Fuck smart phones and neo feudalism. This is theft of ownership with a criminal complicit government. I applaud all Luigi's these people deserve it. These are the killers of democracy. If your device only runs factory filtered stalkerware garbage, all democracy is dead. All information is easily filtered by this proprietary shit. Freedom of the press is a bullshit tiny niche of the broader requirement for a fully informed public. The fucking "press" is bullshit to highlight. You must have fully informed citizens and you may not choose how that information is shared or disseminated between citizens. This is not democracy. People are so fucking stupid.

If you don't control the device, you don't own the device.

An uncertified device can no longer be ... used

Oh, fuck. Call the French, they have the most active civil society that actually can burn a thing or two during a week or two. That is the craziest law ever, denying the most basic human rights! That is literally a prohibition of DIY of any kind.

WTF just happened in Europe in the last few months. We used to be some sort of (dimmly lit) beacon of user freedom and privacy considerations. Now, I know there's been a push for new legislations that basically fuck individual privacy over, but last I checked it was just a proposal. And now we're doing a fucking 1260° turn toward full stanglehold on everything.

So what? Linux computers are not compliant, can not use wifi, or what? I don't see how that prevents unlockable bootloaders, other than being used as an excuse by the manufacturers.

This was the only reason I liked Android over iOS: the CFW community. I’ve been running some sort of CFW since Android 4.0. Now, the charm has gone. GrapheneOS, SailfishOS, e/OS, LineageOS, iode OS, and even CyanogenMod – I’ve used them all. Each one has its own target group and use case. I hope it turns into the better one again. It’s like forcing a PC to only run the OS it’s delivered with.

In terms of the radio rules. The radio has always had its own firmware on android phones. The rules could be implemented using hardware fuses and restrictions on signed firmware updates for those specific systems.

That is they make the "single model for the world" as is generally economically the best option in many cases. And before shipping to distributors it's stamped with the region and the fuses for that region are blown. Now it doesn't mean it cannot be used elsewhere. But it means that it will follow all rules for the certification stamped on the device.

That would mean that any firmware for the main operating system cannot command it to do anything outside of the limits defined by those rules. So it's not really a technical reason not to allow custom bootloaders.

But of course, probably the manufacturers generally don't want you to be able to remove their firmware that is often filled with sponsored required app installs. So this is a convenient way to pretend their hands are tied.

This sounds like bullshit.

An uncertified device can no longer be legally marketed or used

Ok, but I'm not marketing my LineageOS phone and I don't believe Samsung can be responsible for me using it. It sounds like phones with custom ROM will simply lose CE certification (unless the custom ROM is itself certified). Samsung obtains the CE certification and sells certified phone. Making them responsible for anything that happens after that (besides regular updates) is something completely different than what this article talks about. It would basically mean that Samsung has to make sure that their devices cannot be hacked/rooted but ensuring security of hardware and software is something completely different and is covered by different laws. Even the RAD website clearly says this:

"In 2021, the Commission decided to pause the initiative following the announcement of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), due to potential overlaps. In 2023, it was agreed that cybersecurity requirements would transfer from the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) to the CRA."

As far as I know our contractual law prevent being liable for damage caused by users own usage of a hardware or software. This is why tor browser developers arent in trial as liable for some scams that some users do using their software - because of their contract policy. So this excuse is jot valid - they locked bootloader jot because they are obligated or fear trial just because they do not luke private os which prevent them from harvesesting users data

Is this also the end of Software-Defined Radio in Europe?

Chat message scanning can come in October, age verification is also introduced in various countries. Things are getting serious.

what an utter bullshit! will the manufacturer be also directly held liable if someone uses a phone of their brand to make a picture about me without authorization! of fucking course not!

fuck samsung, and all the manufacturers that follow suit, because this is just not needed.

but also fuck the red directive's decision makers for their unsatiable creep of wanting ever more power over our devices! this is exactly like saying, that there is this illegal thing, and if you are not doing it, but just have the slightest ability to do it, that is also illegal. what the actual fuck! get off my fucking phone you scumbags!!

Lately I'm more and more disappointed in EU legislations. Especially having to live with them…

Has anyone verified what this article says?

Here's the directive in question: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/53/oj/eng It doesn't seem to imply what the article implies.

Also, here are some things from the discussion on HN

As is usual, there seems to be a massive misunderstanding what the directive is and means. The TLDR is that the directive contains no clauses that compels phone makers to keep the Android bootloader locked or that forbids EU users from unlocking it.

Samsung's public reasoning might be that disabling unlocking the bootloader because of the directive, but there is nothing in the directive that forces them to lock the bootloader. It does sound like a convenient scapegoat if they don't want to talk about the real reasons though.

The phone makes who end up disabling the unlocking of bootloaders are all doing so on their own accord, not because some regulation is forcing them to.

Finally, the EU’s broader right-to-repair policies makes it kind of impossible that an outright prohibition of unlocking the bootloader could happen. But of course, nuance doesn't make people click article titles on the web...

If a user installs a ROM that interferes with radio frequencies

Do any "ROMs" or linuxes do this? Seems like you could get an "illegal USB bluetooth/wifi dongle" for shenanigans purposes instead. This all seems like such a pointless distraction that can only be to ensure that manufacturer backdoors are ensured as unescapable.

Like how the cellular module is proprietary and locked down, even on something like a Librem phone. Or like how DVD players had to use proprietary software to force comply with DRM.

The EU is pretty disappointing.

This is really badly written, and that particularly annoys me because the subject matter is actually important.

Good luck applying this sorta lockdown to PCs.

Thank you for sharing this, @MazonnaCara89.

Personally, I find it very regrettable that Samsung is taking this draconian step. 😠

I have a follow-up question: Does this mean that I will no longer be allowed to use devices with free and open-source modifications when traveling to the EU? Are existing devices grandfathered in?

Does this mean no more visits to the EU for me, or just no buying tech in the EU? @Lembot_0004 @eleitl @ExLisper @LeTak @tabular

So I will have to import hardware or cease buying smartphones altogether. MiFi router tethering with WiFi tablets and dumbphones are quite enough.

Wait, what does that mean for USB LTE devices? Devices that you can attack to a desktop computer to give you mobile internet. Last time i checked, they're widely available.

Would these become illegal as well?

IIRC they're already doing this in China. I got hold of a chinese phone a while ago, and there was no way to install your own OS on it, you just had to use what came pre-installed, and i don't know how much state-sponsored surveillance was on that.

Wait - is this about all radio devices or only mobile connectivity ones?

I.e., is WiFi affected as well? Or does it only affect internet that you access through your carrier?

The article says:

From 1 August 2025, new provisions will come into force RED Directive (Radio Equipment Directive), which redefines the compliance requirements for all radio devices sold in Europe.

Which technically would also affect WiFi.

I don't understand why the user doing what they want to their own possessions has any impact on the original manufacturer.

Samsung isn't selling flashed devices as far as I know...

Do these stupid legislators not understand when they are being played for fools? Who gets to such a position without knowing what protectionism is? Unless it’s simple corruption?

"This scenario has therefore led Samsung to protect its devices."

oh golly, poor korean mafia.