A new technical standard, effective August 1st in the European Union, mandates mobile device manufacturers to lock the bootloader of phones.
The editorial office reports that, according to the new rules, on devices where unlocking the bootloader is not allowed:
- It will not be possible to install applications from the side (sideloading);
- Root access will be completely restricted;
- Custom operating system builds will be blocked at the device level.
Devices that do not comply with the rules will not be allowed into the EU market. This severely restricts Android's customizable open capabilities and brings it closer to iOS in terms of functionality.
Some companies have already started implementing these requirements. For example, Samsung has disabled the “bootloader unlock” function. Experts believe that Xiaomi and Google may also take similar steps in the near future.
Specialists evaluate this decision as "the end of Android's free, open, and customizable era."
Farid Alizade