Google Play and childrens' privacy
Added by Jacob Bahn about 6 years ago
I would like my 5 year old daughter to use a replicanted device but face some crucial challenges.
She mainly uses games (e.g. tocoboco's and lego) and music (i.e. spotify), which are not available outside Google Play (afaik).
I suppose there will be issues with graphics and some apps might require connection to the internet (I will not allow those).
Would it be feasible to
1: install games and/or music apps on an unsafe device (i.e. with google play installed)
2: extract the .apk
3: install the app on a replicated device?
I consider to use either an S3 4G/i9305 or Tab 2/p3110 disconected from networks.
Regards
Replies (1)
RE: Google Play and childrens' privacy - Added by Fil Bergamo about 6 years ago
Hi,
Jacob Bahn wrote:
I would like my 5 year old daughter to use a replicanted device but face some crucial challenges.
I think teaching infants how to use free-as-in-freedom technology is a crucial step in advancing free technology, so I strongly support your choice.
She mainly uses games (e.g. tocoboco's and lego) and music (i.e. spotify), which are not available outside Google Play (afaik).
Please keep in mind that if something is available on Google Play only, and it's not available on F-droid, chances are we're talking about proprietary software.
This means that most software downloaded from Google Play cannot be trusted for - quoting your own title - children privacy (nor can it be trusted in general).
Here's an insight on why we can't trust proprietary software: https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary.html
Fortunately, most of the times there is some kind of free software (available on F-droid) that can be a (better) alternative for most software found in Google Play.
Would it be feasible to
1: install games and/or music apps on an unsafe device (i.e. with google play installed)
2: extract the .apk
3: install the app on a replicated device?
Yes, it would be feasible, BUT your daughter would still be using proprietary software, which isn't to be trusted for the very same reasons reported in the link I provided above.
It's not a matter of what operating system the software is run under (e.g. Replicant vs. stock Android).
The same proprietary APK will have the same (possibly malicious) behaviour both under stock Android and under Replicant.
The point is that only free software can be audited in a meaningful way, as to guarantee that no malicious behaviour is implemented.
So, in your case, I'd suggest you to search for free software in F-droid, that supports the features you and your daughter are looking for.
Children are much better than adults at learning new and different ways of accomplishing tasks. For this reason, I'm sure your 5yo daughter will find any piece of free software as interesting as it can be, and won't have any difficulties in learning new games and/or ways of listening to music (e.g. there are a lot of free-as-in-freedom apps on F-droid that stream musical web channels).
My suggestion is to let her discover the various ways free technology can be used for, rather than restrict her by using a single, proprietary, way of accomplishing tasks.
I'm at disposal for any further discussion on the topic.
Regards,
Fil