zlacker

I uninstalled banking related apps from my phone years ago. I used it so infrequently that every time I did use it, it was as if it had been newly installed and didn't remember anything about me. Now I use a desktop web browser for anything finance (and it's Firefox on Linux, so thankfully that works for now).

>>MathMo+(OP)
The phone will be used as MFA, and that will have requirements especially on Android versions. So it is going to be harder to escape it, it is darn comfortable using Android as a MFA. Many banks still use a custom device for MFA here but is is slowly going away.

BankID in Sweden and similar in other European countries.

>>pastag+y
For now the custom issued 2FA is still an inconvenient option, but nearly everyone uses the phone for 2FA as it is so much faster.

>>MathMo+(OP)
It's getting repetitive to come with the same message over and over and over again, but in many countries you can no longer interact with your bank through the web browser. The banks' applications are either required for 2FA, or are the only way to use remote banking at all.

The last one applies in my country. You can of course go to the bank branch for every little financial operation, which is bad enough by itself for us living in cities, but is practically impossible for my relatives in the rural area, who would have to drive 100 km to the nearest bank branch, and then back just to move some money between two accounts.

Even if you don't care for anyone else but your country, it will come to you also, I promise.

>>homebr+Jb
You should at least complain to your bank and government, support NGOs fighting for your freedom like https://edri.org, https:/eff.org, or equivalent in your country.

Forcing you to use foreign megacorps for essential services should be illegal if not already.

>>fsflov+Ac
Sure, I complain basically every week, but it's like moving a mountain. It was the government's idea, and they're very gung-ho on continuing with it. The official reason is fighting tax evasion, but the more probable one is that the ruling elite has major stakes in all major banks, so they're very interested in making everyone dependent on those banks.

The only realistic thing left for me is moaning about it on the ole 'net and hoping (probably in vain) that this disease doesn't spread further to other countries. Western democracies are already in the process of copying several bad ideas we implemented 10+ years ago (and China more than 20 years ago), I don't see a reason why this also wouldn't be ported over.

And the digital sovereignty argument doesn't really work, one of the banks uses its own payment system — mostly copied from Chinese AliPay — and it's the most popular one here. Zero dependence on "the West" other than the phones themselves, where they think they have an alternative in Huawei and friends, and you're gonna have to depend on someone in any case, even just for internet infrastructure, or even cash printing machines.

>>homebr+Qe
> Zero dependence on "the West" other than the phones themselves

A smartphone today is the most essential and private thing you have. This is as far from "zero dependence" as you can get.

> they think they have an alternative in Huawei and friends

Do Huawei phones work for banking in your country? If yes, does it mean, Google Play / integrity isn't necessary?

>>homebr+Qe
The problematic companies are all Russian/Chinese/USian(/Israeli ?) last I checked, so what "the West" generally has to do with it ?

>>fsflov+Of
Huawei phones have their own alternatives to Play Services; none of the banks work on pure ungoogled and un-everything Android. You have to use a locked device which you have zero control over in any case.

>>BlueTe+dg
The reply was to GP's:

> Forcing you to use foreign megacorps for essential services should be illegal if not already.

The only two major mobile operating systems are developed by American companies. The two most popular global payment processors are maintained by American companies. The hardware is jointly developed by a bunch of countries, basically all of them in North America and Western Europe.

If one brings up digital sovereignty, should I think not of "the West", but of Tokelau, South Africa, or Brazil?

>>fsflov+Ac
It's not really that different from forcing you to use a national midicorp (a bank) to bank.

CBDCs solve this in theory, but the government would add the requirement back just for funsies.