Samsung has decided to proceed with the Bootloader blocking also in Europe, a move that has caused a lot of discussion. Behind this choice is a European regulation that will come into force in August 2025 and which risks changing smartphone usage in Europe forever. This is why other manufacturers may soon follow suit.
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. This is a significant change, not so much for the amount of regulations introduced, but for the effect they will have on the entire Android ecosystem. The issue revolves around three articles that impose specific protections: against network interference, personal data compromise, and digital fraud. These are, in themselves, sacrosanct rules.
But the crux comes with the interpretation prevailingEach device must ensure full compliance not only with the hardware, but also with the software that controls the radio modules. This is where the bootloader comes in. Unlocking it essentially allows you to replace the original operating system with an alternative one, such as LineageOS or GrapheneOS.
But these systems, if they modify the radio drivers even minimally, invalidate the CE certification. An uncertified device can no longer be legally marketed or used, at least according to the most stringent reading of the law.
This scenario has therefore led Samsung to protect its devices. Not on a whim, but to avoid any software modifications falling under your legal liability. If a user installs a ROM that interferes with radio frequencies or compromises communications security, the manufacturer (and in some cases the importer) may be held directly liable.
RED does not explicitly talk about unlocking the Bootloader or custom ROM, but it opens one regulatory space in which the margins for maneuver are they narrow. And in doing so, it provides a solid argument for those who have been trying for years to close the loop between hardware, software, and services. After all, customizing the operating system also means breaking away from proprietary services and, therefore, from the model that ties the user to the brand.
Samsung is just the first to move, but it’s hard to imagine it will be the only one. Starting in August 2025, it’s very likely that other manufacturers will follow suit, at least for the European market.
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, 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?
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.
It’s like forcing a PC to only run the OS it’s delivered with.
That’s coming. Everything else has been locked down.
I’m also convinced that we’ll be herded ever more toward cloud computing. That is, we’ll all have our “desktop” on the cloud and thin clients to access it.
Don’t get me started on the dystopia I see coming from that.
whether thin clients will prevail depends on the network costs and the CPU costs.
if the network costs become really low, shuffling more data around between user-device and server might be doable, but as long as network costs are non-negligible, it won’t happen.
In a lot of places, fast Internet is ubiquitous and cheap.
Yeah there’s going to be a few places that will be problematic. But most can get access to fast Internet now I think.
Also for non gaming the data requirement isn’t so much.
I’m not talking about short term. It’s a medium to longer term thing. But it will start to become commonplace soon I reckon.
You gonna pay this subscription or you are going to die
Yup. It’s another product they’ll try to turn into a service so you’re locked in forever. Allowing people to pay once for their products is bad business.
Copyright and patents abolition would solve this.
Yea I can see it becoming a legal requirement for hardware to be certified and monitored to make sure it hasn’t deviated from an approved configuration. Think of the children, it could be used for crimes if not. Self hosting will completely die and any chance of digital freedom completely killed.
I also used rooting at the beginning (Android 4.0 to 7.0) but realized that it is a little bit of a security problem, so I later used cfw without rooting the device. But root was a lot of fun, like cpu scheduler tweaks, apk patches or system mods. TWRP simple backups and restores. System Application removal (daim Facebook App…… 2014 users will remember)
Like how the cellular module is proprietary and locked down, even on something like a Librem phone. Or like how DVD players had use proprietary software to comply with DRM.
If I remember correctly, the cellular chip is also closed source on the BraXPhone. This was one of the criticisms that I heard.
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!!
This is really badly written, and that particularly annoys me because the subject matter is actually important.
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?
So I will have to import hardware or cease buying smartphones altogether. MiFi router tethering with WiFi tablets and dumbphones are quite enough.
Wifi tablet will also be non-bootloader unlockable
Dumbphones don’t need wifi, they don’t have data
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.”
If you don’t control the device, you don’t own the device.
Lately I’m more and more disappointed in EU legislations. Especially having to live with them…
EU went from frontrunner of internet privacy to asking for a gooner license.
It’s up to us to keep it free. It is one of the last lights in this world, and it must NOT go out!
There’s so many lobby groups and national interests pulling in various directions that it’s not really surprising to have both simultaneously.
TBH I’m still surprised GDPR ever made it through against the cries of every corporation on earth.
I mean, this is corporations using decent regulations as an excuse to do something they’ve probably already wanted to do.
The EU is pretty disappointing.
Did you read the directive? https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/53/oj/eng
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.
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
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.
You connect a wire to a battery and you just created an illegal transmitter!
Yes. I guess no more nine volt batteries in Europe. Or maybe we should focus on banning the sale of assorted lengths of wire.
Haha i’m glad we’re known for that in the eu
I’ve read once that the reason Eltz castle in Germany (a kinda often encountered on the Web nice-fantasy-looking piece of fortification) was spared by the French from burning is because one of the family members was a French officer. There’s plenty of ruins around.
OK, speaking about protest - you guys are also known for the Napoleon code, the guillotine, the freedom-equality-brotherhood stuff, de Saint-Exupery, so mostly good things. I mean, there are also de Sade and Dienbienphu, but shutting up.
It feels like a generation from now, doing what was common in the US during the creation of Apple and Microsoft will be considered terrorism.
