihoods with their negligence.
I'm sure we'll get that transparency any minute now. Same transparency I'm waiting for why my work is going for Return-to-office while simultaneously short on desks to return to office.
They changed something in the play integrity or one of those similar libraries. They're not explicitly targeting GrapheneOS, it's affecting some other platforms too. It was also affecting iPhones, but I think they've since fixed that.
Maybe, the technical explanation is hopefully forthcoming. The article (which I will concede doesn't seem super professional) explicitly says "banned by Volkswagen", which is what I'm curious about.
It's shitty journalism. The source is this https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/35949-volkswagen-app
Thanks for that! Sounds like SEAT and Cupra (both have Volkswagen Group as their parent companies) are also affected - I wonder when this will spread to other Volkswagen & Porche-owned brands. What a terrible move for consumer choice/security/etc.
Companies that don't respect your privacy don't deserve your money either.
Problem is, thanks to capitalism, you're no longer choosing from dozens of companies. You're choosing between 2-3 conglomerates that own the dozens of brands. And all conglomerates will do the exact same shit, because they can, and you're left twiddling your thumbs, not choosing between auto manufacturers but between owning a vehicle or not.
Buy used, it's much smarter anyway, as you avoid a lot of depreciation that way.
Eventually the supply of used cars that don't do this shit is going to run out.
Stop confusing workarounds for a solution. The only actual solution is political: banning these anti-consumer practices entirely.
This should get interesting when motorola releases a phone with GrapheneOS on it.
With the number of countries trying to crack down on privacy-focused phone OSs, I'm a little worried Motorola may get cold feet after talking to its lawyers. Has Motorola made any public statement promising these phones are coming?
Agreed. As desperate as I am for a genuine OEM GrapheneOS phone, I won't believe it until it actually happens.
Correct take. Corps only care about money and reputation.
Just presume it contains spyware my dude. Even if the company had the best intentions they'd just get infiltrated by private and state spies. But Motorola is literally run by the likes of the NSA, CIA and that it isn't a secret they are a US military infrastructure provider. They got so ingrained in the military that they had to split the company up but same same.
"They are two separate companies but same same"
Yeah, okay..
Yep same same with any other big tech firm.
But Motorola is literally run by the likes of the NSA, CIA and that it isn’t a secret they are a US military infrastructure provider. They got so ingrained in the military that they had to split the company up but same same.
You're thinking of Motorola Solutions. It and Motorola Mobility, the smartphone company, haven't been related since 2011. The latter was spun off of the original Motorola as a completely different company over 15 years ago, and at this point is wholly owned subsidiary of Lenovo. The two may share a name, but that's about it.
Motorola Solutions is the publicly-traded "true successor" to the original Motorola conglomerate, while Motorola Mobility is nothing more than an LLC underneath a much larger umbrella that is Lenovo and it's own Chinese parent holding company.
Yea but same same.
Thats fine, Volkswagen is hereby banned from my life.
Already was for me, their cars are worse than American cars. I'd sooner a Ford or Chevy. And I haven't owned an American car in 20 years.
VW is Audi too for those who don't know.
Volkswagen Auto Group (VAG) is huge. It contains:
- SEAT
- Skoda
- Cupra
- VW
- Audi
- Lamborghini
- Bently
- Ducati
- Porsche
- MAN
- International
- Scania
And that’s just the vehicles.
I forgot VAG owns International now...
Don't forget about the currywurst sausages! Part number 199 398 500 A
That's fine, I wouldn't own a Volkswagen unless it was given to me.
And then I'd sell it.
The only VW I'll own is air-cooled, or equipped with the EA827 (diesel or gas, either is fine).
That's fair, I'd probably keep one of those too.
Yep, at least those had a reason for being what they are.
Any other VW is garbage.
TBF, I would love a Mk1 Rabbit GTI (what the Golf was called in the US for a while). Mostly so I can restore it and gift it to my dad. He had a Mk1 GTI long ago, I remember only bits and pieces of it since he sold it when I was little. But he absolutely loved that car.
this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2026
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