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BrikoX ,
@BrikoX@lemmy.zip avatar

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.

MisterFrog OP ,
@MisterFrog@lemmy.world avatar

It must be globally, I'm in Australia. What utter bullshit, since I would have never known if it weren't for my NetGuard firewall app.

noorbeast ,

Being Australian this is likely one to report to the ACCC, as Aussies at least have basic consumer protection, though that get murky with overseas tech entities.

MisterFrog OP ,
@MisterFrog@lemmy.world avatar

Unfortunately the ACCC gives fewer fucks than you may expect. An airline once cancelled a flight on me and kept the cancellation fee, despite producing no evidence that any government had forced them to cancel the flight (this was during COVID).

ACCC did not care one bit

So while we do have some consumer protection (better than most) I would be surprised if they cared.

MalReynolds ,
@MalReynolds@slrpnk.net avatar

It's 5 minutes out of your life to try, as an aussie, please do, for charity if nothing else, who knows, you might benefit...

MisterFrog OP ,
@MisterFrog@lemmy.world avatar

I am a serial complaint lodger, just that I'm much busier than I used to be. I may do it once I figure out what's going on with it on my phone.

MalReynolds ,
@MalReynolds@slrpnk.net avatar

Fair cop.

MisterFrog OP ,
@MisterFrog@lemmy.world avatar

Thanks for you understanding friendo 🇦🇺

If it tickles your fancy, I once lodged a complaint with the national measurement institute to get a bar to stop selling American pints.

And they now sell it by the mL, beautiful

MalReynolds ,
@MalReynolds@slrpnk.net avatar

Solid.

UnculturedSwine ,

Thank you for limiting the spread of freedom units. I wish my country would just get over itself and switch already.

MeetInPotatoes ,

though that get murky with overseas tech entities.

I mostly agree, but you gotta admit the EU has been sticking it to the tech giants lately.

z00s ,

Definitely report this to the accc

No1 ,
@No1@aussie.zone avatar

I'm in Australia, and when I search for Device Lock Controller in Play Store, it says "This app is not available in your region"

This happens on 2 separate devices from different manufacturers. Both devices were purchased in Australia and have Australian ROMs

MisterFrog OP ,
@MisterFrog@lemmy.world avatar

Check your installed apps (I left an edit in th post where to check). Just because it's not listen in the Playstore for Australia, doesn't mean it's not installed.

No1 ,
@No1@aussie.zone avatar

Yeah, I checked installed apps (checked system apps), and I don't have it installed on either of my devices

MisterFrog OP ,
@MisterFrog@lemmy.world avatar

What model do you have, out of curiosity?

Baku ,
@Baku@aussie.zone avatar

Also in Australia and it shows that to me as well
https://aussie.zone/pictrs/image/9d3dd44d-0d09-491d-885a-d90bbcfadce5.png

But going into my app list and showing system does show it

https://aussie.zone/pictrs/image/b094a4f2-327b-4955-9a06-c5d053ec30d9.png

gerowen ,

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.

TWeaK ,

DivestOS here, it's not in my ROM.

Salix ,

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

AmbiguousProps ,

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

TWeaK ,

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

https://lemm.ee/pictrs/image/1754773b-fa0d-48b8-b011-37811d71b8c1.png

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

BentiGorlich ,
@BentiGorlich@thebrainbin.org avatar

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

brb ,

Can't find it in OxygenOS

AmbiguousProps ,

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.

brb ,

Yeah I did it's not there

TheAnonymouseJoker Mod ,
@TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml avatar

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

AmbiguousProps ,

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.

Syakaizin ,
@Syakaizin@lemm.ee avatar

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

Ledivin ,

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

FWIW, I just searched it up and it's listed as unavailable in my region (USA) 🤷‍♂️ so at the very least, they scoped it down a little bit

BrikoX ,
@BrikoX@lemmy.zip avatar

So they region locked it from US, but it can still be pre-installed as a system app from AOSP. And it's available in EU, while was meant to be in Kenya only.

MisterFrog OP ,
@MisterFrog@lemmy.world avatar

Just because it's not in the Playstore, doesn't mean it's not installed.

It's not listed in the Australian Playstore either, yet here we are with it making internet requests.

It's definitely installed.

sugar_in_your_tea ,

I checked and don't see it. So either my phone is too old, or is exempt since I bought from Google Fi.

Caaaaarrrrlll , (edited )

[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

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    sugar_in_your_tea ,

    From reading the comments, I think it's on all newer Android phones (perhaps Android 13+?). My phone is probably just too old.

    metaldream ,

    I see it on my pixel 5a on Android 14 as well. Guess that solidifies my decision to move to Apple once this phone dies

    Baku ,
    @Baku@aussie.zone avatar

    It's not just you, it's phoning home for me too. Pixel 7, also Australia, bought outright from officeworks. I don't log network reqs so I don't know exacts, but it's using 25kb every 3 days or so, so it's doing something.

    fishos ,
    @fishos@lemmy.world avatar

    Checked my pixel 6 and it's on mine. Might not be in the store for everyone, but it's installed on my owned device.

    Jimmycrackcrack ,

    I'm surprised it would be on the play store since presumably if you were a carrier or creditor of some kind you want this installed in a pretty clandestine way and wouldn't want to draw attention to it by having an app store listing.

    dev_null ,

    I'd assume they want to be able to update it and that's why it needs a store listing.

    Trainguyrom ,

    Being on the play store means it can be updated and managed like a normal app and not stuck on whatever version shipped with the OS

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