Installing open source software on phones is becoming more and more difficult. It used to be the case that bootloaders were generally unlocked or unlockable. That is no longer true, including on Android. Google is also planning on banning APKs from unregistered sources soon.

We need end-to-end encryption on phones to have reasonably convenient privacy. We can definitely lose that, and open source software won't help.

Worse, once phones are locked down desktops and laptops can be locked down as well.

Until TPM shenanigans take root and you're only allowed to use locked down devices to use the internet.

If this becomes a widespread way to bypass this, wouldn't they just pass a law to make Linux usage illegal unless you install some module?

I mean, look at all the geniuses saying "I'll just use a VPN" in response to the latest ID for age verification. A week later, the law was amended to also involve VPNs.

How long until hardware vendors prevent you from installing a certified OS that is specifically not anything like linux? Before you call it a conspiracy, know that we are already there with our phones, which represent an overwhelming share of consumer compute use today.