this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2024

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Privacy

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Google Allows Creditors to Brick Your Phone (lemmy.world)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I installed NetGuard about a month ago and blocked all internet to apps, unless they're on a whitelist. No notifications from this particular system app (that can't be disabled) until recently when it started making internet connection requests to google servers. Does anyone know when this became a thing?

Edit 2: I bought my Pixel 6 phone outright, directly from Google's Australian store. I have no creditors.

Were the courts not enough control for creditors? Since when are they allowed to lock you out of your purchased property without a court order?

I don't even live in the US, so what the actual fuck?

Edit 1: You can check it's installed (~~stock~~ Pixel 6 android 14) Settings > Apps > All Apps > three dot menu, Show system > search "DeviceLockController".

I highly recommend getting NetGuard, you can enable pro features via their website if you have the APK for as low as 0.10€, but donate more, because it's amazing. You can also purchase via Google Play store.

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[–] [email protected] 236 points 7 months ago (41 children)

In 2020 Google claimed it was supposed to be limited to a single region in partnership with a single carrier. And was never meant to be put up on Play Store.

A spokesperson from Google reached out to clarify some details about the Device Lock Controller app. To start with, Google says they launched this app in collaboration with a Kenyan carrier called Safaricom.

Google has confirmed that the Device Lock Controller app should not be listed on the Google Play Store for users in the U.S., and they will work to take down the listing.

Source: https://www.xda-developers.com/google-device-lock-controller-banks-payments/

Of course, it was a lie since it's still on Play Store an of today and in use.

[–] [email protected] 40 points 7 months ago (3 children)

I'm using CalyxOS and it's pre-installed as a system app, so this seems like something that's being built in at the AOSP level of development.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 7 months ago (2 children)

DivestOS here, it's not in my ROM.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

Are you looking at system apps? It's installed as a system app on my phone using GrapheneOS

com.android.devicelockcontroller

Looks like it's an AOSP app

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago

I see it on Graphene too, took away its network perms at least.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Yep, I checked a few places, in the end ClassyShark seemed to be the best place to see everything.

I don't doubt it's part of AOSP, but that doesn't mean it needs to be left in the ROM.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

iodéOS here and I can't find it on my phone either (yes I looked at the system apps)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Can't find it in OxygenOS

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Did you check your system apps? It's an AOSP app, so I would be surprised if this were the case. It could be under either com.google or com.android.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Yeah I did it's not there

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Install App Manager from F-Droid and try looking for the package.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

I still would be very surprised if this were the case. Unfortunately it seems that OxygenOS does not have public repositories to actually check the source code (!), but there are apps that will actually show you all of your installed packages and I bet one of those would show that it's installed.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

I've got it on OOS14, I've got an EU OP11

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