The Shrinking Freedom of Open Source, Why Alternatives Matter

Note: I've used generative AI to fix grammar and spellings only.

Over the past decade, mainstream operating systems have drifted from platforms of innovation toward models of restriction and control. Microsoft has already shown how service access can be cut off regionally, such as when it suspended cloud services for India’s Nayara Energy after sanctions, proving how fragile dependency on vendor-controlled infrastructure can be [1].

Google (Says: Don't be evil (behind the scence: but do things which is done by evils))

Android, despite its open-source foundation, is functionally locked to Google’s proprietary ecosystem through Google Mobile Services, leaving users with few real choices [2].

Hardware freedom is also shrinking. Bootloaders on many modern devices are locked by default, with manufacturers like Samsung even removing the unlock toggle on new phones, making it impossible for users to install alternative operating systems [3].

Even where alternatives like GrapheneOS or LineageOS exist, many users are blocked by device restrictions and certification requirements [4].

At the same time, app distribution is increasingly gatekept: Google now requires stricter identity verification for developers, and store policies dictate how apps can be monetized or distributed [5].

Google’s upcoming Developer Verification Program will require all sideloaded apps to come from verified developers by 2026, effectively shutting out independent or anonymous APK distribution. [11]

Since 2024, new indie Android developers face stricter barriers: to publish apps outside Google Play, they must recruit at least 14 testers and run continuous testing for 15–20 days without interruption [12]. While framed as a safety measure, this requirement disproportionately burdens small developers compared to large corporations with abundant resources.

"Closed testing: With closed testing, you can share your app with a wide group of users that you control. This allows you to fix issues and ensure that your app complies with Google Play policy before you launch. You must run a closed test before you can apply to publish your app to production. At least 12 testers must be opted-in to your closed test when you apply for production access. They must have been opted-in for the last 14 days continuously. You can start a closed test once you're finished setting up your app."

Microsoft (But it's neither Micro, nor Soft)

On desktops, Windows illustrates another dimension of control. Users face forced telemetry collection, auto-installed bloatware, and controversial features such as “Recall,” which quietly captured user activity and drew serious privacy criticism [6].

Android suffers from similar issues: independent research has shown that millions of devices ship with unremovable preinstalled software, sometimes including malware, which benefits vendors and advertisers more than end users [7].

Beyond privacy and choice, economic and legal structures reinforce these barriers. Court cases such as Epic v. Google highlight how app stores extract fees and suppress competition, while the EU’s Digital Markets Act has forced limited concessions that still leave core power with incumbents [8].

Meanwhile, reliance on proprietary cloud and AI features further centralizes user data, making it harder for individuals or smaller companies to operate outside big tech ecosystems [9].

Thankfully, open systems still exist as a counterbalance. Linux continues to represent freedom, flexibility, and collective ownership, reminding corporations that alternatives matter. On mobile, projects like GrapheneOS and LineageOS prove that privacy-focused and community-driven platforms can be viable, even if adoption is slowed by hardware restrictions.

We are also trying to create FOSS XenevaOS aim to rethink the model entirely, building a free and open-source operating system from scratch, with its own kernel[10].

Sources

[1] Reuters – Microsoft suspends services to Nayara Energy: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/russia-backed-nayara-taps-indian-it-firm-after-microsoft-suspends-service-2025-07-29
[2] Android Authority – Google Mobile Services dependency: https://www.androidauthority.com/google-mobile-services-gms-3025963
[3] Android Central – Samsung’s One UI 8 removes OEM unlock: https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/samsungs-one-ui-8-update-is-about-to-tick-off-the-custom-rom-crowd
[4] GrapheneOS official: https://grapheneos.org | LineageOS official: https://lineageos.org
[5] Google Play Console – developer verification: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/10841920
[6] The Verge – Windows 11 Recall feature sparks privacy backlash: https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/3/24170305/microsoft-windows-recall-ai-screenshots-security-privacy-issues
[7] Ars Technica – Preinstalled malware on Android devices: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/05/potentially-millions-of-android-tvs-and-phones-come-with-malware-preinstalled
[8] Reuters – Epic v. Google and legal fallout: https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/epic-games-seeks-205-million-legal-fees-google-after-trial-win-2025-08-25
[9] Wired – How cloud and AI centralization threaten autonomy: https://www.wired.com/story/ai-cloud-monopoly/
[10] XenevaOS official site: https://www.getxeneva.com | GitHub source: https://github.com/manaskamal/XenevaOS
[11] https://developer.android.com/developer-verification
[12]  https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/14151465