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In fact we should not even call it "sideloading", as if we are sneaking anything in "from the side". It is simply installing something I like on a device that I own.
My device can warn me about security consequences and let me be the one who decides what to do (with my device).
Download source code from mirror, verify signature, compile, install
If the target OS is under the control of a giant surveillance and online advertising services company, then what is the probability of the company allowing mobile hardware buyers to control their hardware using software of their own choosing. Is it non-zero
The entire debate around "Android" already concedes that mobile hardware requires an OS controlled by a giant surveillance and online advertising services company
In other words, they did not need permission from a corporation that controlled the software
The other company whose name behins with "A" that provides a corporate-controlled mobile OS also relied on source code that they could download, compile, install, run and distribute for free, without restriction (aside from attribution provisions)^2 in order to create a mobile OS in the 2000s
1. Linux
2. FreeBSD, NetBSD
Also, the surveillance and ad services company used NetBSD libc when creating Android
Source: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-...
The linked post by F-droid additionally points out that even that very bad case is not certain. We shouldn't trust that Google will even allow sideloading at all based on their words on their own blog.
Media has a responsibility to report that there is no evidence that Google will even allow anyone to sideload at this point.
Apple also stops you from installing third-party apps for the service that circumvent those and other limitations. In an open system you can intercept the app's requests and feed it fake responses, spoof your photo album, GPS, whatever. They can try to detect spoofing, but at the cost of making their services flaky for normal users. This is a cat-and-mouse game that the mice (that's you) win. Except you can't play it on an iPhone, because it breaks the service's (probably illegal) Terms of Service, and Apple will use their Big Stick to ensure nobody can commit acts that risk their partners' business models.