Mmastodon TechnologyMobile first seen 2 d ago, last 2 d ago, peak #3

Wero payment app criticised for requiring Google Play verification

Original: Wero was supposed to be a sovereign European alternative. But it's used to further lock in Europeans into US smartphone

Wero, the European payments scheme billed as a sovereign alternative to US services, is drawing criticism because banks using it increasingly depend on American smartphone ecosystems. Dutch ASN Bank now requires Google Play Integrity checks before allowing Wero transactions, meaning users of de-Googled or alternative Android systems are locked out. Commentators say this undermines the goal of digital sovereignty, tying a European payment system to US-controlled platforms.

Why now: People are discussing the contradiction between Europe's push for digital sovereignty and its reliance on US-operated app store verification for payments.

WeroASN BankGoogleEuropean Union

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Evidence

• Wero was supposed to be a sovereign European alternative. But it's used to further lock in Europeans into US smartphone operating systems. For instance, the Dutch ASN bank has started requiring Google Play Integrity if you want to do a Wero transaction: https://… · danieldk · 3

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