[HN Gopher] Google Play makes bizarre decision to ban call-recor...
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Google Play makes bizarre decision to ban call-recording apps
Author : pseudolus
Score : 67 points
Date : 2022-04-21 17:34 UTC (5 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (arstechnica.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (arstechnica.com)
| dataangel wrote:
| This is such an idiotic decision, there are a million legitimate
| reasons to want to record your own calls that have nothing to do
| with disability. Is there working call recording functionality on
| iPhone? Tired of every fucking Android update just being worse.
| theduder99 wrote:
| I wonder if mobile carriers could offer recording as an
| additional service.
| jcynix wrote:
| Executive summary: I simply will use a second smartphone to
| record things going on on my primary smartphone if needed (and
| legal, of course). So Google, what does this restriction deliver
| besides frustration?
|
| I moved from IOS to Android some years ago because of Apple's
| restrictive policies. And I enjoy apps like Termux which allow me
| to actually use a Smartphone as a computer, e.g. rsyncing ma data
| to and from a device, or using tools like ImageMagick or
| Exiftool. And one of my smartphones (a Xiaomi device, controlled
| by Netguard to limit data leakage ;-) even allows me to easily
| produce neat movies of things happening on the screen.
|
| And I dislike these arbitrary limiations of a Smartphones
| usability. I do understand and accept, actually like, that apps
| have to ask for various permissions. But I cannot understand why
| companies think people are too stupid to somehow circumvent
| suchbrestrictions? Same for apps which disallow screenshots. Ask
| me for permission, even every time a screenshot is requested,
| because I can use another device to get the screenshot anyway,
| like it or not Google.
| hotpotamus wrote:
| I remember back in the day, my mom had a little suction cup
| microphone thing for recording calls that stuck directly to the
| phone. I have to think the analog loophole would still work in
| this case.
| kevincox wrote:
| Call recording apps have always barely worked, or worked on some
| phones. While the new policy is the nail in the coffin (for Play
| Store distribution) Android has always been incredibly hostile
| towards them.
|
| Of course most custom ROMs have a "record" button in the default
| dialer app.
|
| I used to run stock Android from Google but it has gotten clear
| that they don't want me to use my phone. I can't access the data
| of my apps and this pushed me to switch to LineageOS months ago.
| Now they take this away and my position is validated.
| registeredcorn wrote:
| How difficult would you rank the experience of getting rid of
| stock Android for a non-programmer? I'm technically skilled
| enough to work in the industry, but hate reading and
| occasionally make stupid mistakes. Is it an involved many hours
| long process, or pretty straightforward? Any downsides?
| Problems sending sending/recieving calls or texts? I'd still
| need to maintain access to some apps, like Bitwarden and a few
| authenticators. I don't mind jumping through one or two hoops
| upfront, but if it's a constant problem it'd get old fast.
|
| I _really_ want to be able to record calls if I feel the need
| to do so. This change is completely unacceptable to me. I 've
| already moved away from Windows/OSX to Fedora for similar
| arbitrary, user-hostile actions. It sounds like its about time
| to do the same with my phone, regrettably.
|
| Technology has become a tedious thing. It's supposed to help
| the public in the ways that they want, not to be decided _for_
| them, where the only _correct_ means is approved or denied by
| some faceless mush of "approvers". I feel a lot of the spirit
| of the early technologists has been lost with these
| authoritarian corporatists. It's incredibly frustrating to see
| such a good thing ground into the mud by these thugs in
| hoodies.
| kevincox wrote:
| In general it isn't that hard LineageOS has fairly clear
| guides.
|
| The main hitch is Google's Safety Net. Some apps want to
| validate that you are using a "trustworthy" OS. Of course by
| "trustworthy" they mean "obeys Google, not the user"
| Depending on the phone you can spoof it but it is more
| complex and a cat-and-mouse game. Currently it is working for
| me even with Google Pay but it is surely only a matter of
| time until they require hardware attestation which will be
| basically impossible to fake. Of course while Google is the
| enabler here, the real problem is the apps. They shouldn't
| care what OS I used and shouldn't check. I just avoid the
| apps other than Google Pay which check (not that I've seen
| any yet other than an old bank).
| sodality2 wrote:
| I've used this for over a year with no issues:
| https://f-droid.org/packages/com.github.axet.callrecorder/
| ncann wrote:
| Under the guise of privacy, Android has been increasingly more
| and more user hostile with every new version.
|
| They removed access to external storage, only to relent to the
| backlash and have it back later under a special permission
| because, surprise, there are perfectly valid use cases for
| needing access to external storage like a file manager, or a
| backup manager.
|
| They removed access to clipboard for background process, despite
| the fact there are perfectly valid use cases for that like
| clipboard manager, or dictionary app.
|
| They kept restricting voice recording for years, and now pretty
| much just kill it.
|
| All of these should just have been locked behind permissions.
| Require adb access to grant the permission if you want, deny
| access to the App store if using the permission if you want, I
| don't care, as long as there is an option to do it for power
| user.
|
| I hate how my device keeps getting more and more closed like
| Apple. I hate having a powerful personal computing device being
| crippled by nonsensical software decisions from the big G
| overlord.
| kevinslashslash wrote:
| > deny access to the App store if using the permission if you
| want, I don't care, as long as there is an option to do it for
| power user.
|
| That's what the article is about. It's a policy change.
| ncann wrote:
| In this particular case yes, but we're not always that lucky,
| and I'm not surprised if they will completely remove the API
| in the near future.
| car_analogy wrote:
| > my device
|
| It's Google's device. You just pay for it.
| KSPAtlas wrote:
| Have you flashed a ROM yet?
| KSPAtlas wrote:
| I'm running GrapheneOS and IMO its a good experience
| ncann wrote:
| The problem with custom ROMs and root is SafetyNet. Chances
| are bank apps (or anything that uses SafetyNet e.g. Pokemon
| GO) won't work.
| akc3n wrote:
| Just a quick side note FYI - I've been crowd sourcing
| banking app reports from users in order to build a (work in
| progress) list of international banking apps that work on
| GrapheneOS. To view the current list and/or submit a
| banking app report, feel free to check out
| https://akc3n.org/projects/banking/
| ncann wrote:
| Nice, is there a table that lists everything at once? I
| want to see at a glance what the overall support is.
| akc3n wrote:
| No, not yet, that's a good idea though, thanks for that.
|
| There is https://akc3n.org/projects/banking/#list-of-
| banking-apps And https://github.com/akc3n/banking/issues?
| q=is%3Aissue+is%3Acl...
| eliaspro wrote:
| I feel like this is where some kind of antitrust action is
| needed.
|
| On the one hand, it's completely understandable that e.g. a
| bank wants to rely on a mechanism like SafetyNet to prevent
| fraud, but on the other hand it's taking away a lot of
| freedoms where alternatives could be implemented (e.g. let
| the user sign a waiver for specific risks which are usually
| covered by SafetyNet).
|
| There needs to be an alternative way to provide the same
| guarantees and functionalities to developers and end users,
| but without the required reliance upon a monopolistic
| entity.
| pavel_lishin wrote:
| Why does the Phone app only allow recording in India?
| zikohh wrote:
| So recently Truecaller added the ability to record calls on the
| device. Each time you call someone a little bubble appears asking
| if you want to record the call. I wonder if such a popular app
| will be taken down
| fsflover wrote:
| Another argument to escape Google and Apple and consider
| GNU/Linux phones (Librem 5 and Pinephone), where nobody will
| dictate what software you run.
| tapoxi wrote:
| Android allows for alternative stores, like F-Droid. I would
| love to see those phones take off, but at the very least they'd
| need great Android runtime support.
| mrandish wrote:
| > "Google has said in the past it would prefer if the
| accessibility APIs were only used by apps meant for people with
| disabilities"
|
| Google and Apple make all users of their phone platforms
| "disabled" thru draconian policy restrictions. Does that mean all
| users qualify because we've had our abilities limited?
| pestatije wrote:
| Any suggestions for call-recording apps outside the Google Play
| garden?
| sodality2 wrote:
| https://f-droid.org/packages/com.github.axet.callrecorder/
| pontifier wrote:
| I use a rooted phone and a call recorder in magisk. It's been
| the only way I've found to record reliably since the last
| recorder I used stopped working.
| skybrian wrote:
| I haven't tried it, but it looks like Zoom will record calls on
| desktop for free, or do "cloud recording" if you pay.
| klyrs wrote:
| The default phone app on LineageOS has a native call-record
| button.
| 1MachineElf wrote:
| Sorry average person, but only tech oligopolies may record your
| calls. /s
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(page generated 2022-04-21 23:02 UTC)