Play Store blocks AuroraStore, hurting GrapheneOS users (gitlab.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the issue of AuroraStore being blocked by the Google Play Store, affecting users of Android distributions such as GrapheneOS. However, some commenters note that GrapheneOS recommends using the Play Store instead of AuroraStore. The blockage is reportedly due to Google flagging the burner accounts used by AuroraStore. This has sparked a discussion about privacy and the use of Google accounts.

Main themes

• AuroraStore blockage
• GrapheneOS and Play Store
• Google account privacy
• Burner accounts and SIMs
• IMEI tracking
• Anonymous downloads

What commenters say

• AuroraStore's use of burner Google accounts is the cause of the blockage by the Google Play Store.
• GrapheneOS users are not significantly affected by the blockage as they are recommended to use the Play Store instead.
• The requirement for a Google account to use the Play Store is a privacy concern for some users.
• Creating a new Google account without phone verification is difficult due to Google's security measures.
• Some users believe that using a burner SIM or phone number is the only way to maintain privacy when creating a Google account.
• Others argue that even with a burner SIM, the IMEI number can still be used to track the device.
• The use of AuroraStore allows for anonymous downloads, which is a desirable feature for some users.
• The blockage of AuroraStore may damage the usability of systems that rely on it, such as CalyxOS.