I'm basically am doing exactly this. But I'm only on GrapheneOS as I had to compromise on some closed apps that refused to run on LineageOS. GrapheneOS means I can compromise on Google a bit without being completely compromised by Google. The market and geopolitical problem remains.

I'm sceptical with Windows, considering that most programs are installed via EXE files, so the outcry will be huge. But I'm not saying it can't be a possibility.

With Ubuntu there would only be a chance of it happening if they also make their distro immutable. That way the user could not as easily install packages the traditional way. But even then there might be ways to disable this immutable mode for troubleshooting.
However, this, in my opinion, would cause a mass exodus as Canonical does not have the same advantage as Microsoft or Google have: Windows and android are, to an extent, closed off ecosystems. Thus switching to another system is very hard, as not every software is available on every other system, so potentially subpar alternatives and comparability layers, whose functionality mostly depends on whether the company behind the original system is actively fighting against these tools or not.
Ubuntu on the other hand, is a Linux distro, so you cab make it like Theseus and recreate this distro more or less with the sum of its parts, if need be.

We need to support political groups fighting for us, not just think in terms of technology. In the UK it is OpenRightsGroup, maybe the Greens party, in Europe there is the Pirate Party, Greens, Free Software Foundation Europe, and more. We should be trying to get politicians into this.

Please see edit of my comment. Since it seems my point did not get across, I elaborated. Of course there are plenty right now since there are no barriers yet.

Please see the edit with clarification, since I guess I wrote it poorly and multiple commenters did not get my point.

I meant that it would die as an "open" platform, so power users would be compelled to stop using android.

GrapheneOS is not limited by Google, as long as the bootloader is unlockable and Google contnues releasing the sources.
Longterm, the GOS project needs to support alternative hardware platforms.

There are Linux tablets, so if Android is dead open source developers will support these.

traction with Graphene

What kind of traction? Is it missing something? Or do you just mean more developers behind it?

"You can't install whatever software you want" is a good argument, but I haven't found anything I want to install on my iPhone that I can't. At one point it was emulators, but Apple overturned that a few years ago. I have an emulator on my iPhone, and it's one of the best (Delta; if you say RetroArch is better, I don't disagree, but I could get that, too). But I almost never play it. That's entirely my choice. My use case scenario doesn't need me installing any apps that aren't in the App Store.

Not that I don't have a problem with the App Store. It's mostly trash. They don't highlight good apps, they highlight profitable apps, which means subscriptions. App Store is virtually 100% trash, and its recommendations are 100% trash.

Remember that the EU arose in part from the institutions set up to deter the same type of nationalist fascism rising again, such as the ECSC. Sadly, we may have encouraged Russian -funded American -spread international fascism in its place, although they don't seem to control the EU yet.

Chat control is an issue tbough why ignore it?

Android is not Linux (the OS), it just uses the Linux kernel. That means almost nothing is transferable from one OS to the other unfortunately.

So basically they wanna be Apple.

In the meantime port linux OSs to be easilly installable on Android devices

Where they slow down your phone to try and force an upgrade? Let's be real, how many people keep phones passed their 1-2 year upgrade cycle? I'm coming up on 4 years a my android, and outside of me dropping it in a pool it's worked well! I'm finally ready to upgrade tho since it's still funky ever since then.

You can run Android apps on Sailfish via AppSupport

Yes... It does... I copied straight from the article, and a way to combat the whole Dev reg thing was to... Install alt store!!! Whoa!

Also how do we get our hands on the geniuses behimd this fiasco ?

I usually upgrade every 6 to 7 years.

Chat Control is not implementing mass surveillance and has nothing to do with national security. I that's their only argument they are confused and there's nothing to talk about. If they have other arguments I would like to hear them.

It should be illegal to not allow unlocking the bootloader, but it is very common.

Linux phones look more and more attractive

Graphene OS

Never could. Power of thousands of paid developers against a few. That's like finding all needles in a haystack, and power determines the size of that haystack and the amount of needles.

You can't use something that cost that much to make and expect to divert from what the producers intended.

I haven’t found anything I want to install on my iPhone that I can’t. At one point it was emulators

So you have found something you wanted to install on your iPhone that you couldn't, but Apple has decided to allow it for now. I think it's pretty obvious how this is a problem.

Of course you're not going to find apps that exist that you can't install because Apple says so. People won't bother making them if they can only be distributed to the tiny handful of users with jailbroken devices. Of course it comes up on occasion when Apple withdraws permission, with ICEBlock being the recent socially important case.

iPhones are premium, whether you like Apple or not. I like an SD slot and the ability to have access to different apps. Most people don't care. Apple built a phone that works and looks/performs well years after its released (when they're not intentionally throttling phones with updates.)

As far as I know, it is still reliant on the whims of Google through shenanigans with AOSP, and of course having to use a Pixel.

Linux offers a more solid and independent foundation, and while it is less polished yet, to me it's the only real way out in the long run.

Still, GrapheneOS is a big step in the right direction - hope it wouldn't come across as me being against the project.

You can still use a dump phone. You can play and browse Wikipedia on a Steam Deck which has WiFi. If you are outsid, you can use a Mifi device of a USB LTE/5G dongle for the SteamDeck.

sadly

The PinePhone Pro was officially discontinued in August 2025, as it didn’t sell well enough to keep production going.[7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PinePhone_Pro

It means they fork and they're going to need funding to keep up with security work at least.

It likely is not their only grievance as other things exist like porn blocking, ID implementations and VPN discussions.

Also chat control is reviewing private conversations. It is a provacy breach. There is no circumstance where this is not abusable. Here are some truths to how the law is presented:

1: nothing can be seen, only if certain pre registered files are recognised
2: politicians, military and associated personnel are exempted.

Meaning it can see more than nothing or else it is acceptable for these people to possess these materials.

It is also able to controlled a granular level person to person.

The EU was founded on peace. Post world war 2 , right up until now was the longest period of peace on the continent in moder history.

You do you man, but parroting divisive talking points just to be doing it is asset work.

American billionaires literally funded the US fascism and have made it public policy to support fascistic governments and groups within the EU. See the US sec of state endorsing Orban this week as evidence.

Honeslty think you ae a bot in here to spread shit and be divisive for the sake of it.

Feels a lot more interesting to just pick up a feature phone, and use it as a hotspot modem for a laptop.

I wonder if there is a dumb phone with tethering currently. Cause if you don't mind carrying 2 devices, that may be viable for your use case

Fuck, I don't have the money to replace my phone. I probably wont by September either. Too many expenses.

Porn blocking? In EU? I heard about it only in UK. Which EU countries block porn?

ID implementation... yes, all EU countries have ID. Many have digital IDs. What's with it?

VPN discussion isn't really proof of anything. Even Chat Control 2.0 isn't approved yet, it's just a project. VPN blocking is not even a proposal. It just someone mentioned in some report. Hardly a reason to claim that EU is becoming a surveillance state.

I think the problem is your second assumption of "will continue releasing sources" is the one to fail.

Steam decks are expensive and relatively bulky when compared to a phone. I don't think it's really a practical solution for most of us.

Yup, if enough people switch to graphene big G will fuck them over. Exiting entirely is the only long term solution.

which can do this? its my dream thing. I think I may have seen it but they were priced kinda redic.

On the one hand, google is obviously evil, and it's intentions here are undoubtedly evil as well. On the other, I do think some kind of verification of developers should exist. Just not in google hands. But who. There really isn't anyway to create an organization that could be trusted to do this.
And of course, the user should be able to chose to install apps from an unverified developer.