La tension between Google and developers independent is back at the center of the debate, this time with Nextcloud (the free software provider focused on the private cloud), which alleges a clear case of obstruction.
And is that Nextcloud accuses Google of blocking deliberately the full functionality of your application Nextcloud Files, vital for automated data synchronization between mobile devices and Nextcloud servers.
Since September 2024, Google has refused to accept an update to the app from Nextcloud on the Play Store, demanding that access permission to all files be removed (“All Files Access”). This permission allows you to read and write any file on the device’s storage system, and while it’s sensitive from a privacy perspective, it’s crucial to the operating model Nextcloud offers its users: syncing all types of files, beyond photos and videos.
Without this permission, explains the company, The application is reduced to a tool for sharing multimedia content, affecting nearly 800.000 active users. Google's refusal effectively amounts to an arbitrary functional limitation: the app continues to function unrestricted on alternative repositories like F-Droid, suggesting that the problem isn't technical, but political.
Clash between privacy and market control
Google justifies the limitation as part of its strategy Android security reinforcement, pushing developers toward more restrictive APIs like MediaStore and Storage Access Framework (SAF). These interfaces offer compartmentalized and controlled access to system files, but don't allow for the widespread synchronization that Nextcloud requires. According to the company, these mechanisms aren't compatible with its usage model and compromise both privacy and user autonomy.
Criticism Nextcloud central focuses on unequal treatment: While your application is facing crashes, Google Drive and other tools specific to the Android ecosystem are not affected. due to these restrictions, maintaining competitive advantages that Nextcloud describes as unfair and monopolistic.
There is no technical justification for denying us this permission, when similar Google applications do use it.
This new confrontation is reminiscent of historical cases of abuse of dominant position by large technology companies. Nextcloud has been a constant critic, having reported Microsoft to the European Union in 2021 for similar practices in the cloud sector. But four years later, they lament, there has been no significant progress.
“Small businesses like ours don't have the resources to fight forever,” the company states, in a message that reflects both frustration and helplessness.
The other side: data security and control
Google and some analysts argue differently. Full access to device files has been heavily questioned for security reasons, as it has allowed malicious apps to track sensitive metadata, such as location information via EXIF in images. Thus, limiting this permission seeks to protect the average user, who is often unaware of the risk.
However, the criticism of Google's double standards is valid: if these measures are necessary, they should be applied uniformly, without excluding those who offer legitimate alternatives from the market.
This isn't an isolated problem. With the EU lacking oversight of Microsoft's integration of Teams and OneDrive into Windows, Google appears to be encouraged to follow suit, further stifling competition and innovation.
Competition or control?
The case highlights a central dilemma in Android: to what extent is the user protected, and where does corporate market control begin? By banning a key feature from Nextcloud, but keeping it accessible for its own service, Google would be blocking the way for a direct competitor, in a move that many consider clearly anti-competitive.
Nextcloud isn't giving up. Although the full app is still available outside the Play Store, such as on F-Droid, most users prefer the convenience and visibility of Google Play, which puts the European company at a clear disadvantage.